.357 reloads for Uberti clones

blasterboy82 said:

I'm thinking of picking up a .357 Uberti Cattleman (1873 clone). One of the considerations will be the easy of reloading. I decided on the .357 since I already have a ruger .44mag Bisley-Vaquero.

I've been reloading for about 6 years now, but never for this type of revolver with so many "restrictions". (I've reload .44 mag, .45acp, .40s&w plus various rifle calibers).


I'm confuses as to the following issues relating to the Uberti clones (true and why?)
1) In these clones don't use HP bullets.
2) In these clones only use normal loads (what is "normal"? anything between the min and max of the chart?)
3) Keep lead bullets under 900fps.

Which are better bullets to reload for this pistol?
Hornaday lead: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=370674
Oregon Trail lead round nose: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=198208
Oregon Train lead Semi wad: http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct/?productnumber=214652

Thanks for your help. I also posted on the reloading forum.
Howard

Click to expand...

Well, first thing is - any load that doesn't exceed the established SAAMI pressures (not +P, but "ordinary" pressures0 for a .357 Magnum will be OK. The guns are proofed for the round marked as what they are chambered for, so any .357 Magnum round or load (other than loads of a +P nature) will be OK.

Reason for keeping lead bullets at or below 900 FPS is faster loads are likely to lead the bore heavily. If you want faster lead bullets, use gas checked examples and cast them REAL hard. And still expect (or at least don't be surprised by) considerable leading. Might even strip (or jump if you prefer that terminology) the rifling (as in the bullets strip and come out land diameter and not spinning normally), with adverse effects omn accuracy.

Ain't got a clue about not using HPs in the Uberti 1873 clones. Never heard that and can't think of a single reason for it to be a problem.

Oh - best bullets are the ones that turn out to work best for what you are doing, or (probably a better way to decide) the ones your gun likes best and shoots more accurately. Revolvers shooting lead bullets are often like 22 rim fires and have preferences - this is why people do laod development, and it can be real frustrating until the right combo of bullet, powder and velocity is found for the particular gun.