Liberty mystic+ruger 77/357 = 300 black killer

[peytont]

No gas checks.

Lots of lead build up. I've only dipped my can once so far and it had pretty bad build up. Don't get me wrong though, you could probably shoot 2000rnds though it before you saw and degredation in performance.

I clean my barrel by shooting 5 shots of full house FMJ 357 mag though it and the can, thats it.

I thought about trying the 300 grainers but this has worked so well I don't want to push my luck. Maybe at some point I'll get a custom barrel with a faster twist and give them a try.

Next update will be terminal performace on game (deer and pigs). I'm interested to see how the bullets perform.

[jandbj]

Thanks for the input. Looks like I'll try the loads w/o gas checks w/o my can. It's an all aluminum unit & doesn't come apart for cleaning.

[peytont]

No issues. 100lb doe at 66 yards through lungs. Ran 30 yards and piled up.
In

Out

[JohnInNH]

My SBR form 1 is approved.. and my MGM 1:12 fast twist barrel is in.. shoots my 300 gr bullets like a dream! No leading with gc now that i don't have that POS T/C freebore chamber.

I sent MGM a dummy 300 gr round to cut the chamber to. Just right.

My 230 gr Thunderhead loads go super with the 2" longer barrel, but my 247 gr and 300 gr loads are OK. A little faster but still ok at 55 deg.

LilGun is the powder for the 300 gr bullet. American Select is fine with the 247 gr bullet, but to much pressure for the 300.

Now to engrave my frame... the 300 BLK Handi is heaver than my 16.25" T/C. Both the same size, but the T/C with the 300 gr bullets pack a lot more punch, and ES numbers in the single digits or low teens not 80+ like the BLK.

I love this gun! Thump...

[peytont]

My SBR form 1 is approved.. and my MGM 1:12 fast twist barrel is in.. shoots my 300 gr bullets like a dream! No leading with gc now that i don't have that POS T/C freebore chamber.

I sent MGM a dummy 300 gr round to cut the chamber to. Just right.

My 230 gr Thunderhead loads go super with the 2" longer barrel, but my 247 gr and 300 gr loads are OK. A little faster but still ok at 55 deg.

LilGun is the powder for the 300 gr bullet. American Select is fine with the 247 gr bullet, but to much pressure for the 300.

Now to engrave my frame... the 300 BLK Handi is heaver than my 16.25" T/C. Both the same size, but the T/C with the 300 gr bullets pack a lot more punch, and ES numbers in the single digits or low teens not 80+ like the BLK.

I love this gun! Thump...

John,
Lets see some pics of that badboy.

Funny you mention your form 1 mine was approved friday. I'll have my ruger to the smith tomorrow. I'll have pics up and range report ASAP.

I'll be hunting again in a couple weeks and i'll try and shoot another doe. Just ordered another 250 count box of hunters cast bullets. Mine gets shot a lot!

[peytont]

My smith is all backed up with work so I took it hunting again before the cut down.

Javie approved

[jandbj]

Nice!

Dying to see it as an SBR.

[peytont]

Its done. And its so awesome. Ended up being 10.5".



I'll try and chrono some of the same loads I've been shooting through the new short barrel and see how much it slowed down. I'll be hunting all weekend so I'll try and shoot some more critters with it as well.

[jandbj]

HOLY HELL! That is just awesome!

[Artful]

Very Nice - notice any increase in noise compared to longer barrel?

[weaponsloader]

That is drop dead sexy

[peytont]

It works! 91 yards.

[ohnomrbillk]

Looking forward to your SBR velocities

[peytont]

Very Nice - notice any increase in noise compared to longer barrel?

None that I can hear. I bet you could pick something up with a meter. Remember, it could be more quiet, some suppressor designs work better with higher pressures.

I should be able to do some chrono work this week. I'm also interested to hear and see how some heavy 357 mag does with the shorty barrel.

It still shoots the same. Here are 5 shots, 8" plate, at 100 yards, kneeling over a mesquite tree.

[bkoski]

That is one beautiful rifle, peytont! Bought a 77/357 on impulse after reading this thread.

[btb601]

I've been wanting one of these for a while now. Specially since I am a little disapointed with my AAC 9". Seems to loud still. I have a Octane coming sometime first of the year. Now to find one in stock and for a good price.

