Well it's time to tackle 357 Magnum

[novalty]

Put it off long enough, and now I finally getting around to loading for 357 Magnum. Trying to narrow down where I should start. Have 158gr Jacket Soft Hollow-Points from Hornady and Sierra that I will be loading for a S&W 686 6". Started looking at data from both Hornady and Sierra's manual's and see a large discrepancy on load data when using Alliant 2400 powder. My Hornady manuals read a starting load of 10.5gr, and maximum load of 14.3gr for 158gr. JHP; and my Sierra binder lists starting load of 14.0gr. and max of 15.0gr. I am plan on working up a load and won't be looking at anything near max, but concerned with amount of difference in starting load.

I do have a couple other powders that I can try for 357 Magnum that I have load data on, but where I don't have anything else that would use 2400--I figured I would start there. Other powders that I have available are: H4227, Bullseye, AA#5, Unique, and HP-38.

 

[Rule3]

2400 is THE powder for 357 Mag. Member Forestswin has lots of tests and data (GRAPHS AND CHARTS ALSO)

That said it is like the 38 special, many many powders , loads and projectiles,

Unique and HP 38 are good for lesser loads. Avoid the fast powders IMHO.

 

[moxie]

My favorite is 2400 also.

You are on safe ground with either set of data; the maxes falling within my older Speer book's range of 13.9-15.9. But start at the low end is my advice. Even 14.0 grs. = plenty boom!

Ditto on Unique for mid-range. Avoid fast powders like Bullseye.

The trick to magnums is, I think, getting a "firm" crimp in the cannelure, without deforming the bullet. Don't be surprised if you crumple a few cases. Just readjust and keep trying.

 

[alwslate]

First of all if you're not looking for a load anywhere max as you say
then a 158 gr JHP is not an optimal bullet choice by any means but if
that's what you have then they certainly can be used. As Rule3 says
2400 is basically the powder for full power 357 loads. But...you're not
looking for full power. With 158 gr bullets and 2400 powder you will
run out of case capacity before you reach dangerous pressures. The
best advice I could give you after loading the 357 for nearly 50 yrs,
considering the components you have is to forget about starting loads
and just load 13-14grs 2400 with a mag primer, yes a mag primer,
and your 158 gr bullets and fire away. Then if you're really looking
for mid-range loads buy some 158 gr cast SWCs and use another
powder like the Bullseye or HP38 you have. If you try to get overly
cautious as some are likely to suggest and use light loads of 2400
and std primers with your jacketed bullets you will get very poor
performance.

 

[forestswin]

here's a website of earlier Alliant catalogs that show more reasonable loads for 2400 and also includes a bigger selection of bullets --- other than just Speer.

Alliant Manuals

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
The 357 is one of those rounds that will work with many powders.
PS. the loading manual differences you see show the classic difference
in bullet construction.
For the same weight, the bullet with the larger hollow point
will be longer and take up more space in the case.
Also the crimp groove is often in different places which also
changing case volume.
For lighter loads this will mean little but when you get close to max pressure it can make a big difference.
Hence the practice of working up with your loads.

 

[Rule3]

Although I like the Hornady manual and use it most of all the manuals, their data tends to be on the conservative side,as Alwslate states, if you are using the Jacketed bullets you need to use at least the mid load. You know what you are doing so go with just shy of the max loads if you don't mind to recoil and flash, bang, boom.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Have no fear, the 357 is a peace of cake to load with either jacket or lead bullets

2400 worked for me with the 158gr XTP bullet in my 686 6".
You just need to learn where powders start to work and burn ok
to where they are near a full load, since some full loads will
actually loose fps in some guns.

I will send you a pm with some data.

 

[Houlton]

Both my19-3 and my son Tarus like a 125 HP w/14.6 of 2400. Had a M-28 that I used 18gr 2400 with a 158 KT cast. No excessive pressure signs. Used wheel weights hardened with babbit. To hot for the 19.

 

[DWalt]

I recently shot up 500 158 grain FMJ bullets over 8.0 grains of Unique. They shot very well, produced essentially .38-44 velocities of around 1150 ft/sec. Grouping was excellent from a 4" .357 Colt Trooper.

