Anyone use 2400 for 158gr 357 SWC?

[noshow]

I've got the hard cast 357 158gr SWCs and the 2400. Can this combo work in a Mod 19 loaded mildly?

 

[max]

I would see no problem. There are numerous manuals and other sources that will give you recipes.

 

[ballistic]

You could use 2400 for mild .357 Mag loads. You would be better off using a faster power for mild loads, and use the 2400 for full power loads.

 

[Nevada Ed]

+1 with the above post.

2400 is at its best for full power loads in the 357 Magnun but.....
on 5/9/2013 I did down load a 158gr lead RN with a low amount of 2400 powder that went across my chrony at only 1039 fps.
It used about twice as much powder than CFE, Unique or Bullseye powder to reach that speed. However it will be easy on your M19 revolver, if you do use it with light loads.

 

[lebomm]

+2 here. 2400 is best for full power in the .357, and will couple well with your LSWC. For milder loadings, Unique, AA#5, Power Pistol, Universal, Bullseye or 231 would be better. Just my experience.

Larry

 

[rockquarry]

I use 12 grs. #2400 with the original 160 grain SWC .357 Magnum bullet cast from the Hensley & Gibbs #51 mould. Muzzle velocity is around 1,100 fps from a 6" barrel. One can use a heavier powder charge, but this one provides good accuracy. In the light Model 19, heavier loads may be a bit uncomfortable to shoot.

 

[Collo Rosso]

Another that saves the 2400 for the the upper end loads. It will work down loaded, but it does get dirty.
For mid range magnum loads I've had good results with HS-6 and lately CFE-P too.

 

[Snapping Twig]

2400 is IMO the BEST 357 powder for powerful and accurate loads, but there are much better choices for light and mid range loads.

 

[Arub]

My old Alliant manual does not show a load for the 158SWC using 2400. I guess they agree that it's not optimum for that bullet. Per their manual max load with Green Dot is 6.0 grains which they list at just over 1200ft/sec. I use .5.4 grains of their Green Dot (a 90% load) for this bullet and it chronos at 960ft/sec out of a 4 inch barrel (S&W model 19). It's a nice mild load.

 

[Mad_Charlie]

Not to mention that downloaded 2400 leaves behind a lot of particles...

 

[rwsmith]

You can cut the 2400 load down....

You can run the 158 gr SWC with 12 to 12.5 gr. of 2400 just fine except for some unburned powder, whereas around 15.5 gr is the max load. 13 to 14 gr would get a pretty good hot load and run a little cleaner.

I think for not quite top loads Acc #9 would be really good and I've heard others name the same. Now if I could just find some.

 

[Alk8944]

My old Alliant manual does not show a load for the 158SWC using 2400.

Look again! I have Alliant/Hercules handouts dating back over 35 years, and they all show a 2400 load for 2400 and the 158 LSWC! For many years, until the past few years, the listed load was 15.3 gr. 2400/158 LSWC. From an 8 3/8" barrel it will chronograph at an honest 1490-1530 FPS depending on your revolver, atmospheric conditions and temperature. Compare that to early published .357 data, 1510-1520 FPS!

 

[alwslate]

I have gone as low as 12.0 grs of 2400 with a 158 gr SWC and gotten
good velocity and consistancy at 1200 fps out of my 4" S&W 28-2 but
that was with the Winchester SP magnum primer which is much hotter
than the std primer. A full grain heavier charge of 13.0 grs with the
std primer gave poor results with unburned powder, less velocity and
an ES of way over 100 fps. But even though below maximum these
are not mild plinking loads. For good consistant mid-range loads
between 1000-1050 fps a charge of 5.7 grs Bullseye or Titegroup or
6.0 grs W231 can be used. Less than half of the charge and cost of
2400 and way more pleasant to shoot.

 

[Davinman]

for a nice higher end mid range cast swc load, try 9.5gr of blue dot w/a std primer and a firm crimp. shoots great in all my 357's. for a load that's running low end mid range, try 6gr unique w/a std primer and any 158gr swaged lead bullet from hornady or speer, i prefer the swchp's. they run about 1050fps from a 4" bbl and shoot fantastic with that load in any gun ive ever run them through. (especially the hornady swchp bullets) i hope this info has helped you out.

 

[mosquito]

You could use 2400 for mild .357 Mag loads. You would be better off using a faster power for mild loads, and use the 2400 for full power loads.

Totally agree.......2400 is a great powder for full power magnum loads. I use it for my full power .357 loads that I shoot out of my Coonan .357 magnums.

G

 

[Vulcan Bob]

With the thought of going easy on my M-19's I thought a mild 38-44 type load might do. Using a .38 Special case with 9.0 grains of #2400 under my 158 grain LSWC with standard primer I gave it a go. With two of my four inch 19's it is a very accurate load. Until I chrono them I would figure around 1,000 fps or so. As I clean em after each use making sure I scrub the chambers is not an issue.

 

[fatman73]

12.5 is what I load. that's where the sweet spot for my 686 is. I've gone higher but always come back to that one. I use a Lee 158 I cast & coat with hi tek.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[992B]

For N frame Smiths and Ruger single actions I use 14grs of 2400, magnum cap and either a 160 grain lswgc or jacketed bullet of same weight. Good stout accurate load.

 

[Nightowl]

I've been shooting 13 grains of 2400 with a Missouri Bullet Co coated 158 bullet. It does not leave much debris behind and seems to shoot pretty good. It chronographed at 1150 fps.

 

[LostintheOzone]

I have only two powders. 2400 and American Select. I use 2400 for my hotter loads and AS for my mild stuff. Like you I don't want to beat up my model 19's. I have several and I load light.

Here's a good recipe for mild 357/158gr loads.


Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide