Re-loading for new 357 toys

[DeplorabusUnum]

I've long had an itch for a 357 revolver and finally decided to scratch it (It's really my wife who wants a revolver). I've got an S&W 66 Combat Magnum 2.75" waiting for me at the LGS.

I want to load 3 different kinds of ammo for this gun. I have a few different powders that may be of use. I've got some Bullseye, Unique, CFE Pistol, WIN WST, and H110.

I was thinking some low velocity plinkers with Bullseye, some mid velocity rounds with Unique, and H110 for the extra spicy rounds. I've got a lot of WIN WST and CFE pistol to use up too, so if anyone has tried those with success in 357, I'd love to hear about it.

I'm using Hornady Brass, magnum small pistol primers, 158 gr. Hornady XTPs.

I've also got a Henry Big Boy lever action rifle that I'll be loading rounds for. Any favorites for that, I'd love to hear about as well.

Thanks in advance for sharing your wisdom. Happy shooting!

 

[colt_saa]

I happen to LOVE H110. I have burned through probably close to 200 pounds by now between the 357 Magnum and the 41 Magnum.

In the 357 Magnum, I push it to the MAX. 16.7 grains under a Winchester 158 JHP with a Winchester magnum primer. I also like to load these into nickel cases where the target loads I put into brass.

This load will have acceptable velocity in the snubby, but with a rather loud, deep, throaty bark and huge orange fireball. My shooting buddy used to call this load out of our 2 1/2" Model 19s "The Attention Getter"

It will really shine out of your Big Boy with much less bark and flash

Just make sure that you start 10% lower and work your way up with your component mix in your firearm



For the mid/light load, I use 150-158 grain hard cast SWCs over 6 grains of unique and a standard primer. This is what I plink with



The only thing that I load lighter than that is my HBWCs, but that is hardly a plinking bullet. Soft swagged HBWCs are expensive when you can find them.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Bullseye will work with any 148/158 lead target loads.

The three middle powders will work with any lead or Copper jacket bullets into a good SD loading.

The H110 powder is best at full loads that also come in a 3" barrel with..................
a lot of Flash and Recoil.

Enjoy the new weapon.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I happen to LOVE H110. I have burned through probably close to 200 pounds by now between the 357 Magnum and the 41 Magnum.

In the 357 Magnum, I push it to the MAX. 16.7 grains under a Winchester 158 JHP with a Winchester magnum primer. I also like to load these into nickel cases where the target loads I put into brass.

This load will have acceptable velocity in the snubby, but with a rather loud, deep, throaty bark and huge orange fireball. My shooting buddy used to call this load out of our 2 1/2" Model 19s "The Attention Getter"

It will really shine out of your Big Boy with much less bark and flash

Just make sure that you start 10% lower and work your way up with your component mix in your firearm



For the mid/light load, I use 150-158 grain hard cast SWCs over 6 grains of unique and a standard primer. This is what I plink with



The only thing that I load lighter than that is my HBWCs, but that is hardly a plinking bullet. Soft swagged HBWCs are expensive when you can find them.

LOL. I always thought of my wife as the "attention getter", but I'm willing to test out your theory. Thanks for all the input. This ought to be fun!

 

[TjB101]

3gr of B’eye under a 148 HBWC is a soft shooter. Unique is great along with H110 and 2400 for stouter rounds

 

[fredj338]

You'll probably like WST a bit better for target loads vs the BE, cleaner burning. Unique of CFE are perfect for midrange. I am not a huge han of h110 in snubs, wicked fireball & not a whole lot more vel than you get with CFE.

 

[38SPL HV]

I like Unique for about 90% of my 357 Magnum needs, mid range loads up to 1,100 FPS using 358429, 358439, 358156, 358477 and Magma 158 gr SWC’s. I use these same bullets at magnum velocities (1,200 FPS +) using 2400.

Two powders are all you need for 357 Magnum fun, Unique and 2400!