 

[andyo5]

I started out years ago loading a 158g XTP over 14.5g of H110, with a sp magnum primer. Gun was a 6" 686 (that I still own). This proved an accurate combination. But when I eventually bought a chrongraph, I was disappointed to find velocity barely reaching 1000 fps. I felt that a true .357 magnum load should achieve higher velocity. I found that as I increased my load from 14.5g to 15.7g, I could not achieve greater than 1185 fps. Velocity topped out at 15.5g and gave lower velocities above that (on my 686, not so on my GP100).
At this point, I started developing loads using 2400. I found that at 14.5g of 2400, I was near 1300 fps in my M686 and was able to achieve the kind of tight groups that I desired. My manuals say that I can go higher, but I don't feel the need to do so.
I also found that I could repeatedly shoot this load better with a standard primer than with magnum primers. This is true of both the 686 and the GP100.
I will attach a couple of targets as soon as I can figure out why the system currently will not accept them. Apparently I am missing a 'security token' of some kind.

 

[muddocktor]

357 Mag and 38 Special were what I first started reloading pistol rounds on back in the mid-70's. Like others have already said, 357 mag isn't a hard round to load and it likes many different powders. 2400 is a good powder for 357, but I rather use either 296/H110 or Accurate #9 myself. The H110 is a bit boomy, but accurate in my various model 27's and is absolutely fantastic out of my Rossi 92. The Accurate #9 is less boomy and also has a lot less muzzle flash and won't blind you with shots fired at night. For cast or more moderate loads than what can be found with H110, I've been loading quite a bit of Hodgdon Longshot lately and I'm really liking it a lot. I had bought an 8 lb jug back when powder was so darn hard to find, since it seemed to be pretty versatile from what I saw in the Hodgdon loading data pages. Unique and HP38/231 are 2 other excellent choices for either 357 or 38 Special too.

 

[novalty]

Thanks for all the advice guys! Nevada Ed, thanks for the PM too--will be checking over the data.

Forestswin, you are killing me. I had a bad casting experience with 38/357 in a Ruger SP101 that I had. This 357 project is for my father, and I've picked up couple boxes of 158gr jacketed bullets in my buying and selling over the years--so I don't think I have the volume to warrant a mold, sizing die & top punch for my Star. Although I have been really wanting to try a full bore-riding 158gr. exposed wadcutter in 357. Figure that would be the project that would end up getting me into powder coating my bullets--where I had such a bad leading experience with the SP101.

 

[SLT223]

BE86 isnt quite as slow as 2400 but it will produce good velocity, and it seems to be easier to find than 2400.

 

[muddocktor]

novalty, you might check out Bayou Bullets for some of his coated bullets. I've pushed some of his 44 mag 240 SWC with 23.5 grains IMR4227 with no leading issues and I've run hard on some coated 357 158 SWC bullets with H110 with no problems too. And check at Rose Distributing for some Zero jacketed bullets, but they are hard to catch in stock. Rose does have some good pricing for their Zero jacketed bullets.

 

[LostintheOzone]

Use the Alliant load data for 2400 and 357. Their data is max load. Start at 10% less and work up.

Bullet manuals are all over the board. I have three and use them to cross reference after I look at powder mfg data.

357 is probably the most versatile revolver cartridge ever invented.

I likey.

 

[amazingflapjack]

158 LSWC over Unique all day long. 38 spl too.

 

[BuckeyeS&W]

2400 is a great 357 magnum powder and I use a lot of it with 158 gr lead and jacketed bullets. You also mention that you have AA#5 , I have good luck with this powder for lighter 357 loads I like 7.8 gr - 8.5 gr with 158 gr LSWC. . Accurate has 357 mag data on their website. With 158 gr lead min is 8 gr and max listed at 9 grs. and jacketed 158 gr. listed 8.6 gr- 9.7 gr max for HDY XTP bullets. I have no problems with leading and AA #5 also shoots well .

 

[snowman]

novalty,

In addressing your question, if it were me I would start load testing somewhere between the two starting loads listed in your manuals, and a little closer to Sierra's recommendation. Here's my reasoning: Hornady's starting load is around 27% beneath their maximum, which in turn is another 5% or so under Sierra's maximum(I think those are accurate figures.). Nowhere have I ever seen a recommendation for a starting load over 10% below the maximum load. Sierra's starting load, on the other hand, is less than 7% below the maximum. In light of all this, I would probably load a few at 12.5 or 13.0 to start. Just my humble opinion, as they say.

Regards,
Andy

 

[elpac3]

Get some 170 grain cast Keith bullets from Rim Rock and put them on top of 13.5 grains of 2400 for a great shooting .357 load.