[_N4Z_]

So I bought some 2400 today to launch these Oregon Trail LaserCast rounds at high speed, but I still also want to shoot powder puff and medium power levels.

I want to use Unique in this role.

Speer lists lead SWC at 6.0gr of Unique @ 1000 something fps. OK for puffs, but what about medium levels? I've seen some say they run up to 7.0gr of Unique behind hardcast rounds.

What is the word of the experienced masses here? Any useful input appreciated.


Will be shooting mostly from a Ruger GP100 w/ 6in. barrel.

[scott5]

Hay _N4Z_,
How about HS-6, Herco, AA-5, AA-7, Longshot.
There are others and other people will chime in with more.
Take a look at this:
http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html

Then maybe go here:
http://stevespages.com/357p_4_158.html
and check out what Steve has on your powder.

I hope this helps.

[jibjab]

Unique is a great powder but I switched to AA#5 as Unique would not meter well for me which made me nervous in upper end loads, I believe the speer bullet is soft swaged lead ? so the charge should be mild. For the OT LC 158 SWC they may run a fat .358" I would start at 6.5gr of U and work up in .2 increments with standard small pistol primers.

[Steve C]

I generally load 6.5grs of Unique behind 158gr SWC commercial cast bullets in the .357 mag. Its not a powder puff load running on the + side of 1,200 fps. I started to see leading at 6.7grs.

5.5grs of Unique behind a 158gr LSWC hard cast commercial bullet using 38 special cases ran at 1,046 fps from a 4" barrel.