Powder help for 357

[tesoro]

Hi I am new here. I have been reloading for 40yrs and for the last 15 precision long range rifle. I have not loaded pistol since I was in high school! Looking at full power for a 6in 686-4 to plink steel at 100-150 yds shooting 125gr JSP. I am selling house and will be full timing in a rv for some years to goof off and need to pack up my supplies now and shoot/reload later this summer when I am dialed in.
I have all the components and tools for 357 other than powder. I am short on time to figure this out myself so wondering if anyone could recommend a suitable and available powder that I can buy and store now while I still have my home address for shipping. Thanks!!

 

[EK2944]

You mentioned "full power" and " suitable and available ". To meet that criteria I would look for H110, 296 or possibly Accurate #9.
I'm sure somebody will chime in with 2400 but I don't think you'll be too successful finding any.

 

[.38SuperMan]

If you really want wrist snapping barn burning loads H110/296 are the ones. 2400 I understand has been discontinued. As to Accurate #9 I’ve not used it but hear from others it’s excellent.

If I’m loading hot 357’s for my rifle I use H110 and 158 gr soft point or hollow point semi jacketed. For handguns in the moderate range I really like Ramshot Enforce. HS6 or CFE Pistol are other good candidates for moderate magnums. CFE has a flash suppressant that I really like.

 

[SSBiggun]

another + for H110/296. It's been my "Go-To" for 37 years

 

[Yendor357]

H110 works well in revolvers. But H110 is best in 357 rifles, if you ask me.

For a revolver I prefer Accurate No.9.
You don’t need magnum primers.
You don’t burn quite as much.
Velocities are more uniform.
Recoil and noise are less with A9.
Accuracy is identical.

125 grain bullets aren’t going to be optimal at longer distances. The old tried and true 158 is still hard to beat. I’ve also had some success with 180s.

 

[venomballistics]

You mentioned "full power" and " suitable and available ". To meet that criteria I would look for H110, 296 or possibly Accurate #9.
I'm sure somebody will chime in with 2400 but I don't think you'll be too successful finding any.

2400 is difficult to find. But we can add Lil Gun to the list and 4227 is often overlooked.
N110 seems to be another favorite option.
Of these, Lil Gun is starting to get my attention. It seems to possess the one trait of 2400 that others didn't offer. that is, the ability to dial back a load without flaking out.

 

[biku324]

Lil Gun is my go-to magnum pistol powder for 357 & 41 magnums in revolver or carbine. Has been for more than a decade.

 

[tesoro]

Thanks everyone. A friend on Accurate shooter recommended #9 because it works and is readily available and well priced.
What I should have mentioned is the 686's sister gun is my browning B92 357 which has a 38T and I want to shoot it along side at 100-150 yds and thus the 125gr idea for universal ammo. same powder, dies and charge etc etc.. That 38 twist puts the 158gr in the .9 stability factor. The 125 is in the 1.3's. If I were shooting 25yds it wouldnt make a diff. So thats the logic behind the 125gr. And trajectory is more of an issue than wind as I wont be shooting at fixed distances all the time. (ie rocks on a hillside!)

 

[Crookedcreek]

The slower [powders like 296, 110, A#9, are not at their best with lighter bullets , like the planned 125 gr. High velocity may accompany a blast and fireball you may find objectionable. Carbine length barrels without a cylinder gap would be better suited to those powders combined with lighter bullets. As suggested above, I'd go for 158ish gr. weight, or try the other suggested powders like 2400, Lil gun, 4227, A#7, HS-6, Power Pistol.

P.S. Unrelated to your question, but a 'caution', nonetheless. I hope you have planned you 'several year goofing off travel path' wisely enough to avoid the states and locales that are less than accepting/friendly towards traveling with handguns in motor vehicles. Choose your 'plinking' activities where that muzzle blast attracts the least attention.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

I would consider trying a pound of Longshot &/or True Blue as 1,600 fps ought to get 'em there and you would be using half as much powder and not having to deal with the (supposedly?) very narrow range between START & MAX attributed to the 296/H110 powders.

Just a thought. As shown by 2.7gr Bullseye 148ge wadcutter loads for 38 Special, lower velocities can result in fine accuracy.

Cheers!

 

[tesoro]

Well it looks like I wont be able to find a 'universal load' for 2 diff twists and bbl lengths. No I dont want massive blast and fireball. Couldn't hurt to try! I guess i'll just buy 2 die sets and 2 throwers.

So I can use the No9 for the carbine with 125gr right?

And then for the 686 I'll get 158gr Jacketed and use what?

I would prefer to use the same primers for both. factor that in.

ps: if there are places that are that gun unfriendly then I not going there!!

