Lots of times I have a build up of small amounts of interesting information that is really not enough for a full article each in itself...so we do bits and pieces....

As my readers know well I have been testing a true rifle in a handgun. Starting life as a Ruger 357 Bisley...it was rebuilt and customized by Gary Reeder and rechambered into a 356 GNR. Plus a 357 magnum standard cylinder was also fitted. The cartridge design of the 356 is a 41 magnum necked down to a 35 caliber. Normally one wouldn’t believe the increase in velocity would really be that much over a hot loaded 357 mag round. I certainly didn’t at first. I was looking for equal ballistics to the short lived 357 Maxi heavy loaded. Well as we know from data already published in my earlier tests...the 356 came out way ahead of even the 357 Maxi. The interesting thing is some of the 356 loads from the Ruger SA actually surpass the velocities I get from my Winchester 357 magnum model 94 levergun! Why? What is this magic? It just doesn’t seem logical...but of course it isn’t, it is scientific.

The cartridge case of the 356 is a 41 mag case necked down in such a way it gives maximum powder room, and even so, being a neck/shouldered case it doesn’t have the old habit of necked revolver cases of hard ejection...sticking in the chambers after firing. I have fired some heavy pressure loads thru the gun without that happening. Over loads will do it...but so will over loads with straight sided cases...with a standard 7.5 inch Ruger barrel my tests with W296/H110 were eye opening. And in these tests this ball powder did give better ballistics than my old standby 2400, with one small exception.

This cartridge is one of those nitch rounds, a nitch round for a very narrow purpose. It is a hunting round, for small thru medium game at very long range for a handgun. It is one of the flattest shooting revolver rounds I have worked with. With a 180 grain bullet (blunt round nose) set to strike at 100 yards 3 inches high....it is on at 150 yards and down only 5.5 inches at 200 yards, in actual range tests.

Why such wonderful drop figures...easy this cast bullet leaves the barrel at 1818 fps, and that is near 630 ft lbs of energy that bullet is still carrying at 200 yards! Down 21 inches at 250 yards with 540 ft lbs of energy. Very close by the way to the trajectory tables in Speer’s Reloading Manual (#11) pg.527. A little better at 200 yards then their FMJ 180 grainer because the shape of my cast round nose is better. The LBTs are a little worse than Speer’s figures. But these are meaningless differences...because it is so flat to start with....oh yeah, this load’s muzzle energy is 1320+ft.lbs....you should see what it does to five water filled milk jugs in a row.

I always get the same question in my E-Mail when I quote figures like this, would I shoot an elk with this load...what are you doing next Thursday?

Like always it is up to the bullet, it’s performance, and our ability to deliver that bullet to a vital spot with enough power at the target...to penetrate deeply and disrupt flesh, bone, and organs. On bigger animals like elk, that takes a 180 grain to 200 grain bullet. 24.5 grains of H110 pushes the 180 cast at 1818 fps. That is an absolutely absolute top load....23.5 grains pushes a 180 grain JHP (Remington) at 1710 fps, that is a top load also. But it is the 158/160 grain bullets that shine for long range small game like deer and such.

The Gold Dot is the best of the bunch I tested. These Gold Dots tend to expand at lower velocities, yet still stay together at very high velocities. I learned this with the 35 Remington Marlin leveraction. The absolutely top sticky extraction load with this bullet in the 356 Reeder/Ruger was 25.5 grains of H110 for 1950 fps. Dropping to 25 grains the sticky extraction cleared up...but again this is just a hunting load, much too warm for sustained use. Dropping to 24.5 gives 1804 fps, two inch groups off the bench @ 100 yrds. And it’s the best accuracy/velocity combination. At that velocity this Gold Dot will do everything it will at 1950 fps, at a good deal less pressure.

With ball powder this cartridge has a very narrow pressure curve from good loads to overloads. At 22 grains of H110 the cast 180 gr/bullet was leaving smoke on the neck of the case...2 and ½ grains more gave very sticky extraction. I recommend if you are going to reload for this round, to find the best loads in your gun...go by half grains at the most! And that brings up another important point...as friend John Taffin says so eloquently, "every gun is a law unto itself..". What my Ruger may take, may not be what yours may take. Especially when you remember this is a wild/wildcat of a cartridge. Unknown waters folks...if you are getting a 356, load up carefully and slowly. I wouldn’t start with any slow powder, (H110/2400/4759/4227), with more than 23 grains with light bullets...and or over 21 grains with heavy bullets. Again working up with half grain increments.

