Hi all,
I have a clone formula that others have mentioned here using AA#5 to come close to the +P short barrel factory load (6.8gr)
Can anyone recommend a clone formula that comes close to the factory lightish 357 magnum 135gr. Speer load?
Thanks

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Fide Et Amore

Speer shows Power Pistol for a short barrel .357 135gr load on the Speer website.

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Science plus Art

The factory load contains 13.2gr of flake powder and gives 23,800psi and 1337fps from a 7.9" contender barrel, per Larry Gibson on Cast Boolits........

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

How short of a barrel ?

If your barrel is a 3" or longer , go with the 125 gr Gold Dot, out of the .357 Magnum.

There is lots of data posted for the 135 GD in other threads, you just need to look them up.
Any fps past 851fps will work.

Speer's own data shows 7.0gr of #5 as a +P MAX @ 882 fps or 5.2 gr Unique @ 834 fps.

Their 357 Mag SB data includes 7.8gr Unique @ 1109 fps and gr H110/296 @ 1205 fps. There are other powders listed as well.

Cheers!

Thanks for the replies.
I'm using 2 1/2" and 3" K's.
The AA#5 clone using 6.8 gr. gave me (in 38spl cases)
2 1/2" 800 fps
4” 920 fps
I need to run it in my two 3" Smiths.
I have Unique, Longshot, and HP38 on hand as well. I will be using mag cases for the new attempt.

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Fide Et Amore

SPEER's factory 357 Magnum 135gr SB claims 990 fps out of a 2" barrel... Pretty much in the reloading data ballpark as I seriously doubt there are two different bullets for 38+P & Magnum SB loads.

They may, however, differ from the regular 135gr Gold Dot...?

Cheers!

P.S. Per Hodgdons and a 140gr XTP, Longshot will get you there easily and MUCH farther (and faster!)...

During the time I developed that above mentioned Speer .38 + P clone load hi with the help of a Speer rep and a few others I did also develop a .357 Magnum SB clone load too.

Speer .357 Magnum brass
CCI-550 primer
A 135gr Speer GDHP bullet or a Hornday 140gr XTP bullet for practice.(to save on cost)
A charge of 8.8gr Power Pistol

That was what I found to be extremely close to the original for me.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

Thank you AACD!

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Fide Et Amore

+1 What AACD says. This load (with regular primers, not magnum) gets about 1200fps in my 3 inchers.

I've been playing also with about 8gr of BE86. It gives up 40-50fps but doesn't have the power pistol blast factor. Need to do more work with it though before it will replace PP for me.

You are quite welcome Sir. We loaders have to help each other, it increases the knowledge for us all.

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

The 135 GD can get expensive.........

for practice and working up loads you might look into the.....
Hornady 140 XTP bullet, that might save you some money until
you start your "Final load" test runs.

Both will work well in my .357 with the 140gr just a little better at 100 yards.

The 2" needs 866fps with the 135 gold dot factory load.
I needed a full load of w231 and a good load of Unique to get these figures
out of my two J frames.
You should have no problem getting 880fps out of a K frame snub nose with your powders..........
but POA can be different with powders, as I found out.

With a "Long" 357 case................
lots of powders will come into play, so you will need to sit down and
figure out what your plan of attack will be.

Have fun.