I've come across 10 boxes of Hornady's 180 grain XTP's and can't seem to find any good load data. I currently have Unique and H4227 to work with. I kinda doubt Clays or 231's gonna do it.

The handgun involved will be a Ruger GP100 6 inch. I know, it's not a Smith but I beg forgiveness. The offer was too good to pass up.

Those heavy .357 caliber slugs found favor in metallic silouette shooting. Favored powders include WW 296, H110, 2400, H4227, and similar slow-for-pistols-powders.

Try the Hornady site for load data.

Here's some data that covers more than one kind of powder.

I won't say what I use, because it's loaded for a Handi rifle and its longer than your revolver will handle.

This is an example of the accuracy potential the 180 XTP has at 100 yards.

My Sierra book shows an accuracy load for their 180 grain bullet with Blue Dot (8 grains max).

As mentioned 296/110, 4227, 2400 would be better if high velocity is wanted.

Unique is about the fastest powder to use for 180's in the 357. (5.2-6.6 Sierra data with their 180 bullet)

My Nosler #4 shows H4227 to be the most accurate powder for their 180 grain bullet (12-13 grains, with 13 being the most accurate).

Hornady 1997 book shows 12.4-15.1 of IMR4227 for the 180 Silhouette bullet.

You will have fun shooting those in your Ruger.

I have very good results with 180gr XTPs in .357 mag. with AA#9 and standard small pistol primers.
http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerCaliber2Guide/Han...20100%20to%20102.pdf

Alliant 2400. Everything you need for heavy bullets and nothing you dont.

lil gun or 4227 works well with 180 gr. bullets. Hodgdon has some good data on their website.

I have shot a lot of the 170-180 grain bullets in my .357 and really like them. They were my standard bullet for carrying in the woods before I got my .44 Mag.

I forgot to mention my .357 mag barrel lengths are 2.75" and 4"

I shoot 180gr Hornady XTP bullets mostly in my Marlin 1894C but sometimes in my 4" M686 too. I was using H110/W296 for a while until I gave Lil'Gun a try. With a heavy bullet in a .357 Magnum it's my opinion there is no better powder. You get higher velocities with lower pressures and the rounds are very accurate and clean. You won't believe how accurate and clean heavy .357 Magnum rounds produced with Lil'Gun are.

CD, have done much shooting in your 686 with Lil'gun ?

quote:

Originally posted by jibjab:
CD, have done much shooting in your 686 with Lil'gun ?

Sorry, not yet but I wouldn't be worried about shooting it in my revolver. Since it creates less pressure than most other powders it won't beat up the revolver as much. So far I've shot most of the Lil'Gun rounds from my Marlin.

I will be carrying my 4" M686 a lot in the summer while fishing so I will be shooting it more with the heavy bullets for practice. If something decides it wants to eat me I would rather have a heavy bullet in my .357 Magnum than a light one, especially since it will be traveling as fast as the lighter bullet.

Sorry I don't have any chrono data yet or I would post it for you. I can't wait until the weather breaks so I can check out that load and a few other things I'm working on.

I whacked a nice buck a few years ago with my 10" Contender...here are two loads I worked up with your bullets.

Bob
180gr. Hornaday XTP/HP
12gr. H-110
Win Mag Primer
New Win Brass
Firm Crimp
10" Contender--1,210 f.p.s.

180gr. Hornaday XTP/HP
14gr. H-110
Win Mag Primer
New Win Brass
Firm Crimp
10" Contender--1,380 f.p.s.

Using Cast Performance 180 gr WFNGC hard cast bullets, (and not the Hornady XTP's), I have shot Lil Gun in my 4" 686-3, and although the accuracy was decent, the powder burned very dirty in a 4" barrel, and the velocity was barely over 1000 fps. I switched to 9.5 gr of Blue Dot with the 180 gr Cast Performance bullets, and the Blue Dot burns very clean, and the avg velocity is 1245 fps. The Nosler Reloading Manual, Number 3, lists the 357 mag 180 gr silhouette bullet load with 9.5 gr of Blue Dot as a max load. I do not get any pressure signs with this load with the hard cast 180's. This is my woods carry gun/load.