I'm feeling adventurous lately and would like to try something different. What is your favorite 357 magnum loads that offers great accuracy out of your guns?

Will with interest follow this thread. Will however not be describing my once upon a time favorite .357 Magnum load. That was whomped up in my younger more innocent (read that ignorant) years. Messed up a nice revolver. Now like Poe's raven, I say, "Never more!" Sincerely. bruce.

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For me in my K frames it's 13.5 gr. of A 2400 with a Speer 158 gr. LSWC Hpt or cast 158 gr. LSWC. Or in some cases a Hornady 158 gr. Hpt XTP. Just don't need full power loads in my 357's and these are very pleasant to shoot and accurate in my guns.

The Preacher

158 grain hardcast going about 1000 fps.

When I want a real magnum load I load 15.5 grs of H110 / W296 using Accurate molds version of the Lyman 358156 cast bullet . I crimp in the upper crimp groove . It's sits a bit deeper than std 158 gr cast bullets . It sits on top of the powder charge , maybe slightly compressed . I use a SP Magnum primer . It is very very accurate and plenty of power . My everyday " field " load is 7.5 grs of WSF (duplicates using 7.0 grs of Unique ) , same bullet std primer . My K-frame 357's still just as tight as the day I bought them . Regards Paul

We were talking about this the other day in "jimmyJ's" thread. Mine was is a 180 grain Hornady JHP over H or IMR 4227, I just could not remember how much! But the thread jogged my memory, 14.5 grains (14.7 is Hornady's current max for similar bullets) The JHP's were discontinued when the XTP's came out but for some reason I seem to have a good supply!

I developed the load for a Marlin 1894 C 18" carbine, but they soon became my favorite in my 28-2 4". They are super accurate in both guns and in my 28, which is mag-na-ported, the recoil feels like 146 gr Wadcutters in a model 10! this is a 1982 load, and back then I could routinely hit 4" clay pidgins at 100 yards (On a berm, not flying!) with much younger eyes!

Ivan

12.2gr AA#9 with a 158JHP, just over 200PF at ~70F.
Accurate - snappy, but not harsh.

Many good loads . First lets figure out just what you want ie hunting , casual plinking , self defense etc . Once thats done pick a bullet thats suitable for your intended purpose . Same with powders again depends on what you want to do . Tell us all that & we can help better . I'll tell you a little what I do with 357 .
I cast & shoot a good bit of my own . I mainly save jacketed for my CF rifles . For casual plinking a med fast like W231 , Unique / Herco , True Blue , Acc #5 , N340 will work & be more cost effective for lower power loads . For general field use / pests a med burner like Blue Dot , Silhouette / WSF , Acc #7 , N350 . For top velocity hunting H110 / W296 , MP 300 , 2400 , Enforcer / 4100 , Acc #9 .
Bullets in revolvers for pests I use LY 358439 when pushed hard is explosive varmit load . More penetration either the Keith 358429 , 358156 , hunting the LBT 160 WFNGC .
In a rifle / carbine the extra speed makes most 158 JHP's too explosive . I like the 180's either a good JHP or a WFNGC as they kill better @ 1700fps than 1100 from a revolver . Personally I limit my shots to 50yds pistol , 75yds with a long gun .

I have 2, 110jhp w/SR4756 & 125jhp w/2400. Because of how well they grouped at 100yds from my 19-3.

The 357 long case can be very accurate with the right bullet and powder load.

Two lead target loads that I like are with the 158 gr Lswc design with;
Trail Boss at ........ 788fps and HS6 for longer targets set at 1108 fps.

I have one 125 gr JHP load with w231 or CFEp at around 1221fps for small targets.

With the 158 XTP I load a practice and hunting load.......
SR4756 at 1235 fps for practice and the real deal with 2400 at 1340 fps.

Lots of other loads that we enjoy shooting, just depends on the distance, targets and amount of noise that your gun puts out.

I second the 15.5 296 and 358156; this load will shoot one hole groups threw my 6" GP100. 16.5 296 and 158gr JHP MAX Load also shoots real good, no pressure signs in my gun. I only shoot 158gr and heavier threw my .357's found them to generally shoot better than light bullets.

