357 Mag recommended loads

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Lot of good information on this. I just recently started using 2400 in 357. I bought a marlin 1894 in 357 and loaded up some full power loads with 2400. Definitely going to keep it around on the bench now.
 
Just got back from the range. Put about 100 rounds down range. Shells loaded up with 125gr. XTP's and 2400. Some guy told me good shooting. Good thing my Wife wasn't there with her Colt and made me look like a fool throwing shots all over the place. 2400 is good stuff. Lots of flame though.
 
My favorite load is a 158gr XTP with 13.5gr of 2400. It shoots really well out of my GP100 4" and my Security Six. I never notice the recoil being any heavier than my BE-86 loads. It has more shove than the BE-86 but the recoil to me isn't quite as sharp.
I haven't gotten to play at the range for a while, I've been wanting to shoot some AA9 loads with the 158 gr XTPs and compare them to the 2400 loads.
But a few days ago some guy walked in to the indoor range I use, in front of the cameras, put his pistol to his head and pulled the trigger in front of everyone. Range has been closed.
It is now being considered a suicide but is still under investigation. I have to wait them out.
 
I am one who also uses 14.5 grains of 2400 under the Hornady 158 gr. XTP JHP. It is a good load in my Henry .357 lever gun and my Ruger .357 Blackhawk. For the Blackhawk, I also like a milder load of 7.4 grains of Unique under the Hornady 158 gr. XTP JHP.
 
I haven't shot for....a coon's age...so today I decided to use one of my free passes to a local shooting range. I just got back...Shot two boxes of Speer Ammo for sight-in and comparison. One was the 135gr 38 Special +P load, and the other the 135 gr. 357 Magnum load that I bought "just to see" out of my Ruger Match Champion 4".:) Truth to tell, I couldn't feel a lot of difference in the recoil of either. Very controllable. The Maggie did bellow and flash a bit more. No surprise, there.
I replaced the Champ's Hogue wooden grips for the old-style GP 100 grips..rubber with contrasting wood inserts. They fit my hand better than the originals,(reminded me of Smith & Wesson grips;)) And, the Hogues are very nice-looking. Now to try some of my ooold favorites, 150-160gr. cast @860-900 fps.;) Altogether a good day!
 
Im pretty much like the group here. I use Bullseye for LHBWC target loads. Lately I've been shooting more medium loads I guess you can call it or either +P 38 in all my guns. I only use HyTek Coated Lead these days and Mostly use Universal. Chged from Unique because Universal meters much better in my Dillon press. You can basically interchange the loading data for each. I also like HS-6 for medium type loads but have found that you should use magnum primers with HS-6 for much cleaner burning. For Magnum Hunting Loads I mostly use H110. For Deer I use 16.5gr with Speer JHP and for Hogs I use 13.5gr with HYTek Coated Lead Solid Points. Pushing the envelope a little but no pressure signs and both loads shoot extremely accurate. One thing I've found out with H110. You have to push it almost to the max to get any consistency or accuracy. 2400 gives much more latitude on load ranges.
 
JimKirk said:
I enjoy shooting 9 grains of HS 6 under the XTP 158 .... gives me about 1200 fps out my 4" Security Six. ..

I have shot both 2400 & W296(H110) .... for full power loads...
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8.5 grains of HS-6 under a 158 Campro plated bullet is a tack driver out of my six inch 28-3. It’s not a flame shooting full on load like 16.7 grains of 296 but you still know you are shooting a magnum load.
 
Reeferman said:
8.5 grains of HS-6 under a 158 Campro plated bullet is a tack driver out of my six inch 28-3. It’s not a flame shooting full on load like 16.7 grains of 296 but you still know you are shooting a magnum load.
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Reviewed my HS-6 load and noted that Lyman's cast bullet load is quite a bit more powder than Hodgdon data. My 9.4 gr shoots great and is just a bit over Lyman minimum for 158 Linotype.
 
RealGun said:
Reviewed my HS-6 load and noted that Lyman's cast bullet load is quite a bit more powder than Hodgdon data. My 9.4 gr shoots great and is just a bit over Lyman minimum for 158 Linotype.
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I tried lower and higher charges and the 8.5 seemed to work the best for my 28-3 and my wife can shoot it. Campro states that their plated bullets can loaded as high as jacketed and I have done that as well. However the accuracy isn’t the same as say a XTP.
 
Didn't realize my question would generate many conversations but that is great to get all this information. Well, yesterday I was able to get out and shoot my first reloads. I loaded ten at 11.5grns of 2400 with XTPs, ten with 13 grns of 2400 and ten with 14.5 grns of 2400. I shot 3 factory loads first just to remember what the factory loads felt and sounded like then I shot my reloads. The 11.5s sounded and felt lighter than the factory, the 13s felt and sounded like the factory, and the 14.5s were louder and more recoil that the factory. It felt like a great accomplishment to make my own cartridges and shoot them. I think I am hooked now!!! :):):) Thanks again for all the great info that everyone has shared. I will certainly feed back any help on THR that I have.
 
Wing Rider said:
It felt like a great accomplishment to make my own cartridges and shoot them. I think I am hooked now!!! :):):) Thanks again for all the great info that everyone has shared. I will certainly feed back any help on THR that I have.
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Just a warning, this is a sickness and obsession of which few, if any recover from. Welcome aboard lol.

How was the accuracy?
 
