I don't own a S&W in 357mag yet. But i did have a 70's colt python that always shot high at 25yds. Finally oneday at the range with my brother in law a LEO i had him watch at the 100yd berm and i hit a small rock with all six shots. My point is i found the 357 to have pin point accuracy using my 140gr JHP speer loads using 2400 gun powder with a magnum primer at 100yds. I'm not sure yet if this load works on all 357mag revolvers. Does any 140gr bullet seem to be the sweet spot for your 357mag?

I have never seen a good reason to handload lighter bullets in my .357s than the usual 158s (or thereabouts) so I can't comment on 140s. Sorry.

But, I have always had very good luck with #2400 powder in the .357, in my case with the 358156 gas-check bullet, and always with standard primers.

My guns are older, adjustable sight models - 19s, 66s, 586s, and 27s. If I have trouble zeroing at 25-yards with this load, there is a problem with the gun. Sometimes I can fix that with a different rear sight blade, and rarely the gun has had to be returned for repair. I have sent two .357s back because of the problem you mention. Both were Model 66s - one was a 2.5-inch gun that shot about a foot high, and the other one was a 6-inch gun that would not even stay on the target for six-rounds at about 15-yards. I imagine the 6-inch gun must have had a bad barrel, so that was probably not a zero problem, per se.

BigBill,

I have a S&W model 28-2 357 magnum w/6" barrel and I have tested and made up a pretty accurate load for my gun using the 140g XPB HP (Barnes). The 140g XTP HP (Hornady) works just as well. These two bullets are virtually identical in size & weight.
Powder - Alliant 2400 @ 14.2g
Powder range - 11.9g up to 15.5g (Hornady)
Primer - Winchester WSP
Bullet seating OAL - 1.560"
Crimp - med/heavy
Velocity - 1,196.5 fps

No need for magnum primers with this load. This load give a firm but VERY managable kick, reacquisition of the target after each shot was very fast. I don't have specific numbers listed in my notes but I list that I achieved a very tight pattern at 15, 20 & 25 yards both from a gun rest and standing free hand shots, with no significant sign of over/under burn on the spent casings.

I keep some of these on the shelf and enjoy shooting them from time to time.

I hope this helps, have fun and be safe.

All I ever load are 158gr SWC's with 12.8grs of 2400.

Just shot a hundred or so .357 rounds I made up this afternoon...

158gr LSWC
7.0 gr Unique.

Nice and smooth in a 5" barreled Model 27.

I've shot a lot of handloaded 140 grain Nosler JHPs (still have a few hundred). They kinda "split the difference" between the 125 and the 158 so I bought and used them.

Accuracy with them is excellent but 158 grainers shoot just as well. My 357 handloads use H110.

I still remember killing 2 Coyotes in one day with that 140 grain load.

I still use 145 grain WW Silvertips in a 2 1/2" Model 19 for self defense. They are extremely accurate in this revolver.

There will always be the best load but plenty of them will work fine for most target work. Just because a bullet is not typical doesn't mean it'll be more accurate. I've had plenty of success with 125g lead and also 148g WC's.

I found two very accurate loads for mine. They are both with 158 grain SWC cast. 6 grains of Unique with a SPP and 12 grains of AA 9 with a SMPP. Of course the Unique ones are around a 38 spl +P while the AA loads are a firm magnum.

158 grains is THE 357 weight IMO. As the 240 is for the 44 mag. I stick with those weights.

Gunwriter Wiley Clapp used to think so. In fact, I think he even called his load a sweet spot, but I don't recall if he used 2400 or H110. He loaded 140 JHP's at 1300 and reported exceptional accuracy from several .357 revolvers, including a 4" Ruger Gp100. His machine rest groups at 25 yds were often ragged holes for 12 shots. He wrote about it in Guns & Ammo probably 20 years ago.

__________________
Elmer Keith is my hero.

The only time I load a 140gr bullet in the .357 Magnum is when I try to replicate Speer short barrel .357 Magnum loads. (140gr Hornady bullets are a lot cheaper than the 135gr Speer bullets for practice) Most other ammo is loaded with a 158gr bullet both lead and jacketed. BUT, there is nothing wrong with using a 140gr bullet especially if they are accurate in your revolver.

__________________
Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437

I am a big fan of the 158 grain bullets in .357 Magnum and that is solely what I load.

I also stick to 158's in .38 Special as well.

I load 158gr LSWC with 13.5 grains of Hercules 2400 (the older stuff which is why I specified Hercules) in a .38 Special case and a magnum primer and I get really nice results with all 3 of my S&W 357s with this load.

158 grain SWC over 14.5 grains of 2400, if it was good enough for Skeeter Shelton its more than good enough for me.

All my .357 Mags, and especially my RM, like the Montana Gold 125gr JHP and 14.5gr. of 2400. Really group well and shoot to point of aim.

Terry

On the range where I shoot, there used to be a rock about a foot in diameter at the hundred yard spot.

A regular punishment with 158 gr (relatively hard-cast) 158 gr SWC from the Lyman mold and 13.8 gr of 2400 did it in a year or so ago. These loads worked in all my 357's from 2 1/2" to 6 1/2, and - - hold on for the heresy - - a Taurus stainless 4 1/2".

Accuracy and consistency, and of course, familiarity.

Flash

Really good luck with 140 jacketed and hearty load of 2400 with std small pistol primer. Favorite load in 6" Python [around 2" @ 50 yds w/irons], Ruger 4 5/8" SS NM.

Regards,

Dyson

I load 15 grains of Alliant 2400 with 158 gr JHPs or JSPs, 14.5 grains w/ 158 gr hard cast SWCs; Starline brass, Federal magnum primers (though standard primers work very well w/ 2400). These are max, but I've had long brass life, easy extraction.

I shoot them in this Model 27-2, and it hasn't suffered:

Meant to also add that I agree w/ the previous comments about the 158 grain bullet in the .357...it's THE .357 bullet, IMO.