Good .357 Magnum Load

[VonFatman]

I'd been working up some different loads and wanted to send some through the Chrony with a couple different guns.

I took my Contender with 10" barrel, S&W 686 with 6" barrel & S&W 28-2 with 4" barrel.

The best load (and one I intend to continue to use):

125gr. JHP Remington Bullets
16gr. 2400
CCI Std. Pistol Primers
Mixed Brass
Medium Crimp

In the Contender I had a decent group with open sights at 50 yards with a rest (I could have shot a deer, but not at 100 yds). Not what I'd hoped for...an average of 1,645 fps

Using the S&W 686, the groups were a fair bit tighter...again at 50 yards with open sights off a rest...an average of 1,230 fps with Remington JHPs. (some unburnt powder noticeable in both S&Ws)

The best performer with the load was the short barreled 28-2!

I had a few fliers, but was pretty darn impressed (see photo) with the results...an average of 1,070 fps with Remington JHPs and 1,180 fps with Winchester JHPs.

I've always liked this gun. It was my wedding gift from Karli. It was a great shooting re-finished nickel gun when I got it...since then I've sent it to TJ's in Aurora, CO for one of his nice looking high-polish re-finishes (I guess this would make the gun a re-re-finished gun!)

It's sweet trigger makes it easy to shoot well.

I'm not sure about the 10" Contender barrel...the jury is out. It also did not perform as well as the Smiths' with the other loads tried today...we'll see!

Bob

 

[VonFatman]

I'd been working up some different loads and wanted to send some through the Chrony with a couple different guns.

I took my Contender with 10" barrel, S&W 686 with 6" barrel & S&W 28-2 with 4" barrel.

The best load (and one I intend to continue to use):

125gr. JHP Remington Bullets
16gr. 2400
CCI Std. Pistol Primers
Mixed Brass
Medium Crimp

In the Contender I had a decent group with open sights at 50 yards with a rest (I could have shot a deer, but not at 100 yds). Not what I'd hoped for...an average of 1,645 fps

Using the S&W 686, the groups were a fair bit tighter...again at 50 yards with open sights off a rest...an average of 1,230 fps with Remington JHPs. (some unburnt powder noticeable in both S&Ws)

The best performer with the load was the short barreled 28-2!

I had a few fliers, but was pretty darn impressed (see photo) with the results...an average of 1,070 fps with Remington JHPs and 1,180 fps with Winchester JHPs.

I've always liked this gun. It was my wedding gift from Karli. It was a great shooting re-finished nickel gun when I got it...since then I've sent it to TJ's in Aurora, CO for one of his nice looking high-polish re-finishes (I guess this would make the gun a re-re-finished gun!)

It's sweet trigger makes it easy to shoot well.

I'm not sure about the 10" Contender barrel...the jury is out. It also did not perform as well as the Smiths' with the other loads tried today...we'll see!

Bob

 

[webley green]

Nice target and gun there. Haven't tried any of the lighter bullets in mine as of yet. I'm fairly well fixed on the 150-160 grains loads.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Bob,
Here is a suggestion for the Contender. Find some 357Maximum brass or maybe the 357JDW like Paul5388 uses and see how deep the chamber is. Cut your brass to that length and get the right OAL using it. Then get a heavier bullet, 2400 should be alright OR maybe some AA#9 and see what happens. The other suggestion would be to use SR4756 and get the velocity in the 1300fs range. The firearm will handle it and you will be surprised with the accuracy.

What is the twist in it?

 

[VAdoublegunner]

My Contender barrel seems to favor heavier bullets, not particularly favorable with 125s. Maybe the 125s are too fast out of a Contender barrel for proper stabilization? I'm not sure what the twist rate is, but it will fling 180s into very small groups at 100 yards using maximum loads of Lil'Gun.

 

[VonFatman]

I think I agree with you guys about the light bullets in the Contender...I ran some 110s down the barrel too...

Here's the load...in the 10" Contender...

110gr. JHP Winchester Bullets
12.5 gr. AA #7
CCI
Medium Crimp
Mixed Brass

Pretty fast...NO/Zero accuracy! Stinko!

1,685 fps avg. out of that 10" barrel.

