Want to Duplicate Speer 135gr .357 SB

[myanof]

I carry a 340PD almost every day loaded with Speer 135gr .357 SB. I have shot the load enough to have confidence, but I don't practice with it due to the price. As a reloader I would like to work up a load with a close equivalent to the recoil of the Speer load in the 340. I am wondering if anyone has worked with this concept. Any 38+P I load seems to be close to the Speer 135gr 38+P, but the 357 is more difficult. Thanks for your help.

 

[myanof]

I carry a 340PD almost every day loaded with Speer 135gr .357 SB. I have shot the load enough to have confidence, but I don't practice with it due to the price. As a reloader I would like to work up a load with a close equivalent to the recoil of the Speer load in the 340. I am wondering if anyone has worked with this concept. Any 38+P I load seems to be close to the Speer 135gr 38+P, but the 357 is more difficult. Thanks for your help.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

Unless you test that particular load in your gun with a chronograph,you will never know exactly what the velocity is.This is true with any and all loads,factory or handloads.

The loading manuals are packed with loading data.Approximating a similar load is easy.Since you like the Speer 135 gr bullet,I'd recommend you use a Speer manual that has data for that bullet.

 

[myanof]

Thanks for the information. I have been using the Speer manuals for about 25 years now, but the issue is not speed alone. It is how a given load feels in a particular gun. I was just wondering if anyone has worked with this same issue in this partucular load and gun.

 

[canoe on the yukon]

My carry load in a 357 snub is the Federal 357B full power 125 gr JHP load.My handload is "similar".

357 mag brass
125 gr speer jhp
21.0 gr W296
Win SP magnum primer

I could give a lot of other examples but it would bore you to death.

 

[OKFC05]

I was just wondering if anyone has worked with this same issue in this partucular load and gun.

I buy the Speer bullets and load over a near-max load of HP38 in a WIN .357 case.
Feels about the same to me in a Model 65 revolver as the factory load.

It has far less blast and recoil than a 296 load, which I use for my 8' barrel 686.

 

[3five7]

According to an old Speer Data file I have from 2004:

To approximate the Speer 357 Magnum Gold Dot Short Barrel service load in a snub-nose revolver. Load the 135 grain bullet (Speer Part No. 4014) with 8.8 grs of Power Pistol, 8.4 grs of VihtaVuroi 3N37, or 7.6 grs of Unique. These loads should give you around 1000 fps from a 2" 357 Magnum revolver. (COAL was listed as 1.590")

I have tried the 8.8 gr load of Power Pistol and it felt about the same as the factory load, however it was not chrongraphed.

 

[Paul5388]

You're going to have to break at least one round down and weigh the powder. Then find a similar weight load (the powder weight is part of the recoil formula) that gives you close to the same velocity.

Since the factories use non-canister powder, that's probably the best you can do toward duplicating the recoil and performance in a hand load.

 

[myanof]

Originally posted by 3five7:
According to an old Speer Data file I have from 2004:

To approximate the Speer 357 Magnum Gold Dot Short Barrel service load in a snub-nose revolver. Load the 135 grain bullet (Speer Part No. 4014) with 8.8 grs of Power Pistol, 8.4 grs of VihtaVuroi 3N37, or 7.6 grs of Unique. These loads should give you around 1000 fps from a 2" 357 Magnum revolver. (COAL was listed as 1.590")

I have tried the 8.8 gr load of Power Pistol and it felt about the same as the factory load, however it was not chrongraphed.

Interesting, I didn't know you could buy the 135gr bullet from Speer. I'll check this one out. This just might work, Thanks

 

[tmbrcruizr]

I load 7.2 grains Unique, Fed brass, WSP primers, and the speer 135 gr gd short barrel. They average 1029'/s from my 340. Sorry, I have never shot any factory loads to compare recoil. BTW 7.6 grains Unique moves the velocity up to 1090'/s, with quite a bit more recoil.

 

[myanof]

Originally posted by tmbrcruizr:
I load 7.2 grains Unique, Fed brass, WSP primers, and the speer 135 gr gd short barrel. They average 1029'/s from my 340. Sorry, I have never shot any factory loads to compare recoil. BTW 7.6 grains Unique moves the velocity up to 1090'/s, with quite a bit more recoil.

Thanks, great information. BTW where are you guys getting your 135gr GDSB bullets?

 

[tmbrcruizr]

I got mine from Midway, albeit before the Presidential election.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree with the above post, 8.8gr Power Pistol seems to be the best replica load for the Speer 135gr SB .357 Magnum round.

 

[myanof]

Great information from all. Now all I need to do is find the Speer 135gr SB bullets.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Originally posted by myanof:
Great information from all. Now all I need to do is find the Speer 135gr SB bullets.

When working up that load I was using a 140gr Hornady XTP bullet because they were available and much cheaper than the Speer bullets. After you decide on the load you like you can switch to the more expensive Speer bullet.

 

[myanof]

Originally posted by ArchAngelCD:

Originally posted by myanof:
Great information from all. Now all I need to do is find the Speer 135gr SB bullets.

When working up that load I was using a 140gr Hornady XTP bullet because they were available and much cheaper than the Speer bullets. After you decide on the load you like you can switch to the more expensive Speer bullet.

140gr XTP would work fine, because these are only for practice. I will carry Speer 135gr facctory for carry....should I ever find them on the shelf again.

 

[sixpack]

This sounds more like it using Unique for a dupe of the Speer 357 SB factory load. While it might make a great load, 7.6 grains sounds a little hot to me.

As my point of reference, I use 7.6 grains of Unique for a mild 240 grain hardcast load in my Model 29. It gives me about 800fps and shoots about like a 45 Long Colt.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Some of the loads listed in this thread like with Unique and especailly W296 are good .357 Magnum loads but they are not Speer Short Barrel "replica loads." The trick to replica loads centers on not only getting the velocity right but the over all feel of the round, especially the felt recoil and the type of recoil. I've found 8.8gr Power Pistol will give you all of that better than anything else I've tried.

Also, for the 135gr .38 Special +P Short Barrel replica load, I've found AA#5 to be the best powder to use.

 

[fredj338]

The 135grGDSB makes 1125fps in my M66-21 /2". I can duplicate that w/ 14.5gr of 2400 & the SpeerGDSB. GOing to 15gr gets me 1175fps, just a bit more.

 

[bnitch]

I just ordered 4 box's of this bullet from Midway. Put in for an E-mail notice when they are in stock and wait. Course primers are always out by the time I get the E-mail. About $20 a box but then I paid $31 per hundred for 145gr silvertips. But they sure look good with nickel shells.
Please list what primer you are using with each powder, magnum or standard, too many people use magnum when they don't have to.