 

[LostintheOzone]

Thanks everyone. A friend on Accurate shooter recommended #9 because it works and is readily available and well priced.
What I should have mentioned is the 686's sister gun is my browning B92 357 which has a 38T and I want to shoot it along side at 100-150 yds and thus the 125gr idea for universal ammo. same powder, dies and charge etc etc.. That 38 twist puts the 158gr in the .9 stability factor. The 125 is in the 1.3's. If I were shooting 25yds it wouldnt make a diff. So thats the logic behind the 125gr. And trajectory is more of an issue than wind as I wont be shooting at fixed distances all the time. (ie rocks on a hillside!)

I've always used 2400 and have a good supply. If I didn't have that I would look for #9. Has the same properties as 2400 and I've used it without noticeable differences loading for 30 carbine and 357.

 

[tesoro]

I've always used 2400 and have a good supply. If I didn't have that I would look for #9. Has the same properties as 2400 and I've used it without noticeable differences loading for 30 carbine and 357.

Ok. So #9 it is for both 158gr/686 n 125gr/carbine? What primers? Reg or mag?

 

[.38SuperMan]

Here’s the data from Accurate / Hodgdon for 357 Magnum.

Here’s a link to Accurates data.

Just a moment...

 

[rwsmith]

Lil' Gun

Lil' Gun gets over 1700 fps out of a 10" test barrel.

 

[Forrest r]

Doesn't hurt to look at a little faster burning powder. AA #7 or #5, power pistol, longshot, etc. You may lose +/- 100fps but you're burning a lot less powder.

Typically, when finding an accurate load with the faster burning powders. They will be accurate in most firearms they're used in. Slow burning powders tend to be more load/firearm specific.

I'd be taking a hard look at 150gr to 170gr bullets. Lever actions (357mag) tend to be finicky and like the ammo oal's in the 1.5xx" range. The heavier bullets tend to have longer bodies that seat deeper in the cases. Things like neck tension on the bullets come into play when words like accuracy & distance are used in the same sentence.

 

[zeke]

Well it looks like I wont be able to find a 'universal load' for 2 diff twists and bbl lengths. No I dont want massive blast and fireball. Couldn't hurt to try! I guess i'll just buy 2 die sets and 2 throwers.

So I can use the No9 for the carbine with 125gr right?

And then for the 686 I'll get 158gr Jacketed and use what?

I would prefer to use the same primers for both. factor that in.

ps: if there are places that are that gun unfriendly then I not going there!!

V V N110 gets very close to H110 in terms of velocity with noticeably less flash/concussion, while using Fed 100 primers. It works very well in revolvers and levers tried in with 125/158 jhps.

Am using max AA-7 loads with Fed 200 primers for 125 jhp accuracy loads in revolvers, but falls somewhat short with 158 grainers velocity wise. Still very accurate though.

 

[venomballistics]

Lil' Gun gets over 1700 fps out of a 10" test barrel.

much of this should be taken with a grain of salt
in my observations of it so far, It does not seem to like running in the upper fringe pressures. It makes up for this by making its numbers early in the pressure curve.
It's taken some work to get it chained down in a cast lead 350 legend load. In the end, it delivered the goods.

 

[magnum0710]

357 is the main caliber I load, there's a few good options depending on what you're looking to do. I recently started load development with AA#9 but haven't got to test my work up yet. 2400 isn't discontinued but it's basically unobtainable right now. 296 and H110 are options if you want full throttle flame throwers. I went AA#9 since it's the closest to 2400. HS6 is a good option too but it has some quirks, it likes to be loaded at the top end, firm crimp with a magnum primer. HS6 went up in price ($50, while I was able to get #9 296 H110 and Lil Gun for $42-45). The beauty of HS6 is it can be used in other calibers. It's great for top end 38+p (with a mag primer) I also used it in 9mm and standard primers work fine with HS6 in semi auto rounds, just needs a mag primer for revolver cartridges.The downside of HS6 is it wont get you to top velocity and it works better with heavier bullets. It'll get you close to 1200 fps with a 158 at the top end of data. I've never loaded 125s so I cant say what it'll get there. Personally I'd stay away from Lil Gun, it has a reputation for flame cutting and forcing cone erosion especially with 125 grain bullets. I've heard Longshot is a good option too but it's kind of like HS6 in that it won't get you to where the actual magnum powders will. I load a lot of 158 grain cast so #9 was the best option in my case. H110 and 296 have very little room between the min and max load, #9 has a wider range and will get great velocity too.

 

[stansdds]

My experience with H-110/W-296 was that it does produce the highest velocity possible while staying within safe pressure levels, but there is little room between minimum and maximum charge, so the loads did not lend themselves to being tailored for a balance between accuracy and velocity. Although still quite the fireball with 158 grain bullets, loads with 125 grain bullets were a daylight fireworks show. Or maybe an artillery cannon. Either way, the blast and flash would clear the firing lanes on either side of me.