Is HP38 a good powder for 357?

[dennie14]

HP38 seems to be popular in our area but don't see alot of it used on here. I know it is the same as W231.

In comparing reloading manuals why is there such a difference between old and new in grains. The new hogdon manual starts where the old manual was at max. HP38 7 grains max for HP38 and now starts at 7.!..... I've been away from game for awhile so different pressure testing procedures or what?

 

[GP100man]

It`s the same as WW231

 

[max]

Suggested data for 231 has been all over the board the past couple of years. I would use what was current. I have loaded 125gr jhp's with 231. I just back off a grain or 2.

 

[m657]

I use a lot of it in 38 special loads with no complaint....don't shoot much 357 mag & can't recall anything that stands out about it.

 

[Nevada Ed]

It makes a good target load with lead and med heavy loads
with the lighter jacket bullets but if you want true magnum
velocity you will need to move up to a slower powder.

Winchester has it at 8.1grs with the 125 Jhp for a maximum
load with this powder but it falls about 200 fps short of a
factory load in my 6" magnum........ ( 1" groups at 25 yards)

A very good powder for use in the 38 spl , though.

 

[358156hp]

You won't get full magnum velocities out of HP38/231. The best you can hope for are some mid-range loads, which are pretty much at hot 38 Spl level.

 

[OKFC05]

About the only powders I consistently use in .357 are HP38/W231 abd W296/H110.
Full charge of 296 under a 158gr SP is my hunting load, and 7.5gr HP38 under a 135gr Speer SB Gold Dot for a very controllable and effective "walking around" load in a model 13. It essentially duplicates the Speer Short barrel .357 factory load (I did mine first with available 125gr HP!)

If you once shoot the 296 load in the model 13, you'll know why I load the mid-range load for it. It is about halfway between .38 +P and a Remington 125gr factory .357.

 

[AzRedleg]

You won't get full magnum velocities out of HP38/231. The best you can hope for are some mid-range loads, which are pretty much at hot 38 Spl level.

Per Hodgdon data:

38SPC +P with a 158 GRN XTP: 4.6 grains HP 38 at 807 FPS

.357 with a 158 GRN XTP: 6.9 grains of HP 38 at 1220 FPS

A little more than just a hot 38 SPC but agree you need a slower powder to take full advantage of the potential of the .357.

 

[Steve C]

HP38/W231 is slightly faster than Unique in burn rate. As such it is fine for lower velocity target and medium velocity loads in the .357 mag. If you wish to maximize velocity you will have to use a slower powder like AA9, 2400, H110/W296.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Like the others said, you won't get top velocities from W231 but you can use it in the .357 Magnum and get fairly good results and accuracy.

When I'm not loading top pressure magnum loads with W296/H110 I usually use W540/HS-6 instead.

 

[GP100man]

Look here.

Hodgdon - The Gun Powder People

 

[riverrat38]

HP38 makes a good sub sonic load for the .357 mag. I used it with plated bullets, mostly 148 gr plated DEWC's. I was using .38 data for this application, but I also used 125 gr plated flat points at higher loadings, in the 5 gr range.
Interestingly, Speer no longer shows a non plus P .38 spec GD load for for this powder. I noticed this when I was thinking of changing from Universal to HP38 for my 125 gr plated Berry's loads. I have used both, and there is probably not too much to choose from, so I likely will stay with the Universal. Both seem to work as well as I can tell.

Best,
Rick

 

[fredj338]

As noted, it works in the 357mag but you wil not be safely pushing magnum vel. Figure you will get 38sp+P loads safely in 357mag cases using W231/HP36.

 

[alwslate]

Hodgdon shows a maximum charge of 6.9 grs of HP38 under a 158 gr
Hornady XPT Jacketed bullet at 1220 fps in their test barrel. Test barrel
velocities usually bear little resemblance to velocities obtained by
hand loaders in their revolvers. From what I read on the net many 357
mag shooters like to load to a level a bit higher than 38 spl +P but
a step down from full bore magnum speed and muzzle blast. HP 38 is
often used for this purpose. I tried a few several days ago in my 4"
S&W md 28-2. Winchester brass and SP mag primer, 6.4 grs W231
powder and TV 158 gr cast SWC = 1115 fps. A step up from 38 +Ps
with a lot less recoil and muzzle blast than full 357 mag.