Sorry. All My magnums except the 22 Jet start with a 4. I really like 28 gr H110 and a 385 gr WFN by LBT in My .475 Linebaugh. Gets Your attention. First time at the new range uo here a couple of guys came over and asked " what the hXXX are You shooting?"So I showed them and then asked if They wanted to try it. No thanks.

For mid range loads I use 13gr of N110 and 158 gr jsp/jhp. For plinking and ringing steel, I use either Trail Boss or Tin Star with a 158 gr plated bullet. Both loads are easy on my revolvers and my wrists.

Lately I have been making a lot of one particular load that my Coonan loves and makes fantastic fireballs with. It’s a 158gr Zero JSP or a 158gr Montana Gold JHP over 18.0 grains of Alliant Power Pro 300-MP. I also run this in my 28-2.

I ran this load a bit over 18.0 grains on two different occasions and never got any excessive pressure signs except that the velocity topped off at 18.0 and did not increase, which is a fantastic bit of evidence that 18.0 was the sweet spot.

Small rifle primers and a firm roll crimp. These average 1,310fps from my 6-inch 1973-made S&W Model 28-2. The Montana Gold slugs run just ever so slightly faster, maybe 10fps.

With a 158gr JHP bullet I charge 16.4gr W296.
With a 158gr LSWC bullet I charge 9.2gr HS-6.

I use a CCI-550 Magnum SPP is used in both.

Always check data you find on the Internet for yourself. Mistakes can and will happen when writing numbers.

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I 2nd the HS6 load . I drop 9.3 grs using a 158 gr cast bullet . I don't have a chrono but it's pushing that 158 gr bullet plenty fast . I ALWAYS use a SP Magnum primer with HS6 . I like that load so much that I have used the better part of 4# of HS6 powder in that load . Regards Paul

thanks, everyone for sharing.

10.6gr A5.
!200fps laser accuracy.
Jim
125gr XTP or Berrys` 125gr plated. they hold up beautifully.

11gr AA #7.
Hornady 158g XTP 1280fps.
Bayou 158gn SWC 1375fps.
Both from a Ruger GP100 6".
Slightly better than laser accuracy.

Jim, what bullet weight?

This is my "pet" 357 magnum load , developed in 1971 for a new Ruger Blackhawk , 6 1/2" bbl. length
155 grain cast SWC w/ gas check , Lyman # 358156
sized to .358"
7.0 grains Unique @ 1098 fps w/ 6 1/2" bbl.

This is a good accurate load . Because of the gas check , the bullet doesn't have to be that hard ...
I still have the Blackhawk , we still go dancing and she's still in good tight shape ... this load will not beat a gun to death .
Gary

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For years I shot that 7.0 grs of Unique using the Keith 173gr swc , Lyman 358429. I shot it out of my first model 19 . A very accurate load with plenty of " hitting " power . I got that load after reading about a bowling pin match in the 70's in east texas . Some Louisiana state troopers came to the match using that load , shooting model 19's w/ 6" barrels . It was reported they had bowling pins flying all over the place . Regards Paul

I got that load out of the new 1970 Speer #8 Loading Manual ...
It was the Starting Load !
You don't want to know what the maximum load was ...
Gary

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Actually Gary , I have Speer #8 . I have never had a problem with the starting loads in that manual . Surprisingly , some of the loads in that manual are only equal to what we have today and some are less than quoted today , and yes some are unacceptable . Regards Paul

A few years ago I was out of H-110, so I tried IMR 4227 with a Hornady 158 gr. XTP. It worked out so well, it's been my "go to" .357 Magnum load since.

You would be BRAVE to ask and use internet data. Always use a current manual for your loads. Manuals list them from mild to wild.

My std 357 load is my cast 168 gr SWC pushed by #2400. not telling ya the charge.......What's good in mine may be bad in yours.

