180 gr. LWFNGC and 2400

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swamprabbit

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Ok, I finally have some 2400 coming my way and I also have some Cast Performance .358, 180 gr. Lead Wide Flat Nose Gas Check bullets on the way. I will be loading for my fairly new 686 4". I have looked around for available load data for this combination and it is scarce. It seems the bullet weight me be a tad heavy for 2400. I have come up with a general starting load of 11gr. and a max of 13gr. Anyone have any experience and suggestion for this set up. Such as load data, cautions and/or general info?
 
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Would you settle for data from Alliant? From the Alliant manual from 1996:

180 JFP, 12.5 gr. 2400, Fed 200 SPM, 1.580" Min LOA, 1300 FPS from 5.6" Bbl.

Current info from Alliant is 13.5 gr, 2400, CCI 500, Speer 170 GDHP. So even based on current often "excessively conservative" data, the old information is definitely still in the ball park!

Yes, this is shown for a jacketed bullet, but there is no reason to not use this data for the Cast Performance bullet. You are far more likely to come close to published velocity with the cast bullet than with any jacketed one!
 
Thanks for the info Alk8944. As far as I am concerned any info is good info if I can learn something from it. I looked at a few older manuals, 1964 Speer, Lyman 44th and 48th. The oldest Alliant manual I have access to is from 2004. Reading those is where I came up with the start and max loads I listed in my OP. I am very interested in the Alliant 1996 load you listed: (180 JFP, 12.5 gr. 2400, Fed 200 SPM, 1.580" Min LOA, 1300 FPS from 5.6" Bbl.). Thanks again.
 
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As a note;
With a 4" barrel and a bullet past 158grs...............

we will be going for maximum penetration and not expansion if the fps is too slow.

Yardage that the bullet strikes a target with a short barrel is a
key factor in hunting loads. If inside 40 yards, no big deal.

Tight groups.
 
Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook , 4th Edition
357 magnum, 180 grain cast , WFN, with gas check , sized .357
2400 powder
starting load 11.1 grains @1012 fps
max load 12.3 grains @ 1163 fps
The data from Lyman is for a 180 grain cast bullet with gas check, your 11 grain starting load is spot on. Start there and work up.
Gary
 
Thanks for the replies. I am working up this load for woods carry. A 40 yard shot in these particular woods would be hard to find. There are some hogs and black bears in the vicinity. At the moment the largest handgun caliber I have is 357 mag. I have a lot of work to do on the property and I want to be as prepared as possible for any confrontation that may arise. I figured a stout 180gr. load would be about the best I could do with a 357 mag. Good penetration is exactly what I am looking for.
 
Some more data points, from my 5 1/2" Freedom Arms M 97

Chrono 5 Paces from muzzle, 75 Deg F

11.0gr A2400, 185gr WLNGC (Beartooth), CCI Std Primes, 1,140 fps

11.0gr A2400, 173gr Keith (Western Bullet), crimped over front drive band, CCI Std Primes, 1,170 fps

Both of the above are easy shooting loads.

Hope this helps a bit!

Paul
 
Thanks Paul. As it stands now 11.0 grains is where I am going to start if the powder ever gets here. Hopefully this week sometime. I have the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, 4th Edition. I don't know how I missed the loads gwpercle posted but I will probably go with that listed data.
 
Don't mean to toss a wrench into things ... but there is IMR4227 as well.
Seems some desperate rookie tried it in 357 as he couldn't find anything else at the time.
For his sins, he got accuracy that would scare some rifles to death.

Worth a look
 
Thanks venomballistics. 4227 was my second choice. I was on the verge of ordering some when I found the 2400. More than likely I will give it a try down the road along with some H110/296. They may be more appropriate for the heavier bullets. I plan on loading 158gr bullets more often than the 180gr. I just wanted some heavy hitters out in the woods.
 
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I get 1,250 fps+ out of a 4 5/8inch Ruger Blackhawk. Our penetration tests media exactly duplicates field autopsies. Using a Cast Performance gas check 200 grain 357 we get 21 inches of penetration. Feel free to look at B&M Rifles website.
 
swamprabbit said:
Thanks venomballistics. 4227 was my second choice. I was on the verge of ordering some when I found the 2400. More than likely I will give it a try down the road along with some H110/296. They may be more appropriate for the heavier bullets. I plan on loading 158gr bullets more often than the 180gr. I just wanted some heavy hitters out in the woods.
Click to expand...

After seeing the results of 4227 I have been itching to liberate some brass and time to hammer out a solid load with a 168 gr swchp.
If I get anything near the same results as the guy who presented it, this one will become the standard ball for my wife's rifle.
It's not to say 2400 and H110 sucked in any way. To the contrary, either make for solid 100 yard loads. It's always a quest to get more out of it though.
 
The main reason I wanted start with 2400 was because it allows some room between charge weights. This will be my first excursion into full power .357 mag loads.
 
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