Gentlemen,
I recently picked up a 4" Model 57 no dash in 95% condition. So far I have been using 6.5 WW 231 (850 fps) and 18 grains of H-4227 (1025 fps). The bullets used are 215 SWC Silver State hard cast.Both loads seem to be pretty accurate from this gun. I would like to stay in the 950 to 1050 fps area to be easy in the gun and still come up with the best accuracy. The gun is very tight and bore perfect.Any loading ideas with this same weight and style of bullet and approx. fps would be appreciated!
Thanks in advance for your time!!

I also picked up a very nice 57 no dash recently (from Lee) and shot it the first time last week. My first 57 ever. It took about two months to get dies (backordered from Midway) and bullets, ordered brass from Starline and finally got some loads put together. I used a 215 grain SWC from Missouri Bullet and 9 grains of 4756 that I've had for some time. It's a really light load but it shot just fine. I plan to work up a mild/medium load with 231 and a hotter load with 2400. Actually your 6.5 231 load is just about what I had in mind.

200gr. Remington JHP
8.2 gr. Win. 231
Win Primers
Starline Brass
Medium Crimp
FPS: 990 f.p.s. (S&W 57-1 w/4")
(Shot great in 657-4 w/7.5" barrel)

200gr. Remington JHP
7.3gr Unique
Win Primers
Starline Brass
FPS: 920 f.p.s. (Model 58-Ported 4")
FPS: 925 f.p.s. (Model 58-Ported 4")

210gr. Berry's Plated FP--(Preferred Load over 8gr)
7gr. Unique
Win Primer
Starline Brass
OAL: 1.573
FPS: 832 f.p.s. (Model 58-Ported 4")
FPS: 910 f.p.s. (Model 57-1 w/4")

210gr. Berry's Plated FP--(too warm for me as a regular range load)
8gr. Unique
Win Primer
Starline Brass
OAL: 1.573
FPS: 960 f.p.s. (Model 58-Ported 4")
FPS: 1,020 f.p.s. (Model 57-1 w/4")

210gr Lane SWC
7gr. Unique
Fed 150 Primer
Mixed Brass
OAL: 1.581
FPS: 830 (S&W M57-1 w/4" Barrel)

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7.0 of Unique is my favorite. I think it is around 900.

"210gr. Berry's Plated FP--(Preferred Load over 8gr)
7gr. Unique"
Same-Same, Kevin

I've just started working with some various 41 mag recipes.

Whatever large pistol calibers I have used to date, it seems like big bore cast lead moving around 850-1100fps regardless of powder, is most pleasant and accurate in *MY* use....YMMV

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Dum vivimus Vivamas

I'll tell you my favorite easy-shooter from my 4" Model 57: 7.5 grains of SR 7625 behind a Tennessee Valley Bullets 215-gr cast LSWC over a standard large pistol primer. Does 1015 fps from my gun, with very small spreads. What a nice round to shoot, and a pretty decent defensive load, too.

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Now go make God proud...

I've shot a lot of 215gr SWC cast bullets on top of 7.0grs of W231 that runs at 956 fps from my 4" S&W 657 Mountain gun. 7.8 grs of Unique does the same.

9.5grs of Unique gives you a full magnum load and some room to grow with 215gr LSWC's that are at 1,157 fps from the same pistol.

I duplicate "the old police load" with 8.0 grains of UNIQUE.
Also, I load 5.0 grains of UNIQUE for PPC.

Thanks so much for the replys from the members!!
Jim C.

I finally got to the range with my 'new' 57 and my handloads of 215 grain Missouri Bullet SWC and 9.0 grains of 4756 to chronograph them and can hardly believe the results. Does 1155 fps sound right? It is a light load according to my charts so I was expecting something around 900 fps or so. What do you think? Oh, the barrel is 8 3/8". Thanks.

As others have said here, Unique is the ticket for mid velocity loads.

That said, I've made things easy in my M57s - full power loads of 2400 only, standard primers. Great accuracy, consistency and confidence in zero of all of them.

Sounda about right. My compiled .41 mag book shows Lyman data for their 215gr SWC is 900 fps for 8.0grs of SR4756 and 1,214 gsp for 10.8grs. These are tested from a 4" vented test barrel according to the information so a 4" revolver should yield similar results.