WSF powder in .357 magnum?
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VAdoublegunner
Member
I have been using WSF for 38SP cowboy action loads since about 2002 and have done a lot of load development with it in 44SP, light 44Mag, 45Colt, and other cartridges for which there is no published data using it.
The 38SPs are not poofy CAS loads either but full level, giving ~850fps depending on the particular bullet and gun, using a 158-160gr LRN or LFN bullet. Not only is it a favorite powder for that application, it is one of my favorite plinking load powders, particularly in Vaqueros or Blackhawks. It meters extremely well. I load 4.5-4.7 gr with a 158-160gr bullet. By the now considered ancient published data from the early 90s, this is considered a +P load in 38SP. A standard load with a 158gr LRN was 4.3gr. I tend to keep them around 4.5gr if loading for a classic K-frame with a swaged LRN bullet.
I have also worked up loads using WSF in 357 MAG brass for plinking and rifle loads. A good starting point for 158-160gr hardcast bullets is 6.5gr, using standard WSP primers. I have never used magnum primers with it. You can work up from there to where you want to be or to optimize performance, but if you are using soft lead bullets, you may be going a little fast (understatement) and a little hot before you reach 9.5. I usually stop around 8.0gr +/- with LSWC hard cast bullets and have had excellent results with no leading. It may take some experimentation to match the optimal charge to the bullet hardness and lube, but somewhere between 7.5 and perhaps a little over 8.0 seems to work. When you do find the optimum, you will be pleased at its performance. My S&W Model 681 really seems to like a hardcast 160gr bullets driven at the higher charge weight. Although it prints about 2" left, it delivers palm sized groups at 50 yards (not feet) pretty consistently when fired using a wrist rest position. I'm fairly pleased with that level of performance from a fixed sight duty revolver.
The 38SPs are not poofy CAS loads either but full level, giving ~850fps depending on the particular bullet and gun, using a 158-160gr LRN or LFN bullet. Not only is it a favorite powder for that application, it is one of my favorite plinking load powders, particularly in Vaqueros or Blackhawks. It meters extremely well. I load 4.5-4.7 gr with a 158-160gr bullet. By the now considered ancient published data from the early 90s, this is considered a +P load in 38SP. A standard load with a 158gr LRN was 4.3gr. I tend to keep them around 4.5gr if loading for a classic K-frame with a swaged LRN bullet.
I have also worked up loads using WSF in 357 MAG brass for plinking and rifle loads. A good starting point for 158-160gr hardcast bullets is 6.5gr, using standard WSP primers. I have never used magnum primers with it. You can work up from there to where you want to be or to optimize performance, but if you are using soft lead bullets, you may be going a little fast (understatement) and a little hot before you reach 9.5. I usually stop around 8.0gr +/- with LSWC hard cast bullets and have had excellent results with no leading. It may take some experimentation to match the optimal charge to the bullet hardness and lube, but somewhere between 7.5 and perhaps a little over 8.0 seems to work. When you do find the optimum, you will be pleased at its performance. My S&W Model 681 really seems to like a hardcast 160gr bullets driven at the higher charge weight. Although it prints about 2" left, it delivers palm sized groups at 50 yards (not feet) pretty consistently when fired using a wrist rest position. I'm fairly pleased with that level of performance from a fixed sight duty revolver.
VAdoublegunner
Member
Glad to help.
I will mention that when you approach 7.5gr, you are getting into 1300fps range for most 4 - 5.5" 357 revolvers. If the bullet is a magnum level hardcast, it will probably be all you need and depending on the alloy should shoot well. I have experimented with the higher charges in Blackhawks/Vaqueros, and although I may consider it in a S&W N-frame or a good condition L-frame, the question becomes one of "why", since you aren't going to gain much and you are pretty much optimized for a plain base LSWC anyway.
BTW, that 9.5 gr charge you mentioned sounds really high for a 158-160gr bullet to me. I would think that is more like someone trying to top out a 125gr hardcast, and I do mean top out.
Also, I don't use WSF for jacketed bullets in straight walled pistol cases, just lead, nor substitute jacketed for lead with these charges. No particular reason I haven't, and I suppose you could work up jacketed loads starting low. However, my purpose was for loading lead bullets in those cartridges. It is a great powder for jacketed or lead bullets in 9mm, 45 ACP and especially 40 S&W.
I will mention that when you approach 7.5gr, you are getting into 1300fps range for most 4 - 5.5" 357 revolvers. If the bullet is a magnum level hardcast, it will probably be all you need and depending on the alloy should shoot well. I have experimented with the higher charges in Blackhawks/Vaqueros, and although I may consider it in a S&W N-frame or a good condition L-frame, the question becomes one of "why", since you aren't going to gain much and you are pretty much optimized for a plain base LSWC anyway.
BTW, that 9.5 gr charge you mentioned sounds really high for a 158-160gr bullet to me. I would think that is more like someone trying to top out a 125gr hardcast, and I do mean top out.
Also, I don't use WSF for jacketed bullets in straight walled pistol cases, just lead, nor substitute jacketed for lead with these charges. No particular reason I haven't, and I suppose you could work up jacketed loads starting low. However, my purpose was for loading lead bullets in those cartridges. It is a great powder for jacketed or lead bullets in 9mm, 45 ACP and especially 40 S&W.
fredj338
Member
I treat WSF like a better metering Unique. SO in absence of data for WSF, plug in WSF. Of course, start low & work up, but I find WSF a tiny bit slower than Unique, so depending on bullet wt, very important, 9.5gr might be fine. Speer runs 125gr w/ 9.6gr of Unqiue as max.
Fred, isn't that a typo? Don't you mean to plug in Unique?
Fred my buddy from GTR!
