Fellows. I'm in need of powder recommendations. I'm loading Hornady 158gn XTP bullets for a S&W Model 65... 357 mag. I will be using 357 brass so I do not need 38spl data.

Would like to load to the high side of mid range velocities (1100fps?) but I'm not sure about powders that can get me there.

I had "planned" on using ww231 OR Solo 1000(because I have alot on hand) but from my internet "readings" those 2 powders are ... not ideal.

Thoughts?

I don’t know about Solo 1000 but I will agree that while W231 is a fine powder, it is a bad choice for this task.

H110 is a great choice if you want absolute top end but they warn about reducing it, so skip H110/W296 also. Alliant 2400 would be more friendly here.

But in looking at the powders I use and love, I think a great suggestion for middle/high where you want to be would be Hodgdon Longshot.

My opinion is that, all around, considering everything, you can’t beat #2400.

I would take a hard look at CFE Pistol. It's a tiny bit slower than Unique and Universal, meters like water, and has copper fouling remover built in...CFE stand for copper fouling eraser.


Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

You might try the Hornady book; usually has plenty of data for their bullets.

I like 2400 for that bullet. 13.5 grains got me 1093 FPS. That was out of a 4 in barrel model 19.
David

I'll second that, 2400 is tough to beat and works well with standard primers.

I’d go with H-110 or 2400 with Small Pistol Magnum CCI primers

2400 will work great for you.

HS-6 would be a fantastic powder for your chosen load. Excellent mid range magnum performance, clean burning, accurate and plentiful around these parts.

Longshot would be another good powder for your needs but my personal choice would be HS-6

I like Blue Dot and LongShot for "just under" 357 magnum full house loads.

For mid range loads I like Unique. For powerful high speed loads H110 is hard to beat.

Best powder for .357 Magnum and Hornady 158 gr. XTP's has been Accurate Arms AA#9. I've tried 2400, Win 296, H110, and Blue Dot. All good choices except Blue Dot which I wouldn't use. AA#9 burns cleaner for me with less powder flakes and unburnt powder over the bench. My guns are a little cleaner at the end of the day. AA#9 and Hornady's 158 XTP's are the most accurate load for me in my revolvers and Marlin rifle. I shoot the same load in pistol and rifle. Use Accurate Arms data available on-line.

In the .357 Magnum the best "Starting" fast powder is Unique and anything slower burning just gets better for medium or fast loads.

I got Green Dot up to a medium load but the pressures were up there.
The faster powders work with the light 110 and 125gr bullets but that is where they cut out.

No use beating your gun apart to get fps with fast powders when the slower powders do it so much better, with the heavier bullets.

Save that 231 powder for light lead target loads and you will enjoy shooting that weapon more.

You will be just a bit below maximum, but Unique will get you to 357 Magnum Lite ( or would that be 357 Magnum -P ?) territory. Another good option would be 2400 and that would be well below maximum.

H110/W296 is a good powder, I've used plenty of it, but is suited only for maximum velocity loads. Reduced loads of H110/W296 lead to erratic burning of the powder, lots of unburned granules, and inconsistent velocities.

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I second HS-6/W540. Very versatile, clean and accurate.

I am in agreement with those recommending HS-6.

From my loading experience with 158 gr cast SWCs at 1100 + fps out
of a 4" S&W mod 28-2, 6.4 grs of 231 or 7.4 grs of Longshot will get you
there with less expense and muzzle blast than 13 or so grs of 2400.
Realize that at 1100 fps you are wasting money on JHPs that will not
expand when you could be using cast SWCs.

I've had great results using IMR4227 for top end loads in the .357 Magnum.

I’ve had very good results with Sierra’s accuracy load for the 158 gr in a 357 of 11.4 grains of AA #7. They list it as a midrange load at 1,150 FPS from a 6” Colt. Very accurate in my 4” model 66 but I’ve not yet chronographed it in my revolver.

In other reloading manuals (Lyman, Nosler, & Speer) this is listed as a maximum load for a 158 gr in the 357 magnum with velocities in the 1,260 FPS range. So start low and be cautious.

I would use 2400 . Blue Dot ,Longshot ,HS-6 will probably get you there but it will take a fair amount of testing . You have already been given a load using 2400 --- 13.5grs which I agree with . It's an old favorite of mine using cast lead bullets providing a little velocity / umphhh . Regards Paul

2400 would be my choice, it is terrific in the 357M.

Imo, w231 is too fast for 158/1100fps. I like 2400, but an upper medium burner like aa#7, PP, BE86, HS6 & LS would do well.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

The xtp will expand at 1100fps, but I agree, I am a cast bullet guy for all my revolver calibers, LHP will also expand quite nicely at 1100fps if the hp design & alloy is right.

