357mag load

[222remx4]

I have loaded 357mag for a long while. Done heavy loads jacked and cast lead .
I have settled on
158 gr. Lead SWC Bullet
magnum primer
12.0grs 2400
Not the heaviest . It is comfortable to shoot . Max is 14grs. of 2400 Keep shooting

 

[Alk8944]

The original factory load for the .357 Magnum was basically what you are shooting, but the charge was 15.3 Gr./2400! So 14.0 is well under maximum. Your 12 gr. load is just a bit more than the original .38-44 load for the .38-44 Heavy Duty revolver that pre-dated the original .357 Magnum

My standard N-Frame load is 158 LSWCGC Lyman #358156, LPM primer and the 15.3/2400. Lubricant is Saeco Green. I get very little to no leading with this. I do not shoot this in K-Frame .357s, They will take it, but it really hurts!

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

Not the heaviest . It is comfortable to shoot . Max is 14grs. of 2400 Keep shooting

Which revolver are you shooting it in?

 

[rwsmith]

12.5 gr 2400 is good alternative to full bore loads for me. I use 14.5 gr. for a max. Even though my old Lyman says 15.

 

[Greyman50]

Question is where can one find 2400? BTW, not paying $70+ for a pound….

 

[rockquarry]

My standard .357 handload for many years has been the H&G #51 160 grain cast SWC (the original .357 Magnum bullet) and 12 grains #2400 with a CCI-500 primer. I've also used other primers including the CCI #550 Magnum primer and the CCI-400 small rifle primer.
I'd have to look at my notes to be sure, but I think the muzzle velocity from a 6" barrel is around 1150-1200 fps.

This load is accurate and recoil isn't bad. I just have no use for a maximum .357 Magnum load. If you can't find #2400, try some Accurate Arms #9. It's similar to #2400, but I haven't used it in a long time.

Also, 14 grains H110/296 will duplicate the ballistics and accuracy of my #2400 load, but with obnoxious muzzle blast and flash. I'd use it only if I couldn't find a better powder like #2400 or AA#9.

 

[glenwolde]

Me too! Only I went with Hornady XTP 158gr SJHP and W296. In my 6 1/2" stainless New Model Blackhawk they were more loud and blasty (?) than what I would call heavy recoiling. Did wake up the 9mm fanboys on either side of me. I should load some .41's...*snicker*. But those hurt me a little.

 

[rockquarry]

Question is where can one find 2400? BTW, not paying $70+ for a pound….

There is probably some out there but it hasn't been readily available for at least the last six months, maybe a year.

 

[Riposte1]

I'm not a huge .357 guy, though I have had them for decades and have shot a number of deer and smaller vermin with the cartridge.

Shot mostly with 125gr JHPs at from 1600 to 1800 fps (I typically hunt with 6-8" revolvers), but now my focus is on heavier bullets - these days 185 gr LHP to 195 gr. WFN.

I use some surplus powder I've got that I bought 16 lbs of, that is supposed to be like 2400 - it is actually a tiny bit faster but I'm not loading near max anyway.

BTW - I have loaded H110 - I got a load out of the 1st edition of the Cast bullet handbook that was supposed to push a 158gr SWC at 1400 fps out of a 4" - well it did that and more but it was intense! I didn't use it all that much and it wasn't all that effective on 10-20 lb vermin...but in those placment is defintiely king - miss by an inch and you have a an active critter for quite some time.

I'll likelly take my new loads deer hunting this fall and see what shakes out.




The above is my M-28 "switch barrel" it has been a .45 Colt, a .45 Auto-rim and is not an 8 3/8" .357 with a a used M-27 barrel - not much to look at but it shoots.

Here is a 165 GT Bullets LHP that goes ~1200 fps from one of my 5" M-27s at 25 yards.





Riposte

 

[M1A4ME]

Over the years I've found most of my guns shoot their best groups with a powder charge about 10% below the max. listed load in the manual. That's not 100% true, but it's close.

A good shooting .357 magnum pistol is plenty of fun.

 

[Greyman50]

There is probably some out there but it hasn't been readily available for at least the last six months, maybe a year.

I know and its frustrating. Been using it Unique and Bullseye for 50+ years. Have tried some of the new powders and they are ok.

 

[71vette]

2400 is an endangered species around here. I've settled on AA#9 and Enforcer as "replacements". #9 is a little faster, Enforcer is a little slower.

Right now my "medium spicy" Enforcer load is 13.7 grains behind a 158gr coated SWC. According to Brian Pierce I can go up to 14.5 grains.

158gr Summit SWC
13.7gr Enforcer, 1.595" COAL, CCI SPM

4" 586: 1110fps
4" Trooper MkIII: 1105fps
3" Python: 1083fps
3.5" Pre-27: 1075fps
2.5" 66-7: 1060fps

I'd say this is really close to your 12 grain 2400 load.

 

[biku324]

My standard 158 grain JHP/JSP load is 13.5 grains of 2400, or (now) 16.5 grains of Lil Gun. Both shoot to the same point of aim.