Max Loading for .357 Mag with 2400

[AJ]

What are you using for a max loading for .357 Mag.? I have loading books that go back to the 1930's. One by Phillip Sharpe who helped develop the .357 Mag. Loads are all over the place. I am going to use a 158 grain jacketed SWC. I see loadings up to and including 15.0 grains of 2400. Will be using it in a Model 27-2. Right now my most accurate load is 11.5 grains of 2400, at 15 yards all stay in the 10 Ring if I do my part. TIA

 

[bighunt]

I have always used 14 grains of 2400 with a 158gr Gas Checked Lyman Keith style bullet.

That is the book max in the Lyman 47th manual and is a stout load.

It gets about 1,300 fps from a 6 inch barrel.

 

[AJ]

I have always used 14 grains of 2400 with a 158gr Gas Checked Lyman Keith style bullet.

That is the book max in the Lyman 47th manual and is a stout load.

It gets about 1,300 fps from a 6 inch barrel.

My 45th Edition give a max load of 15.0 grains of 2400 for the 158 cast with gas check. I looked in Sharpe's book and for a 146 grain he goes up to 16.0 grains of 2400.

My 27-2 has a 3.5 inch barrel.

 

[ruger 22]

I have used 14 grains of 2400 with the 158 grainers and these are stout and great loads. Both Sharpe and Keith liked their loads a bit on the hot side for me.

 

[rockquarry]

I go with what's most accurate. For me, it's 12 /2400 with the 160 grain H&G #51 plainbase, the original .357 bullet, 13 /2400 with the 162 grain Lyman gas checked design #358156, 13 /2400 with the Lyman #358429 SWC, 12 /2400 with the Lyman #358349 155 grain HP, and 12 /2400 with the LBT WFN 180 grain plain base, 12.5 /2400 with the NOE 360-158 158 grain WFN plain base.

The most accurate has been the H&G #51, with the #358156 not far behind, but the others do pretty well.

 

[alwslate]

Lyman manuals have gone as high as 15.5 grs with a CCI SPM primer with a plain, non gas, check cast SWC. I remember back in the late 60s many used that as their standard load in N frame S&Ws. In recent years Brian Pearce has used the same load but with a CCI standard primer and declares that it does not exceed the 35,000 psi limit for the .357. Many of today's fearful handloaders want to load the .357 down to loads not much more than .38 spl +P. If you're satisfied with loads of around 1,000 fps out of the .357 why use 160 gr jacketed bullets and 11.5 grs of 2400? A cast 158 gr bullet and half the powder, 5.5 grs Bullseye or Titegroup will chrono around 1050 fps out of a 4" barreled revolver. Best groups? Do you plan to shoot Bullseye competition at 15 yds with your .357?

 

[rockquarry]

Lyman manuals have gone as high as 15.5 grs with a CCI SPM primer with a plain, non gas, check cast SWC. I remember back in the late 60s many used that as their standard load in N frame S&Ws. In recent years Brian Pearce has used the same load but with a CCI standard primer and declares that it does not exceed the 35,000 psi limit for the .357. Many of today's fearful handloaders want to load the .357 down to loads not much more than .38 spl +P. If you're satisfied with loads of around 1,000 fps out of the .357 why use 160 gr jacketed bullets and 11.5 grs of 2400? A cast 158 gr bullet and half the powder, 5.5 grs Bullseye or Titegroup will chrono around 1050 fps out of a 4" barreled revolver. Best groups? Do you plan to shoot Bullseye competition at 15 yds with your .357?

I use only my own cast bullets and can't see sacrificing accuracy for another 100 fps. I shoot Bullseye style single-action at 25 yards, occasionally 50 yards. Regardless of the distance, I use what's most accurate, maximum or not. I also shoot a lot of .38 Special in my guns, but .357 loads are more a bit more accurate in most of my .357s.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My standard go to load is 13.5 grs 2400 behind my cast 170 gr SWC....Not quite max but will punch through a deer from any angle. And is easy to shoot.

 

[alwslate]

I use only my own cast bullets and can't see sacrificing accuracy for another 100 fps. I shoot Bullseye style single-action at 25 yards, occasionally 50 yards. Regardless of the distance, I use what's most accurate, maximum or not. I also shoot a lot of .38 Special in my guns, but .357 loads are more a bit more accurate in most of my .357s.

I have shot a lot of my .38spl plinking loads out of my 6" model 28-2. I have also used the same level velocity, a bit over 800 fps, with .357 brass but haven't seen a big difference in accuracy but I don't shoot in competition. But if it makes you happy to use 2400 powder because it's a ".357 Magnum powder" have at it. For light loads I prefer to use about 4 grs of powder rather than 12 grs but it's your money.

