Nice 357 Mag 158 gr SWC load

[38SPL HV]

Shot earlier this morning 25 rounds of an ole reliable load I've developed years back with 158 gr cast SWC:

6.5 grs Unique (RCBS Little Dandy rotor #13)
Starline 357 Magnum brass cases
CCI 500 small pistol primers
T&B 158 gr Polymer coated 158 gr cast SWC
Platform - Ruger 4 5/8 inch Blackhawk
10 shot avg velocity 1,061 FPS

Comments: very accurate load, grouped tightly off rest. Also clean shooting with its Polymer coating. No undue "smoke" or blackened hands from all that usual lube (but only 25 shot). Plenty powerful for me...expect 1,125 FPS +/- in 6 inch revolvers...a 38-44 in 357 Magnum cases.

 

[Greenjoytj]

I bought some Hodgdon Hodgdon's Universal, it the new stuff that's made in Canada, the powder flakes have a redish colour like clay building bricks.

I chrono'd a 6 gr. load of Universal with CCI 550 mag primers and a commercially cast 158 gr. SWC bullet in Starline cases.

From my S&W 686-6 PC "Competitor" model 6" barrel I shot 3, ten shot strings across my Shooting Chrony here are my results:

String 1
Low 1078, Hi 1196, Av 1150, ES 118.2, SD 35.07

String 2
Low 1095, Hi 1170, Av 1145, ES 75.41, SD 22.62

String 3
Low 1103, Hi 1159, Av 1143, ES 55.84, SD 19.07

The average of the 3 averages is 1146, a little faster than the 1000 fps I was looking for but I can choose to load lighter.

The 6 gr load was very accurate and comfortable to shoot although my S&W Competitor 686 does tend to obscure the recoil and muzzle flip more than other revolvers due to the under barrel weight system.

 

[38SPL HV]

I found that Universal peaks quicker than Unique. I got lower velocities with the same charge weight of Unique vs Universal. Unique was better in ES category in 357 Mag.

Your load is within Hodgon's range but according to the velocity you're getting, it may be a little hot (velocity exceed Hogdon's 6.2 gr max load in test barrel). I agree with you that backing down a bit would give you a solid 1,000 FPS load...perhaps 5.5 grs?

5.6 grs Power Pistol with 158 gr cast in 38 Spl cases is approximately 1,000 FPS in a 6 inch GP100. I get an average of 950 FPS with this 38 Spl +P load in my Ruger 4 5/8 inch with low extremes and SDs...very accurate load.

Thank you for sharing your data.

 

[cowboy4evr]

If you get the chance try 7.5 grs of Winchester Super Field using a 158 gr cast bullet . It's my everyday load in the 357 . Regards Paul

 

[Nevada Ed]

Plenty powerful for me...expect 1,125 FPS +/- in 6 inch revolvers...a 38-44 in 357 Magnum cases.


My 686 6" with that powder charge and a 158gr Lswc with a cci500 and a med/light crimp will do...........

1133fps and shot at POA at 25 yards.

I got Unique up to 1320fps for a hunting load, back when I was a lot younger and able to run the hills.

Now a 1271~1133fps load is plenty for a nice Mag. loading to play with.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

1125 fps is respectable vel in my book.Of course,when younger I was looking at ''bettering'' the gurus of velocity by guesstimating my loads but the technology(read chronos)brought me down to earth;that's when I realised that over 1000fps heavy enough bullets were doing a very good job of punching all the way through...that is if you use a good for the job bullet.

 

[alwslate]

I'm not a fan of Unique. I much prefer 231 for 1,000+ fps loads in the
.357 mag. Great metering and low extreme spreads are the norm with
231 like this load; 158 gr plain cast SWC
old many times reloaded Nickel plated Win brass,
Win magnum primer, 5.8 grs 231 = 1060 fps from 4" S&W 27-2 and
less than 10 fps ES.

 

[gwpercle]

I am a fan of Unique .
Keep trying other powders but usually wind up grabbing Unique for mid range 357 magnum loads . A powder doesn't hang around for 180 years (developed in 1840) for no reason ...it has to be good to last this long .

Keep On Keeping On with your 357 load !
My pet load is 6.0 grains of Unique w/ 160 grain WC
Gary

 

[OFT II]

Are you saying that Unique powder predates the Civil War by 21 years?

 

[The Norseman]

Just in Case

Thanks for the Range Reports and possible Ideas.

There's a reason these 357Rem Magnums are in a Red Box.

 

[38SPL HV]

I also like the way Unique fills the case, measures great as long as I throw it through larger diameter RCBC Little Dandy Rotors (in my case, I use Rotor #13 and get trouble free throws and accurate measurements.).

