Just ordered a RAW HMX .357

[jvanschoonhoven]

For my first big bore or mid bore airgun I decided to go with a RAW HMX .357 Decided to go all in on this one and just buy once and cry once.. or many times as I think about paying for the rifle scope and bipod lol.
Anyway I was wondering if any of you guys own this rifle and if so have you shot any cast bullets with it? I have cast a lot for powder burners but never for an airgun so am trying to figure out what mold I should get and what kind of accuracy I can expect.

Thanks

[Motorhead]

Hope it can make the power your hoping shooting slugs ?
Excellent guns tho can't say ever reading about them being real high power in the larger calibers

[steeve]

Yeah, don't know if you can get enough air to push a slug with that one.  I just called on a used one that claims only 715 fps and low 90s for power, using the JSB pellet.  My 30 impact does better than that.  Maybe you can adjust the reg and/or valve to get more out of it.  I don't see any point in getting a 357 with only 90+ foot pounds.

[Dairyboy]

The new RAW .357s are regulated at 130fpe now. I think you'll love it I get my .30 HM1000X tomorrow and can't wait! 

[dyotat100]

Yeah not a slug shooter for sure. 130 fpe is only 850 fps with the JSB.

There were a few at EBR. When shooting the steel target part it sounded like a 25 hitting the target.

[jvanschoonhoven]

I'm not looking for a lot of power just want to be able to cast my own ammo. I'll probably shoot jsbs and the preditor pollymags. Martin at RAW told me that keeps knows several people shooting slugs but because they are slower they only shoot them out to 50 yards. Also said this can be tuned with the jsb to shoot between 850 and 900fps. Hopefully I'll be happy with my choice.

[Gut2Fish]

You can still cast pellets. The mold costs a pretty penny but if your a plinker and like to cast it will save in the long run. Heck, skip the pellet mold ad cast 80 grain EPP. You can get an accurate mold made up. Mold 36-80B, that barrel is probably 9mm but he'll make the mold to what you want. http://www.accuratemolds.com/catalog.php?page=5

[Motorhead]

Hopefully I'll be happy with my choice.

As an owner of a RAW TM-1000 .... quality of the action and stock makes for a world class air gun, you will be thrilled on that alone !!
Worst case ... rebarrel to a lessor caliber.  Thats super easy to do too !!

[jvanschoonhoven]

If the 80gr EPP slug shoots halfway decent I would be happy shooting those. I would think I could shoot them at 800fps depending on how tight they fit in the barrel. Do most of you guys size your slugs after casting or just shoot them streight out of the mold?

[Motorhead]

If the 80gr EPP slug shoots halfway decent I would be happy shooting those. I would think I could shoot them at 800fps depending on how tight they fit in the barrel. Do most of you guys size your slugs after casting or just shoot them streight out of the mold?

Your going to want SIZED for optimum consistency shot to shot.

[jvanschoonhoven]

That's what I figured was just wondering what you guys were actually doing. I size my cast bullets for my powder burners but some guys don't.

I would like to cast hollow points but don't know what will shoot well through this gun. I'll probably try and buy some first and see if I can find something that shoots well.

[Nomadic Pirate]

EPP/UG generally shoot really well and the match the JSB in weight, for a low powered .357 like the RAW I would concentrate on those two.

[KnifeMaker]

Most of us having great success with bullets in AG's size to apx. .0001 to .0003 over bore. People trying to buy bullet at .001-.002-.003 are having all kinds of problems.

You will have to slug the barrel. It's the only way you will every know where you need to be. 

Knife

[jvanschoonhoven]

Knife,
Do you know if these barrels are choaked and if so do you push the slug through the choke and size to that or do you slug and push out the chamber end?

[jvanschoonhoven]

EPP/UG generally shoot really well and the match the JSB in weight, for a low powered .357 like the RAW I would concentrate on those two.

So I have a 12 week wait before my rifle will be finished if you were me would you be confident enough to order molds for the EPP/UG  slugs and cast a bunch of them before the gun gets here?