Best powders for 38/357?

[jackpearl]

.38's -- Unique and Bullseye
.357's -- Unique, 2400 and IMR4227
Best all around for both -- Unique. Especially if you are using heavier cast bullets.

+1 for 4227----Great for 357 with heavier bullets, 165, 170 & 180'S

 

[lebomm]

+1 with Cerberus62 and Sebago Son (posts #7 & #8). Been handloading for .38/.357 revolvers since about 1961, and that pretty well echoes my experience.

Larry

 

[deanodog]

I like bullseye for target loads in 38 and unique for 357. I use 2400 but in 44 mag.

 

[Fox4Alpha]

My two cents

Randy, from what I've seen, what most people see as "dirty" powder is usually bullet lube residue. Drew

Unique has a well deserved rep as being a dirty powder. I think I know the difference between bullet lube and powder residue. That being said, Unique is one of the most versatile powders you can use. Of course, if you want Unique versatility and a clean powder, then use Universal Clays. It's almost a duplicate for Unique and the "bullet lube residue" goes away. Go figure.

 

[crazyponie]

Whats the main reason for not using W231 in .357 loads? ( Just punching paper and clay targets) I have just recently aquired my first .357 and already ordered the dies for it. I ask because I was hoping I could use up some of this 8lbs of W231 I got for $20.00. My .45 is happy to gobble it up but it will take a while. If I could load for both I would put a bigger dent in it. I suppose I could just load .38's and go to town but, I have been scrounging .357 brass instead. Thanks in advance.

 

[OKFC05]

Whats the main reason for not using W231 in .357 loads?

It works fine for mid-range loads. You just can't load to the speeds you can get with slower powders. Hodgdon has free loading data on line.

 

[crazyponie]

OKFC05,

Thank you for the quick response. The Hodgdon site is why I had asked the question. I see they have many different load recipes on the site but, very few people seem to like it for .357 or at least mention it.

 

[Prof_Fate]

I've used 231 and Bullseye in my 686 and have TG to play with also.
I don't find 231 or TG dirty. All are about the same speed (according to vihtavourhureieieie's chart).

Around here THE load for target is 148 or 158 WC (de, hb, etc) is 2.7 gr bullseye. Gets you 630-710fps depending on bullet/barrel. And very very accurate out to 25 yards. At 50 yards you get some bullet drop. Very economical too, not that powder is a big cost item anyway. I get over 2500 rounds out of a lb that costs me $16 locally.

I"ve not loaded any 357 full house loads - still debating on buying some or what the cost would be to make my own. Would I shoot that many to justify a lb of 2400? I'll check out clays and unique.

 

[parabarbarian]

There is no one powder that is ideal for both cartridges.

For 38 spl I use either Bullseye or Trail Boss. For 357 I use Bullseye or Trail Boss for plinking loads, 2400 for faster than a speeding 38 and 300MP for be all you can be.

 

[alwslate]

It works fine for mid-range loads. You just can't load to the speeds you can get with slower powders. Hodgdon has free loading data on line.

I do like W231 for midrange 357 loads. My favorite is this one;
Win brass, WSPM primer, 5.8 grs 231, TV 158 gr cast SWC.
A quick check of five rounds through my S&W 4" 27-2 about
two weeks ago showed velocity at about 12 ft from the muzzle, 1061 fps and ES only 6 fps.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I do like W231 for midrange 357 loads. My favorite is this one;
Win brass, WSPM primer, 5.8 grs 231, TV 158 gr cast SWC.
A quick check of five rounds through my S&W 4" 27-2 about
two weeks ago showed velocity at about 12 ft from the muzzle, 1061 fps and ES only 6 fps.

I'm also a fan of W231 in lead .357 Magnum loads but when going over 1000 fps I switch over to HS-6 (W540) instead. I charge 9.2gr under a 158gr SWC and I use a CCI-550 primer. I think 5.8gr W231 is generating a lot of pressure so I like the HS-6 load a little better because it will generate less pressure. I liked HS-7 (W571) even better for that application when it was still available but as we know, it's also gone.