Unique, for me, is a perfect fit for my cast 357 mid range loads. 2400 for my 1,200 FPS + Magnum loads, with 358429 Keith.

 

[gwpercle]

Are you saying that Unique powder predates the Civil War by 21 years?

In a convoluted way . Alfred Nobel invented it's two main components in 1840 and worked on the formula and process of manufacturing . This formula and process was sold to Laflin and Randin in 1888 , made and marketed the powder as "Ballistite" and they produced the powder until 1912 when DuPont absorbed Laflin & Rand . DuPont tweeked the manufactuing process a little and renamed it Unique in 1912 . So Unique , being a improved Ballistite , using the same two basic components , does date back to the 1880's .
But even at the 1912 date , that makes it 108 years old .

Yes , There were smokeless and semi-smokeless powders prior to the War of Northern Aggression (as my grandmother called it)
The histories of gunpowders are interesting but sometimes a bit convoluted ...
Gary

 

[38SPL HV]

Nice historical summary!

 

[308 Scout]

I use a similar load in my .357's

6.0 grs Unique
Starline 357 Magnum brass cases
CCI 500 small pistol primers
153 gr. Home-cast, traditionally lubed SWC
4 5/8" Uberti Hombre
5 Shot Average velocity 1020 fps

This I consider a "Keep-the-coyotes-out-of-the-yard" utility type load that I keep loaded in the 92 Rossi (1200+ fps with the same load)that sits in the laundry room gun rack and in the Uberti I wear when I'm outside. Very accurate load fired from seated, back-rested position.

308S

 

[fredj338]

Unique & lead bullets like pb&j. My plinking load is 150-160gr lswc over 7gr.

 

[OFT II]

In a convoluted way . Alfred Nobel invented it's two main components in 1840 and worked on the formula and process of manufacturing . This formula and process was sold to Laflin and Randin in 1888 , made and marketed the powder as "Ballistite" and they produced the powder until 1912 when DuPont absorbed Laflin & Rand . DuPont tweeked the manufactuing process a little and renamed it Unique in 1912 . So Unique , being a improved Ballistite , using the same two basic components , does date back to the 1880's .
But even at the 1912 date , that makes it 108 years old .

Yes , There were smokeless and semi-smokeless powders prior to the War of Northern Aggression (as my grandmother called it)
The histories of gunpowders are interesting but sometimes a bit convoluted ...
Gary

Thanks for the explanation. You had me confused which is not too hard to do. I do know that Unique and Bullseye were some of the oldest smokeless powders still in use.

 

[Eddietruett]

I bought some Hodgdon Hodgdon's Universal, it the new stuff that's made in Canada, the powder flakes have a redish colour like clay building bricks.

I chrono'd a 6 gr. load of Universal with CCI 550 mag primers and a commercially cast 158 gr. SWC bullet in Starline cases.

From my S&W 686-6 PC "Competitor" model 6" barrel I shot 3, ten shot strings across my Shooting Chrony here are my results:

String 1
Low 1078, Hi 1196, Av 1150, ES 118.2, SD 35.07

String 2
Low 1095, Hi 1170, Av 1145, ES 75.41, SD 22.62

String 3
Low 1103, Hi 1159, Av 1143, ES 55.84, SD 19.07

The average of the 3 averages is 1146, a little faster than the 1000 fps I was looking for but I can choose to load lighter.

The 6 gr load was very accurate and comfortable to shoot although my S&W Competitor 686 does tend to obscure the recoil and muzzle flip more than other revolvers due to the under barrel weight system.

I really like Universal. Meters much better than Unique in my Dillon Press. I usually load 5.0gr with a Federal Magnum Primer in 38 Special cases. Use the same charge for 130 & 158gr Coated lead. Lost my records when my Chrony was stolen but IIRC out of a 8 3/8" Barrel I was getting around 1000fps with 158gr and 1100fps with the 130gr. Very accurate and mild to shoot

 

[fredj338]

I really like Universal. Meters much better than Unique in my Dillon Press. I usually load 5.0gr with a Federal Magnum Primer in 38 Special cases. Use the same charge for 130 & 158gr Coated lead. Lost my records when my Chrony was stolen but IIRC out of a 8 3/8" Barrel I was getting around 1000fps with 158gr and 1100fps with the 130gr. Very accurate and mild to shoot

I never got really good accuracy in any caliber with universal & lead bullets, so shot the # I bought up with jacketed. WSF is almost as good as unique with lead bullets for accuracy. It also is nearly identical in charge wt for the same vel, maybe a tiny bit slower than unique.