Yup. Are you loading .357 or 38 Sp?
starting load for 357mag. OK then? thanksYup. Are you loading .357 or 38 Sp?
oal 1455 is .38 spec, you are looking at .38 spec data.
Here's a good site if you want to see what other reloaders are doing:
http://www.handloads.com/
I've been reloading .357 for about 20 years and here's my favorite max load. Just be sure you shoot it out of a 357 frame that can handle the hot stuff, i.e. S&W 686 or S&W model 27 or 28 or Ruger GP100:
- 125gr speer JHP
- Federal nickel 357 cases - they have a slightly thicker head
- CCI 550 -Small Pistol Magnum primer
- H110 or W296 Powder - 21.0 grains
Make sure you get a heavy crimp on the bullet when you seat it. I seat the rim of the case at the top of the cannelure.
Hope this helps
So I read and looked through both manuals I have (Lyman 49th and Hornady 8th) for 357 load data for 125gr HDY XTP and both show no Win 231 data ...Found another online data source: Data.Hodgdon.com which lists the Win 231 data as follows:
Starting: 4.3gr @826fps
Max: 4.9gr @934fps
COAL: 1.455"
Since my range is 45 minutes drive away one way so I am planning to load 20 rounds of 357 using starting load: 4.3gr of Win 231. At the range, will shoot 10 rounds out of SW 686P 6" and the other 10 on 686P 2.5" barrel to see which shoots better in terms of recoil.
Any suggestion/advice before I start loading? Dies are set up for 357 but power meter has not. Thanks.
Hodgdon's HP-38 is Win 231. Go to Hodgdons Data Center, which you have already found, and cross check the HP-38/W231 data to verify it for yourself.
Then whenever you find HP-38 data you have found 231 data.
Clear as mud, right? This is the kind of thing that makes reloading seem so intimidating and confusing for the new hobbyist, but as your knowledge deepens you find much of the mystery removed.
Thanks and you've been very helpful.Congratulations! You did it!! I remember the grin on my face when I fired my first handloads. That was, oh, quite a few years ago.... I quickly checked for all 10 fingers and no red leaks.
Did you count your fingers like I did?![]()
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From what I've read, I was concerning about barrel leading with lead bullets and that's the main reason I did't bother to look at them or compare prices with jacketed ones.
Perhaps I should give them a try and see. In terms of saving from using lead bullets, I just compared prices from Xstreme Bullets for 500 pieces on 44 cal 240gr SWC hard cast lead for $55 to 240gr FP plated for $60 and that's only $5 difference. Am I looking at this correctly? Or are there cheaper lead bullets out there that I need to know? Thanks.