[788Ham]

I'm wanting to load some .357's I've got, just curious if anyone loads with this powder. I'm not wanting any barn burners, just want some rounds 1150 to 1250 fps, SP 101 3.1 inches being used. I've used Win. 296 before, but seems a bit dirty, want to avoid this if possible. Thanks in advance.

[rcmodel]

2400 was the factory load .357 Magnum powder used for about the first 50 years of it's existence.

It don't get no better for what you want to do.

Just so you know, none of the slower burning magnum class powders are exactly clean burning when down-loaded. And 2400 won't be either.

You might get what you want in yours with a stiff charge of Unique.

rc

[788Ham]

Thanks for the info rc, will have to maybe make a change in that regard. Thanks!

[Certaindeaf]

No one loads with that powder. Are you a monkey that fingers the keyboard randomly? feh

[788Ham]

Certainly not, if so, rc wouldn't have answered back. Just because you wouldn't/don't use it, the rest of the world should follow your suit? How would you know how a monkey types anyway, relative experiences?

[Ric]

I have loaded 13.2 of 2400 but I don't have a chrono. Very accurate and relatively soft shooting out of my 627 and 586 with a 125 grain lead

I usually load 16 grains in 158 grain lead gas check for a lever gun and its excellent in my Win 92

[showmebob]

I use 2400 for higher end loads with 158 jacketed bullets. 14.5 grains gets 1148 out of my SP101 with 2 inch barrel.
I've used lower charges but like the Man says Unique will do the job. Maybe it's just me but Unique at higher pressures feels snappier than the 2400. The benefit is you use half the powder.

[tightgroup tiger]

2400 is all I use for heavier load 357mags. Just make sure you have good neck tension and use a heavier crimp.

I use power pistol for lighter loads, very accurate, and no dirtier than any other powder.

You don't need to use magnum primers with 2400 like you do with the other magnum powders and I think it loads down better than H110 or the like.

[rcmodel]

I have heard of some going as high as 19.5 but I have not as yet.19.5 with a 158 would be WAY over-pressure, even the old pressure standards years ago for the .357, in any gun.

Even Elmer Keith loaded way less then that.
The orginial factory load was 15.3 grains, and it was hotter then anything available today.

rc

[zxcvbob]

Try 8.0 grains of Herco with a 158 grain bullet. I don't think it matters whether it's cast or jacketed.

2400 is a great .357 Magnum powder for top-end loads. You can load it down to the specs you asked about, but you don't want to.

[Mr.Revolverguy]

RC already gave you good rules to follow but I will reiterate anyway :) 2400 downloaded will be dirty and you should absolutely positively not download h110 or 296.

To get the FPS you are looking for try HS-6 I use it in my plinking 357 rounds and get 1140 average across the crony. Out of my Winchester Leaver Action average is 1390. When I want a stiff 357 load without the heat I load with 2400, when I say without the heat I mean physically. I noticed one thing with H110 and W296 it burns really hot and will heat the barrel up after 2 or 3 shots and thats without going over SAAMI spec using Lyman 49 and Hornady 8 Manual.

[wanderinwalker]

As has been said, 2400 is useless for making .357 Magnum. :p (Oh, wait, I read that all wrong...)

Anyway, you'll find unburned powder loading to lower charges with it. My normal .357 plinking load is around 13gr of 2400 and a 158gr JHP. This chrono's around 1100-fps from one of my 4" S&Ws and will give you lots of unburned powder granules. Going up to 14.0gr cleans it up quite a bit.

Next up I want to try some Power Pistol or HS6 for mid-power loads. For full on pedal-to-the-metal MAGNUMS though I still like W296.

[Walkalong]

I'm not wanting any barn burners, just want some rounds 1150 to 1250 fps,As rcmodel posted, Unique will get you there. I like Unique for exactly that.

[tightgroup tiger]

As rcmodel posted, Unique will get you there. I like Unique for exactly that.

RC and Walkalong,

Do you guys handload and trickle Unique or how do you get it to meter in your powder measures.
I have no doubt of Uniques accuracy, I've used it for years but have had to handload and trickle, for me impossible to run it through a powder measure, so how do you use it?

[zxcvbob]

TG_T, what powder measure are you using?

[gamestalker]

2400 is a great magnum powder and doesn't require magnum primers. Same for 296, you can't effectively down charge it, these powders are not intended for target loads.

I would suggest you change powders if your wanting lower end target loads.

