.357 mag loaded up. Whatcha think?

[chud333]

Hello,
Got 300 rounds cranked out for my .357's today as it was
a rainy/good for nothing "outside" day. This is the first time
i've reloaded anything in .357 and with a little help from my
friends here i loaded up 158 gr. lasercast SWC bullets on top
of 7.5 grains of Unique. This is just gonna be a target/bowling
pin load. Bought some new Rem. brass and I used Rem.
small pistol primers. Used my old Lyman manual and they had
8.0 grs. as max load with Unique. Anybody shot this load?
Now i've loaded alot of rifle cartridges over the years but this
is my first foray into loading for pistol.

Chuck

 

[sourdough44]

I just took a quick peek at the Alliant website data. That is an upper end load with a lead bullet, going by their data. I do cross reference several manuals when researching a load. Some minor interpolation may be needed to accommodate a certain bullet. I'm also much more inclined to stay on the mid to mild side, unless I need otherwise.

My reasoning for softer loads is they are easier on the gun,shooter, & brass. What gun & barrel length do you plane to use?

 

[MichiganScott]

The load's probably safe, but I would have started with 6.0gr and worked my way up instead of simply pulling a load out of a manual.

Contact Brownell's and order a Lewis Lead Remover. You will probably need it.

 

[IAhunter]

I use 7.0 grains of Unique and CCi 500's with same bullet and brass. Nice mild target load.

 

[Fkimble]

I use 7.0 grs Unique with various lead 158 swc's, but leading is an issue except with the Laser Cast and the Bayou bullets. I consider it at the upper end of medium loads, just shy of 13.5 grs 2400. It's my walk in the woods load and my keep in the gun at home load.

 

[S.B.]

I use 7.0 grs Unique with various lead 158 swc's, but leading is an issue except with the Laser Cast and the Bayou bullets. I consider it at the upper end of medium loads, just shy of 13.5 grs 2400. It's my walk in the woods load and my keep in the gun at home load.

Your other bullets are probably too hard? Waht's the brinnel hardness of your others?
Steve

 

[crankyoldlady]

I am ultra cautious, so 300 rounds of an untested recipe would be a lot for me. I usually start with 10 or 12 rounds at the low end and work up in small increments.

But then, I loathe pulling bullets.

 

[buck460XVR]

I am ultra cautious, so 300 rounds of an untested recipe would be a lot for me. I usually start with 10 or 12 rounds at the low end and work up in small increments.

But then, I loathe pulling bullets.

Same here.

 

[Fkimble]

Steve, The Laser Cast are 21 I think, the Bayous are coated, these work ok. I've used MBC 12 and 18 Br in both .357 and .358. Also tried Dardas (16/18), and a couple others which slip my mind. Are probably 92-2-6 alloy for a Br of 16-18 depending on who's website you believe. These are shot in a 6 in 686 no dash and a 4 in Ruger Security Six. Anything over 5.4 grs Unique lead enough that I usually clean after 24 rounds. The Bayous leave the gun clean like a jacketed bullet so my 28s only get these, saves a lot of cleaning. Any suggestions are appreciated.

 

[Maximumbob54]

I'm more curious what they are sized at and what lube they use. Most of the bulk lead bullets I have bought came with a waxy lube that was so hard most of it was still on the bullet when I pulled them out from the hillside. I have come to decide that proper bullet size (for me it's .001 to .002 inches over bore) and then proper lube trumps bullet hardness.

 

[Fkimble]

Maxbob54, yes they all brag about their great lube but it always looks like colored wax, either red, blue or green. Some of the speciallty hi dollar cast bullet providers actually use real lube. Use to use a local casters bullets, they didn't look quite as sharp as the big shops but his lube was not red, blue or green. And it was a little messy in very hot weather, but they never leaded and were very accurate. But alas all the local small casters have hung it up.

 

[chud333]

I just took a quick peek at the Alliant website data. That is an upper end load with a lead bullet, going by their data. I do cross reference several manuals when researching a load. Some minor interpolation may be needed to accommodate a certain bullet. I'm also much more inclined to stay on the mid to mild side, unless I need otherwise.

