[corky]

Friends:

Many years ago I purchased, primarily out of curiosity, a few boxes of sale priced Remington .357 Multiball loads (two 70 gr. 000 buckshot at 1150 fps). I fired several through a Ruger SP101 at 15 to 20 yards and noted that they struck within two inches of POA. However, then I heard/read so many criticisms of this ammunition as a useless, inaccurate boondoggle, I put the remaining rounds away and almost forgot about them.

Then this week I brought my 5" S&W Model 27 to the range with a few of these to try once more. Although I again fired only a few rounds, I was surprised by the accuracy still evident. At 10 yards both buckshot struck POA , a two-inch red circle. At 20 yards one ball was in the red, the other 3/4" to the right. Then at 25 yards the two buckshot struck 3" low but within 2" of each other. Recoil was very mild, in the .38 Sp. range. I was impressed. Has anyone here had a similar experience with this load?

R357M is now out of production; however, for home defense, especially in the hands of a recoil sensitive person, I do see a role for it. I plan to hang on to the two boxes I have unopened. --c

 

[twoguns]

Mr. Corky,

Man you are taking me back some years now, thanks. I had practically forgotten about these loads.

No sir, I have no personal experience with them as a home defense round. But I too have to agree, it would certainly sound promising for someone who is very recoil sensitive. Hopefully some other member will have done some testing or perhaps used these as self-defense rounds.

Interesting post sir.

twoguns

 

[demented]

I load my own using Speer plastic shot capsules with three number one size buckshot. What practical use these have is debatable, never ran any penetration tests. I may try some copper plated buckshot, push them a little faster, see what they will do. From my use of buckshot in shotguns, plated buck is harder and will usually penetrate quite a bit deeper with the same velocities as non plated loads.

 

[BarryinIN]

Wow, I had forgotten about those until now. Didn't they offer it in 38 Spl and 357?
I don't remember seeing it anywhere but their catalog back then, and once wondered if they ever actually made ANY. But I guess they did.

 

[Guest]

Here is a link to Penn Bullets and their .357 100 grain double-end bevel-based wad cutter.

http://www.pennbullets.com/38/38100dbbwc.html

The writeup mentions putting two of these in a .357 Mag case. I have a small bag full of these and I'll try it soon with my 6-1/2" barrel Blackhawk.

 

[elb]

Jeepers, I too had forgotten about the Remington multi-ball loads, but I just went and looked in the .357/.38 ammo stash, and I still have a couple boxes too. I always thought they might lose a lot in velocity over any kind of distance, maybe I can chrono them some day and find out.

Thanks for reminding me!

elb

 

[pff]

The ballistic coefficient of a round ball is pretty poor; they lose velocity fast.

I have some small experience with 000 buck on deer. Typically most of the pellets penetrate to the offside hide on broadside chest hits at close range.

Regards,

Pat

 

[corky]

Yes, Remington did make a .38 Special multi-ball load. Velocity supposedly in the 900 fps range, if memory serves. I'm certain that both the .357 and .38 loads do lose velocity quite rapidly, but if accuracy is good, then these soft lead balls should be effective at close range without over penetration. And as I mentioned, the .357 version had mild recoil. Might be a reasonable choice for an anti-mugger load in a J-frame.

ELB, I'd be very interested in any chronograph results. --c

 

[Guest]

Here is an interesting link to Gunblast.com's snake-stopper article. It makes mention of the Remington multi-ball load.

http://www.gunblast.com/Snake_Stopper.htm

Cousin Melvin uses their multi-ball round against both a rattlesnake and a feral dog in one week!

 

[elb]

Corky -- I was wondering what to do with the multi-ball ammo - chronographing might be fun. I wonder how the chrono will react to multiple objects going by - I am assuming that much like shotgun pellets, the multi-balls will be traveling in close formation at short range, so maybe it will look like one blob to the chrono sensors....

Might be a few days before I get some chrono'ing weather. Right now we have freeze warnings (of course, I planted a garden last week), possibility of sleet/snow/ice. It is raining, very cold, and miserable outside. What is this?! This is supposed to be south Texas in the spring! The only reason the 100+ degree summers are worth tolerating is for the nice mild winters and wonderful springs! Grrr....

elb

 

[corky]

I too have been wondering about possible problems involved in choreographing mulitple projectiles. Has anyone on this forum had experience doing so? --c