 

[rockquarry]

I have shot a lot of my .38spl plinking loads out of my 6" model 28-2. I have also used the same level velocity, a bit over 800 fps, with .357 brass but haven't seen a big difference in accuracy but I don't shoot in competition. But if it makes you happy to use 2400 powder because it's a ".357 Magnum powder" have at it. For light loads I prefer to use about 4 grs of powder rather than 12 grs but it's your money.

Yes, it's my money and it does make me happy. My .357 loads are far from light; I'm loading to the point where accuracy is best, a bit below maximum.

 

[AJ]

I have shot a lot of my .38spl plinking loads out of my 6" model 28-2. I have also used the same level velocity, a bit over 800 fps, with .357 brass but haven't seen a big difference in accuracy but I don't shoot in competition. But if it makes you happy to use 2400 powder because it's a ".357 Magnum powder" have at it. For light loads I prefer to use about 4 grs of powder rather than 12 grs but it's your money.

I have use the same load in my 27-2, S&W PPC revolver and S&W 52 for just fun for years. It is 2.8 grains of Bullseye. To me nothing is more accurate. But that is my opinion and everyone has one. 2400 is a "Magnum" pistol powder and works well in small bore rifles. Some of us like powerful loads. I do not shoot them all the time. To much wear and tear on the equipment and beats up my hands and wrist. This thread was not about low power loads. Reread the header, please do not get us off on a tangent. Thank you.

Yes, it's my money and it does make me happy. My .357 loads are far from light; I'm loading to the point where accuracy is best, a bit below maximum.

For me I find 11.5 grains of 2400 will put all my shots in the 10 & 10X ring at 15 yards. I tried some 14.4 grains of 2400 this morning. Stout and will stay in the bull at 15 yards. Both loads were 158 grain SWC's. The older I get the less I shoot the barn burner loads. Appreciate the info.

 

[cowboy4evr]

My standard load using 2400 in a 357 case with a 158 gr swc is 14.0 grs . When I want more , 14.5 grs / same bullet . If using the Keith swc 173 grs I use 13.5 grs 2400 . I always use a magnum primer . In my guns the magnum primer is more accurate and last --- much cleaner . /regards Paul

 

[AJ]

Another question for all of you. What handguns are you using? As I wrote I am using a S&W Model 27-2 3.5 inch.

 

[rockquarry]

I use a couple of older 27s, a 28, two Colt 3-5-7 models, an older Colt Trooper, and some new Pythons with barrel lengths from 2.5" - 6".

 

[Forrest r]

I'm using a 586 l-comp, the bbl is listed @ 3". In reality the bbl shroud is 3" and the actual bbl is 2 1/2".

The load is a 170gr cast fn bullet being pushed by 14.3gr of 2400. I'm getting 1200fps with that combo.

The 170gr solid nosed fn bullet (right) is the bullet I cast/use. The fn hp's (left) are 158gr.

The 586 l-comp I use those 14.3gr/2400/170gr fn loads in.

 

[Yendor357]

You want real answers, get a Garmin. $600. Until then, everybody is just guessing.

The reloading manuals will get you close, but that’s about it.

 

[moosedog]

Since I shoot 38/44s, and 357s in both K, N and Colts, I have standardized on 12.gr 2400 with 160ish cast and JHP in 38spl cases for all of the above.
It is more of a 38/44 load than a 357 but fits my purposes.

 

[rwsmith]

Aw man....

You want real answers, get a Garmin. $600. Until then, everybody is just guessing.

The reloading manuals will get you close, but that’s about it.

Many chronys that work well are far less expensive. The only time handloading that I didn't need a chrony was when I did one load with Lee scoop I calibrated with a lab scale. After that it was a neccesity.

ANYWAY, I've settled at 14.5 max of 2400 with a 158 gr. SWC for my shooting, but I usually load around 12.5 gr.

 

[rockquarry]

You want real answers, get a Garmin. $600. Until then, everybody is just guessing.

The reloading manuals will get you close, but that’s about it.

I would imagine most of the respondents here use a chronograph. I've used six in the last forty+ years. Recorded velocities have been pretty similar from a cheap Chrony to an Oehler 35P.

 

[Nightowl]

I had not loaded .357 Mags for a long time until a few years ago. I only had 158 grain lead bullets on hand, in checking the manuals there was quite a difference between max loads for that bullet, all the way from 12.5 to 15.5. That is quite a spread, so I started at 12.5 and worked my way to 14.0 grains of 2400. I stopped there as it had enough fire, and all the cases fell out of the chambers. Nice to see that others have found 14.0 grains to be about right.