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.

 

[686PC]

My current favorite 357 load is 12 grains of AA#9, Missouri Bullet Company 158 grain "Action! Grooveless" Hi-Tech coated Keith style bullets and Federal SPM.

Accurate, powerful, yet pleasant to shoot out of my favorite shooter, a 6" 2020 Python.

 

[BrBa]

Once I tried N110 it quickly took the shine off 2400.

 

[Riposte1]

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.

I use Lil Gun in my .480 Ruger - it works well and I always figured I'd fall back on it if I need .357 powder (which I honestly don't load much of).

Been thinking on substituting Long Shot for Unique but I haven't done it yet - I have tried Universal Clays (they might just call it Universal now though) for same - it seems to replace Old Unique - or I do have some new Unique (not much) and I can just reduce the old charge by half a grain or so.

Just Ramblin' - glad I bought plenty of powde in bulk years ago when it was cheap(er).

Riposte

 

[biku324]

I use Longshot to replace Unique in 38 spl, 40 S&W, 45 ACP and Auto Rim, and did use it very successfully in a 44-40 I no longer have. It's perfect for service-to-+P loads, but not great for light loads. Good stuff!

 

[JimFr]

Being a fan of ole' Skeeter Skelton, I've been using his recipes for years!

 

[1961MJS]

My current favorite 357 load is 12 grains of AA#9, Missouri Bullet Company 158 grain "Action! Grooveless" Hi-Tech coated Keith style bullets and Federal SPM.

Accurate, powerful, yet pleasant to shoot out of my favorite shooter, a 6" 2020 Python.

Hi
Curious, Missouri Bullet sells both 12 Brinnell and 18 Brinnell .38 caliber bullets, the 12 is labelled for .38 Special, while the harder bullets are labelled .357 Mag. Which bullet did you use with the above load?

I'm considering the idea of using .357 brass at .38 Special velocities. This is based on the following Pearce Brothers Gear Guide video:

The Problem with shooting 38 Specials in your 357 Magnum

I'm over 60 and I've shot Bullseye on and off for a long time (usually badly, but not close to horribly). I'd like to shoot more Revolver than I due currently. I have both a Model 19 and a 686+. Anything that improves accuracy is a help. No experimenting yet, but the concept looks reasonable.

Thanks

 

[686PC]

Hi
Curious, Missouri Bullet sells both 12 Brinnell and 18 Brinnell .38 caliber bullets, the 12 is labelled for .38 Special, while the harder bullets are labelled .357 Mag. Which bullet did you use with the above load?

I'm considering the idea of using .357 brass at .38 Special velocities. This is based on the following Pearce Brothers Gear Guide video:

The Problem with shooting 38 Specials in your 357 Magnum

I'm over 60 and I've shot Bullseye on and off for a long time (usually badly, but not close to horribly). I'd like to shoot more Revolver than I due currently. I have both a Model 19 and a 686+. Anything that improves accuracy is a help. No experimenting yet, but the concept looks reasonable.

Thanks

Hi Mike,

I use 18 Brinnell for the 357 load above, and my 44 Magnum and 454 Casull loads. 18 Brinnell works really well for me for those higher pressure loads.

I am planning on trying the 38/158 grains 12 Brinnell MBC bullets for my 357 short barrel revolvers with Titegroup powder once my box of 38 X-Treme Plated Flat Point bullets ends.

I was using X-Treme bullets for the lighter loads but I suspect MCB 12 Brinnell bullets may be better. I have never come across 2400 yet, but Titegroup has worked very well for me for light loads.

Cheers,
686PC