357 Cast Bullet Loads

[sjs]

I have just ordered my first cast bullets for my 686 and got some 158 gr and some 180 gr. I always used jacketed or plated before. I have Lee, Lyman and Hogdon manuals and have searched the online sites I know of and while I found a lot of data for the 158 there was very little for the 180. There was data for 160 and 170 but not 180 cast bullets for the powders I have.

It is hard to find powder here and what I have now is 2400, Bullseye, HP38 and Trail Boss. I need to get up to 1,000 fps at least. I could use some load info for these powders for 180 gr cast.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Of your powder selection 2400 will be the most suitable for the .357 and cast bullets you have indicated.

For the 158-grain cast bullet a starting load would be 11.4 grains for 1024 FPS and 20200 CUP (Lyman Handbook, 46th Edition, indicating a 4" vented barrel). Max load is listed as 15.5 grains for 1344 FPS and 39700 CUP.

For the 180-grain cast bullet I don't have published data. But the Lyman manual shows a 168-grain cast SWC with starting load of 9.7 grain, 879 FPS, 15900 CUP, and max load of 13.5 grains, 1242 FPS, 41100 CUP. I would suggest starting with 9.5 grains and a maximum of about 13.0 (or less as pressure indicators dictate).

It should not be difficult to achieve your stated goal of 1000 FPS within reasonable pressure ranges. Your revolver, your components, your responsibility to work up your loads safely.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The lead 180gr 357 load with HS6,Blue Dot, Enforcer, A#9, 2400, H110 and imr4227 powder...
start out from 1012 to 1112fps in their starting loads from the
Lyman Load Data manual, for around $8.00.

It has 38,357,44 mag and 45 Colt data.
You might grab one.

 

[Eddietruett]

I load the 180gr Coated Lead from Missouri Bullets with 12gr of 2400. Get around 1200-1250fps out of my 8 3/8” Model 686. Have tried 12.5 and gained very little velocity but accuracy fell off. Have also used 13gr of H110 but again, not as accurate. These were given to me as jacket bullet loads, so I worked them up carefully. They are pretty stout but showed no signs of excessive pressure in my gun.

 

[fredj338]

Agree, 2400 is all you need for your lead bullet loads. You an use starting data for 180gr jacketed & work it up.

 

[rockquarry]

Lyman cast bullet book has plenty of data for the SAECO 180 grain gas-checked bullet.

I've used the LBT 180 grain plain base bullet with 12 grs. #2400 for a muzzle velocity of around 1100 fps from a 6" barrel. I don't care for 296 / 110 because of the horrendous blast and muzzle flash, but I got slightly better accuracy with it using 12 grs. for a muzzle velocity of just under 1100 fps.

The SAECO design has been slightly more accurate for me than the LBT. #2400 was a better powder than 296 / 110 with the SAECO bullet.

 

[BigMuddy]

I've used 12.0 2400 and 180 lead for years. Always in stout guns. (Ruger BH's/N frame Smiths)


Dan

 

[sjs]

I've used 12.0 2400 and 180 lead for years. Always in stout guns. (Ruger BH's/N frame Smiths)


Dan

Do you think 12.0 of 2400 is too much for a 6" 686-6"? I'll be using it for Silhouette so it will be shot in some volume.


I am currently using 13.5gr of 2400 for 158 gr XTP bullets and getting great accuracy.

 

[BigMuddy]

I wouldn't be afraid of 12.0 in an L frame but as usual work up to it looking for the accuracy you need for silhouette shooting. Getting enough from a 357 to knock over a ram is what got us the 357 Max��

 

[nachogrande]

PER LYMAN CAST MANUAL # 4

180 gr STARTING load for 2400 is 11.1 gr & 1012 fps in a 4" bbl. Max load is 12.3 @ 1163 fps. I've never had bad accuracy with 2400, just plenty of noise & recoil. The powder I hate to love, & love to hate??? Blue dot should do slightly better. NOT LISTED with Lyman, but I use 6-6.5gr of unique (NOT SAYING YOU SHOULD) in my 162 gr cast which should get you to 1,000 fps+

 

[gehlsurf]

Not sure what others think, but I paid the $35-40 for subscription to loaddata.com. They have a ton of reload data that's been published. Even some wacky stuff, like powder companies I've never heard of before.

Grab some paper and toner and print it out, even narrowed down I have 50+ pages of reload data. They even have up to 173 grain, 180 grain, and even 200 grain for 357.

I'm actually looking for a rifle now, thinking 200 grain, subsonic.... supressed.... pretty awesome!! According to the barrel twist/bullet weight calculators it should be pretty accurate. Well see!!

 

[Benchrest1]

180 grain XTP with 13.5 grains of H110 works good for me.