Moderate 357 loads...

[Rockets]

Any favorite mid range loads for 357 mag ? Was thinking about using unique, some TG and BE...

using my m28 and m19, 158 SWC.

 

[TAROMAN]

I use a 158 LSWC over 5.5 gr. Universal.
1127 FPS from my 681.
Mild and accurate.

 

[Rockets]

I use a 158 LSWC over 5.5 gr. Universal.
1127 FPS from my 681.
Mild and accurate.

No universal... - I'll have to pick some up after the craziness wears down a little...

 

[jepp2]

I tend to favor mid burn rate powders for your load. I recently fired some 6.0 gr. of Unique but the next loading I will up the powder somewhat. But I am shooting a BHN 16 bullet.

 

[Rockets]

I tend to favor mid burn rate powders for your load. I recently fired some 6.0 gr. of Unique but the next loading I will up the powder somewhat. But I am shooting a BHN 16 bullet.

How was the accuracy on with 6.0 gr ? How much higher were you thinking?

 

[Skunkhome]

Bullseye? No

 

[Rockets]

Bullseye? No

why not ? care to share ?

 

[iouri]

why not ? care to share ?

I am not an expert, but from what I've read BE is way too fast for magnum loads.

 

[Nevada Ed]

5.0 grs Bullseye in mag cases gives a nice warm target load that may group in your revolver.
Lowest unique load in this same brass for me was 5.7 grs for
a medium light do every thing load that gave groups that I could live with.
All with medium crimp and cci 500 primers.

780fps or less can be reached with Trail Boss for X-Lite target loads with groups at 1.5" or better at 25 yards off bags.

 

[Rockets]

I am not an expert, but from what I've read BE is way too fast for magnum loads.

I am using it for a mild 357 load... more like a 38spl +
4.0 - 4.5 grains of BE should work pretty good I think.

Lowest unique load in this same brass for me was 5.7 grs for

Nevada Ed, how much higher did you work up those loads with unique ? I hear 7.0 is a pretty warm load.

 

[chipking]

I like 6.0 of Unique behind a 158 cast SWC or SWC hp. This is a ~1075fps load out of a 4" 357 but is not unpleasant to shoot out of my 2 1/2" Model 19 either. Accuracy has been good in my 19s, 13, 66, 28 (all 4" or less). Depending on the bullet and gun I may get a little lead at the forcing cone but never smears and the load burns pretty clean.
Chip King

 

[MikeyB]

I'm currently using 5.5gr of Unique for the 158gr LSWC (BHN 14-15). CCI-550 primers.

 

[rwsmith]

Are your bullets hard cast

Are your bullets hard cast? Swaged factory bullets start leading the barrel around 1100 ft/sec.

 

[colt_saa]

I have been loading that in 357 cases with 5.5 gr of Unique for decades

 

[358156hp]

Alliant shows data for 158 SWC & both powders, their data is about as "mid-range" as you can get.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

 

[Infidel_319]

I really like 6.5 grains 231 with 125 grain hard cast, hardness is 15 on my bullets, no leading at all. Haven't chronographed them, need to. I had to use what was available and it worked out well, have bought 3# of 231 now. Nothing bad to say about it for target loads. That's enough for what a little over 3K rounds. I'll keep buying a # here and there now though, not gunna get stuck in 4 years like i did this time, didn't load for .357 til after Jan or so. I have that for target work and 296 for the full house loads.

 

[Rockets]

I loaded 25 of each. 6.0 unique, 4.5 BE, 5.5Unique and another batch with 4.5 TG. I'll give them a spin and get back to you guys.
Hard cast boolits btw, about 18bhn...

 

[rsrocket1]

5.0g Bullseye under a 158g bullet is a very nice load and certainly not too fast for 357. That charge under a 230g fmj 45ACP was the standard military round for 1911's since nearly forever and 45 ACP is only a 21 kspi round. 357 mag is a 35 kpsi round.

6.0g Unique would be an almost identical load and might be a tiny bit cleaner. Bullseye tends to put a uniform film of soot on my revolvers. No problem cleaning it off though, so I don't mind using it in just about all the same applications I use Unique. I just use whatever is available, just slightly different charges. If you want Universal, just use Unique. Universal Clays was developed as a competitor to Unique. It does burn more completely in underpressured loads, but also costs more.

 

[fatman73]

Im not a fan of watering down loads if your going to shoot magnun loads shoot magnun loads if not shoot a 38

 

[silentflyer]

Just finished cranking out 250 158 grain HC SWC's over 6.8 grains of Unique and Winchester primers. works well in my 15-2 8" Dan Wesson and my 6" 686 and my 4" Model 19. Skeeter Skelton loaded 7 grains of Unique for his mid range stuff.
Some loads go to 8 grains of Unique in the older manuals. I like 2400 or 296 for the full house rounds.

 

[Nevada Ed]

The 357 Magnum is a great round but one also has to know its limits, in the case of a S&W, by what type weight frame the revolver is made from.

There is a night and day difference on what a K frame will handle vs what a L frame will handle and then there is the "N" monster frame that shots Atomic Bombs !!

8 grains of Unique in one is a 100% load while a target load in the N frame. Each model has its limits but all can serve well with the proper loads..................
100% is not always the best.

PS;
Put 7.5grs of Unique behind a 110gr Jhp in a K frame and you are very close to the old +P+ load.

 

[alwslate]

I don't care for unique but I have loaded a few mid range 357 loads
with the other two powders you mention. Two almost identical loads
are; Win brass, 5.6 grs TG, 158 gr cast TV SWC = 1056 fps. Same with
5.7 grs BE = 1057 fps. Upping the BE charge to 6.1 grs = 1089 fps.
These were chronographed out of my 4" S&W md 28.

 

[Bailey Boat]

When I began summer carrying my mod 60 w/3" barrel the full house magnums were just too much and 38+P wasn't enough. I set about developing a load to be more than 38 but less then 357 specifically for this gun. I came up with the "38 Magnum". Loaded into 357 cases (to keep them out of 38's) I arrived at a 125 grain Zero brand JHP with 7.5 grains of Unique. It runs 1100 fps from the 3" barrel and moderate recoil in the J frame. Recovered bullets displayed excellent expansion with good penetration.

 

[PeterK]

I have been having pretty good luck with 6.5 grains of HP-38, Win 231, same powder behind 158 Berry's plated flat point. I'm becoming a big fan of HP-38.

Peter

 

[Treeman]

8.2 grains of 800X under any bullet 125-160 grains will make a true mid-level .357mag. Good for smiles.

 

[BigBill]

My most accurate load in my 6" barreled python was using the SPEER 140gr JHP bullets with 2400 powder. I was pinging small rocks on the 100yd berm.
l mainly use the 2400 powder for all my jacketed loads and unique powder for all my Leadcast loads.

 

[Rockets]

I have been having pretty good luck with 6.5 grains of HP-38, Win 231, same powder behind 158 Berry's plated flat point. I'm becoming a big fan of HP-38.

Peter

I ran some 5.5 grains of 231 ( same as hp38 ) 158 lswc and it was pleasant to shoot and accurate to boot.

 

[Rockets]

Any knows how fast would 7.0grains of Unique would push a 158 swc ?

 

[colt_saa]

Any knows how fast would 7.0grains of Unique would push a 158 swc ?

depending on bullet alloy, barrel length and firearm 1100-1250

 

[Rockets]

depending on bullet alloy, barrel length and firearm 1100-1250

hard cast, ruger bh 6"... Thanks