Berry's Plated for .38+p / .357 mag using power pistol?

C Squared · Dec 21, 2017

My brother has offered up his press for a very reasonable price to me with the contingent he may want to buy it back in 4-6 months. So I guess I'll do a little reloading again. With the press came the last of his power pistol powder which he was using for 9mm and .45acp. Wondering if anyone has used this stuff for 38+p loads or .357 loads. Berry's are on sale at Cabelas so I picked up 250 158gr THP for $22

Looking at the Alliant website there shows a 158gr LSWC using 6 grains of powder for a little over 1000 fps for a 38+P load.

158gr gold dot using 8.5 grains of powder showing 1078 fps on .357 mag

I don't have any experience using plated bullets and I keep reading everything from just use lead data to go on the low side of jacketed data.

Any and all help and info here is appreciated.

WR Moore · Dec 21, 2017

C Squared said:
Looking at the Alliant website there shows a 158gr LSWC using 6 grains of powder for a little over 1000 fps for a 38+P load.

You can back that down slightly, 5.8 gr gives factory +P duplication, plus a few foot seconds for me. Loading to Max isn't generally a good practice.

158gr gold dot using 8.5 grains of powder showing 1078 fps.

YOU TRANSPOSED NUMBERS THERE DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S 5.8 GRAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, load data with Berrys can vary from mid lead bullet level to same as jacketed (slight velocity differences) largely depending upon caliber. Generally, I find with Unique, I can back down about 1/2 a grain from my jacketed loads and get the same velocities. Power Pistol seems to generate an extra 50 foot seconds.

If the dies available aren't taper crimp, seat the bullet so the roll crimp is over the leading edge of the full bore body and back the loads down at least 1/2 grain.

C Squared · Dec 21, 2017

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

C Squared · Dec 21, 2017

WR Moore said:
You can back that down slightly, 5.8 gr gives factory +P duplication, plus a few foot seconds for me. Loading to Max isn't generally a good practice.

YOU TRANSPOSED NUMBERS THERE DUDE!!!!!!!!!!!!! THAT'S 5.8 GRAINS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

OK, load data with Berrys can vary from mid lead bullet level to same as jacketed (slight velocity differences) largely depending upon caliber. Generally, I find with Unique, I can back down about 1/2 a grain from my jacketed loads and get the same velocities. Power Pistol seems to generate an extra 50 foot seconds.

If the dies available aren't taper crimp, seat the bullet so the roll crimp is over the leading edge of the full bore body and back the loads down at least 1/2 grain.

Forgot the 8.5 gr load was .357 data

RGVshooter · Dec 21, 2017

C Squared said:
Looking at the Alliant website there shows a 158gr LSWC using 6 grains of powder for a little over 1000 fps for a 38+P load

Keep in mind that those specs you see on the websites are MAX LOADS. Not starting loads. Subtract about 10% of the max load listed and use that as your starting load, then work your way up if you have to. You don't want to have more than 900 fps IMO if using a lead bullet because it can possibly severely lead up the barrel.

Power Pistol is good stuff. You're gonna love the FLASH!

rwsmith · Dec 22, 2017

Power Pistol gets....

Power Pistol is one of the best powders to get max velocity out of a .38 revolver.

BLUEDOT37 · Dec 22, 2017

C Squared said:
Berry's are on sale at Cabelas so I picked up 250 158gr THP for $22

Looking at the Alliant website there shows a 158gr LSWC using 6 grains of powder for a little over 1000 fps for a 38+P load.

158gr gold dot using 8.5 grains of powder showing 1078 fps on .357 mag.

For your 158gr plated bullets in a 357 case I've found that 7.5gr/P-P (~940fps) groups very well in my 686+ & 327TRR8, both 5" bbls. I prefer X-treme's bullets & go with their RNFP.

With JHPs even 8.0grs of P-P works well in my M66-8.

I use 6.0gr/P-P as a 38 Spcl (+P) SD load in my snubby with Rim Rocks soft 158gr L-HP-SWC-GC bullet.

.

Xtreme 357 bullets SWC-RNFP-TNFP

(-01b)

.

Rim Rock .357 158gr LSWC-HP/GC

(-01a)

.

66 Combat Magnum (Zero-Power Pistol target)

(-01a)

.

Nevada Ed · Dec 22, 2017

Just remember the............
eye and ear protection !!

C Squared · Dec 27, 2017

Started with 5.2gr of Power Pistol. Gave me the same POI as the Speer lawman 158gr stuff I've been shooting with a tad less recoil. May try and bump it up to 5.5 but for punching paper why bother? Of the 20 plated I loaded all weighed in between 157.5 and 158.5. For the price I would certainly do this again.

Berry's Plated for .38+p / .357 mag using power pistol?

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