Missouri 125gr Bullets And The M92

[Friscian]

Hello all, new guy here looking for some tribal knowledge regarding Missouri 125 gr truncated and round nose flat point bullets (cowboy style) ideally with the HiTec coating. I would like some midrange to light loads using Unique, Titegroup, or AA#2 or perhaps AA#7 as I have decent supplies of those powders.
My intended uses are plinking steel plates and general fun type shooting from 25-100 yards. In a perfect world I would have mostly midrange stuff 900-1300 fps ? And a mouse sneeze load perhaps using Missouris 105 grain that isn’t grouping for me for some reason. A light load with the 125gr would be okay too as I will be concentrating my efforts with them based on the more promising results I’m seeing with them vs the 105s.
Personal experience with the aforementioned components is what I’m looking for but I will entertain ideas pertaining to other characteristics such as o.a.l. etc as well , thanks.

[elkykid]

So, I believe you are shooting 38spl/357mag?
What actually are you shooting?

Here is some info I go from Missouri bullet that you might be interested in:






Cowboy, Target, & Bullseye velocities would be our 12 BHN bullets. If you are going to shoot the bullet less than approximately 850 fps you want to use the BHN 12 bullets. If you are above approximately 850 fps you want to use the BHN 18 bullets. Maximum recommended velocity on BHN
18 is 1400 fps. A Hi-Tek coated bullet could be ran aprox 200 fps faster.



I know that MB only stocks the 125RNFP in BHN 12. To get them in BHN18 requires a special run from them with minimum of 1000.

I shoot steel silhouette/target with my R92, 24" barrel, 38/357.
I am always shooting/testing at 100 yds. I try to shoot the lightest load possible that maintains good accuracy/grouping.
I am an old guy and those heavy loads hurt my shoulder at about 50 rounds
I have used Missouri Bullets 158G RNFP coated with the BHN18. Have had decent results.
I always use/load 357mag. I have used Titegroup and 231 mainly. Tested a little bit with unique but didn't have much luck.
Tried some 2400, need to try more.
I have shot some Hornady 125g XTP bullets with good results. (copper)
I recently got some Badman Bullets 157g RNFP, BHN16 coated bullets. Haven't tested them yet.
I believe I tried some MB 140g TC bullets but they didn't group well.

[GasGuzzler]

It's 1:30 twist so speed them up. Suggest using more of an original .38 Special/.357 Magnum bullet too ... 158 grains is usual. I wouldn't go below 140. 125 is a 9X19.

[Friscian]

Whoops my wordy post neglected to include identifying 38-357 as my chambering, glad you figured it out.
I have used some cast 158 GR SWC using 6.7 grains of Unique and my results were okay for my uses but the 125s were more accurate and I have many more 125s.
Previous experience with revolvers in 38-357 has demonstrated much less variation in group size from load to load. My Rossi is by comparison an odd duck accuracy wise.
I am used to more linear indicators accuracy wise when working up loads as in group sizes start getting better or worse as a result of heavier- lighter charges etc. This Rossi isn’t tracking for me for some reason. I even shot some groups with an accurate iron sight .22 to see if I am messing up and I got good groups with the .22.
I am missing something peculiar to this M92 hence my appeal.
I appreciate any insights that might weed out some variables so I can shorten this load development process, thanks.

[elkykid]

Are you shooting 38 spl or 357mag?
I would stay with 357 cases. It puts the bullet close to the rifling. Where the shorter 38 spl. cases are a bit further away so it has to make the slight jump.
What distances are you testing at? Shooting a pistol at 15-20 yds is much different than shooting rifle at 100.
Sort of tough to compare this to the revolver. I shoot a lot of 38spl. in an 1872 Open top and an 1873 SAA.

What barrel length is your rifle and what are you using for sights?
I shoot steel silhouette with a bunch of guys and everyone wants the 24" barrel guns for the sight radius.
How is your seating and crimping on your loads?
I tried a couple of rounds with Unique and I particularly didn't like it. I pretty much use titegroup and 231. Most of the time I shoot 158g RNFP bullets.
My rifle shoots Hornady 125g XTP copper bullets very well at 100yds. But the cost more than lead.

[Friscian]

Yes it’s a 38-.357 with a 20” round barrel and the stock sights. I have used mostly .357 brass with Unique and Titegroup, my crimps are a moderate roll crimp with the .357s and a taper crimp for the 38s. The .38s used Titegroup exclusively and were
loaded on my Dillon 550B . The .357s are currently being worked up using my old Rockchucker and a different set of dies than the Dillon.
My intention is to find a good load using .357 brass and then tool up the Dillon for that load. There’s 20” of snow on the ground here in MI so load testing is challenging right now. This is the time of year to stay in the cave and load for the upcoming seasons hence my seeking a shorter load development path at this time. You really haven’t lived until you add snowshoes to your range kit

[GasGuzzler]

I'm not a Unique fan, especially in a magnum. 6.7 grains of Unique under a 158 in .357 is not hot enough for a 1:30 twist. Even if you get the speed up with Unique, there's a lot of empty space in the case. A2400, Lil'Gun, H110, W296 are all better at .357.

[Czy_Horse]

I'm not a Unique fan, especially in a magnum. 6.7 grains of Unique under a 158 in .357 is not hot enough for a 1:30 twist. Even if you get the speed up with Unique, there's a lot of empty space in the case. A2400, Lil'Gun, H110, W296 are all better at .357.

My experience reloading straight wall cartridges is a near full case of powder, like I get using H110, is more accurate & consistent.
I get Positional Accuracy issues with light powder, low case volume charges. Powder could be sitting against the primmer or sitting against the bullet base causing the bullets impact at different points. In my experience, ES & SD chrono numbers close in as the case fill up.

[donhuff]

125 grain RNFP like the Lee mold drops, are very accurate and mild with a load of 231 / HP38 at 5.3 grains. very good at 50y and still quite good at 100y.

[MoMan]

125 grain RNFP like the Lee mold drops, are very accurate and mild with a load of 231 / HP38 at 5.3 grains. very good at 50y and still quite good at 100y.

don,
Is this load in a .38sp, or .357mag case?
Thankks!
MO