.38/.357Mag

[J LeeACP]

Reacquired a S&W 586 recently from my oldest son and gave my youngest son my GP100. Want to have some revolver fun with him so will start loading 38/357. Been loading 9mm and .45acp for almost a year now on a RL500 so will get my caliber conversion and get started. Have 4 lbs of Titegroup , 4 lbs of Unigue, and 2 lbs of 2400 to devote to this caliber, saving my Power Pistol and WSF for my 9 and 700X for my 45 loads.



Thinking about the 158 gr flat point or 158 SWC both coated lead from SNS. Leaning towards the flat point as it seems to be close to the Elmer Keith design. Anything special I need to know or just have at it?



To keep it simple, plan on buying .357mag brass and loading on the lighter side with an occasional run of hotter 2400 magnums.

 

[Erich]

You should be good!

 

[bananaman]

Welcome to the FORUM! I used to use Titegroup for .38 special. 158gr. semi wad cutters. The only thing that I don't like about T.G. is that the powder flakes are so small that some leak out from my Lee powder disk while dispensing. I am just starting to use Unique. Check out handloads .com. Lots of neat stuff there. Bob

 

[bigsteve113]

using the powders you mentioned:1) for .38's I think you will find 158 LSWC/5.0 Unique quite enjoyable 2) for moderate .357 Magnum 158 gr LSWC/7.0 Unique 3) for heavy .357 Magnum 158 gr LSWC/14.5 2400.

Also for some .357ish type fun look up Skeeter Skelton's old ".357" load using .38 cases and 2400. And make sure to crimp on the first lube groove. I just tried these and they are super accurate out of my 4" 66.

And yes' just jump right in! .38/.357 has got to be one of the easiest cartridges to load for.

 

[MikeyB]

For me 6.5gr of Unique works very well using 158gr LSWC .357 target loads.

 

[J LeeACP]

So you suggest the LSWC over the flat point? I'm good with trying either but if you have had good success with the SWC, I'll try that first.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[silentflyer]

If it was good enough for Skeeter....

Skeeter Skelton

 

[rwsmith]

Three levels

Titegroup - Target loads, though Unique will do an equitable job with this. Some people don't like TG because it is very touchy. Make sure to check your charge weights often.

Unique - Target to higher medium loads in .38 and .357

2400 - Very warm to hot .357 loads. 2400 works better loaded warm to hot.

Looks like you are very well covered with a lot of overlap in performance.

PS I don't use .38 brass in my 686, but put .38 special loads and above in .357 cases.

 

[SLT223]

I shoot quite a bit of Unique and Titegroup in .357 brass at .38 +P levels. Both quite accurate. I'm primarily using Xtreme 158's (LSWC and FP's), and some pull downs from RMR, which are of a few different manufacturers causing inconsistent COAL. All work extremely well at 15 yards.

 

[chief38]

My general purpose Target Shooting load in .38 Special is a hard cast 158 grain RNL Bullet (Dardas) over 3.2 grains of TG. Very mild and accurate out of my Smiths.

I also use TG and the same bullets for .357 Mag's but don't
load them up to the max. If you use standard small pistol primers with the TG you will loose about 50 fps of velocity, and I do use the Mag SP's if I have them on hand.

 

[Neumann]

You have a magnum, and every so often it's nice to shoot hot loads (that's all I shoot). Jacketed bullets are best for self defense, but lead bullets are a lot cheaper, and punch clean holes just the same.

Soft bullets will leave lead in the barrel at 700 fps, badly if over 800 fps. Cleaning and fondling guns gets old if you have to scrub them each time. Think about loading hard cast bullets (e.g., Laser-Cast.com), which can handle up to 1800 fps (in a carbine) before leaving tinsel strips in the rifling, and 2200 fps with gas checks. Then you can put away the Unique and get some use out your 2400.

 

[TAROMAN]

For general range and target shooting in my .357s, I've gone almost exclusively to loading 148 grain double ended wadcutters in 357 cases.
Loaded to about 900 FPS, they give a satisfying snap, too.
They also punch nice holes:.
Last batch, I went for the polymer coated ones from Missouri Bullet Co.

[/IMG]

 

[Nick B]

You have a magnum, and every so often it's nice to shoot hot loads (that's all I shoot). Jacketed bullets are best for self defense, but lead bullets are a lot cheaper, and punch clean holes just the same.

Soft bullets will leave lead in the barrel at 700 fps, badly if over 800 fps. Cleaning and fondling guns gets old if you have to scrub them each time. Think about loading hard cast bullets (e.g., Laser-Cast.com), which can handle up to 1800 fps (in a carbine) before leaving tinsel strips in the rifling, and 2200 fps with gas checks. Then you can put away the Unique and get some use out your 2400.

Jacketed bullets from Zero are cheaper than Lazer-Cast.

 

[at_liberty]

For general range and target shooting in my .357s, I've gone almost exclusively to loading 148 grain double ended wadcutters in 357 cases.
Loaded to about 900 FPS, they give a satisfying snap, too.
They also punch nice holes:.
Last batch, I went for the polymer coated ones from Missouri Bullet Co.