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NRA Cert. Inst. IDPA CSO

I use 2400 for lower power loads, and w296 for barn burners. have a 2" j frame and with 296 feels like a stick of dynamite going off in your hand.
but you can load down with 2400 that's tolerable,

Fellows. Thanks. I "think" I'll look for the 2400 locally and give it a shot.

Would 2400 be a "good" powder for the 9mm and 45acp?

8 grains of Power Pistol or Herco do the job with your 158XTP's. I am loading some with Herco today, as matter of fact.

2400 would not be a desirable powder in 9mm or 45 ACP - they typically use a faster burner. WW231 for example.

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Regards,

Tom

Speaking of 357 magnum / 158 gr. XTP loads
Unique covers a wide range but not the best for top end .
Accurate #5
Accurate #7
Accurate #9
2400 is a good top end powder
H110 is classic top end powder .

The big question is ...what powder can you get ? Sometimes you have to use what's available . When 2400 and H110 disappeared for awhile and my dealer had a supply of Accurate powders ...opened my eyes to some good powders .
Gary

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I use 3N38, but there's more data for 3N37 and N350. Longshot will also do well in 45ACP and 9mm applications.

No, it’s too slow. If you have w231 already, it will work. There is data available for both those calibers using that powder.
David

Waaaaay too slow for 9x19 or 45 ACP. These pistol calibers call for fast to medium burning rate powders. Anything from Bullseye, W-231/HP-38, AA#2 up to HS-6, Blue Dot, or AA#7 would be appropriate.

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Fellows. Got to the range yesterday to try out 7.5gn of Unique with the 158gn XTP JHP's shot thru my Model 65-3 with its 3" barrel.

Shot at 7 and 10 yards, 2 hand hold...and Im not a handgunner.

Very impressed with the gouping... BUT at both yard lines the POI is low by maybe 2 inches. The fired cases were very clean and the recoil was...manageable. Have to admit I ONLY shot 15 rounds.

What can I do to center up the POI? My understanding is to try a heavier bullet BUT... I'm already using a 158gn one.

Thoughts?

Before buying a heavier bullet , I would ask someone else to shoot that load as well to see if they also had rounds 2" low . It could be the way you are seeing the sights . If it still shoots low , you could lightly file the top of the front sight , a slight amount which will raise the POI . YOu could also back off on the powder to just 7.0 grs of Unique . That 7.0 gr load of Unique is an old favorite of many including myself . I hope this helps , Regards Paul

Slow the powder down to raise your POI.

I load all of my 357 with either Unique or 2400. Can't go wrong with either on a Magnum round.

Except my 500S&W, I use XTP bullets for all my handgun hunting for just years. While I dont hunt too much any more I do keep some on hand for whatever serious purpose might come to be. In one form or the other, I use 800X behind the XTP bullet. It has never failed me and I have plenty on hand, just in case.
Oh yeah, as far as metering is concerned, my RCBS ChargeMaster has no problem with this powder. It was however a bit of a struggle before the ChargeMaster came along, but it got done.

For what you want to do, agree with 2400, HS-6, and AA#9. They will all give you great results.

There are better powders for 9mm and 45ACP, but if you want one powder to use for 357, 45 ACP, and 9mm, consider CFE pistol. I've used it in all those calibers and it performs well and is very clean.

Generally speaking though, you're better off getting different powders for different jobs. You want to cover the range of burn rates depending on what cartridges you're loading.

FWIW, I settled on Power Pistol for my “slightly less than maximum” loads in .357 Magnum revolvers. It provides a little more performance than Unique and is cleaner than CFE Pistol with cast bullets. With jacketed bullets, I usually go with W-296/H-110, Accurate No. 9 or Alliant Power Pro 300-MP. Power Pistol also can be used for top end loads in 9mm, .38 Special and .45 ACP.

As already posted, 2400 is too slow for either of those 2 calibers.

You will find that 357 Mag performs very well with a whole bunch of different powders which have been mentioned above. If you want a powder that can give you 1100 ft/sec 357 Mag loads and also be useable for 9MM and 45 Auto, you can look at some of the quicker powders mentioned such as Accurate #7, Longshot, CFE Pistol and even Blue Dot with heavier 9MM bullets. Of those, I tend to prefer Longshot as I have found it to give good performance in a variety of different calibers and it meters better for me than Blue Dot. Accurate #7 meters very well but I personally haven't shot it much in 357 Mag. I also haven't shot much HS6 so I will not comment on it's suitability and defer to the folks that have used it in 357.

for a trifecta, keep this on hand

Bullseye, Unique, 2400