Full Wadcutter loads - 357 Magnum

[38SPL HV]

...I have only old Lyman data for 357 Magnum 141 gr FB 358495 wadcutters so I used Bayou 138 gr BNWC (yes, 138 gr, not 148 gr) over 6.0 grs Unique in my SP101 2.25 inch. It shoots to sights and very accurate. No problem rolling empty gallon water jugs at 25 yds in our sand pit. Will need to chronograph them.

38 Spl +P 158 gr SWC loads always shoot high, unfortunately, in this revolver. I would prefer the 158 gr bullet. Guess I'll settle on the 138 gr BNWC 138 gr BNWC...it is very accurate in the 357 Magnum case.

Please share your 357 Magnum full wadcutter loads.

 

[max503]

I like yours.

 

[mikld]

Target or SD loads? Not 357 but 38 Special; I have a load for one of my house guns. I use a "normal" cast DEWC over a max, not +P, load of W23. Accurate out to 10 yards (haven't tried any farther) running just under 900 fps, and I believe it would be effective for SD...

 

[4barrel]

My favorite boolit for targets. I shoot the Lyman 141 bnwc with 5 grains of Bullseye in 357 brass and very accurate. I also have 148 H&G and 160 Lyman bnwc molds. I use Unique mostly in 38 cases with the same bullet. Here is a batch I just whipped up.

 

[shocker]

Target or SD loads? Not 357 but 38 Special; I have a load for one of my house guns. I use a "normal" cast DEWC over a max, not +P, load of W23. Accurate out to 10 yards (haven't tried any farther) running just under 900 fps, and I believe it would be effective for SD...

To put a number to it, a 148 gr wadcutter with 4 gr of 231 is a top end 38 SPC load. Comfortable to shoot from my 2.75" 66. Light target WC loads will zip through gel blocks so for SD I'm not going beyond 38 standard pressure.

 

[38SPL HV]

...by the way, the 138 gr BNWC seating depth is nearly the same as Speer's 158 gr SWC when loaded in 357 Magnum cases. The BNWC seating depth is less, shallower, than my 170 gr Keith SWC (loaded to 1.553" OAL per Lyman) load in 357 Magnum cases with same 6.0 grs Unique charge.

I also shot same 6.0 gr Unique charge with 148 gr DEWC using 357 Mag cases, and they too hit POA with the SP101 2.25". A 6.5 grs of Unique behind 158 gr cast SWC also hits POA...bottom line here is that the SP101 is sighted for a 357 Magnum level 158 gr loading, which makes sense since the revolver is a 357 Magnum...geeze, I'm a stubborn German at times!

 

[jc2721]

I load for a Model 52 and a custom 1911, as well as my revolvers so my goal is to find one hbwc that will work for most/all of my guns.

Searching the web offerings I found a "bowling pin" wc offered by Bear Creek--230 grains! The comments used to describe their offerings are somewhat thought-provoking and actually entertaining. Then again, I don't get out much....

 

[mikld]

To put a number to it, a 148 gr wadcutter with 4 gr of 231 is a top end 38 SPC load. Comfortable to shoot from my 2.75" 66. Light target WC loads will zip through gel blocks so for SD I'm not going beyond 38 standard pressure.

I purposely don't "put a number to it" because I don't post any load data on a forum and I ignore any I see. I also strongly suggest that any load data seen on any forum, pet loads website, heard from any gun counter clerk, good intended friend, range rat or gun shop guru be ignored. For well over 40 years I have relied on published data, reloading manuals with a small portion from powder or bullet manufacturer's websites. One example why; several years ago I saw a load on a forum using Unique. The load quoted, by the forum "expert" was a full grain over max, and the load stayed on the forum for a full day before the poster corrected it (with just an "oops, sorry, my fat fingers hit the wrong key" excuse). I wonder if a newer reloader tried that load and had could have damaged his gun or worse yet, himself?

An experienced reloader has his "BS Filter" developed enough to spot bad load data, and really doesn't need load data coming from an anonymous screen name...

 

[38SPL HV]

A lot of published load data out there. I rely on data for my 38/357 needs as specified by Speer, Hornady, Lyman and Handloader Magazine. I also don't pay attention to data outside of these publications.