357mag 158gn HornadyXTP recomended powders

[cowboy4evr]

I would use 2400 . Blue Dot ,Longshot ,HS-6 will probably get you there but it will take a fair amount of testing . You have already been given a load using 2400 --- 13.5grs which I agree with . It's an old favorite of mine using cast lead bullets providing a little velocity / umphhh . Regards Paul

 

[roberth]

2400 would be my choice, it is terrific in the 357M.

 

[fredj338]

Fellows. I'm in need of powder recommendations. I'm loading Hornady 158gn XTP bullets for a S&W Model 65... 357 mag. I will be using 357 brass so I do not need 38spl data.

Would like to load to the high side of mid range velocities (1100fps?) but I'm not sure about powders that can get me there.

I had "planned" on using ww231 OR Solo 1000(because I have alot on hand) but from my internet "readings" those 2 powders are ... not ideal.

Thoughts?

Imo, w231 is too fast for 158/1100fps. I like 2400, but an upper medium burner like aa#7, PP, BE86, HS6 & LS would do well.

 

[fredj338]

From my loading experience with 158 gr cast SWCs at 1100 + fps out
of a 4" S&W mod 28-2, 6.4 grs of 231 or 7.4 grs of Longshot will get you
there with less expense and muzzle blast than 13 or so grs of 2400.
Realize that at 1100 fps you are wasting money on JHPs that will not
expand when you could be using cast SWCs.

The xtp will expand at 1100fps, but I agree, I am a cast bullet guy for all my revolver calibers, LHP will also expand quite nicely at 1100fps if the hp design & alloy is right.

 

[rrr2]

I use 2400 for lower power loads, and w296 for barn burners. have a 2" j frame and with 296 feels like a stick of dynamite going off in your hand.
but you can load down with 2400 that's tolerable,

 

[ptf18]

Fellows. Thanks. I "think" I'll look for the 2400 locally and give it a shot.

Would 2400 be a "good" powder for the 9mm and 45acp?

 

[tominboise]

8 grains of Power Pistol or Herco do the job with your 158XTP's. I am loading some with Herco today, as matter of fact.

2400 would not be a desirable powder in 9mm or 45 ACP - they typically use a faster burner. WW231 for example.

 

[gwpercle]

Speaking of 357 magnum / 158 gr. XTP loads
Unique covers a wide range but not the best for top end .
Accurate #5
Accurate #7
Accurate #9
2400 is a good top end powder
H110 is classic top end powder .

The big question is ...what powder can you get ? Sometimes you have to use what's available . When 2400 and H110 disappeared for awhile and my dealer had a supply of Accurate powders ...opened my eyes to some good powders .
Gary

 

[Rogeronimo]

I use 3N38, but there's more data for 3N37 and N350. Longshot will also do well in 45ACP and 9mm applications.

 

[68Dave]

Would 2400 be a "good" powder for the 9mm and 45acp?

No, it's too slow. If you have w231 already, it will work. There is data available for both those calibers using that powder.
David

 

[stansdds]

Fellows. Thanks. I "think" I'll look for the 2400 locally and give it a shot.

Would 2400 be a "good" powder for the 9mm and 45acp?

Waaaaay too slow for 9x19 or 45 ACP. These pistol calibers call for fast to medium burning rate powders. Anything from Bullseye, W-231/HP-38, AA#2 up to HS-6, Blue Dot, or AA#7 would be appropriate.

 

[ptf18]

Fellows. Got to the range yesterday to try out 7.5gn of Unique with the 158gn XTP JHP's shot thru my Model 65-3 with its 3" barrel.

Shot at 7 and 10 yards, 2 hand hold...and Im not a handgunner.

Very impressed with the gouping... BUT at both yard lines the POI is low by maybe 2 inches. The fired cases were very clean and the recoil was...manageable. Have to admit I ONLY shot 15 rounds.

What can I do to center up the POI? My understanding is to try a heavier bullet BUT... I'm already using a 158gn one.

Thoughts?

 

[cowboy4evr]

Before buying a heavier bullet , I would ask someone else to shoot that load as well to see if they also had rounds 2" low . It could be the way you are seeing the sights . If it still shoots low , you could lightly file the top of the front sight , a slight amount which will raise the POI . YOu could also back off on the powder to just 7.0 grs of Unique . That 7.0 gr load of Unique is an old favorite of many including myself . I hope this helps , Regards Paul

 

[Rogeronimo]

Fellows. Got to the range yesterday to try out 7.5gn of Unique with the 158gn XTP JHP's shot thru my Model 65-3 with its 3" barrel.

Shot at 7 and 10 yards, 2 hand hold...and Im not a handgunner.

Very impressed with the gouping... BUT at both yard lines the POI is low by maybe 2 inches. The fired cases were very clean and the recoil was...manageable. Have to admit I ONLY shot 15 rounds.

What can I do to center up the POI? My understanding is to try a heavier bullet BUT... I'm already using a 158gn one.

Thoughts?

Slow the powder down to raise your POI.

 

[MattO]

I load all of my 357 with either Unique or 2400. Can't go wrong with either on a Magnum round.

 

[J. R. WEEMS]

XTP Loading

Except my 500S&W, I use XTP bullets for all my handgun hunting for just years. While I dont hunt too much any more I do keep some on hand for whatever serious purpose might come to be. In one form or the other, I use 800X behind the XTP bullet. It has never failed me and I have plenty on hand, just in case.
Oh yeah, as far as metering is concerned, my RCBS ChargeMaster has no problem with this powder. It was however a bit of a struggle before the ChargeMaster came along, but it got done.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Fellows. Thanks. I "think" I'll look for the 2400 locally and give it a shot.

Would 2400 be a "good" powder for the 9mm and 45acp?

For what you want to do, agree with 2400, HS-6, and AA#9. They will all give you great results.

There are better powders for 9mm and 45ACP, but if you want one powder to use for 357, 45 ACP, and 9mm, consider CFE pistol. I've used it in all those calibers and it performs well and is very clean.

Generally speaking though, you're better off getting different powders for different jobs. You want to cover the range of burn rates depending on what cartridges you're loading.

 

[2ndtimer]

FWIW, I settled on Power Pistol for my "slightly less than maximum" loads in .357 Magnum revolvers. It provides a little more performance than Unique and is cleaner than CFE Pistol with cast bullets. With jacketed bullets, I usually go with W-296/H-110, Accurate No. 9 or Alliant Power Pro 300-MP. Power Pistol also can be used for top end loads in 9mm, .38 Special and .45 ACP.

 

[muddocktor]

Fellows. Thanks. I "think" I'll look for the 2400 locally and give it a shot.

Would 2400 be a "good" powder for the 9mm and 45acp?

As already posted, 2400 is too slow for either of those 2 calibers.

You will find that 357 Mag performs very well with a whole bunch of different powders which have been mentioned above. If you want a powder that can give you 1100 ft/sec 357 Mag loads and also be useable for 9MM and 45 Auto, you can look at some of the quicker powders mentioned such as Accurate #7, Longshot, CFE Pistol and even Blue Dot with heavier 9MM bullets. Of those, I tend to prefer Longshot as I have found it to give good performance in a variety of different calibers and it meters better for me than Blue Dot. Accurate #7 meters very well but I personally haven't shot it much in 357 Mag. I also haven't shot much HS6 so I will not comment on it's suitability and defer to the folks that have used it in 357.

 

[imakmst]

for a trifecta, keep this on hand

Bullseye, Unique, 2400