.357 XTP 125 gr. Load

[Colt Commander]

Hello,

I settled on a load today for my 627 UDR .357.

After testing H 110 from 19.9 gr. to 22.0 gr. the velocity averages over the chronograph ranged from 1240 fps to 1390 fps.

All cases up to 21.6 grs. extracted well, above this it got sticky.

The load I chose for use is 20.5 grs. of H110.

Chronograph set at 15 ft. I usually go to 10 ft. but the muzzle flash was causing erroneous readings.

Bullet: 125 gr. Hornady XTP.
Powder: H110 - 20.5 grs.
Case: new, Winchester .357 Mag.
Primer: Federal small pistol magnum
Crimp: Moderately heavy
Velocity Avg.: 1337 FPS
Velocity spread: 1302-1363 FPS
SD: 18

My reference load was factory Remington 125 gr. JSP. This gave me an average Velocity of 1284 Fps for 10 shots.

All loads were 10 shot strings, and temp. was 83 deg.

Above 21.0 grains velocity increase was negligible ,although a longer barrel will no doubt increase velocity.

 

[Dragon88]

21.0 gr is the sweet spot for me in this load. In fact I just shot some not six hours ago, it is my absolute favorite 357 load. I am not familiar with your model of revolver, it is a shorter barrel? I get 1575 fps out of my 6" GP100. The chrony definitely needs to be set farther back for this one, is generates a lot of excess gas. Heck if I could move my face farther back I would. This load puts out some serious report.

Above 21.0 gr only increases recoil and noise with little gain in fps. You are just creating more gas to escape, not pushing the bullet much more.

 

[Colt Commander]

Hi Dragon88,

Sorry I have not taken any pictures of the revolver yet. It is a M-627 N-frame with a 2 5/8 in. Bbl.

I was surprised that I reached the 1300 FPS plus out of that short of Bbl.

 

[Dragon88]

Wow I bet you get some nice flash out of that short barrel. 1300 fps is nothing to laugh at, but have you tried a slightly faster powder like 2400? You might get a more efficient load with that.

 

[Colt Commander]

I don't care for 2400 for SD loads.

Too many instances of cylinder seizing and extractor stars not seating from semi-burnt powder.

For casual hunting loads I prefer it.

 

[Dragon88]

Hmm I've never had any problems with 2400, though I mostly use it in 44 mag. The 125gr XTP/H110 load is your SD load? Dang remind me not to break into your house.

 

[Paul5388]

It sure seems to me you'd be better off with a faster powder. The 2" Rossi I used to have would give me 1100 fps, but that was .38 Specials with a 158 gr LSWC. The shortest barrel I have now is a 4" M66-2. That same .38 Special load produces 1180 fps out of the M66, so an extra 2" is only good for another 80 fps. 125 gr bullets loaded in .357 brass will go about 1460 fps with less than a maximum load.

BTW, I used SR 4756 for all of those loads and I didn't even tell you about 1620 fps out of a 6" barrel.

 

[rwnielsen]

It's interesting to me that Hornady, the maker of the XTP, lists a max load of 20.6g of H-110 (4th ed.) and Hodgdon list 22g. Hornady's max is below Hodgdon's minimum. You see these things all the time.
Am I missing something?

 

[Rule3]

I loaded some of almost exactly the same rounds a few days ago.

125gr XTP HP
21gr H-110
Win SPMP

Shoot them out of my M&P 327 R8

Like little ballistic missiles

You know they are hot when you can see a 1ft flash in full Fla sun.