Magload
US Veteran
There is a gun show coming up the last weekend of the month and I am looking for a powder that will at least give me a 50% case fill. Would like to stick with a Hodgdon powder if possible. Don
38/357 Mag Powders
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Boogsawaste
Member
There's always the slow ones like h110 and w296. Those fill the cases for 357 nicely. They should be used with magnum primers. Not good for 38 specials though and are really only suited for near max load 357's.
If you're looking for something that is bulky and does both, I like unique. You won't get full power 357 magnums but you can still make them with some snort. I've also had luck with herco. Just not good for powder puff 38 loads as it gets really dirty. Good (in my experience), with mid to high range 38's and low to mid range 357 magnums. I actually enjoy this powder and picked up another pound of it yesterday locally.
There are others I'm sure, but this is what I have used personally. I have some power pistol that should fill that role, but I can't comment on how it fills the cases as I haven't cracked open the container yet.
If you're looking for something that is bulky and does both, I like unique. You won't get full power 357 magnums but you can still make them with some snort. I've also had luck with herco. Just not good for powder puff 38 loads as it gets really dirty. Good (in my experience), with mid to high range 38's and low to mid range 357 magnums. I actually enjoy this powder and picked up another pound of it yesterday locally.
There are others I'm sure, but this is what I have used personally. I have some power pistol that should fill that role, but I can't comment on how it fills the cases as I haven't cracked open the container yet.
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Just another 22 shooter
Member
HS6 is what you're looking for. Load toward the upper end of what the Hodgdon data says, with a magnum primer in the 357.
I know it's not Hodgedon but I surely wouldn't pass up 2400 if I found it at a good price. It's pretty much a std for 357 and it really fills up a case. You can load 38+P with it also. I don't think it works well for normal 38 loads however. There are only a few really good 357 powders and 2400 is one of them.
The problem with Hodgedon is they don't make a lot of their own powder and have to rely on ADI and others for their product. With the supply being very low they don't get powder like they used to, at least I haven't seen any.
This chart may be helpful to find a substitute powder for Hodgedon. Note that most Hodgedon powder has an ADI equivalent. That's because ADI makes that powder.
http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders/equivalents.asp
The problem with Hodgedon is they don't make a lot of their own powder and have to rely on ADI and others for their product. With the supply being very low they don't get powder like they used to, at least I haven't seen any.
This chart may be helpful to find a substitute powder for Hodgedon. Note that most Hodgedon powder has an ADI equivalent. That's because ADI makes that powder.
http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders/equivalents.asp
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800x gives excellent case fill with good midrange-top loads (not quite the top though). And it has always filled >50% even with .38 special loads and super light .44 magnum loads for me. It's also pretty economical, 8.5 grains will fill a .357 case about 80% when using a 158gr bullet. From what I understand, 700x is even less dense, though I have not as of yet used any. 4227 is apparently quite case filling as well, with many of the loads I see listed being a compressed charge. And of course TrailBoss is designed specifically to be case-filling without providing tons of velocity or pressure.
For top-end loads I use 300-MP, which in general is 90-100% filling. In relation to the economy comment I made before, 17 grains will fill up just a bit more than 1/2 as much 800x. Though it does provide another 100fps to a 158gr bullet. My understanding is H110/W296 is similar to 300-MP in terms of case fill.
Edit: just to be clear, 300-MP is not a Hodgdon powder.
Also, if the reason for wanting Hodgdon powder is their reloading data, I would point out that Accurate Arms has what seem to me to be a far larger body of data available for free.
For top-end loads I use 300-MP, which in general is 90-100% filling. In relation to the economy comment I made before, 17 grains will fill up just a bit more than 1/2 as much 800x. Though it does provide another 100fps to a 158gr bullet. My understanding is H110/W296 is similar to 300-MP in terms of case fill.
Edit: just to be clear, 300-MP is not a Hodgdon powder.
Also, if the reason for wanting Hodgdon powder is their reloading data, I would point out that Accurate Arms has what seem to me to be a far larger body of data available for free.
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2400 is the top choice for full power loads in the 357 but for loads
that are just a bit below absolute top velocity and with a Hodgdon
powder Longshot is the one. It will get above 1200 fps out of a 4"
357 with 158 gr cast SWCs with a bit less than maximum charge
weight.
that are just a bit below absolute top velocity and with a Hodgdon
powder Longshot is the one. It will get above 1200 fps out of a 4"
357 with 158 gr cast SWCs with a bit less than maximum charge
weight.
I think that in some....
I think that in some bullet weights in the .357 category 2400 can actually exceed those from 110/296.
I think that in some bullet weights in the .357 category 2400 can actually exceed those from 110/296.
DWalt
Member
HP-38 is also pretty good for a variety of .357 loads if you are not looking to get hot loads. In fact, it's pretty much ideal for both lead and jacketed 158 grain loads in the 1000-1200 ft/sec MV range. Ditto for Unique. Actually, HP-38/231 (same powder) and Unique have very similar ballistic characteristics. I prefer Unique loads with 158 grain jacketed bullets, loaded to about 1050-1100 ft/sec. That's plenty warm enough for me.
scooter123
Member
That would not surprise me one bit, I find H110/W296 a bit too "slow" for use in a handgun load. This means that a lot of powder is burning AFTER the bullet has left the barrel so all it does is produce that distinct BAHOOM report typical to handgun charges featuring a powder to slow to be really efficient in a typical handgun. I use H110 in my Rifle loads where it produces superb accuracy, excellent velocity, and a moderate report.