[jandbj]

I've been wanting one of these for a while now. Specially since I am a little disapointed with my AAC 9". Seems to loud still. I have a Octane coming sometime first of the year. Now to find one in stock and for a good price.

You won't regret buying one of these! By far my most fun host after the rimfires.

[smilner01]

I've been looking at one in my LGS for a while, my Mystic won't be in until Feb. or March but I am getting afraid if I don't jump on it that I'll miss out. Still a little torn between the Ruger and the .357 Handi rifle though.

[jandbj]

I've been looking at one in my LGS for a while, my Mystic won't be in until Feb. or March but I am getting afraid if I don't jump on it that I'll miss out. Still a little torn between the Ruger and the .357 Handi rifle though.

If you're going to narrow it down to 2 hosts to choose between in 357 mag or max, make it 77/357 vs Contender (or Encore). The quality of the barrel on the handi in 357 isn't in the same league. 300 Blk handi is a different story.

[peytont]

I was able to do some chrono work today.

10 shots of my standard 246gr load averaged 973.5fps with an Es of 14.74 and a Sd of 4.47.

I also tried some mag rifle primers. 10 shot average 968.6 with an Es of 20.22 and a Sd of 5.74.

Right before I had the barrel chopped this same load, the first one, through my 16" barrel averaged right at 1000fps. So looks like I lost ~25fps total. I'll probably bump up the charge on my next batch of ammo and try and get back to 1000fps.

In addition, I thought the rifle primers might help with Es and Sd but looks like it might have made things worse, oh well.

[sopootto]

I was able to do some chrono work today.

10 shots of my standard 246gr load averaged 973.5fps with an Es of 14.74 and a Sd of 4.47.

I also tried some mag rifle primers. 10 shot average 968.6 with an Es of 20.22 and a Sd of 5.74.

Right before I had the barrel chopped this same load, the first one, through my 16" barrel averaged right at 1000fps. So looks like I lost ~25fps total. I'll probably bump up the charge on my next batch of ammo and try and get back to 1000fps.

In addition, I thought the rifle primers might help with Es and Sd but looks like it might have made things worse, oh well.

Great thread, Im liking the hell out of this 357/38 sp set up. I know this is dumb to ask, but what does "Es and Sd" stand for?

[Bendersquint]

I was able to do some chrono work today.

10 shots of my standard 246gr load averaged 973.5fps with an Es of 14.74 and a Sd of 4.47.

I also tried some mag rifle primers. 10 shot average 968.6 with an Es of 20.22 and a Sd of 5.74.

Right before I had the barrel chopped this same load, the first one, through my 16" barrel averaged right at 1000fps. So looks like I lost ~25fps total. I'll probably bump up the charge on my next batch of ammo and try and get back to 1000fps.

In addition, I thought the rifle primers might help with Es and Sd but looks like it might have made things worse, oh well.

Great thread, Im liking the hell out of this 357/38 sp set up. I know this is dumb to ask, but what does "Es and Sd" stand for?

Extreme Spread
Standard Deviation

[peytont]

I'll be testing 300 grainers this weekend. The bullets are 1.227" long. The COAL is just short enough to fit in the mag and function. Not sure on a powder charge. I'll probably try 4.5gr of W231 and see what that gives me.


I hope they work. They chamber fine and feed from the mag perfectly. My calculations with the factory 16 twist says it should stabilize, If they don't I'll have a new barrel on the way with a faster twist ASAP.

[Kdog]

Peytont

Glad to see you brought back this topic. I have a 77/357 in the safe waiting to Form 1 and just received shipping notice of my SWR Octane 45 heading to my dealer. I look fwd to seeing if that huge chunk lead will stabilize before i get too far in to the project and would need to rebarrel as you stated. Anyways keep us informed.

[peytont]

I loaded up 20 rnds with 4.3gr W231 to test stability. I shot 2 of them, into the mud on the edge of the tank, without my can on. Both shots had signs of high pressures, stiff extraction and primers were really flat, so I quit shooting them. I have no idea how fast they where going since I didn't have my can on. I'll drop the load down to 4.0 gr and take my chrono next time. I'm beginning to wonder if this will work. Anybody have any load ideas? I might have to switch to a faster powder.