 

[David LaPell]

I like 231 and Unique with my .38 Special standard loads and 2400 and Unique for my .38-44 and .357 loads.

 

[chief38]

I don't like having a zillion different powders around so I have been using Titegroup. I used to use the old stand-by for .38 Special which was the Bullseye, but changed over to the Titegroup because it is supposedly less case position sensitive, loads almost the same (grain wise) and is suppose to be cleaner burning. I have been very happy with it and when I do load .357's I use it as well.

I've also used Unique ('cause I have so much of it) and that works fine too, but I think the Titegroup is a bit more efficient. I do have W231 but have not tried it for 38/357. I use the 231 in my .45 acp's - works quite well.

Chief38

 

[lebomm]

crazypony;
Where's that store that sells 8# of 231 for $20 ?

Larry

 

[crazyponie]

crazypony;
Where's that store that sells 8# of 231 for $20 ?

Larry

I was in the garage (Door open)loading.45's one morning a few weeks ago and an older gentleman walked by with his dog and noticed what I was up to. He asked if I would be interested in some reloading powder that was given to him by his neighbor that had to move and couldnt take it with him. I said sure and he told me that 20 bucks was fine by him since he doesnt reload or know anyone that does. It's actually only about 7.5 lbs, but it will work. 1 4lb bottle and 3.5 1lb bottles. I felt as though I had hit the lottery, now I just wish someone would come by with and old gun collection they want to get rid of.

 

[thndrchiken]

I load 125 gr Berry's or Rainier plated 357's with ww brass, wsp primer and 8.0 gr of 231/hp38. Nice mild target load out of my GP 100. Speer # 13 lists starting load at 7.7 gr, max at 8.3 gr. This gives me a sweet load that is in between the 38 sp +p and a magnum load. Speer manual says it should do around 1100 fps.

 

[blujax01]

I was in the garage (Door open)loading.45's one morning a few weeks ago and an older gentleman walked by with his dog and noticed what I was up to. He asked if I would be interested in some reloading powder that was given to him by his neighbor that had to move and couldnt take it with him. I said sure and he told me that 20 bucks was fine by him since he doesnt reload or know anyone that does. It's actually only about 7.5 lbs, but it will work. 1 4lb bottle and 3.5 1lb bottles. I felt as though I had hit the lottery, now I just wish someone would come by with and old gun collection they want to get rid of.

That was "Future You" bringing you a present.

 

[crazyponie]

Well tested my first .357 reloads w/ W231. These all went through a 6" 686 at 25yds. Using the Hodgon site recipe for 158 LSWC (extreme plated 158SWC), WSP and remington cases, COL of 1.590. They suggest a start of 3.4 all the way up to 5grns. I made 14ea @ 4.4, 4.6 and 4.8 grns. They all felt like I was shooting a .22. I set out 3 seperate 5" targets. All hits on paper from a standing freehand stance w/ gusty wind not helping. Not all really tight groups but at least on the paper. Hodgon used a 10" barrel, WSPM and an OAL of 1.610. I did notice that the reloads had a bit more smoke than I had seen shooting factory loads. I will say that these are with out a doubt plinking load's.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Of course they felt like .22's, did you see the pressures reported for those light loads. The 5.0gr load is barely more than a .38 Special +P load and nowhere near a magnum load. Hodgdon keeps their lead load data low because they don't want to cause leading in the barrel. You can use a lot more than a 5.0gr charge weight since they report only 23,000 CUP with that load.

I would think you can increase the load a bit since the current max pressure for that caliber is 35,000 PSI but the bullet will dictate how much velocity you can generate. I'm not telling you to go against published data, I'm only discussing why the load feels so light.

 

[harvester1]

Unique and bullseye.