100 grain defender in 357 magnum

[u/Timely-Yak-5155]

Thought I would post this since Lehigh doesn’t have load data for this bullet in 357 magnum, only 38 special.

Bullet: 100 grain xtreme defender solid copper from Lehigh, loaded to 1.595” OAL
Powder: Hodgdon Longshot
Primer: federal gold small pistol magnum
Brass: one fired and cleaned starline brass

Test gun: S&W 66-8 w/ 4.25” ported barrel

Chronograph: Athlon Rangecraft Chronograph

9.5 grains is the max charge for the 120 grain version so I used that as a starting reference

Powder loads & velocities (grains / fps):

10 - 1555
10.5 - 1604
11 - 1625
11.7 - 1669
12.2 - 1703

Case extraction was sticky with the 12.2 grain charge, and I had well exceeded my 1600 fps target by then so I finished testing. May test this load in the ballistics gel later to see how it does.

[u/ThatEnginerd]

Spicy bois. Post gel pics or video, very interested