About to reload some 357 mag

[ROAD GLIDE]

And was wondering what velocity you guys prefer for target and plinking out of a 66? Don't want to beat my gun up and I have to try out my new Hogue grips Will be using AA7 and 158gr XTP's. I was thinking around 900-1000 fps should be pleasantly fun.

 

[BB57]

If you're using .38 brass 750-800 fps is a nice light load with a 158 gr LSWC or XTP.

Stepping up to around 900-1000 fps makes a nice .38 +P load in .38 Special brass, or a nice mid range .357 Mag load in .357 Mag brass.

 

[bigggbbruce]

I take published loads and reduce until I like the recoil.

 

[Goblin]

Magnum brass and 6.5 gr of W231 give me just over 1,100 fps in a 6" barrel, and give more snap than a +P without beating up your fine-looking revolver.

 

[mikld]

If you want to shoot light "Magnum" loads just start with the starting loads listed in your manual(s). If you want extra light (powder puff loads) use .38 Special data, either in Special or Magnum brass (I've used .38 Special data in 357 Magnum brass for some very light loads. They will be slower than the listed velocities due to the larger case of the 357. The +P 38 loads are a good "shootable" in between).

 

[OldChief]

When I want to be serious with the .357, I load 158 grain XTPs pushed by 7.3 grains of Unique and when I just want to punch holes in targets I load (.38 Special) 158 grain Xtreme PSWCs pushed by 3.2 grains of Bullseye.

 

[zonker5]

I load 158g lswcs to 900-1000 fps. Makes a good target and plinking load yet has enough snap to be useful for defense or small game.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I understand your concern about not wanting to beat up your gun . I have had quite a few K frame 357's so I can speak with experience . First off , don't let the " nay " sayers convince you that it is weak and should only shoot full magnum loads , occasionally . It was designed for the 158 gr , or heavier bullet . When the police dept's came under a lot of publicity about over penetration they , in defense went to a lighter bullet . Most agencies used the 125 gr , some used 110 and a few used a 90 gr . But , and this is the important part , they used a load of W296 (21grs) equivalent to what is used in the " N " frame revolver for the 41 magnum which is a much heavier , stouter firearm . Over time it stretched the K frame and loosened them up .
The factories statement to only occasionally use 357 magnums was the 2nd letter they issued . The first said that if they would go back to what the gun was designed for 158gr , shoot all the magnum loads they wanted .
I have personally shot many many full magnum loads using a 180 gr cast bullet and the max load of W296 , right out of Hodgdons load data in my 19-5 (4") and it is as tight today as the day I got it , many yrs ago. If you just want to shoot the lighter , target loads , have fun . Just don't let others scare you into thinking that it is a " fragile " firearm . Good Luck

 

[6GUNSONLY]

My personal favorite .357 loads are my cast 173 gr. Keith-type bullets (#358429) at a "light magnum" level. Lately I've been loading those with AA-9. In jacketed bullets I like the 140 gr. Sierra JHP. I loaded 100 rounds of those today over AA-7 at about midway between starting and maximum level. These will likely be shot in my 2 1/2" 66-1.

 

[Doc Hollywood]

Xtp's are expensive plinkers but I use 10.5 grains with that bullet as a max load with that powder. Get some lead bullets.

 

[irapollock]

For your stated target & plinking uses, my vote is also in that 900 - 1000 fps range, maybe up to 1100 fps when I want to hunt the elusive milk jug. For your purposes I'd recommend cast bullets rather than the XTP based on cost. Plenty of good choices out there. A good guess is that the lead bullets will be 50 - 100 fps faster than jacketed for a given load, at least at 38 +P loadings. Hardcast lead bullets can easily be driven to magnum velocities w/o barrel leading.
Your 4" M66 is an excellent choice for a do just about anything handgun

 

[cowboy4evr]

One of my favorite light target loads is using a 158 gr bullet , cast , plated etc and 5.0 grs of red dot loaded in a 357 mag case . It supposedly shoots @ about 950fps , depending on barrel length , your particular gun etc . In a 2.5" probably about 875-900 . It is very accurate and inexpensive . Have fun

 

[rwsmith]

I, myself would not....

I used to plink/target with any bullets I wanted. Now due to scarcity and expense I don't use good hollow points for that purpose. Get some coated lead bullets from Missouri or Bayou Bullets at about $40/500. I guarantee that you will get a lot of shooting satisfaction. If you want to do more serious shooting load of the XTPs at around 1050 fps or greater. A lead WC or SWC bullet is ideal for what you are doing. A load in the upper range of .38 +P to lower .357 of Acc 7 will give a nice shooting load. If you want a really mild target load the lower end of .38 special with a fast powder will shoot just fine out of a .357

PS I load from target .38 to full powerr .357 in .357 cases to prevent the 'crud ring' from letting my cartridges chamber easily.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I 2nd what rwsmith said about always using 357 cases , no matter the load be it target or full magnum . It's all I use . eons ago 357 cases was hard to come by so a guy had to use 38spl cases but that's not the case anymore . the difference in powder charge is only slight .

 

[Neumann]

At 42 oz, your 686 is heavy enough to absorb recoil from even hot Magnum loads. I load mine near maximum according to the Speer handbook. It's your choice, but it's a nice revolver to shoot at either end of the scale.

I load 158 gr XTPs, but more often I use hard-cast lead bullets from Oregon Trails, either SWC or RNFP (for better feeding in a lever gun), 158 gr. I have no leading problems with these bullets, up to or exceeding 1800 fps in a carbine. Best of all, they cost 1/3rd that of the XTPs.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

I understand your concern about not wanting to beat up your gun . I have had quite a few K frame 357's so I can speak with experience . First off , don't let the " nay " sayers convince you that it is weak and should only shoot full magnum loads , occasionally . It was designed for the 158 gr , or heavier bullet .

I agree fully with what Cowboys says.I've also owned a few .357K frames and never had a problem with any of them.But I've always shot 145gr or heavier(lead) bullets in them.
When the word about the 125gr eating away the top strap went around,it spread pretty fast;much faster than the fact that after a certain depth,the ''eating away'' stopped.Bad news will always outpace the good ones!
BTW,nice gun you got there.There's a lot of guns that I've sold that I shouldn't have but amongst all of them,my model 66 is always the first that comes to my mind.Have Magnum fun with it.
Qc

 

[SLT223]

I like Xtreme 158 swc's over 4.0gr of Clays in .357 brass. Very nice in 19's and 66's!

 

[wlewisiii]

My favorite load for shooting in my Model 13-3 is
158 gr XTP over 1 cc (lee dipper = 13.5 gr) of 2400, 357 brass, standard primer. More than +P but not abusive of hand or gun.

I'd like to find a cheaper lead bullet that shoots as nicely but even with the XTP being a relatively expensive bullet, it's still cheaper to reload with them than the cheapest factory ammo.