My reasoning for softer loads is they are easier on the gun,shooter, & brass. What gun & barrel length do you plane to use?

Shot some today out of my 4" Highway Patrolman 28-2.
Very controllable recoil and the primers looked Ok as well.
I plan on just shooting these in my N-frames. The load shot
very well but i did'nt shoot any on paper for groups. Just picked out various targets at different distances and it shot well.
chuck

 

[chud333]

I'm more curious what they are sized at and what lube they use. Most of the bulk lead bullets I have bought came with a waxy lube that was so hard most of it was still on the bullet when I pulled them out from the hillside. I have come to decide that proper bullet size (for me it's .001 to .002 inches over bore) and then proper lube trumps bullet hardness.

Bob
They are sized at .358 and not sure of the lube used. I'll watch
for a leading problem. They shoot great and are not too rowdy.
I'll load 2400 if i want a screamer load.
chuck

 

[Lee Jones]

Ok for Skeeter

Skeeter Skelton used this load and I do as well. Very little leading, just twist some copper pot scrub pad on my cleaning brush, a little #9 or Kroil gets it out easy from my 686.
This load should shoot forever in any L/N frame Smith.

Shoot and pray daily.
Lee Jones (Celtgun)

 

[Steve C]

You certainly didn't use proper hand loading technique of reducing the maximum load by 10% for a start load qnd working up. Right now its a **** shoot on how well the load will work in your gun and if you will get overpressure signs or leading.

I wouldn't feel to comfortable shooting them from anything but a heavy 27/28 N frame or Ruger Black Hawk the first time until they proved to show no pressure signs or severe leading.

 

[TANKER]

That's a pretty stiff load of Unique. My first handgun was a 27 with 8 3/8's barrel. I cast a Keith style SWC that weighed out at 168 gr. from straight wheel weights. I used 7.0 gr Unique with that bullet for many years. Was very accurate and did anything I ever wanted it too. I found out how hot it was when I bought a 4" 19. The first six rounds I fired in it required the use of a chunk of 2x4 to extract the empties. I never had any trouble with leading using the old Javelina ALOX based lube. I cast and fired 10's of thousands of those loads. Many years later I sent the 27 to Smith for a much needed overhaul, the 'smith working on it commented that the forcing cone was extremely eroded and that it should be turned back a thread and refitted to avoid cracking the forcing cone. I wrote all that as an explanation why I recommend that you drop your load down to 5 gr for general plinking, and use a slower powder like 2400 for heavier general purpose loads. I always used Unique because I was pretty poor and Unique gave near magnum velocities with half the powder weight, hence more loads per pound. 2400 would give you 100-200 more fps with max loads, and less recoil, and be easier on the gun.

 

[David LaPell]

I used to load a similar load with 7.0 grains of Unique and it was pretty stiff. I can tell you that loading 300 rounds of something you haven't tested is not a great plan because if it does not shoot well you have alot of bullets to pull. I usually test out anywhere from 25 to 50 rounds at most to work up a certain load. After that then I would load up alot of them.

 

[alwslate]

Wow, all the usual dire warnings about dangerous overpressure. Unique
has been listed with charges of up to 8.2 grs, or more, with 158 gr lead
or jacketed bullets for how many years? I don't know the answer. Calling 7.5 grs Unique with a 158 gr cast bullet an " untested load " is
a bit much. I have loaded thousands of rounds of handgun ammo over
the years but i'm sure there are many on here that have loaded many
more rounds than I have and are more knowledgeable than I am. Since
all five of my 357s are N-frames I would not hesitate to load 7.5 grs
Unique under a 158 gr bullet without starting lower except for one
thing; Unique is one of my least favorite powders and when my can
is empty i'll never buy another. Poor metering and high E.S.s are two
reasons. A few recent results in my 4" 27-2 with 158 gr cast SWCs;
5.8 grs 231 = 1039 fps ES = 10 fps. 5.3 grs Bullseye = 1012 fps
ES=14 fps. 5.6 grs Titegroup = 1056 fps ES = 28 fps. 6.3 grs Unique
=1051 fps ES = 60 fps.

 

[S.B.]

Unique is also very dirty stuff!
Steve