Favorite .357 target load

6.0 Grains of Unique 158 SWC.

Lee 158 swc tumble lubed over 5.0 grains of bullseye has been my go to load for years in a 6” GP-100. It’s the only load I make in 357 and I have a few thousand loaded for it.

I use 4.8gr WST behind the 158gr LSWC (12 bhn). These bullets are for the 38 spl, work great for reduced loads.

4.2 W231 under a 158swc here.
also done 6.2 HS6 with the same

125 gr JHP over 10 gr of Power Pistol.

My most accurate target load is a 158 grain XTP over 14.1 grains of Alliant 2400. Its bit of a bruiser for target use though. It gets frequent substitution with a 148 grain HBWC and 3 grains of W231. The full power ones are a hoot and the HBWC are nearly as accurate without my hand putting up a 2 cylinder limit sign.

Brutus, I use the same bullet you do with wcwhitey's 6 grains of Unique. My gun and hand get really sooty, but I like that because then I feel like I've really accomplished some shootin'.

6 of Unique still feels like a .357 instead of a .38+P, but is mild enough to shoot a while without hurting my hands too much. The Remington 125gn Golden Saber load feels much the same.

5.7 grains HP-38 under Xtreme 125gr FP.

8.4 grains of silhouette under a 154 noe rnfp.

Revolvers- 3.8 grains HP-38, 148 grain coated DEWC.

Rifles- 6.0 grains HP-38, 158 grain Zero JSP or coated RNFP.

None of my rifles do well with the really light stuff, but they all do really well with the 6 grain load.

7 grains of Unique or N340 under a 125 jacketed hp.

Fun to talk about. Fun to shoot, But...I do not see a lot of performance difference in the lead bullet target loads that I have tried, Universal, HP 38, Tightgroup, Clays, and Trail Boss. They all have worked well. I guess I do tend to run them all at about the same velocity. Mid range on the loading charts, Might also mean I an just not accurate enough to find the differences.

wcwhitey said:

6.0 Grains of Unique 158 SWC.

Click to expand...

Yup… mine is 6.2 gr with a coated SWC .

Stay safe.

10gr of HS-7 (yes, -7) under and 158gr SWC. It's not earth shattering, but you know it's a magnum.

AJC1 said:

8.4 grains of silhouette under a 154 noe rnfp.

Click to expand...

Thought you were a stout dose of 2400 guy.....

Mine is 15 grains of H110 and a coated 180 WFN. I shoot a 38 special for target practice.

Soonerpesek said:

Thought you were a stout dose of 2400 guy.....

Click to expand...

I absolutely love me some 2400 and I test it in every available application. Currently 8.9 grains in a 38 case pushing a 180 floats my sons boat and is kinda blowing my mind but the testing will continue. Powder that doesn't require mag primers is more better when beggars cant be choosers in this market.

Mine is 7.2gr HS-6 under a 158gr LSWC using a CCI-550 primer.

I know that is a little light but you did ask for a target round.

No light target loads made here. But do have ,what if, defend, resist, bug out ,shoot to eat loads that are shot at targets. If you live in the sticks its easy to test on paper and food. Plus 911 is you

wcwhitey said:

6.0 Grains of Unique 158 SWC.

Click to expand...

Hornady Frontier 158gr LSWC-HP over 6.0gr of Unique.

^^^^^^^ ME TOO ^^^^^^^