Do recommend cast over jacketed any day of the week.

 

[Golphin]

H110 will give you some spicy rounds and turn a few heads near by when you fire them off. Just have good grips because they can be finger banger's.

 

[muddocktor]

The shortest barrel 357 I have is 3 1/2", but my brother has a 2" barrel Colt Lawman. Like the others above, I can recommend most of the powders you have on hand except the WST as I have never used it personally. I do like the CFE-P for moderately hot to mid range loads. And the hot H110 loads out of my brothers Lawman are definitely some "attention getters" on both the shooting end and the watching end. They will throw a big fireball and be loud as heck too, but are fun in moderation. The Henry will really show the worth of H110 though and you should see at least a 500-600 ft/sec velocity gain out of the Henry over your 66 and maybe even more.

 

[Mistered]

I've found 7 grains of Unique and 158 grain plated bullets to shoot very accurately in both my 4" mod 66 and Henry BBB.

 

[Mike SC Hunter]

My standard load for many years in ALL my .357's(rifle & revolvers) is my cast Lyman 168 gr SWC pushed by 13.5 grs of #2400. Great accurate load and has killed deer and all the small critters too. On my range it slaps the 100 yard gong with authority.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I’ve been working up loads for my Henry carbine and really like a powder you don’t mention. I’m pretty happy with HS6 for moderately heavy to mild loads with a 158 jhp. It shoots well in my model28-2 4”. I’ve not tried this load in my 2-1/2” 66 yet but might this week. Also as a bonus it’s a very clean load. Again I know you didn’t mention this powder.

I like Unique and Bullseye as general purpose powders. Both work well in a wide variety of calibers. I’ve always felt Bullseye to excell in 38 special but I’m lukewarm about it in 357. I’ve experimented with light loads using polymer coated RNFP bullets and had inconsistent results. I suspect but have no proof that with minimum loads in a large 357 case, it seems to be a bit position sensitive. I tried Bullseye in 45LC and had the same experience. For that reason I only use Bullseye in small cases like 9mm and 38 special with HBWC’s.

Unique is a fine powder and works well in a wide variety of calibers too but have not tried it in 357. The one negative about Unique is it doesn’t meter well in my Dillon Square Deal B powder measure or my RCBS measure.

I e become a big fan of CFE Pistol. For years I shot USPSA shooting Major 38 super using 540/HS6. I eventually got out of it after cracking the frame of my race gun and sold the gun. Skip forward 25 years, I still had about a 1000 major 38 super loads and nothing safe to shoot them in. To remedy this I bought a Kimber Eclipse target in 38 super with a supported chamber. Other than fierce recoil without a comp, the muzzle flash was equally fierce.

After getting all of those shot up, I experimented with different powders and came up with CFE Pistol. The big plus was low flash. I was t trying to make major now and CFE gave excellent accuracy with a 124 jacketed bullet with no appreciable flash and burned fairly clean. This might be worth trying.

Unfortunately I havent tried The other powders but did pick up a pound of H110 today to try some hotter loads for the Henry.

Good luck and let us know your results.

 

[rwsmith]

XTPs are great.....

...but I shoot a lot of coated bullets for range work. Spending money on a prime JHP defense bullet to mostly punch paper isn't in my price range. But shoot what you want and have a good time.

I use 2400 more for magnum loads as it's a little more versatile than the slowest powders and you don't miss much depending on bullet weight. But the H110 is bound to make an impression on everybody at the range.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

...but I shoot a lot of coated bullets for range work. Spending money on a prime JHP defense bullet to mostly punch paper isn't in my price range. But shoot what you want and have a good time.

I use 2400 more for magnum loads as it's a little more versatile than the slowest powders and you don't miss much depending on bullet weight. But the H110 is bound to make an impression on everybody at the range.