Now to the OP's request. Alliant 2400 is a powder I haven't tried out yet but I do have a couple of pounds I want to try out at some point. Based on most of the burn rate charts it's likely to be well suited at the higher end for 158 grain jacketed loads in a 6 inch or longer handgun and for somewhat moderate Rifle loads in barrels of 20 inches or less. In a 4 inch barrel I would load towards the light end with a 140 or 158 grain bullet and see how it shot.
My favorite powders for 357 Magnum loads for a handgun are the Accurate Pistol powders. Accurate #5 works great with 125 grain jacketed bullets, #7 works well with 140 grain jacketed bullets, and #9 is perfect for 158 grain bullets. A big plus is that all these powders meter superbly.
For my 38 special loads my preferred powder is Vihtavouri 3N37. I only load the 38 special with a 125 grain Plated bullet so sticking with just one powder makes things real simple. A 5.8 grain charge produces 820 fps from my 6 inch Dan Wesson and 750 fps from my 4 inch 620. Testing has shown this powder is not the least bit position sensitive and it meters nearly as well as the Accurate powders. Yeah, it's a bit pricey but with 5.8 grains per charge that cost is spread out over 1200 rounds per pound.
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Well seams I need 2400 or Unique but now thanks to all that replied I have a lot of others that will work. Not being able to find powder around here unless you want to pay $40 a pound it makes it tough. If you buy on line you need at least #8 to make the HazMat worth while and at my age #8 in a 357 will never get used. I would order 8 pounds of Unique as it cover a lot of other calibers and load. Don
Win Autocomp seems to be more available than many other pistol
powders and would be a fine choice for 38 spl and mid range 357 loads.
It's a ball powder so would also have good metering characteristics
unlike crappy Unique. Many handloaders want to cling to Unique, mostly
because of habit or tradition I think but there are many better powders
available these days.
powders and would be a fine choice for 38 spl and mid range 357 loads.
It's a ball powder so would also have good metering characteristics
unlike crappy Unique. Many handloaders want to cling to Unique, mostly
because of habit or tradition I think but there are many better powders
available these days.
I've found Auto-Comp to fill the bill great for most pistol loads
scooter123
Member
I'll grant that 40 dollars a pound is a bit steep but that price yielded something like a pound of Accurate #9 I would NOT think twice about paying it. That charge weight of #9 with a 158 grain Hornady XTP yields 1200 fps from a 6 inch barrel and at that charge weight I can load 630 rounds of higher energy 357 Magnums. When you think about it from that perspective 40 bucks isn't that bad.
BTW, the reason I like #9 is superb metering, low flash profile, and no H110 BAHOOM. In addition I find all the Accurate Handgun powders to be very clean shooting. Makes it a real shame is that these powders have become so darned difficult to find.
I'll also note that I'm glad to live in an area where the dealers at the local gunshows are so reasonable in their prices. Yesterday I hit a local show and picked up a Spikes Tactical AR15 lower for 75 dollars, a 300 blackout barrel in stainless for 175 dollars, and 3 lbs. of Winchester 296 for 25 dollars per pound. About the only negative is there wasn't any 300 blackout brass to be had but no big deal on that, I won't have the Blckout finished until August at the soonest.
BTW, the reason I like #9 is superb metering, low flash profile, and no H110 BAHOOM. In addition I find all the Accurate Handgun powders to be very clean shooting. Makes it a real shame is that these powders have become so darned difficult to find.
I'll also note that I'm glad to live in an area where the dealers at the local gunshows are so reasonable in their prices. Yesterday I hit a local show and picked up a Spikes Tactical AR15 lower for 75 dollars, a 300 blackout barrel in stainless for 175 dollars, and 3 lbs. of Winchester 296 for 25 dollars per pound. About the only negative is there wasn't any 300 blackout brass to be had but no big deal on that, I won't have the Blckout finished until August at the soonest.
Disregard. I just went back and saw you want 50% case fill. Obviously in .38SPL/.357 AutoComp or CFE won't give you that. I also see from other posts you have tested CFE Pistol quite a bit.
Another vote for AutoComp or CFE Pistol. Both of these powders are "modern" powders that seem to be readily available most anywhere and are reasonable priced. To me "modern" means three things: They are clean burning, they work well in a variety of pistol calibers, and they are ball powders and as such meter really well.
Either of these powders work great for me in 9mm, .38 SPL/.357, .40S&W, and .45ACP. The only downside is because they are so new there is not the dearth of historical load data as with some of the older powders. I've still been able to find what I need data-wise in books, online, or by asking others online. Both AutoComp and CFE Pistol do fall under the Hogddon family.
