boatbum101
Member
For full magnum loads 2400 , AA#9 , H110 / W296 & VV N-110 are hard to beat . For a little less Blue Dot , 800X , SR4756 & Unique . 4227 is a little too slow .
Well it's time to tackle 357 Magnum
- Thread starter novalty
- Start date
hard nose street cop
Member
158 Gr JHP/SP with 2400 is a good choice, but using H110/296 with your 6 inch 686 with the 158 Gr JHP/SP will give you higher velocity's and lower pressure
silentflyer
Member
Do a search here for Skeeter loads, he did all the work years ago, has always worked for well for me.
andyo5
Member
I have found the opposite to be the case. My 6" 686 tops out in the high 1100s with H110, whereas I can get 1280fps with 14.5g of 2400. I don't wish to go any higher. In fact, for target and general purpose loads I am returning to my older load consisting of 158g XTP over 14.5g of H110 and a magnum primer. Velocity around 1000 fps. At my age, less recoil is a good thing.
I just bought an 8# of Universal to replace some old SR 7625 I've been shooting in a 586 and a pair of 66's. 5.4 grs with magnum primer gets 900+ FPS in my 4" barrels. 1150+ in my Marlin lever.
In the burn charts Universal is right there with Unique, yet I seldom see it mentioned for 357. Have I missed something? I only shoot lead so maybe that's why.
Which leads to another question. Why drop 15grs when a little over 5 works?
In the burn charts Universal is right there with Unique, yet I seldom see it mentioned for 357. Have I missed something? I only shoot lead so maybe that's why.
Which leads to another question. Why drop 15grs when a little over 5 works?
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Moe Mentum
Member
2400 for .357 magnum.
Davinman
Member
2400 makes very accurate 357 ammo, i shoot 158gr. lazercast swc's over 15.2gr of 2400 w/a std primer. i get 6 shot groups of about an inch every time no problem. this is from a 6" colt trooper. also 6gr. unique & a 158gr. hornady swchp with std primers shoots very well as a med velocity load at about 1050fps from a 4" python i own. have fun, theres alotta components available to load for the 357mag. im sure you can produce alotta accurate loads
Because if you want max performance you need a big dose of slow powder. That 15 grs. of 2400 will get you about 1500fps or close to it. Big difference.
2400 gives up very little...
2400 gives up very little, if any to the hottest powders W296/H110. At some bullets weights in the .357 cartridge it may even outclass the slowest powders if not come very close in performance.
2400 gives up very little, if any to the hottest powders W296/H110. At some bullets weights in the .357 cartridge it may even outclass the slowest powders if not come very close in performance.
Not the hottest all the time...
The .357, as versatile as it is, shoots well from .38 special target velocity to up around 1500 fps+, depending on the bullet weight. I shoot a few barn burners for fun, but I mostly shoot target to medium loads. You can keep steadier on target and recover with a lesser load, shoot more without pain, probably shoot more accurately too.
The .357, as versatile as it is, shoots well from .38 special target velocity to up around 1500 fps+, depending on the bullet weight. I shoot a few barn burners for fun, but I mostly shoot target to medium loads. You can keep steadier on target and recover with a lesser load, shoot more without pain, probably shoot more accurately too.
Steve C
Member
For magnum loads I generally seek to replicate factory velocities. For 158gr JHP and JSP bullets the factory loads from the big 3 run about 1,240 fps from a 4" revolver, out of a 6" you can add 100 to 150 fps more.
A load of 14.0 gr of 2400 behind a 158gr jacketed bullet lit by a CCI500 standard small pistol primer produces an average chronograph measured velocity of 1,243 fps out of my 4" S&W model 66. Use standard primers with 2400 as mag primers provide no advantage with the easily lit powder and will increase pressures with 2400 powder as noted in current Speer manuals. I've had pierced and cratered primers with 13.5gr loads using a mag primer.
For 158gr hard cast lead bullets I drop the load to 13.0 grs for the same approximate velocity.
For lighter loads I've always used .38 spl in standard velocity to +P loads in my .357 mag revolvers, one of the greatest advantages of the .357 mag chambering.
A load of 14.0 gr of 2400 behind a 158gr jacketed bullet lit by a CCI500 standard small pistol primer produces an average chronograph measured velocity of 1,243 fps out of my 4" S&W model 66. Use standard primers with 2400 as mag primers provide no advantage with the easily lit powder and will increase pressures with 2400 powder as noted in current Speer manuals. I've had pierced and cratered primers with 13.5gr loads using a mag primer.
For 158gr hard cast lead bullets I drop the load to 13.0 grs for the same approximate velocity.
For lighter loads I've always used .38 spl in standard velocity to +P loads in my .357 mag revolvers, one of the greatest advantages of the .357 mag chambering.
OP
novalty
Member
I haven't had a chance to get back to the reloading bench lately. Plan on loading a ladder load, looking like I will be starting with 13.0 gr. of 2400 using the 158gr. JHP bullets.
The good old 357 magnum sure has become a controversal ctg of late
when it comes to handloading. The thing is though that nothing has
really changed about the 357 in general. The fact is that many users
won't like the full 357 out of a 4" or less revolver. Also there is very
little application for a 158 gr jacketed bullet out of a 4" or less barrel
and that cast bullet users aren't giving up anything other than cost
because the jacketed bullets aren't going to expand anyway. Also a
chronograph will shock those who believe loading manual test barrel
velocities. And the handloaders who have gained a realistic appraisal
of the mighty 357 magnum will have gravitated toward a mid-range
cast bullet handload for most purposes.
when it comes to handloading. The thing is though that nothing has
really changed about the 357 in general. The fact is that many users
won't like the full 357 out of a 4" or less revolver. Also there is very
little application for a 158 gr jacketed bullet out of a 4" or less barrel
and that cast bullet users aren't giving up anything other than cost
because the jacketed bullets aren't going to expand anyway. Also a
chronograph will shock those who believe loading manual test barrel
velocities. And the handloaders who have gained a realistic appraisal
of the mighty 357 magnum will have gravitated toward a mid-range
cast bullet handload for most purposes.
