may be a little different type of question...

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32_d3gr33s

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Im just getting into reloading, so im not real familiar with all the availible powders and such...

Ive got a ruger lcr .357 that im going to reload for. (just waiting on the dies)
Its a great little gun and gets lots of looks at the range as well.

Im just wondering, what would i use if i wanted to put on a "show" so to speak?
My kids love how loud it is and think its great seeing the cloud come out and feeling the shock-wave on some of the rounds i shoot. What combination of powder/bullet would give me a loud, and entertaining round? Not looking for something extremely accurate or anything thats gonna blow my gun up, just something a little fun! Thanks
 
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I really think fireworks might be a better hobby for you. I don't really think of guns as toys to "put on a show with". Just my opinion.
 
Black powder would make a satisfying cloud of smoke. Be sure to clean THOROUGHLY after shooting. Black powder residue promotes rust and corrosion like nobody's business.

Running spectacular loads (noise, flame, recoil) out of the LCR is bound to shorten its life and will likely hurt your shooting hand as well. The LCR is light (recoil will be fierce) and not as strong as the GP100 or even the SP101.

Ruger's reputation for super-strong guns is well-deserved, but the smaller and lighter a gun is, the less heavy use (or abuse) it can take.

Lost Sheep
 
I guess i may be wording it a little wrong... Im not trying to get an "explosion" out of my gun... I just wondered- with a standard load, what types of powder are noisier or flashier? I know that shooting power pistol through my 9mm seems louder and flashier than shooting green dot through it, though ive only shot a few rounds of each...

Im just not real familiar with other brands of powder. Most people look for quiter/cleaner powders, and i just am going a little the opposite direction. Hopefully this makes a little more sense.
 
H110 will give you some flash. I get a lot out of my GP100, and even more out of my S&W M60, but only really care to shoot the snubby a few times running .357's out of it. I usually stick to .38 spl's out of the snubby.
 
HighExpert said:
I really think fireworks might be a better hobby for you. I don't really think of guns as toys to "put on a show with". Just my opinion.
Click to expand...
I agree with the advice, but not necessarily the underlying assumption.

However, having opened the discussion over whether or not you (32_d3gr33s) are sufficiently prepared to reload is an open question.

Are you?

Loading is not rocket science, but it does involve smoke and flame and things that go very fast and is not to be taken lightly.

Eye and ear protection for you and all bystanders.

Care about lead contamination (from bullets and especially from primers), especially for children.

Be VERY careful about every step and be ABSOLUTELY sure of each step before proceeding to the next. Some actions cannot be undone.

Study up. "The ABC's of Reloading" and the early chapters of almost every reloading manual out there is filled with good advice and the "how-to" of loading. Each one is unique in its approach and writing style, so reading many will expose you to a variety of advisors in print. Check with your local library. The age of the manuals is not important because you are not using the load data, but the instructions of how to load. How to load has not changed much in the past 100 years, not since smokeless powder.

There is a lot of good information on the internet but there is a lot of idiocy there, too. Stick with reputable web sites for the most part, like
http://www.nosler.com/articles/category/reloading/
and other sites owned by manufacturers with reputations. Individuals with reputations are OK, too, but be sure to vett them. It's your life, fingers, eyes and those of your kids and anyone else near you when you fire the gun or are in the process of loading the ammo.

Like I said, it isn't rocket science. If you can change a tire without losing your lug nuts and make a cake following the recipe you can reload. But it is a LOT more risky than car maintenance or cooking. So, take care. Be safe. Always. All ways.

Lost Sheep
 
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To answer your questions Alliant 2400 will do what you want and give outstanding accuracy to boot.Never shot a 357 that didn't like 14.5 grs. 2400 and a 158gr.xtp bullet touched off with a STANDARD small pistol primer.Work your way up from start this is getting close to a max charge.
 
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Mike 27 said:
H110 will give you some flash. I get a lot out of my GP100, and even more out of my S&W M60, but only really care to shoot the snubby a few times running .357's out of it. I usually stick to .38 spl's out of the snubby.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Thats the type of info im looking for! I have put a few hundred .38 through it, effortlessly. The .357 do give your hand quite a beating so i only shoot 5 or 10 of those at a time.


Lost Sheep said:
I agree with the advice, but not necessarily the underlying assumption.

However, having opened the discussion over whether or not you (32_d3gr33s) are sufficiently prepared to reload is an open question.

Are you?

Loading is not rocket science, but it does involve smoke and flame and things that go very fast and is not to be taken lightly.

Eye and ear protection for you and all bystanders.

Care about lead contamination (from bullets and especially from primers), especially for children.

Be VERY careful about every step and be ABSOLUTELY sure of each step before proceeding to the next. Some actions cannot be undone.

Study up. "The ABC's of Reloading" and the early chapters of almost every reloading manual out there is filled with good advice and the "how-to" of loading. Each one is unique in its approach and writing style, so reading many will expose you to a variety of advisors in print. Check with your local library. The age of the manuals is not important because you are not using the load data, but the instructions of how to load. How to load has not changed much in the past 100 years, not since smokeless powder.

There is a lot of good information on the internet, too, but there is a lot of idiocy there, too. Stick with reputable web sites for the most part, like
http://www.nosler.com/articles/category/reloading/
and other sites owned by manufacturers with reputations. Individuals with reputations are OK, too, but be sure to vett them. It's your life, finger, eyes and those of your kids and anyone else near you when you fire the gun or are in the process of loading the ammo.

Like I said, it isn't rocket science. If you can change a tire without losing your lug nuts and make a cake following the recipe you can reload. But it is a LOT more risky than car maintenance or cooking. So, take care. Be safe. Always. All ways.

