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December 8, 2012
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I have been shooting store bought 357 watered down loads and my 38 handloads in my new to me dw. my end goal is to deer hunt with my own cast boolits loaded pretty hot. I have about 10 months to be ready for next year. I am working on the mold choice after I slug the barrel.
my question is, should I be worried about getting back closer to the true Magnum levels that the 357 was intended for? from every thing I read a dw should handle it right?
I really hate this tablet thingie acting like it knows what I am saying. the topic should have been dw instead of development.
September 10, 2010
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Load up all the "boilers" you want. A DW is built alot more solid than the other revolver
makers. Be safe and enjoy.
Without a beard you are no different from any woman or child.
December 8, 2012
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thanks dride i figured i would be ok but wanted to get others opinions.
September 10, 2010
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I remember my dad reloading 357 mag rounds and accidently using the data for the 357 rifle not the pistol. After a few rounds he noticed the recoil was more than normal and rechecked his data and figured it out. It was only about 30 left, the first 20 went OK so he finished them off with no issue. I don't recommend doing that but the gun handled it OK thankfully. Just a testament to the DW heavy duty construction.
Without a beard you are no different from any woman or child.
Dans Club
March 2, 2008
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DW revolvers in good condition should handle any heavy or max load listed for .357 Magnum. They are listed to handle Buffalo Bore commercial max loads as well
BTW-Fixed your Topic title for you
Steve
I went to a bookstore and asked the saleswoman "Were is the Self Help Section?" She said if she told me, it would defeat the purpose.
George Carlin
February 17, 2010
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If you are shooting cast bullets you will not reach maximun pressure levels as quickly as a copper jackets bullet. This is due to the fact that lead does not create the bullet/barrel friction that copper does. I've been shooting thousands of cast bullets in my 744VH8 for years. Lead will never wear out your barrel. I have a plinking load that sends a 265gr Kieth style bullet downrange @ an avg. of 1020fps. Very mild and easy to shoot. My whitetail load is a 310gr RNFP GC @ 1340fps. Not something you want to sit at the bench and run 50rnds. I have taken a micrometer and sat down to measure the difference between a Smith 629 and a DW. There is a significant difference in the thickness in the frame, cylinder, cylinder thickness, and weight. The DWs are very stout handguns and will take your magnum level loads with ease. Size your bullets so they will not fall thru the chamber mouth. More important than bore size. If your chamber mouths are smaller than your bore you will size the bullet down when firing and the results will be leading/poor accuracy. If you do your homework you will have a very accurate revolver w/cast bullets and your bore will shine like a mirror. Good luck.
November 23, 2008
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Greetings
The DW family of revolvers to include the caliber .357 were and still are subjected to very hot loads in the "Silly Wet" game and hunting that literally broke and still break other revolver brands.
My first year at the Silly Wets" my model 15-2 with a 10 " barrel underwent some tough pounding with a 180 gr gas check bullet and stiff loads of 296. The faster the bullet was pushed the more accurate the revolver shot. I did seat the bullet out to the first grease groove to pick up more case capacity and help keep the chamber pressure lower but that load would take down rams without fail as long as hit 1/4 the way up from belly line.
That same revolver still shoots as good as it did in 1982.
So as long as you stay within the sanity line of your revolver you will not need to worry. When cases begin to stick in the cylinders and primers look like they have been ironed out flat.. you probably are pushing fun to the limits. That is why the big frames were made. Those model 40's are all a .357 shooter could ever want. Well maybe a Marlin in 357 Supermag ! Or a 357/375 Winchester !
Mike in ILL 
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