Thanks for the information. I actually planned to make H110 loads mostly for the Henry rifle. The revolver truly was purchased for my wife. She's wanted one for a long time. I'm going to initially load some softer ones for her until she gets used to the gun. I'm not going to hand her the pistol loaded with fire breathers right out of the gate (although that might be a good way for me to get a new revolver)

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I’ve been working up loads for my Henry carbine and really like a powder you don’t mention. I’m pretty happy with HS6 for moderately heavy to mild loads with a 158 jhp. It shoots well in my model28-2 4”. I’ve not tried this load in my 2-1/2” 66 yet but might this week. Also as a bonus it’s a very clean load. Again I know you didn’t mention this powder.

I like Unique and Bullseye as general purpose powders. Both work well in a wide variety of calibers. I’ve always felt Bullseye to excell in 38 special but I’m lukewarm about it in 357. I’ve experimented with light loads using polymer coated RNFP bullets and had inconsistent results. I suspect but have no proof that with minimum loads in a large 357 case, it seems to be a bit position sensitive. I tried Bullseye in 45LC and had the same experience. For that reason I only use Bullseye in small cases like 9mm and 38 special with HBWC’s.

Unique is a fine powder and works well in a wide variety of calibers too but have not tried it in 357. The one negative about Unique is it doesn’t meter well in my Dillon Square Deal B powder measure or my RCBS measure.

I e become a big fan of CFE Pistol. For years I shot USPSA shooting Major 38 super using 540/HS6. I eventually got out of it after cracking the frame of my race gun and sold the gun. Skip forward 25 years, I still had about a 1000 major 38 super loads and nothing safe to shoot them in. To remedy this I bought a Kimber Eclipse target in 38 super with a supported chamber. Other than fierce recoil without a comp, the muzzle flash was equally fierce.

After getting all of those shot up, I experimented with different powders and came up with CFE Pistol. The big plus was low flash. I was t trying to make major now and CFE gave excellent accuracy with a 124 jacketed bullet with no appreciable flash and burned fairly clean. This might be worth trying.

Unfortunately I havent tried The other powders but did pick up a pound of H110 today to try some hotter loads for the Henry.

Good luck and let us know your results.

Thank you. I'm for sure going to try some CFE now. I have plenty to test it out. Was your jacketed 124 a round nose, hollow point, or ...?

 

[CH4]

I am lazy, I use unique for most of my 38/357, 44 mag and 45 Colt loads. I use TrailBoss for marshmallow loads in my 44 Mags, 45 Colt and 500 S&W.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I've found 7 grains of Unique and 158 grain plated bullets to shoot very accurately in both my 4" mod 66 and Henry BBB.

I will definitely try that load. I have a Hornady load manual and a Lyman manual and their recommended stating and upper limit loads for 158gr JHP are quite different.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I am lazy, I use unique for most of my 38/357, 44 mag and 45 Colt loads. I use TrailBoss for marshmallow loads in my 44 Mags, 45 Colt and 500 S&W.

Chalk up another for Unique. Definitely going to try some. I've been looking for Trail Boss to load some light loads for my old 1905 32-20 so I don't get a double charge and blow it up, but it's hard to find. Is it worth it to have around?

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I like Unique for about 90% of my 357 Magnum needs, mid range loads up to 1,100 FPS using 358429, 358439, 358156, 358477 and Magma 158 gr SWC’s. I use these same bullets at magnum velocities (1,200 FPS +) using 2400.

Two powders are all you need for 357 Magnum fun, Unique and 2400!

Do recommend cast over jacketed any day of the week.

Lots of folks using Unique. Thanks for the reply. Definitely going to try a few loads with that powder.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

You'll probably like WST a bit better for target loads vs the BE, cleaner burning. Unique of CFE are perfect for midrange. I am not a huge han of h110 in snubs, wicked fireball & not a whole lot more vel than you get with CFE.

Thank you. Good call on the WST vs BE. I'll save the BE for 9mm loads.