I'd like to hear some suggestions for a light to medium .357 load using Unique powder and Hornady 125 XTP bullets.

Thanks!

Although I don't use 125gr but 158gr, 5.8-6.0 is a nice soft load and accurate. FYI, I use this with my 686 3" Talo

I got an avg 940fps from my Chrono out of a 4" M27 using 7.0 Gr Unique with Hornady JHP. Haven't shot unique in awhile thou, but that is what my recorded (from old sessions) data states. Hope this helps.

I have used Unique in my 6" m19 and 686 with 110 to 158gr Jhp bullets from starting loads to the maximum listed.

For some reason the maximum loads never did well in my long barrels and I had to settle for a medium speed load to get a 125 gr. XTP to group under an inch.

You might try just 8.0 grs of Unique with a standard primer with a medium or heavy crimp and see what happens. In my 6" it runs about 1285 fps which is like the Remington light factory loading.
At 1366 fps the groups started to open up........at maximum the groups were almost at 2" but for a SD load at ten feet they would still work.

No offense, just open your reloading manual and check the start loads for your chosen bullet type/weight and powder. Depending on the manuals you are using, something around 7 gr would be a decent starting point. Of course, "light to medium" depends on the gun you are shooting; a light load in an N-frame won't feel so light in a lightweight J-frame.

Lyman has the 158 gr XTP listed in the .357 mag data. Starting load of 6.4 grs. of Unique. Fun to shoot and doesn't beat up the gun.

Just a suggestion. Often you find folks describing Unique as "flaming dirt". My experience is that to be satisfied with Unique, you really need to be up in pressure. Low end loads will have a lot of unburned powder. So if you are looking for a low end load, you might want to use a different powder.

Unique is an excellent powder and I use it in many loads. But it is so much better in the upper end loads.

Unique is a very good powder when used right............it is not at its BEST when used at a starting charge.

Sort of like shooting pool with a rope...........

If you want to brown the bacon you need some heat !!

Now your cooking !!

Here is a 357 loading that worked for me with Unique that was around 1285 fps.




PS:
Some say it is dirty but I also have heard/read that it has a 100% burn in a 4" barrel
which means little flash if any in longer barrels............. a Plus !!

I like a 125 gr. JHP bullet over 9.2 gr. Unique. I've clocked it at 1375 fps average velocity out of a 4" barrel. Nice medium .357 load. In comparison the factory Rem. GS 125 BJHP round clocks at 1358 fps. Pretty close.

__________________
USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

I have loaded 357 mag loads with Unique since the 70's....Years ago I decided to keep three powders in quanity on hand at all times for handguns," Bullseye, Unique, 2400. With those three I could load any handgun calibers that I shoot ranging from target loads to full throttle magnums.....I tend to load Unique in revolvers with bl lengths of 4" or less.
I load some pretty potent loads in the 38, 357, 41mag, 44spl,45LC with Unique and do not have the muzzle flash in the shorter bl's that I do with 2400 or 296.
I have read critical posts of Unique from folk's, but it has always served me well and continues to do so.....spent several hours of this beautiful autumn afternoon shooting some 44 spl's and 45LC's with some compadre's....and those rounds were powered by Unique.

If a shooter is looking for light to medium loads for a .357, it is more cost effective to work them up with cast bullets instead of jacketed. Even swaged bullets will give good results without excessive leading.

Lead bullets ARE cheaper to shoot but I usually shoot the 148 and 158 lead bullets with 38 special brass for target work in the .357 Magnum .

I only shoot one 158gr lead bullet at high speeds in my 357 as a hunting load at 1320 fps, in order to keep leading of the barrel to a minimum.

A 158gr Lswc at 1039 fps or slower has worked for me with the Oregon bullet that is a little harder than the Speer and Hornady and have noticed very little leading, if any.

Any that have had luck with higher velocity with a 158gr Lead feel free to chime in.............I am not against a faster bullet that does not lead too badly.

I don't mind the 'dirt' because though messy, it cleans up very easily, not like some gummed-on-lead-fused mess with some other powders. If I want a light load, I use Bulleye, so by the time I switch to Unique I'm into the decent pressure range for burning.

As has been previously noted it's not very difficult to find data for the 125 grain XTP in 357 Magnum using Unique. My copy of the Lee 2nd lists a starting chage of 8.4 grains, a maximum charge of 9.6 grains, and an overall length of 1.580 inch for the 125 grain XTP. From the order of it's listing in the Lee 2nd Unique isn't a real efficient powder for a 357 Magnum load so you won't get nearly as much velocity as you would if you were using Win 296 or H110. At max load the velocity given is only 1343 fps. so it should produce a rather moderate 357 Magnum loading.

I can also tell you from personal experience loading Unique at the higher ranges reveals that it's "just a bit" Flashy. Think Instamatic Flash Cube flashy, because it will light up an indoor range enough to get noticed.

Final note is that Unique has a well earned reputation for poor metring qualities. If you are using a powder measure I would advise that you weigh a minimum of 30 consecutive charges to confirm that your powder measure can meter Unique accurately. I happen to know from experience that my Lee Perfect Powder measures do very poorly with Unique and as a result I hand weigh every charge when I'm using Unique.

With my M19 in a 357 case and a 125 Jhp with Unique powder.................

I bailed out at 9.3 grs................. there had to be a better powder.

My targets looked like they were shot at with a "Judge" with BB's !!

Some times this powder works and some times it just .............

( did you see all the "Mods" with their thumb on that RED button? )

Later.