Reloading the 357

[rwsmith]

I load 14.6 grains of W296 behind 158 SJHP in my Model 19s, and 5.4 grains of 231 behind 158 gr LSWC. These are probably not much more than 38 +P loads, but the target has holes in it just the same.

edited to add that these loads are in 357 brass.

I do the same. Anything from a target .38 Special loaded wadcutter up to full bore goes in .357 brass. I pretty much only use .38 Special brass for .38 revolvers. I like to shoot .38 loads before I shoot .357 magnum loads and I don't like taking range time to brush out the cylinders. Using .357 brass eliminates the problem.

 

[rwsmith]

Hornaday swc and wc bullets used to be swaged not cast. They are soft and 900 fps would be as fast as I wanted to push them. I would look to buy bullets from a private company that are already powder coated.

I like Missouri Bullets. Their quality is very consistent. They use Hi-Tek coating.

 

[alwslate]

Titegroup load data is very close to Bullseye. I have used it in great mid range loads in the .357. .357 brass, Winchester mag primer, 5.6 grs of Titegroup, 158 gr cast Magma style SWC, chronos at just over 1050 fps in my 4" 27-2 with ES of only about 15 fps. Hard to beat.

 

[Handyman163]

If you're just shooting steel or paper, and doing a lot of it...5.0-5.5gr of Hodgdon HP-38 or Winchester 231 (same powder) in 357 brass will push a 158gr coated RNFP or LSWC to 850 (5.0gr) and 950 (5.5gr) all day long out of a 4" GP100. They barrel and cylinder will also stay a LOT cooler and you'll feel more of a push-type recoil than the SLAP you'll get from Titegroup. That may be slower than you want (being only 38sp velocities), but HP38 is available everywhere I shop, and is more fitting to my needs. Book max for HP38/231 is ridiculous and meant for very soft, swaged bullets. Winchester primers don't even start to flatten at 5.7gr HP38, and use Hi-Tek coated (Acme) hardcast boolits, so no leading!

Edited to add that all this is with regular primers, not magnum.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I intend to download 158 grain semi wadcutter's. so as not to over stress the K frame and forcing cone.
, or suggested loads?

First you are overthinking it.

If you are using a 158 grain Lead Semi Wad Cutter (LSWC) in the 357 Magnum revolver. I always try to keep my velocity under 1000 FPS to prevent leading of the barrel. The Forcing Cone and the K frame will be fine.

Your starting load with TiteGroup will be 4.5 grains.

 

[alwslate]

I load 14.6 grains of W296 behind 158 SJHP in my Model 19s, and 5.4 grains of 231 behind 158 gr LSWC. These are probably not much more than 38 +P loads, but the target has holes in it just the same.

edited to add that these loads are in 357 brass.

I'm guessing you don't own a chronograph. W296 does not do well with reduced loads. I tried some loads with 14.5 grs of 296 over a 158 gr cast SWC. Velocity was 1014 FPS out of my 4" 27-2 and ES was over 100 FPS. With less than half as much Titegroup or Bullseye velocity is around 1050 FPS out of the same gun with ES of only about 15 FPS. Try 5.6 grs Titegroup or 5.7 grs of Bullseye unless you enjoy wasting money on powder. 6 grs of 231 will yield about the same velocity as the Titegroup and Bullseye loads.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I was taught yrs ago when using W296 / H110 to simply fill the case to the base of the bullet . My std load is 16.0 grs with W296 using a 158 gr cast bullet (plain base version of Lyman 358156 ) . My everyday carry load using same bullet is 7.5 grs of Winchester Super Field . It matches 7.0 grs of Unique . If wanting more power , sometimes I use 2400 . I like 14-14.5 grs using same bullet . Above loads in 357 cases .