Load Suggestions: 38 Special, +P, or 357 Mag?

[mainegrw]

I visited my favorite LGS yesterday and scored a deal on a box of 125gr JHP bullets, which I intend on turning into some 357 mag, 38 Special, or 38 +P. It was an unmarked box, so the brand is unknown. I have perused my loading books for load data, and found a couple of options, but I was wondering what others have come up with for really good loads for a 125gr bullet? My current powder stock includes: 700-X, 800-X, HP-38, H4227, and Ramshot Competition, though I am always open to suggestions.

Suggestions are greatly appreciated, thanks.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For standard pressure .38 Special ammo I use W231/HP-38. For .38 Special +P ammo I go to HS-6. When loading full power .357 Magnum ammo I turn to a true "Magnum Class" powder like W296/H110 but AA#9, 2400, 300-MP, Enforcer and the like will also do a good job. H4227 can be used but IMO it's better suited for the .44 Magnum than the .357 Magnum. I have no experience with 800x because it meters so poorly, sorry.

 

[38SPL HV]

I like HP-38 for 38 Spl and 38 Spl +P. Although, I prefer Unique for my upper end 38 loads (+P). Unique also works great in 357 Mag and 158 gr lead loads up to 1,100 fps (mid range). 4227 does not work as well in my opinion in 357 Magnum, prefer 2400.

 

[mainegrw]

So I did some experimenting this morning, and came up with what turned out to be a pretty decent 357 mag target load: Using load data for the 125gr Hornady XTP as a guide (the closest match to the no-name JHPs I was using), I decided to load a batch of 100 rounds with 8.0 grains of HP-38. This is about the median between the minimum and maximum powder charges listed. I chose to back off to this point as I discovered that my no-name JHPs needed to seat a little deeper than the XTPs. My C.O.A.L. ended up being 1.570 instead of 1.590 as listed for the XTPs. I also decided to crimp my cases, something that I tend to do with 38 specials only, except when loading wadcutters.

My end result was a round that was quite pleasurable to shoot - a little less recoil than a factory 357 mag, but still sporting a very nice muzzle flash and loud report, with excellent accuracy.

 

[rwsmith]

You and I have similar goals.....

I've loaded a lot of .38/.357 rounds but lately I've been trying to find the best (or at least very good) SD round out of a 2" barrel...

Fortunately a LOT of powders are very good in this caliber. I load bunny poot loads to howitzer rounds. My HD rounds are low end .357 cause I don't wanna blow our ears out inside the house.

For either:

Bullseye, Titegroup, Red Dot for the faster burning powders, Unique , the newer BE 86, HP 38/231 for medium.


For the magnum, the above and add the slower burning powders:

I also use 2400. It's versatile and doesn't give up much to H110/296 and in some loads it surpasses them.

I really like Acc 7 for sem auto and don't see why the other powders for revolvers wouldn't be just as good. Acc #9 should be a very good magnum powder, about equal in power to Blue Dot.

The powders mostly available to me are Alliant, Hodgdon and Accurate.

 

[moxie]

Posted by mainegrw:
" I also decided to crimp my cases, something that I tend to do with 38 specials only, except when loading wadcutters."

Good idea to crimp any heavy loads, .38 or .357, to help prevent "bullet jump/creep" which will tie up your cylinder.

 

[mainegrw]

I will admit that the HP-38 is growing on me the more I use it. My all-time favorite was Ramshot Competition when I was just loading 38 Special, but HP-38, is slowly taking its place as loading data is more available for the HP-38 and it has larger range of use. The 700-X is still good for some things, but I really don't find it to be as good as others.

As for 4227 and 800-X, I bought a small quantity of these powders to try them out a couple years ago when finding other powders was near impossible. I found the 4227 never completely burns when fired and leaves a lot of fouling in the bore and cylinders, so much so that after about 25 rounds or so I find myself having to swab the chambers and under the ejector star of my revolvers to get new rounds in, or clear jamming. The 800-X found some use for .45 ACP, but like others have said, it meters poorly and I find myself having to weigh every single charge on the scale before putting it into a cartridge. Beyond the poor metering, I did not see enough of a difference between it and other powders to justify its continued use. I listed both the 4227 and 800-X in my initial post as I am always open to suggestions, and if I can deplete my quantities of both in the process, at least it won't go to waste.

On the subject of other powder options: I look at every gun store I go in to for Unique, Red Dot, PB, Bullseye, etc, but have come up with none. Powder in general is getting easier to find, but the top types are still tough to get hands on in my area. My local guy from which I bought the JHPs has Accu-comp in stock, so I may grab a small can of that this week, but generally everything else on the shelf is rifle powders or the occasional antique can of something.

 

[rwsmith]

What are you shooting them out of.....

Posted by mainegrw:
" I also decided to crimp my cases, something that I tend to do with 38 specials only, except when loading wadcutters."

Feel free to crimp what and how you see fit but 'J' frames will need more than 'K' frames, which need more than 'L' frames which need more than 'N' frames.

Some say heavy crimps help the burn with heavier loads, but don't crimp any more than you need because you don't want to overwork the case mouths and get splits prematurely.

 

[mainegrw]

Feel free to crimp what and how you see fit but 'J' frames will need more than 'K' frames, which need more than 'L' frames which need more than 'N' frames.

Some say heavy crimps help the burn with heavier loads, but don't crimp any more than you need because you don't want to overwork the case mouths and get splits prematurely.