[/IMG]

It seems intuitive to me that one would have to be cautious about wadcutters in 357 loads, since the bullets are typically or of necessity inserted quite deeply, if not flush with the case mouth. That reduces the case volume. If loading on the low end, as is typical for wadcutters, all should be fine, but load data is likely not presented for results from that reduction in volume and, I believe, increase in pressure. The engineering types will correct me, if I'm wrong about this.

 

[brucev]

Re: OP. From your post and the replies it is apparent that you are well set to load .38/.357 ammo. Others have offered excellent advice, etc. I will only add that as to .38 Special ammunition, I highly recommend the 158 gr. SWC/5.0gr. Unique load earlier mentioned. I first saw it in a article written by Skeeter Skelton. I've used it for 30 years in all manner of revolvers with perfect success. Sincerely. brucev.

 

[Bocephus]

I enjoy loading and shooting my 38/357's. Started loading when I use to shoot several thousand monthly while pursuing my SASS cowboy fetish.
Several previous posts indicated the dislike for the soft cowboy loads but for punching paper (or metal) they are great. I use Hodgen Clays for the majority of my pistol loading and use 3 grains with a 125 grain (lead) round nose flat point for 38's. HAVE FUN, BE SAFE

 

[Moe Mentum]

I use W231 for 9mm and .38 spl. Anybody use it for .357 magnum in mid range besides me ?

 

[OKFC05]

I use W231 for 9mm and .38 spl. Anybody use it for .357 magnum in mid range besides me ?

Of course. You can duplicate the short barrel Speer load with it.

 

[Collo Rosso]

I've done light loads in 357mag brass for my wife with HP-38 and 158gr. LSWC. Very soft shooting in a 686. Stepping it up I prefer HS-6.

 

[forestswin]

for light loads..............try 5 grains of Unique, 357 brass and the Hornady swaged 158 grain LSWC (see the Hornady book)

for a little stouter load, try 13.2 grains of 2400 with those coated 158 grain cast LSWC's in 357 brass

both of those loads are super accurate out of my 686 6 inch

 

[derek45auto]

UNIQUE is dirty but a GREAT powder for mid-higher magnum loads.

Titegroup is good stuff but burns hot and is very smokey with cast bullets

here's some data from my 6" 586

158gr SWC
7.0 unique
1211 fps

6gr. W-231/HP-38
1117fps

6.4gr.
1151fps


140gr hardcast
3.8gr w-231/HP-38
680fps ( great for kids with a 16" 1892 lever action carbine )

4.4gr.
796fps

140gr
7.6 unique
1259fps

at some point you'll want to try some jacketed full house magnum loads
for this W-296 / H-110 is king.
use magnum primers and a FIRM crimp.
lots of velocity, flash and noise with these.

2400 will serve you well also.

I just ordered some 140gr SNS coated, but haven't had time to try them out yet....I asked Santa for some 158's too

 

[J LeeACP]

Great info. Thanks all.

 

[gwalchmai]

I load 5gr of TiteGroup under a 158gr Bear Creek coated LSWC for a lite-medium .357 load. As always with fast powders, be mindful of double charges...

 

[J LeeACP]

Got everything on order and on the way. Decided on the SNS coated 158gr SWC(16-17 Brinell) and 357 mag starline brass which arrives Monday. Appreciate the advice.

 

[chief38]

Just for plinking I keep my 158 grain .357 Magnum hand loads in the moderate zone or around 1200 fps. minimizing any leading. No need for me to push bullets out at higher velocities to punch holes in paper or ring steel plates.

 

[J LeeACP]

Re: OP. From your post and the replies it is apparent that you are well set to load .38/.357 ammo. Others have offered excellent advice, etc. I will only add that as to .38 Special ammunition, I highly recommend the 158 gr. SWC/5.0gr. Unique load earlier mentioned. I first saw it in a article written by Skeeter Skelton. I've used it for 30 years in all manner of revolvers with perfect success. Sincerely. brucev.

I loaded 100 rounds with the SNS 158gr coated SWC over Unique 5.0 gr. Very accurate and fun to shoot. Did not Chrono out of my 6" 586 but a lot of fun. Think I'll load a few hundred more.

 

[rwsmith]

Don't use 2400

It works great, but 2400 doesn't burn as well as faster powder in light loads. It makes DANDY mid range through hot ones though.
I had 15.4 gr under a 140 JHP day before yesterday and YOWZA!

Coated bullets are coming on fast. Shot some of them and were very satisfied with them.

It sounds like your are in business!

 

[J LeeACP]

It works great, but 2400 doesn't burn as well as faster powder in light loads. It makes DANDY mid range through hot ones though.
I had 15.4 gr under a 140 JHP day before yesterday and YOWZA!

Coated bullets are coming on fast. Shot some of them and were very satisfied with them.

It sounds like your are in business!

Thanks. Don't think I will load many full power 2400 loads although I'm sure I will play with some.. What would be a could 2400 charge for mid-range that would still burn well?