need better accuracy

[3sharps]

Hi fellows, I have had my .357 Rossi for a week. I have installed a tang sight on it. At 50 yards I have to struggle to keep 10 shots on a 6 inch bull! I realize that it is not a target rifle but I expect better. If I could do 6 inches at 100 yards I would be a happy camper. My load is 19 grains of 4227 with a 158 grain swc bullet. My trigger breaks at 4 1/2 pounds. I have the 24 inch hex barrel. Does anyone have some tips they can pass on to me? Thanks.

[donhuff]

Hi 3sharps,

Well, ya know we have to start of by asking what your bore size is, and if you are using a bullet that is AT LEAST .001" bigger than your bore. Hard cast or what.

HOLY CRAP, I just looked up your load and the maximum load I could find for a 158 grain was 16.0-17.0. I found a couple that listed 19.0 for a 125 grain bullet. It might be that your over loading the thing.

I think we need more details.

[mr surveyor]

for accuracy and fully useful performance, I think I would back off the around the mid range of the load data and work up in 3/10 grain increments to find the sweet spot.

Wouldn't 10 gr of 4227 be a (very) compressed load? I don't use 4227, but my son just started loading it today for his GP100.

JD

[donhuff]

for accuracy and fully useful performance, I think I would back off the around the mid range of the load data and work up in 3/10 grain increments to find the sweet spot.

Heck, do it for safety!

I saw 14.5 as a starting load and 16 as a max. I think 10 would be way too low for it to be worth using. It tends to leave a good bit of "leftovers" in the barrel if not up to it's pressure range. It is a magnum powder so before dropping it that low I would switch to a medium burn rate powder. When you get it up into it's range, it does pretty good, but then hits pressure signs before reaching velocitys that the ball powders will do. I really like the way it smells when you get into it's upper pressure range.

[3sharps]

Boy, did I have a typo, it should be 12.5 grains of 4227. The bullets measure .358 diameter. They are from Acme Bullet casting.

[donhuff]

2 aint no where near 9.........you have really big fingers!

That sounds like a good combo. Is that what you measured the bullet at, or what they say it should measure? anyway, you need to slug that barrel, but most rossis come in at close to .357. I get good accuracy with mid range loads of 6.0 Unique and 8.6 800X with 358429 lyman at .359". And 13.5g 2400 and the same slug for a max loading.

[3sharps]

I shoot Black Powder Cartridge out to 1000 yards so I know I am a better shot than what I am getting with the Rossi. I don't expect it to compare with my Sharps but 6 inch groups at 100 yards would be acceptable. Is there anything that I could do with the rifle? Wind chill of -45 tomorrow and Monday so I won't be testing for awhile.

[44WCF]

Hodgdon lists the range as 10.5-11.5gr or H4227 with a 158gr lead SWC. are you using a gaschecked bullet? do you know the hardness of these bullets?

your load is probably around 20,000CUP or a bit more, if it's a very soft non-checked bullet you might still be pushing too hard, if it's a hardcast bullet you might need more pressure for it to shoot well.

*edit* I just checked Acme Bullet's site and found the answers to most of my questions. they list the brinell hardness at 16 so your pressure is close but the bullet might like about one more grain of powder to get it in the 22-23K range. (beware that this is above the powder manufactures recommendations). if varying the load doesn't help then the issue might be because this is a bevel base bullet. you might want to try out a similar flatbased bullet.

[mr surveyor]

Boy, did I have a typo, it should be 12.5 grains of 4227. The bullets measure .358 diameter. They are from Acme Bullet casting.

we both have that affliction .... I meant to say "isn't 19 (not 10) grains of 4227 a compressed load?"

I have an excuse what with being "digitally challenged" (short chunky fingers) when it comes to typing, not to mention developing a case of early senior lesdyxia

[donhuff]

I shoot Black Powder Cartridge out to 1000 yards so I know I am a better shot than what I am getting with the Rossi. I don't expect it to compare with my Sharps but 6 inch groups at 100 yards would be acceptable. Is there anything that I could do with the rifle? Wind chill of -45 tomorrow and Monday so I won't be testing for awhile.

I wondered when I say your "call sign" so now we know your not just a blaster! I hope that 92 doesn't change you..............mine did it to me

6" at 50 sez something is way off. Tell us more about your components and loading. Since you are already loading 357, I assume you have another gun for that bullet too? I suggest you make up a jacketed bullet load and give that a try to see how they do. Mine shoots jackets really well, but I hate to spend that much money to "fluff up" the dirt bank. So I cast.

I'm making a wild azz guess here, but because the rifling in these guns is on the slow side @ 1 in 30". And your load was pretty mild, it might not have stabilized. But 38 specials work good and they should be around that speed to a little slower(?)

Waiting for your next report.