SP101 .357 reloads

I use H110 for that bullet, but I think I'll give 2400 a try in the future.
The 158xtp and H110 are a stout combo. I've also loaded Hornady 158 gr simi jacketed flat points with H110; they're great also and will probably give a little more penetration.
Others may suggest otherwise, but I wouldn't put much thought into the short barrel while picking a projectile/powder for a .357.

Missed the Bullseye. That's way too fast for .357 (IMHO, it's too fast for anything)

If you want a "light-magnum" Unique would work great. (.38 ++P++)

If you want a full magnum, 2400 or H110 would work well.

I shoot mostly handloads through my SP 101 .357, and while the 2400 loads (loaded for 6" bbl) work well, 110 is more efficient.
That muzzle flash from 2400 looks cool, but both are too slow for 3" bbl.

My choices would be Power Pistol, Unique or Blue Dot in that order.

I have the shorter version of the SP101 and would be interested to hear what other powders would work well with short barrels

Whatever powder gives the highest velocity in a long barrel will also give the highest velocity in a short barrel.

The choice you have to make is how much muzzle blast & flash you can live with.

My choice is 2400, as it works well and gives very good performance at a grain under max in my S&W K-Frames.
H110/W296 will give slightly higher velocity, but only when running balls-to-the-wall max loads.

rc

For.357 out of a short barrel against something with teeth, go with a 180 or 200 grain hardcast backed by a stout load of powder. H110 and 2400 are excellent and perennial favorites. I favor H110 because it seems to be a bit more accurate out of the short guns. Enforcer is a powder I've been working with lately and so far it looks promising.

For bullets I recommend Cast Performance. But remember to bell the cases well and run through the sizing die afterwards to make sure there are no bulges. Seating these can be tricky.

I get good results using 140 gr XTP's and 2400 in my 3" SP101.

YMMV

With a 158gn HP I first started with Bluedot then went to Win 231 then to Bullseye then to 2400 and never looked back.

I've been loading up some 125gr Gold dots and XTPs for my 3" SP101.
16.0gr 2400 with a standard CCI primer launches them at 1350 fps (measured 10' from muzzle with chronograph) for 505 ft-lbs. This is plenty powerful for anything you might encounter, and controllable and is still 1.5gr under max per Alliant.

I'd feel just as safe with any of the 158gr loads and 2400 as well. The 357 out of the 3" barrel has a lot of power.

As always, double check data and work up loads that are safe in your guns.

I do the same thing during archery season with the only difference being the gun is a S&W 66-5 usually. My loads are H110/296 under a 125 gr. or 158 gr. XTP HP. I acyually prefer the 125 gr. because it does produce a significant better velocity, but either will work just fine. Currently I am carrying with the 158 gr. Gold Dot which has tested very consistent up against the XTP.
Since your acking I feel it is necesary you shold know that using H110 or 296means you can't decrease the powder charge below minimum published data. Also, you need to use a magnum primer. When primers were in short supply I tried using a Winchester for standard or magnum loads primer, and it just didn't have what it takes to properly ignite H110 or 296 and thus my pressures were quite a bit higher than with the magnum primer. Although I find H110 and 296 the powder for me in magnum applications, I also find it a no non sense powder that can't be manipulated like 2400 and some of the other good perfomring powders like it. In other words, H110 and 296 must b used exactly as published.

Has anyone used Alliants new 300 MP for this application.. or at all for that matter?

cackalak said:

Looks like a few more votes for 2400. I'll pick some up and try it out.

ssyoumans - Have you chrono'ed 158 or 180gr with that set up?

Click to expand...

I haven't tested any 180gr bullets. I have a box of Sierra's, but haven't ever loaded any up.

I have fired some upper-mid range 158gr LSWC's in my SP101.
12.0gr 2400 out of 3" SP101: 1081 fps, 410 ft-lbs
12.0gr 2400 out of 6" GP100: 1216 fps, 519 ft-lbs
So, the SP101 was 137 fps slower than the 6" GP100

Alliant's data says 15.3gr is Max (at least according to my copy)
I have gone as high as 14.0gr of 2400 out of the GP100 for 1391 fps (679 ft-lbs), 13.5gr 1335 fps (625 ft-lbs), 13.0gr of 2400 for 1290 fps (584 ft-lbs).

So, if I were extrapolating, I'd say 15.3gr of 2400 would get around 1525fps (806 ft-lbs) out of the 6" GP100, out of a SP101 would be around 1350 fps (640 ft-lbs). There is probably someone out there who has fired a max load of 2400 out of the SP101, but I haven't gotten around to it. Haven't tried a max charge of 296 either. I've settled on 12.0gr as a nice comfortable load for the 3" SP101. Due to reduced bullet resistance, you get a lot higher velocity when using lead bullets than Jacketed in the same weight. For max "power" and penetration, hard to beat the 158gr LSWC HP in a 357 Magnum.

I would look into 2400 @ a starting point and work up from there with that bullet.

I'm at max load by the book on .357's for the wife's 60 Pro with 158gn XTP's. And I enjoy shooting them out of her pistol. She is also pretty good with the round after she bucked up and took to shooting. Boy were her first .357's entertaining. I couldn't stop laughing.

The XTP is a great bullet IMHO. Load them up and enjoy,,, and trust in.

Just to be different, 148 grain hard lead DEWC with 7.5 grains of Herco, or 158 grain wide flat nosed lead bullet (like Lee's #90303 or 90692) with 8.0 grains of Herco.