Safest long term powder for 357

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gehlsurf

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Hi guys, I've loaded a little bit for the 357 and now getting g back into it (was working on an M1A project).

My "go-to" for pistols (10mm. 44 mag. 357, etc.) Has been blue dot. In 357 only 158 grns, not smaller per their warnings.

Just shot some Lil Gun under some 160 grn cast powder coated, 17.3 grns. It's no slouch!! And VERY accurate in my TRR8. I've read about come erosion, so that turns me off.

With all these powders and their limitations.... is there a powder out there that is known to be safer? Not better by any means, but safer for the long run.

What I have in stock now is Red Dot, trail boss, H110, Blue Dot, 410, Longshot, IMR 4227, Tite Wad, Lil Gun and some old Scot 4100. I have no shortage of powders lol. Some of you guys must have been running the same reloads for decades and still have in spec guns. So I figured I'd ask.

Thank you in advance for the help!
 
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...or Unique for anything less than full power. 125 grain jacketed do especially well with Unique. They get some very impressive velocities and still have moderate recoil and relatively soft muzzle blast.

High loading densities are a big plus with Unique.
 
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Of course, 2 powders I don't have!! Lol. Unique and 2400 does seem to be the go-to for many reloaders. I never go full max load anyhow. Not sure why, guess because I don't see a point, lol.

Have you guys been reloading these for a while? Seems I just read that titegroup has some issues, too with burning hot. I mainly want a powder where a few thousand rounds later, I'm not saying, "damn, should be listened to those guys. Now I need a new barrel!"
 
STCM, that's exactly what I was looking for! 50 years and no complaints! My primary gun is a TRR8 with Scandium frame, shrouded barrel, etc. And while I know it's under warranty and can be fixed, how about 20 yrs from now, lol, when they say, "we remember those, ran outta parts 2 years ago", lol.

Greenmacine, 240 grain? Is that 357? Is so....please, go on..... lol, I've been thinking of going heavier in the 357, but not 240! Now I'm intrigued!
 
You did not state what frame or model 357..........

but all powders are SAFE if you follow the manuals data.

Trail Boss and Red Dot will do great for any lead target loads.
The 4227 powder will work with low fps lead and medium high Jacket loads.
Just that you use a lot of it to get the job done vs some of the other faster powders but it is very safe, in the 357.
 
Bentcam has it well assessed. I started loading about 4 years after he did and BE, Unique and 2400 took care of all my needs. I still use them but sometimes foray into other powders. I always keep these 3 on hand.
 
Nice! I have trail boss and red dot, but will buy some 2400, as the red dot is mostly for my 12 gauge and trail boss for sub 308 rounds.

These are being shot from a S&W TRR8.
 
You'll be fine with 2400 and 160-gr bullets. Since I use my loads in both K- and heavier-frame S&W .357s I don't push them too hard. 13-grains usually gives me right around 1250 FPS.
 
What kind of safety?

Low erosion to prevent throat erosion?
Volume enough to keep from double charging?
Keeping from shaking the gun apart prematurely?

The slower powders than 2400 are prone to several different types of erosion.

I'd use a bulky powder between Unique and 2400 that will get the velocities that you want.

Out of what you list, Longshot looks like a good candidate.

Blue Dot may be a winner, but I don'tknow how much it can be downloaded.
 
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I use blue dot now in my 38's, and probably will keep at that. Supposedly it's good as long as your not shooting the 110 or 125 gen bullets. I'll definitely lately pick up some 2400, as I have another 357 that I love, my 66-2, but have heard of the "weaker" frames on these, and so would like to keep care of that one, too!
 
Back in my youthful days spent reaching for the maximum performance potential of the .357 magnum cartridge I settled on Blue Dot with hard cast lead bullets. Excellent powder selection for top performance without excessive pressures. My loading notes from that time show very good results with 150-grain LSWC-HP and 10.5 grains Blue Dot. Very stout load with minimal flash and blast from a 4" barrel. Shot a deer with that load, broke a rib on entry, pulped a lung, lodged under the hide on the far side. Shot through a couple of coyotes end-to-end, not a quiver when they dropped.

Now, being older and not so much concerned with such trivia, I shoot a lot of .38 Special at more modest levels. The .357 magnums that I load are much less potent (my 'mini-magnums', greater performance than .38 +P but not brutal to shoot). Easier on my good guns, easier on me, and no complaints from the targets yet.

Finally realized that there is nothing to be gained by using any machine at its maximum capacity all the time. Also, if I feel the need for more power I can just choose a larger caliber.

YMMV.
 
I use 2400. I've never used 4227, but I've read here in the past that it doesn't tend to erode the forcing cone or flame cut. Possibly because it is single based? I think that high nitro content powders cause more wear.
 
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