Strange that the Cast Performance 200 grain LBT bullet over 23 grains of H110 gave higher velocities than the 180 with 23.5 grains. Never did figure that one out...must be efficiency of the powder burn. But the load that will allow sustained use and is in rifle levels of velocity is the 147 Grain Gilded Hollow Point that is made for the 9mm. When pushed at these pressures the bullet obturates very well in the barrel and accuracy is very good. Three and a half inches at 100 yards with a muzzle velocity of 1980 fps. But this time it is 2400 that is the powder of choice. 24.5 grains is the top load with this bullet. The overload actually broke way over 2100 fps but it is not safe.

So far what have I learned is that this cartridge needs very slow powder..it uses loads from 23 grains to 25 grains with bullets from 125 grains to 200 grains (with H110 and 2400), in velocity levels from 1700 fps to just under 2000 fps. Next is a test session with SR 4759...and I’ll let you know how it works out....and when I get a 357 magnum T/C barrel rechambered to 356 Reeder, we will set it up to be used with the Ohler Chrono/pressure/velocity tester...and then I can get a firm handle on the pressures we are really working with. Right now I feel we are in the 45,000 to 47,000 psi levels with some loads. The original loading pressure for the 357 back in 1935 was 47,000 psi. The steel in today’s Rugers, and the strength in these single actions, easily allows the same pressure for 41 mag sized cartridge cases. Plenty of steel in the chambers...

I have enjoyed many handguns in my long life...but this 356 Reeder/Ruger is certainly up there with the best of them. You want one special hunting handgun with a wildcat cartridge that gives rifle velocities...yet also with a 2nd. cylinder chambered for a standard round? I’m sure the 356 will give you some of the same enjoyment and potential in the field it gives me.

Speaking of pressure there is always a question popping up on the discussion boards about 45 colt/Ruger loads and their pressures...here’s what we have found, 18.5 grains of 2400 under a 260 grain cast bullet gives 24,500 cup...20/2400/260K is in at 28,500 cup...the first gives under 1250 fps and the second gives over 1350 fps. 22/2400/260 K is 33,000 cup and 1442 fps from my Ruger 45 colt. 11 grains of Unique with same bullet is 1050 fps and 24,000 cup...we were surprised at that pressure. 8 grains of Bullseye gave 1000 fps and 25,000 cup. That is surprising because we have found 45 Colt/255 grain commercial rounds loaded in 1916 with 8 grains of Bullseye and they were used in the old US Army single actions. The common load was 6 grains back then for 750 fps and 19,000 cup. Our pressure testing with Bullseye was done in balloon headed cases....with the 8 grain load, regular Federal cases with 9/Bullseye/ 260 K gave 1111 fps and 29000 cup. And this is a fast pressure curve...fine for Rugers but I wouldn’t use it in Colts of any age and their clones. Fast pressure curves take more of a toll on a gun, then slow powder pressure curves at the same pressure levels.

7.5 grains of WW231 and the Keith bullet gives 700 fps plus and 16,000 cup. Go to 8.5 grains and it is 880 fps and 17,500 cup. 231 is much slower than Bullseye...too many folks think it is basically the same...it isn’t...read my powder profiles on both.

18.5/2400/280 grain cast bullet gives just under 1200 fps and 27,900 cup. 300 grain LBT 16.5 grains of 2400 gives 1000 fps...18.5 grains gives 1190 fps at 29,000 cup. All velocity tests were fired in my short barreled Ruger 45 colt, pressure with the Ohler.

PACO’s Elusive Book.....IT IS DONE!!!!!! Now to the publishing...that is sometimes worse then the writing. Except I can’t say writing is tough...I love it. I’ll keep everyone appraised of the publishing progress.

I spent some time with friend Gary Sitton and his wife the other day...Gary has moved back to the Tucson area...and is doing well. He wanted me to say Hi to everyone for him.

I have had the opportunity to fire Gary Reeder’s incredible 475-70 Marlins. They are the ultimate big game leverguns. He does extensive work to the owner’s Marlin 45-70. Not just changing the barrel, which he does...but also the loading tube...and it’s attachments. Much work has to go into the action to cycle the big round, also changing lifters, opening side walls, all kinds of stuff. As usual I don’t understand how Gary does it so economically. Much less than a FA mod. ‘97. I’m not quoting the price I was told, because each gun is some what different, and the options are plenty....look at the pictures of my Reeder/Marlin 45-70 and you can get the idea, (photos in the article in back issues). Or click on the Reeder link on sixgunner.com....

I want to thank all my readers on sixgunner.com...you all have been very kind and encouraging. I try to get the E-mail you send me out as soon as I can...but sometimes life gets very busy...if your answer doesn’t come within 10 days or so...hit me again.... I am running around 25-30 E-mails a day that need some kind of answer...out of the 50 or so I get each day. Thank You and God bless....Paco