Same load in the 6" 686...

1,336 fps avg....better accuracy, not great.

Same load in the 28-2 with 4" barrel...

1,270 fps avg....a bit better, not great either.


I only had a single bag of 110gr bullets and figured what the heck...use 'em up...should have used them in the 38 Special.

Bob

 

[Paul5388]

Bob,

First off, Skip didn't remember exactly right. It's .360 DW brass that's 1.40" long. I also cut .357 Max down to the actual chamber length, which is 1.50".

I sent some to Florida and the .357 Mag Contender there has pretty close to the same chamber size.

I got 1620 fps MV out of a 6" Security Six with 125 gr Golden Sabers. My 6" M28-2 clocks 1575 fps MV with a 125 gr Sierra JHC. If I shoot those same loads and a 2400 load out of my 22" Handi rifle, I get 2000+ fps.

Using 13.5 gr of 2400 with a 358429 in .38 Special brass, I get 1750 fps MV out of the 22" barrel and 1385 fps MV out of a 6" barrel.

 

[VonFatman]

Thanks Paul!

Bob

 

[andyo5]

158g Remington (or other)JHP.
14.5g of 2400
Winchester small pistol standard primer
1350 fps in my 6" 686

OR...substitute 14.5g of H110 and a CCI small pistol magnum primer for 1100 fps. You could definately use a higher load of H110 here.

 

[VonFatman]

Thanks Andy. I have plenty of 158s on hand and will try it out.

I stick with standard small pistol primers myself...unless I'm using H110 or W296.

Bob

 

[BruceM]

OR...substitute 14.5g of H110 and a CCI small pistol magnum primer for 1100 fps.

I would not recommend this substitution. The maximum load for bullets of this weight is 16.7 grains per Hodgdon's data. H110/W296 is to be used at near maximum charge weights only. A number of manuals warn that reducing the maximum charge by more than 5% may result in squib loads while others say 10% is the maximum allowable reduction. Winchester's original data for this bullet was 16.6 grains of 296 with the warning that it was not to be reduced. 14.5 grains is nearly a 14% reduction.

I had never heard complaints about H110/W296 doing squirrely things until just recently. I've used this propellant since it was a mil surplus in the 1970's BUT it's not suitable for reduced loads-period.

Bruce

 

[Snapping Twig]

Using Lyman 358156, I load with 15.5g W296 and a WSP non magnum primer. Works great, no unburned powder, lots of energy released.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Two of my favorite .357 Magnum loads are a 158gr Jacketed bullet over 16.4gr W296 for a revolver and 16.8gr W296 for a Carbine. I also favor a 180gr Hornady XTP bullet over 15.0gr Lil'Gun. I've also loaded a 180gr Cast Performance gas checked bullet over the same 15.0gr Lil'Gun with great success. Sorry I don't have my notes handy right now or I would post the velocities.

 

[David LaPell]

So far my favorite load for my Smith 27-2 is an old Skeeter Skelton favorite of Lymans 170 grain # 358429 on top of 6.0 grains of Unique. Not very fast at only about 1000 fps or so out of a 5-inch barrel, but very accurate. However my OM Blackhawk .357 doesn't like this load quite as much. Here's a target with the Smith and the Ruger.

 

[Erv]

David, I also use the cast bullet/ 6grain Unique load. Except I put them up in a 38 Special brass and shoot them in a 4" 686. Quite accurate and goes a little over 1150 in the 38 Special brass.
Rex

 

[Duskykiller]

Does any one know where this bullet can be purchased 170 grain # 358429. Unfortunately I sold my cast bullet making stuff when I had children in the house.

 

[Paul5388]

The last I heard, you can get the 358429 from JoeD at http://www.blackriverbullet.com/. The price posted is $13/100, but they're hand cast and that tends to make the price go up over a machine cast bullet.

 

[James57]

Leadheads bullets also has the Keith bullet at I believe $35.00 per 250. It is listed as a 168 grain bullet.

 

[VonFatman]

Hey Rex,
Welcome to the Forum!! Thanks for the .38 Special info.

Bob

 

[David LaPell]

Western bullet co. also has the #358429 bullet.