True, however I have been lucky so far. Most of my brass is reclaimed factory cases, and many of my of my 38 special cases have been loaded 10+ times with crimps and no splits or issues. My auto brass lasts a shorter time, usually 3 or 4 loads before failure, and I don't ever crimp auto cases.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Over the years I have found out that the 125gr JHP bullet in a
38 special works a LOT BETTER in a 4" or longer barrel.
Even better in a 6" 357 Magnum barrel where you have lots of
room to play with low and high end loads to get the best load
for your revolver.

Just match your frame size to your loads and you will be ok.
No need to push the envelope with a magnum as a back up revolver.

Most K frame 38's do well around 945 fps for target work.
I do not use the small, short 110 or 125gr JHP at maximum
fps in my revolvers, due to bullet jump from case to barrel.

Good loading.

 

[BB57]

For .38 +p loads in short barrel J frames l am a big fan of 800x with 125 gr bullets. Hornsby shows a couple +p loads for the 125 gr xtp using 800x.

Sent from my SM-T113 using Tapatalk

 

[Qc Pistolero]

.38Spl;Titegroup,Red Dot,Promo Bullseye all will do a great job
.38Spl+P:I like Unique
.357Mag:2400will do as good or a better job than H110/W296.IMR4227 is,IMO too slow burning for such a small case.
Qc

 

[cowboy4evr]

I have used quite a bit of IMR 4227 in the 357 magnum . I always use a small pistol magnum primer to help get better ignition .
With the unavailability of 2400 for so many years I recently in the last couple of years turned to Accurate Arms 4100 which is also Ramshot Enforcer . Both owned by same company , Western Powder Co . In the magnums ( 357-41-44 ) I've had extremely good results .
For those std. 38 special loads I use bullseye, Ramshot Zip and unique . For the +P loads I always use unique , HS6 , or WSF . I have never liked pushing the faster burning powders for +P or magnum loads too hard as they pressure spike very quickly . For target and can killing loads they are ideal , fun and economical to shoot .

 

[Wise_A]

Feel free to crimp what and how you see fit but 'J' frames will need more than 'K' frames, which need more than 'L' frames which need more than 'N' frames.

Some say heavy crimps help the burn with heavier loads, but don't crimp any more than you need because you don't want to overwork the case mouths and get splits prematurely.

You can also deform lead bullets, strip the copper off plated bullets, and more or less do both to jacketed bullets.

 

[muddocktor]

Another powder to add to your future needs for 357 Mag (and 44 Mag too if you load that caliber) is Accurate #9. It's a great powder and while it won't give the ultimate top velocity like a powder such as H110/296, it is flash suppressed and isn't "boomy" such as H110. And it's a little faster powder than H110 or 2400 and meters extremely well for me in my old Lyman powder measure. I've also noticed it seems to make some good, accurate ammo. A #9 makes some potent 125 grain JHP loads too.

BTW, I find that the 4227 powders (IMR and Hodgdon) tend to burn a little cleaner at max loads and I also use magnum primers to light it off. It also seems to burn cleaner in a non-vented barrel such as a carbine than in revolvers.

 

[snowman]

My experience is with .357s only, with a full-house magnum load. I use VV N110 and am thoroughly satisfied. It is more expensive than other powders, but I got mine in a 24 lb shipment from an importer at an excellent price.

Of course the important thing is what you're trying to accomplish with your load, and that will determine the best powders for the job.

Best wishes,
Andy

 

[cowboy4evr]

Since I have been unable to get unique for years , I switched over to Winchester Super Field . Load data is a little scarce but I found that using unique load data was a good place to start .
I use it in all calibers from 38spl to 45LC and all the magnums in between . I like it that much .
In the 357 magnum , loaded in 357 cases a 158-160 gr cast bullet sitting on top of 7.5 grs. has become a real favorite of mine . It's an excellent and very very accurate mid range load and the fired cases are the cleanest I have ever seen . In 38 spl. I found that max 5.5 grs. with a 158 gr cast bullet was a nice +P load . I don't have a chronograph .
I have just started using Acc #9 in another caliber and it is performing very well so I would whole heartedly agree for usage in the 357 . As I previously posted , Acc 4100 / Ramshot Enforcer are ideal as well . They are slower in burn rate than #9 or 2400 but faster than W296/H110 . According to most burn rate charts . I use Winchester Std .Pistol Primers
except when using IMR 4227 . Then I use a full magnum primer .

 

[patrickd]

I find Hodgdon Titegroup to be a great powder for loading all three. Economical too. Just 7.5 gr Tiegroup 125 gr JHP will get you about 1,400fps in a .357Mag.. You can get about 1,800fps with H110 or W296 but it takes twice as much powder. The 125 gr XTP will perform great as a defense round at 1,400fps. If you plan on deer hunting at 50+ yds or longer then you'll need the 110 or 296. I like Titegroup because I can load pretty much everything from my 9mm to a .44 mag with the same powder.

 

[Rogeronimo]

If I were working with your powder inventory, I would use the HP38 and 700X for the 38's, and the 800X for the 357's. In a carbine, the 4227 would be a sensible choice for the 357.
Working from my inventory, I use 3N38 for all of my 357's - 140, 158, & 180 grain JHP. 800X is in the same ballpark. My 3" barrel won't take advantage of anything slower.