Lost Sheep
Click to expand...

Im perfectly well prepared to reload. Ive done lots of reading. LOTS! Im just not extremely well versed in all the available powders. Ive been shooting for years, and now my kids (age 10 and 12) are getting into shooting as well. I know all of the dangers of guns, along with my kids. They just get a kick out of the .357 so id see if anyone had input on some interesting loads for it. I also have 2400. I just really need to get a few rounds loaded, so i can see the differences first hand. Reading about them is one thing, but actually loading them and comparing them first hand is completely different. Thanks for your concern though ! :)
 
Doug b said:
To answer your questions Alliant 2400 will do what you want and give outstanding accuracy to boot.Never shot a 357 that didn't like 14.5 grs. 2400 and a 158gr.xtp bullet touched off with a STANDARD small pistol primer.Work your way up from start this is getting close to a max charge.
Click to expand...

Well thats great news! I happen to have a pound of that already!
 
Buy a box of magtech .357 158gr jacket soft point. Way more flash and bang than my h110 loads. Use it sparingly, I swear the dozen or so boxes of that ammo I shot through my sp101 cut the top strap.

I have stood behind someone shooting my reloads and magtech. Magtechs blow flames out of the front of the cylinder for at least 6 inches. Where my h110 loads barely show light. Likewise with the muzzle flash.
 
stompah said:
Buy a box of magtech .357 158gr jacket soft point. Way more flash and bang than my h110 loads. Use it sparingly, I swear the dozen or so boxes of that ammo I shot through my sp101 cut the top strap.

I have stood behind someone shooting my reloads and magtech. Magtechs blow flames out of the front of the cylinder for at least 6 inches. Where my h110 loads barely show light. Likewise with the muzzle flash.
Click to expand...
wow thats hilarious. Those are the exact rounds that i was shooting! Couldnt get anyone else to shoot the gun after me so i couldnt see the effects... guess ill have to use them sparingly
 
Honestly, the load I shoot exclusively from all of my .357's will not only put on a great show, but is very accurate, and about as magnum force as it gets.

A 158 gr. or a 125 gr. jacketed bullet, and H110 or W296 powder charge. It is a completely safe load combination that will produce about a 4' white flame, and a shock wave that will knock your socks off. It isn't a smokey load though, just extremely loud, and as flashy as it gets. Myself and my Son's have taken deer with that combination, they drop like a rock!

I don't particularly like to post load specifics on the forum, but you can look up the load specifics on Hogdons reloading site. Just Google Hogdon Reloading pages and match the weight of the jacketed bullet with the powder you'll be using and your all set to go.

When using either one of the two powders mentioned above, use only magnum primers, don't reduce the powder charge to less than the published minimum / starting charge, and use a firm roll crimp that digs into the canelure grove to prevent bullets from jumping out of the case mouths as they approach battery. Those powders, which BTW are exactly the same, produce inconsistent and erratic pressures if you reduce them to less than the published start / minimum charges. And even at starting / minimum charges, I promise you won't be disappointed by any means. Also, it helps to trim your cases to same lengths to keep crimps effectively the same.

Have fun and be safe, with that said, always, always, work up from starting charges, and wear eye and ear protection.

GS
 
What combination of powder/bullet would give me a loud
Click to expand...
Loudshot, err, I mean Longshot.

Want flame? Powder Pistol or Blue Dot.

Want raw power? H-110/W-296.
 
Be careful with that gun. They are known for the back straps breaking. It is a light weight carry revolver not a daily shooter.
 
HighExpert said:
I really think fireworks might be a better hobby for you. I don't really think of guns as toys to "put on a show with". Just my opinion.
Click to expand...


I'm thinking after the newness and the initial intrigue wear off, the OP will be back asking for accurate, more comfortable loads to shoot. Seems most folks new to shooting magnum revolvers desire the same "flame throwing, ground shaking rounds" till they tire of the damage done to their wrists and the guns themselves. Most find that after a while, the pleasure from puttin' all the rounds in a small circle downrange comfortably and often outweighs the thrill of turning heads, big fireballs in low light and making folks recoil shy. My youngest has been shooting magnum handguns since he was 8. Last thing I wanted him to do is to shoot rounds simply for the pleasure of noise and flash. Proper technique and accuracy with loads comfortably shot from the firearm came first before trying to break his wrist and making him flinch from anticipating the recoil from full house magnum loads in a lightweight snubnose. I'm sure the OP will get there too. In the meantime, let him have his fun.
 
kingmt said:
Be careful with that gun. They are known for the back straps breaking. It is a light weight carry revolver not a daily shooter.
Click to expand...
Really? From all the people I've talked to and from what I've read up, there are barely any issues that I've heard of. The first years model had some problems, but most of those were corrected by 2011. My dad has one and he's probably got at least a good 5 or 600 rounds through it in the last year. I probably only shoot it twice a month tops and only put 20 or so rounds through it each time. My 9 is for target practice, 357 is for carry
 
Loud bang, long flame = heavy recoil.

An LCR is NOT intended for this type of round.
You could do major damage to the gun.

If you want that kind of reaction, an old model Blackhawk would handle those "Ruger Only" type loads.

Please stay safe!
 
Power Pistol produces a loud report and bright flash. It is a medium burner, only 5% slower than Unique, so you don't have to ramp up the velocity and put up with a lot of recoil to get a manly appearing load.

There was a guy with fireworks experience who loaded .45 Colts with roman candle balls and various colored additives to put on a real show the evening of a Cowboy shoot. But that was VERY advanced handloading. A sixgun spouting red smoke was a real attraction, though.
 
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