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S&W Accumulator

12.0-13.0grs 2400, under 158gr bullets. 12.0-12.5 for powder coated cast, 13.0-13.5 for jacketed bullets.

158 gr. SWC, 15 grs. 2400. 2 1/2-6 1/2 in. barrels. I don't shoot many in "K" frame guns but they work great in heavier guns. I had the two first Marlin .357 rifles sold in my area and that load didn't shoot worth 2 cents in them. Larry

Larry , I have had marlin rifles in the past and always had to use " over size " cast bullets for optimum accuracy . I wouldn't be surprised if those marlin rifles in 357 needed a cast bullet of .359-.360 in diameter to fill the groove diameter of the barrel . Regards Paul

14 gr. 2400 for 158-173 gr cast boolits.(Mostly the Lee 158 RNF which drops at 160 with my alloy.)

Sent from my SM-A515U1 using Tapatalk

I have Model 19s, and I don’t want to keep two .357 loads sitting around - one for the 19s and another for my heavier-duty revolvers. My preference is 13 grains of 2400 with the 358156 bullet (165 grains), and has been for so long I forget who told me about it and when. Standard primers and a good, firm crimp. It’s more accurate in every 357 I’ve ever shot than I can hold, it’s plenty powerful for my uses, and it’s not vicious in a Model 19, like a full-charge of H110 or W296. IMO.

From time to time I’ve used the same charge with a couple of other .357 cast bullets when they were what I had on hand, but the 358156 is the one I can count on for accuracy.

The .357 makes a lot of sense to me. Works well in carbines and revolver. Capable of fine accuracy, economical of powder and shot, easy to reload and no detachable magazines either. Neither revolvers or lever guns throw their brass far. I have guns in other loadings but the .357s will be the last to go.

I have three loads that I like.

158 grain XTP hollow point over 16.7 grains of H110. Remington cases and a magnum primer. I have chronographed this load at 1750 FPS out of my Marlin rifle. This load out of a carbine has worked well on a number of deer. I have never recovered a bullet as they all passed through. This load is very accurate in the Marlin. It wears a red dot and I have old eyes but have still seen 1.5" groups at 100. I am a decent shot but no Joe Benner. Go figure.

158 grain RCBS semi wadcutter gas check over 15.9 grains of H110. This shoots to the same point of aim as the above load in the Marlin. Accuracy is about the same also. I am most definitely NOT a master bullet caster and I have 68 year old eyes.

Finally I shoot a 148 grain HBWC over 3.0 grains of 700X. I use this mainly for revolver practice but the Marlin feeds it with total reliability. The problem with this load in the Marlin is it shoots low and to the left.

As you can probably guess, the Marlin is a keeper.

What I am going to do now that deer season is over is develop a load that duplicates the 125 grain 357 Golden Saber. Not sure why I have not gotten to this before as the Golden Sabre shoot great in all my revolvers.

I no longer load any magnum handgun cartridges, but did load them with cast bullets for forty years or so. My favorite .357 magnum load was a mild magnum load, but accurate and not hard on the shooter. I used the Hensley & Gibbs #51 design, about 160 grs. in wheelweight alloy sized in a .358" die. I loaded 12 grs. #2400 and either a CCI 500 or CCI 550 magnum primer. The magnum primer made the load slightly more accurate but the standard primer is fine. Muzzle velocity from a 6" Python was about 1100 fps. 14 grs. 296/ H110 will give about the same muzzle velocity and good accuracy, but has that offensive fireball and blast that's much reduced when using #2400.

NOE 160 WFN cast from ww + 2% tin and 12.5 gr WC 820.

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I broke a 586 no dash hammer bushing and recoil shield firing published reload data. S&W replaced the frame and reassembled using all my old parts. I don't go hot with anything anymore. I recently came across a nice 66 BB 3" with a set back nose bushing but I passed it up for above reasons.

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I use IMR4227 powder with a 125 gr JHP. Very accurate in a number of revolvers. Work up to the best groups.

Had a 6 inch M19 with a scope that would group at nicely 100 yards. That was for deer. Used H110 with a 180 Hornady JHP.