Loading .357 with WIN 231?

[OldW]

I thought I remebered a thread about this a while back, but I couldn't find anything with the search function. Does anybody use WIN 231 for .357 loads? Is there any reason not to, besides the fact that there are better powders for magnums? I was just hoping to consolidate powders for all my handgun loads.

If anyone does this, I would love to hear some load data. Thanks!!

 

[Rule3]

Yes, I have loaded a lot of 357Mag with Win 231/HP 38. It makes for a nice pleasant shooting load. It is not a full house Magnum like using W 296, H110 or 2400 but it is fine for range use and target without beating you and and your gun up.

Hodgdon has online data for it.

 

[Steve in Vermont]

While I don't have much experience reloading .357, I use W231 exclusively and have loaded a few 110gr Hornady XTP with 8.0gr, 125gr Hornady XTP with 7.5gr as well as Remington 125 SJHP and SJSN with that same (7.5gr) load. I used CCI 500 small pistol primers. I've confined my .357 shooting to my Model 28 so it's hard to find a load that isn't relatively mild. These certainly are, and accurate. And the Hodgdon site, as mentioned, is a good source of information.

 

[HighPowerShooter]

In my old Colt King Cobra 6" SS and my 4" 686, I use 6.0gr 231 with a 158gr LaserCast... wonderfull accuracy....

 

[max]

I have loaded some 125 gr jhp's with 231. I back off a couple of grains from the WW manual. I may be in low magnum or high +P territory.

 

[jproffitt]

I use 231 for almost everything; .357, .38, 45LC, 44Mag. It smokes a little at the range but makes for good shooting.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

There's no reason not to use W231 in the .357 Magnum but be aware using a fast powder like that can cause pressure spikes at the top end of the pressure range if you're not careful. W231 will deliver surprisingly good performance in the 357 although not top performance as the slower powders would of course deliver. (as you already said) Other than W296/H110 and 4227 you will get good performance from W231, even better than a lot of other powders in it's similar burn rate range.

 

[fredj338]

For light 38sp equiv loads in 357mag cases, sure. For anything approaching magnum vel, wrong choice.