Reloading .357 Magnum

[Hayseed4]

Looking for good loads using Win 231 and Win 296 powder. Bullets used will be Nosler jacketed hollow point and Hornady XTP both 158 grain. Shooting out of 1980 S&W Model 19 6 inch.

 

[Doc Hollywood]

I use 15 grains of 296 with 170 grain cast bullets which have the same protrusion into the case as your xtp's I got somewhere around 1250 from my 6" 19-2

 

[Doc Hollywood]

I mostly used 2400 behind my xtp's

 

[colt_saa]

Looking for good loads using Win 231 and Win 296 powder. Bullets used will be Nosler jacketed hollow point and Hornady XTP both 158 grain. Shooting out of 1980 S&W Model 19 6 inch.

Winchester offers a FREE guide on their website.

A stack of Factory loading manuals is the first place you should be looking for loads, then you have something to compare to your stack of Internet messages from strangers

I use 15.6 grains of H110 for my 158 XTPs

I do not use 231 to load jacketed bullets, just midrange lead or plated.

 

[alwslate]

Depends on what you call good loads. Original Winchester data lists
6.9 grs as maximum for 231 and 16.6 grs as max for 296 although
other manuals have gone higher with 296. I think you will find, as
others have, that you will get better results from 2400 powder.

 

[MichiganScott]

I've used 16.3gr of 296 behind 158gr HP's since I first started loading. I believe WW296 was a bit faster when it first came out because the cases were sticky after firing in several guns. Although the newer manuals go higher, I've never seen a need for me to do so.

I reserve WW231 for lead bullets in several calibers.

 

[Nevada Ed]

296 would work with the heavy 158 jacket bullets..........

I would save the w231 for the lighter 125gr jacket bullets and
pray for around 1244 fps with that powder out of a 6" 357.

Accuracy should be good but don't hope for Fac. Dup. speeds.

 

[3five7]

My favorite full power 357 Magnum load is 16.2 grs of 296 under a 158 gr Hornady XTP HP. It chronographs at 1308.1 FPS (10 shot average) out of my 4 inch 686. I don't use 231 in 357 Magnums only 38 Specials.

 

[Geo. T.]

Well!

I have read for years that 2400 , 296 and H110 are very nearly the same powder. I used to load a lot of 2400 but due to availability I now load H110. The foot note warning against reduced loads on 296 always gave me cause for pause!

Several years ago I ran an experiment with both 38 special cases and 357 magnum. I used Bulls Eye and Unique. I found no advantage with either case and unique was more accurate than the bulls eye. For what it's worth I also used regular and magnum in the target loads and there was not much difference.

H110 and jacketed bullets burns really clean. Cast bullets with traditional lubes not so much! By the way I find the loads listed in most manuals are pretty accurate as far as load data goes in handgun loads.

 

[jimbo728]

With 296, start at the low end of the manual`s listing and work your way up. As far as 158gr jacketed bullets go I have to agree with the suggestions of using 2400. It works good for cast bullet loads too.
Jim

 

[andyo5]

I used to load 15.5g of H110 (same as 296). I now load 14.5g of 2400 with a standard primer.

 

[KnotRight]

Off the Nosler.com website:

357 Magnum Load Data ? Nosler

 

[bbqncigars]

I feed my Coonan Classic 16.0gr of 296 behind a 158gr JHP and a magnum primer. Not something I'd like to touch off indoors, though.

 

[rwsmith]

Shouldn't do too many.....

Don't use too many top loads in a model 19. They aren't built to take continuous magnum loads.