GS

[Walkalong]

RC and Walkalong,

Do you guys handload and trickle Unique or how do you get it to meter in your powder measures.
I have no doubt of Uniques accuracy, I've used it for years but have had to handload and trickle, for me impossible to run it through a powder measure, so how do you use it?
I run it through my Redding 10X measure. It meters plus or minus .1 most of the time with a little more variance at times. It doesn't seem to know the difference on target though. A handgun powder does not have to meter perfectly to shoot well.

[GP100man]

Hodgdon`s clays UNIVERSAL ,mimics unique & is clean.

[tightgroup tiger]

zycxbob,
I have a RCBS uniflow, Hornady LNL-AP measure, and Pro auto-disc measures. I can usually get +or- .1gr but every 10 or so I get one that can be as much as .4- .5 of a gr. over charge in any of my measures. That's unacceptible for anyone. The only way I will use Unique is to handload and trickle.

Walkalong,
I know that Unique is more forgiving than most as far as inaccuracy of measure versus accuracy of load, but .4-.5 gr is more than I'm willing to chance with any powder, I don't care if it's one out of ? loads, especially with pistol and close to max loads.

I know others say they don't have this problem, and I believe them, and I also have a serious static problem in my reloading room that I have identified and delt with, but even under ideal conditions, (raining out side for all day) I still can't get it to meter consistently to where I feel I can trust it through a powder measure. It's the only powder I have out of the 10 different pistol powders I use, that I have this problem with.

I wish I knew what "I" am doing wrong.

That's why I hand load and trickle with it only.

[flipajig]

I've used HP-38 for plinkers and 2400 for the barn burners.

[zxcvbob]

I have a couple of C&H powder measures; a newer one, and an older one that's a different color and the parts are not interchangeable. They both throw Unique and the "Dot" powders +/- .1 grain most of the time, with a few outliers at +/- .2. In spite of the weight variation, they all shoot the same. At .3 or .4 I might start getting worried.

I also have a Hornady LNL-AP measure, and I don't totally trust it with large flake powders yet, but it seems to be doing just fine. Mostly I use ball and small-flake powders with it, but starting to use it with Green Dot and just check the powder level in the cases extra carefully.

It might be your technique -- I give the powder measure handle a pretty brisk flip so it hits the stops, to jostle the powder just a little when filling or dumping the measuring chamber.

[Walkalong]

but .4-.5 gr Is definitely too much.

[JLDickmon]

2400 SUCKS for the .357..
you need to put all you have in a box..
and send it to me... :neener:

[rcmodel]

so I get one that can be as much as .4- .5 of a gr. over charge in any of my measures.What scale are you weighing it on??

I get swings like that sometimes on an electronic scale.
But no variation to speak of on a RCBS 5-10.

I tend to believe the beam scale is right and the electronic scale is wrong.

rc

[zxcvbob]

Good catch, RC.

[788Ham]

JLDickmon,

With no zip code, you're SOL. :evil:

[788Ham]

GP100man,
Care to expound on the grains used? Will be using 158 SWC. Thanks.

[Hondo 60]

2400 powder, any good for .357's?

Ha-ha-ha - that's a good one!
2400 is THE 357 magnum powder.
IMHO, of course.

Sorry I don't use 158 SWCs
With a 125-gr Speer GDHP the max is 17.5.
My favorite load is 16.0

[jibjab]

I like 2400 for .357 Mag. I also like Accurate #9, #9 has less flash.
Accurate #7 is also good in 357 mag. low flash very accurate and great for short barrels.

[788Ham]

Thanks guys, appreciate your help.

Hondo, haven't loaded 357 for some years, just needing some update is all, glad you had a chuckle.

[Hanshi]

2400 has always been my most accurate .357 powder. 13.5 grains under a 160 grn swc gives 1150fps in my 4" and 1200fps in my 6". The same bullet over 15.0 grains gives around 1450 fps in my gun and that's the hottest I'll go.

[Crashbox]

In my opinion there is no powder like 2400 for the .357 Magnum- you can load it from medium-ish to downright fire-breathing, especially with jacketed pills. I also shoot an SP101, 3-1/16" regularly and 13.5 grains pushing a 125-grain JHP is no powder puff but IMO rather docile compared to the upper end (I use 17.2 grains with 125's, lit with Federal 200 Magnum primers since that is what I worked up my loads with). Magnum primers are not necessary with 2400 though.

Doubtless the most flexible powder around for the .357- I have about 12 pounds in stock just in case.

Never shot the heavier ones with 2400 though...