Another vote for AutoComp or CFE Pistol. Both of these powders are "modern" powders that seem to be readily available most anywhere and are reasonable priced. To me "modern" means three things: They are clean burning, they work well in a variety of pistol calibers, and they are ball powders and as such meter really well.
Either of these powders work great for me in 9mm, .38 SPL/.357, .40S&W, and .45ACP. The only downside is because they are so new there is not the dearth of historical load data as with some of the older powders. I've still been able to find what I need data-wise in books, online, or by asking others online. Both AutoComp and CFE Pistol do fall under the Hogddon family.
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Nemo288
Member
IF you happen to see any Vihtavouri powders and they have N340, N350, 3N37, or N105, any of those will all do what you want.
VV powders in that range are very close together in burning rate and are listen in order of fastest to slowest.
They are quite small sticks, single based, and consequently more bulky than some of the competition.
N105 is slightly faster than 2400 but may be as bulky (or more so)
I am testing it in 44 special and it fills at least 80% of the case.
It is capable of true magnum performance as well.
N350 is probably the best all around choice amongst those.
It also has loading data for both calibers:
.357 Magnum - Handgun reloading - Reloading Data - Vihtavuori
.38 Special - Handgun reloading - Reloading Data - Vihtavuori
These powders are a little more expensive but burn very cleanly and for (very small) stick powder meter well.
I am an obvious fan
I have not seen any Unique or 2400 around here for a couple of years or we might not be having this conversation.
Good luck with your reloading.
Stay safe and let us know how it works out for you.
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Nemo
VV powders in that range are very close together in burning rate and are listen in order of fastest to slowest.
They are quite small sticks, single based, and consequently more bulky than some of the competition.
N105 is slightly faster than 2400 but may be as bulky (or more so)
I am testing it in 44 special and it fills at least 80% of the case.
It is capable of true magnum performance as well.
N350 is probably the best all around choice amongst those.
It also has loading data for both calibers:
.357 Magnum - Handgun reloading - Reloading Data - Vihtavuori
.38 Special - Handgun reloading - Reloading Data - Vihtavuori
These powders are a little more expensive but burn very cleanly and for (very small) stick powder meter well.
I am an obvious fan
I have not seen any Unique or 2400 around here for a couple of years or we might not be having this conversation.
Good luck with your reloading.
Stay safe and let us know how it works out for you.
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Nemo
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Thanks Nemo. Took a road trip today to check out a outdoor range I was thinking about joining but was highly disappointed sure didn't look like their website. Also the trip was to stop at GM as I called them yesterday and they had Mag small pistol primers for $3.99 which beat the ones I got at the lgs for $10.50 for a box of 100. Also picked up small rifle primers to try. Good thing I didn't have any spare money as they were having a gun sales on rifles and shotguns. Don
Nemo288
Member
"sure didn't look like their website"
I don't like to be judgmental, but stuff like that can give you perhaps a little insight into someone's psyche or mindset.
I guess I am lucky in that the indoor range I joined looks just like it does online.
Deerfield Pistol and Archery Center
It's owned and run by current and retired LEOs who run a straight ship.
I took my CCW class there as well.
Also have a nice Mom and Pop LGS that is exactly as it appears:
Great Lakes Firearms - Ammunition & Accessories
They are basically a farm and have a little 35 yd range out back.
I have done a lot of transfers there. Nice folks.
I get all my hazmat at Recob's which is a half hour drive.
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Nemo
I don't like to be judgmental, but stuff like that can give you perhaps a little insight into someone's psyche or mindset.
I guess I am lucky in that the indoor range I joined looks just like it does online.
Deerfield Pistol and Archery Center
It's owned and run by current and retired LEOs who run a straight ship.
I took my CCW class there as well.
Also have a nice Mom and Pop LGS that is exactly as it appears:
Great Lakes Firearms - Ammunition & Accessories
They are basically a farm and have a little 35 yd range out back.
I have done a lot of transfers there. Nice folks.
I get all my hazmat at Recob's which is a half hour drive.
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Nemo
I like Recob's that is where I ordered the #8 of CFE Pistol.
The indoor range I belong to is very nice and has great people running it. i just feel the need to shoot farther then 20yds now and then. We have two outdoor ranges both offering up to 200yds. If you just had to go by the website pics you would say the one 27 miles away was a really nice setup. Then they want $500 to join and $50 a month for the single member medium benefits. The one that is 13 miles away wants $200 to join and $20 a month and the place looked even better then their website.
As for the comment.
I don't like to be judgmental, but stuff like that can give you perhaps a little insight into someone's psyche or mindset.
My girlfriend often says I should visit her shrink.
The indoor range I belong to is very nice and has great people running it. i just feel the need to shoot farther then 20yds now and then. We have two outdoor ranges both offering up to 200yds. If you just had to go by the website pics you would say the one 27 miles away was a really nice setup. Then they want $500 to join and $50 a month for the single member medium benefits. The one that is 13 miles away wants $200 to join and $20 a month and the place looked even better then their website.
As for the comment.
I don't like to be judgmental, but stuff like that can give you perhaps a little insight into someone's psyche or mindset.
My girlfriend often says I should visit her shrink.
