Couple of .357 questions

[Blaidd]

I was digging through an old Speer #11 manual and found a load for 6.2gr Red Dot behind a 158gr XTP bullet with a max load of 6.7gr. Has anyone tried this load? I wasn't able to find it in any of the other manuals I have. I was looking at starting out with 6.3 gr of RD behind the XTP and a CCI 500.

Also, I had found a box old 160gr RN dating back to the late 50's. I was wondering if using a 158gr RN load would work for this as a starting load? I was thinking of 4.5gr Unique w/ a CCI 500 primer.

 

[Blaidd]

I was digging through an old Speer #11 manual and found a load for 6.2gr Red Dot behind a 158gr XTP bullet with a max load of 6.7gr. Has anyone tried this load? I wasn't able to find it in any of the other manuals I have. I was looking at starting out with 6.3 gr of RD behind the XTP and a CCI 500.

Also, I had found a box old 160gr RN dating back to the late 50's. I was wondering if using a 158gr RN load would work for this as a starting load? I was thinking of 4.5gr Unique w/ a CCI 500 primer.

 

[webley green]

My standard .38 reload is 4.8g of Unique, a 158 SWC lead bullet and CCI spp. Good accuracy, easy recoil, a very consistent round. I'd say 4.5 grains of unique is a fine starting place.

 

[Bugs100]

From Hand loaders .com

LSWC 5.5 gr Red Dot 1,215 fps 1.58" Fed 200 Alliant
Suggested starting load: 5.0 gr

Pressure: 34,000
JSP 6.0 gr Red Dot 1,160 fps 1.575" Fed 200 Alliant
Suggested starting load: 5.4 gr

Pressure: 33,400

 

[Paul5388]

Many of the powder company loads are basically archived in the loading data at http://www.handloads.org/loaddata/default.asp?. Some of it is no longer available as an online source, but was listed from their data. Just look in the far right hand column for the "source" and you can see if it's from the powder companies.

 

[Bruce51]

I checked my old Hercules/Alliant guide and it lists the exact same max load as Bugs100 has posted. Bruce

 

[Steve C]

Using a Speer manual, esp and old one that rumor has it they had used miss calibrated copper slugs to get their pressure data, for bullets not manufactured by that company is asking for trouble.

Use the more generic data from the powder company and surely don't load anything at max right off the bat. Red Dots a bit faster than Bullseye and you need to be careful with such fast powder. Below is the data from Alliant as posted on their website prior to their exclusive use of Speer Bullets and components. I've ran 158gr JHP Remingtons .357 loads up to 6.0grs of Red Dot and they have a heck of bark.

 

[Paul5388]

Steve,

Not picking on you, but do you have a source for this "rumor"?

Using a Speer manual, esp and old one that rumor has it they had used miss calibrated copper slugs to get their pressure data, for bullets not manufactured by that company is asking for trouble.

The reason I ask is, I'm assuming you're referring to Speer #8, printed in 1970. Most people are unaware of a second edition printed in 1971 that had very few changes from the first edition included in it. Those changes can be compared here. http://www.bbhfarm.com/gallery/album10

 

[David LaPell]

I use two loads. One is my 6.0 grains of Unique behind a #358429 170 grain cast SWC which is very accurate in my Smith 27 (keep the brass right at the trim length). My other load is a 158 grain Hornady XTP behind 6.3 grains of Winchester 231. Super accurate in my Ruger Blackhawk.

 

[Blaidd]

Tks for all the replies. I'll have to give it a shot then since I have some red dot sitting around that I usually just use for my .44 special loads.