Hello, I find myself trying to improvise due to the current shortages. I have a good supply of .357 brass and 158 gr LSWC bullets but no magnum primers. Should I try standard primers to spark H110 or W296 or just use .38 Special data for Bullseye, W231 etc. in the magnum cases. Not looking for hot magnum loads, +P level .38 is fine. Thoughts?
Standard primers for .357 loads
- Thread starter Fullmetaljacket
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I have always used standard primers for 357....Forever.
rockquarry
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I think magnum primers are usually recommended with 296/ H110. I no longer load .357, but used to use standard CCI-500 primers and either 12 grs. #2400, or 14 grains 296 /H110 with the H&G #51, a 158 gr. SWC. Both loads are slightly below magnum level with muzzle velocities of around 1100 fps or so. I preferred #2400 over 296 only because of the excessive blast and fireball that often goes with 296 loads. However, both loads were accurate.
There are always exceptions; you may find a magnum primer works better in your gun with the components you have. Good luck-
There are always exceptions; you may find a magnum primer works better in your gun with the components you have. Good luck-
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The purpose of the magnum primers is solely for efficient/complete ignition of the slow magnum powders (W296/H110). The brisance or spark is longer to do this.
Using standard primers in the .357 cartridge and non-magnum powders is perfectly all right.
You didn't ask but: Some recipes (Winchester) call for their primers (WLP) which are specified in their load data. But follow their recipes exactly!
Their WLP are recommended for either standard or magnum powders!
Smiles,
Using standard primers in the .357 cartridge and non-magnum powders is perfectly all right.
You didn't ask but: Some recipes (Winchester) call for their primers (WLP) which are specified in their load data. But follow their recipes exactly!
Their WLP are recommended for either standard or magnum powders!
Smiles,
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If you don’t want a balls-to-the-wall magnum load in .357, then H110/W296 is perhaps the worst powder to try to use.
While this powder is fantastic for top-shelf loads, it has always carried strong warnings about being a powder that cannot be safely reduced.
2400 is a powder that has some range, H110/W296 has very little range. It’s best used full throttle or not at all.
While this powder is fantastic for top-shelf loads, it has always carried strong warnings about being a powder that cannot be safely reduced.
2400 is a powder that has some range, H110/W296 has very little range. It’s best used full throttle or not at all.
nbedford
Member
One thing you may not be aware of, CCI claims their small rifle primers are the same as their small pistol magnum primers. I ain’t tried them since I don’t load much developed after 1908.
STORMINORMAN
Member
Might come in handy...?
As indicated, if one is using the H110/WIN 296 "twins" this may well be a better way to go vs. a standard small pistol primer: for most other powders a standard small pistol primer works great.
Since primers seem now to be in greater scarceness (now, THAT'S a term frought with peril?) than powders I'd think the tendency would be to "LOAD 'EM UP!" vs. the plinker-type loads.
However... I'm still looking for that elusive BULLSEYE data for a mid-range (say a 1,200 fps velocity?) 125-158gr 357 MAG load appropriate for shooting at the range. I was quite surprised to see that Freedom Munitions was actually claiming over 1,500fps for their plated 125gr FN reloads: that seems to me to be way excessive for a plated bullet!
Cheers!
P.S. Does 6.2gr of BULLSEYE seem excessive?
As indicated, if one is using the H110/WIN 296 "twins" this may well be a better way to go vs. a standard small pistol primer: for most other powders a standard small pistol primer works great.
Since primers seem now to be in greater scarceness (now, THAT'S a term frought with peril?) than powders I'd think the tendency would be to "LOAD 'EM UP!" vs. the plinker-type loads.
However... I'm still looking for that elusive BULLSEYE data for a mid-range (say a 1,200 fps velocity?) 125-158gr 357 MAG load appropriate for shooting at the range. I was quite surprised to see that Freedom Munitions was actually claiming over 1,500fps for their plated 125gr FN reloads: that seems to me to be way excessive for a plated bullet!
Cheers!
P.S. Does 6.2gr of BULLSEYE seem excessive?
imakmst
Member
standard primers and Unique will also serve you well
OP
Thanks for the replies. I have quite a bit of Bullseye and W231, I suppose I could just use a +P .38 load in the .357 cases and save the H110 / W296 for true magnum loads.
It is my understanding, and PLEASE correct me if I am wrong, but Magnum primers also have ever so slightly thicker primer cups to prevent blowing out at the higher pressures of magnum loads.
I bring this up because it would make sense that at lower PSI loads, a regular thickness primer cup would likely be OK.
I am VERY new to reloading, but I remember what I read or what is told to me.
I bring this up because it would make sense that at lower PSI loads, a regular thickness primer cup would likely be OK.
I am VERY new to reloading, but I remember what I read or what is told to me.
kamloops67
Member
I use ww231 almost exclusively for target or cowboy loads , standard primers
Pretty clean running powder , doesn’t turn your revolver and your hands black LOL
Added benefit of being a very low volume powder so you get more shots per pound
Pretty clean running powder , doesn’t turn your revolver and your hands black LOL
Added benefit of being a very low volume powder so you get more shots per pound
Willyboy
Member
357 loads
I use small pistol (not magnum) primers for my 357 Target loads of 5.0gr
of HP38, aka W231, with a 158 gr bullet. It is a great load for me.
Willyboy
I use small pistol (not magnum) primers for my 357 Target loads of 5.0gr
of HP38, aka W231, with a 158 gr bullet. It is a great load for me.
Willyboy
Rogeronimo
Member
When I first started reloading, (no. 10 Speer manual), I noticed they specified which CCI primer was used. Same bullet, same cartridge, some powders used standard whilst others used magnums. Some in this forum state that powder selection dictates primer selection. Cartridge pressure seems irrelevant.
I developed my 357 loads with a new-to-me powder. Data was slim-to-none, so I worked up with magnum Winchesters. Perhaps unnecessary, but I eliminated sketchy ignition from the outset.
I found that Magnum Primers give me about 25 fps more speed in my .357 loads. That's nothing since some loads have extreme spreads of more than that so I wouldn't worry about using them for light loads or using SPPs for .357s.
4barrel
Member
Some powders are better with a mag primer to be cleaner burning.
george_lehr
Member
When I stared reloading around 1970, if magnum primers even existed, there were never any in my LGS, which was my only reloading source at that time (pre-internet).
I loaded some pretty warm .357 loads with Unique and standard small pistol primers.
If you could locate some Alliant 2400, you could load heavy loads with standard primers. In fact, I'm sure that I've seen a caution somewhere in a reloading manual that 2400 powder should NOT be loaded with magnum primers.
George
I loaded some pretty warm .357 loads with Unique and standard small pistol primers.
If you could locate some Alliant 2400, you could load heavy loads with standard primers. In fact, I'm sure that I've seen a caution somewhere in a reloading manual that 2400 powder should NOT be loaded with magnum primers.
George
ancient-one
US Veteran
Same here.
