Magtech .357 Magnum Load

[UncleUwe]

Hi, everyone,

I like to shoot Magtech .357 Magnum SJSP 158 gr. their internal product number is 357E. I also got their brass and bullets.
Does anyone know what powder and the load they use for this round?

Thanks.

 

[Steve C]

Manufacturers do not use canister powder the way reloaders do. They buy powders in bulk drums and determine the load for each batch in their lab to achieve the pressure and velocity they want in their ammo while reloaders use a standardized burn rate canister powder and published load data. The powder used by the Magtech may well be a bulk version of some canister powder but the load they use will vary and doesn't translate to what a handloader should use. For enlightenment you can weigh several samples of the same ammo from several boxes from the same manufacturer with identical bullets weight and find several grain difference in weight most likely from difference in charge, even within the same box. zMajor manufacturers load ammo on several machines at once at different charge levels (explained above) and process a mix of the ammo from these machines through cleaning and boxing so even though the ammo is very consistent in pressure and velocity the charge level may or may not be the same between different cartridges from different machines.

I've found that using 14.0 grs of 2400 or 13.0 grs of AA9 lit by a WSP standard pistol primer behind a 158gr JSP/JHP will produce the typical promised factory ballistics of 1,240 fps +/- a few FPS from a 4" barreled S&W revolvers over my chrono.

 

[rwsmith]

^^^ what Steve C said.....

When I get 2400 and a 140 grain jhp up to about 15 grains, it starts to smart a little. Above that in my 686 6" I worry about battering my hands and wrists.

 

[3five7]

Magtech 158 gr SJHP Factory loads chronograph at 1233.2 FPS (10 shot average) out of my 4 inch barrel. One of my favorite 357 loads is 13.3 grs AA#9 under a 158 gr Hornady XTP HP with a Federal SP Mag Primer. This load chronographs at 1279.1 FPS (10 shot average) out of the same 4 inch barrel. You should be able to reduce the load slightly (10%), substitute your 158 Gr Magtech SJHP, then slowly work back up to 13.3 grs watching for pressure signs and have a good substitute for for Magtech Factory loads.

 

[UncleUwe]

I was looking at #9 powder or another one with an equivalent burn rate as well. I got a 686 and a new Winchester 1873, and I am looking for a "compromise" between a pistol and a rifle load.
Thanks for the info, guys.

 

[rwsmith]

Any Accurate powder....

I like #7 so much that if I find any #5 or #9 I'm going to get that, too.

 

[UncleUwe]

You are not mixing them to make #7, are you?

 

[rwsmith]

LOL

I know safety is tops on this forum, but no, I like #7 so I figure if the other powders have anything like the same characteristics, I'll like them, too.

#5 seems close to Unique and #9 seems close to Blue Dot, so I'm sure they'd be useful. Right now I have more fast burning target powders or I'd be looking for some #2 also.

 

[3five7]

I was looking at #9 powder or another one with an equivalent burn rate as well. I got a 686 and a new Winchester 1873, and I am looking for a "compromise" between a pistol and a rifle load.
Thanks for the info, guys.

I have not chronographed that load of AA#9 out of my Model 92 but I have chronographed loads with about the same velocity and you should be getting about 1750 FPS out of a 20 inch barrel.

 

[MarkDozier]

FYI - I called Magtech and spoke to them over a year ago. The gun i spoke with says the company in the U.S. has no records from the factory that does the loading so they did not have any load data. He said the were willing to take any i would share with them.
I love 258 grain loads current favorite is 158 gr Hornady XTP with 14 grains of w-296.