.38/.357 powder question

[Norsk_jaeger]

I had a friend who recently passed away, but just before he did he gave me his Dillon 550b (with multiple dies), about 15lbs of W231, about 1lb of titegroup, thousands of magnum and small pistol primers, and 1500 HCSWC 158grn lead bullets. I am going to load .38 and .357 and have a couple of questions. Question one would be if I should use magnum primers with the W231, and if that is a good powder for .357? I know it works well with .38 (my friend passed that info on prior to his passing) but I don't know about .357. Any tips would be great! I will be shooting out of a 6" 28-2, a 4" 19-3, and a 8 3/8" Pre-27 for the magnums. Thanks in advance.

 

[OKFC05]

1. SP for 231; you can use magnum if you want for average loads
2. 2400 or Win296 (use magnum primers with 296) for .357 (you can also use 231 in .357 for light to medium loads)

Have you looked at the Hodgdon on-line loading center?

 

[Norsk_jaeger]

1. SP for 231; you can use magnum if you want for average loads
2. 2400 or Win296 (use magnum primers with 296) for .357 (you can also use 231 in .357 for light to medium loads)

Have you looked at the Hodgdon on-line loading center?

I have 2 Hogdon books, and of course will use them when loading but I figure 1st hand experience is ALWAYS helpful

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As you already know W231 is a very good powder for the .38 Special and can be used for the .357 Magnum but for light loads. You really should use a slower powder for the .357 Magnum if you want real magnum performance. Powders like W296/H110, 2400, AA#9, IMR4227, Enforcer and a few others in the same burn rate range are good examples. Magnum primers are really only a necessity with slow burning hard to ignite ball powders like W296, H110, HS-6 and HS-7.

 

[alwslate]

You don't have to use magnum primers with 231 in 357 loads like you
do with 296/H110 but in my experience magnum primers do improve
loads with the faster powders in the 357 mag. Some loading manuals
specify magnum primers with all 357 loads, maybe because of the
length of the case and the air space. 231 is good for midrange 357
loads, 158 gr cast SWC at 1100+ fps in a 4" barrel, but cannot equal
the slower powders. I have found that magnum primers improve
consistancy in midrange loads in my guns.

 

[Maximumbob54]

Your load data in your manuals will dictate if a magnum primer is needed for your load or not. I would not recommend deviating from the published data until you have a lot more experience. And even then I would tread lightly and use a chrono.

 

[rwsmith]

Your friend...

Sorry about your friend but he sure gave you a lot of nice stuff!

 

[KingArthur]

I use 4.5gn of Titegroup on a Berry's 158 RNFP 1.590 OAL real clean

Sent from my SPH-L710 using Tapatalk

 

[ozo]

My rule of thumb on .357
If the barrel is 6" or longer I use AA#9 powder.
Normally those guns are for hunting/distance.
The shorter barrels get W231 powder.

 

[mongoose65]

I use 7 gn of 231 with a 125 gn bullet and small pistol primer, nice target load for me.

 

[sophie]

Sorry to hear about the loss of your friend. It was good of him to set you up to reload with all that equipment.

I always used WW296 with magnum primers in my .357 loads (160 gr lcswc)

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have not used titegroup or 296..........
but agree on the rest of the post except..................

I did not have a happy time with imr 4227 powder.
It was messy, had blow back in the mag. (158xtp) and locked up my 38 snub nose with particles around and in the cylinder. (158LRN)
2400 has worked well in all my 357 loads and test from the 110 -158 Jhp starting to fac dup loads to 158 lead target loads.
Have no fear with 8.1grs of 231 in the mag case with the 125 Jhp load........ nice accurate load.