Well, accuracy, that is a funny story. I just started wearing prescription glasses about a year ago so when I went to shoot, I took my prescription glasses off and put on my standard (non-prescription) safety glasses. After the first two batches of shooting, I noticed that I was shooting high and to the left, which I have never done with this gun. At first I thought it was my reloads but I noticed that the factory loads that I shot did the same thing. So after I put my prescription glasses back on, under my safety glasses, my shots came back to where I was aiming and was within a 2 inch group. It was 38F outside so I was more trying to see if my reloads were going to function than I was for accuracy. But I will certainly work on accuracy later.

Yes, I have heard that this could become an obsession and right now that is ok with me. There is certainly a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when you shoot your first reloads.:thumbup:
 
Wing Rider said:
Yes, I have heard that this could become an obsession and right now that is ok with me. There is certainly a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when you shoot your first reloads.:thumbup:
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There certainly is a sense of accomplishment. I'm glad you're hooked. As others may have told you, you don't save money reloading, you just get to shoot more for the same amount of dollars. :) NOW, onto tumblers and chronographs and.... and ... and

As a super senior I have progressive glasses that bottom half allow me to see the sights and top half the target. I have different pairs of different strengths to accommodate the amount of light and the sighting distance.

Sorry I didn't chime in soon enough to share my loads. My tip is, if you want light/plinking loads put them in .38spl cases, which are cheap and easy to come by, so you don't waste your precious .357mag cases. I have two .357mag loads, one is a hunting/silhouette, full bore, fire belching, not for the timid load with H110 and 158 JSP. The other is a "milder" but still .357mag load using plated bullets and TG, CFE pistol or Power Pistol.
 
Wing Rider said:
Didn't realize my question would generate many conversations but that is great to get all this information. Well, yesterday I was able to get out and shoot my first reloads. I loaded ten at 11.5grns of 2400 with XTPs, ten with 13 grns of 2400 and ten with 14.5 grns of 2400. I shot 3 factory loads first just to remember what the factory loads felt and sounded like then I shot my reloads. The 11.5s sounded and felt lighter than the factory, the 13s felt and sounded like the factory, and the 14.5s were louder and more recoil that the factory. It felt like a great accomplishment to make my own cartridges and shoot them. I think I am hooked now!!! :):):) Thanks again for all the great info that everyone has shared. I will certainly feed back any help on THR that I have.
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Word of caution. You don't want to get in a habit of making huge jumps in powder charge with hand guns, or rifle. Doing so will get you into trouble, and not necessary in a calm way. Pressure can jump very high with small changes in mid to small capacity cases. Again some powders are very touchy at or around max loads. Limit your self to 0.5gr or less. I normally use 1% for rifles, 0.1 gr for loads < 5gr and 0.2-0.03gr for loads < 15gr when testing, but this depends on the powder.
 
alfsauve said:
I have two .357mag loads, one is a hunting/silhouette, full bore, fire belching, not for the timid load with H110 and 158 JSP. The other is a "milder" but still .357mag load using plated bullets and TG, CFE pistol or Power Pistol.
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I had not done much with H110 until I got a 44 mag semi-auto. I went through my usual load workup, using 4 different powders, and when I got to the H110 loads, I was very surprised at how much louder they were. Even though I was getting the same velocity as the loads with N-110, the H-110 loads were very much louder. I had a friend film a slo-mo video of me shooting 3 rounds of each from the same mag, the N-110 had no noticeable flash in the video, but the H-110 did.

So I tell people now, if you don't want flash and bark, don't use H-110. But if you do.... :)

460 S&W
IMG_1654.PNG

44 mag Desert Eagle
IMG_1532.PNG
 
<slight thread drift towards H110>

Yes H110 produces some impressive fireballs. But then it also produces some impressive muzzle velocities for the peak pressure.
This is a still frame from a video of me firing a .357 MAX that was a full bore 158gr load using H110. Note the flash even in outdoors backlit with full sunlight.


TC Fireball.png

 
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158 grain swc (lasercast is what i prefer) over 14 grains of 2400 with a cci spm primer is my favorite general use load in my 6" gp100. Accurate and powerful enough. Ive gone up to 15 grains but really didnt gain a lot.
 
I keep my bullet weight at 158 gr. and use mostly LSWC.
For light loads I like -AA No 2
700X
Trail Boss
Medium loads - AA No 5
HS-6
Heavy Magnum- WIn 296
2400
 
Buckeye357 said:
I keep my bullet weight at 158 gr. and use mostly LSWC.
For light loads I like -AA No 2
700X
Trail Boss
Medium loads - AA No 5
HS-6
Heavy Magnum- WIn 296
2400
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Walkalong said:
I like your list, If you have some BE-86, try it in medium loads. ;)
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I like that list too and I really should try some of the newer powders available today but I have so much powder already it's hard to bring myself to buy more.

My only difference is in the light loads, I don't use 700X and use W231 instead.
 
Walkalong said:
I like your list, If you have some BE-86, try it in medium loads. ;)
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I use BE-86 for a light load too. With 158 lead bullets I am using the midpoint weight between Alliant's 38+p and (.357 Mag max less 10%). A load I like in my SP101 3.16" and used to shoot in my S&W 60s before thinning my herd.
 
I'm kind of late to the party but It seems like I use about the same powders as the others. For magnum loads I've used H-110, Win 296, Bluedot and 2400. My favorite is 2400, just because.......
For light and medium loads I use mostly Unique.

I have been casting for about as long as I have been reloading and most of my pistol ammo is cast. I cast both the 150 and 170 grain Keith type SWC from straight clip on wheel weights. JHP's tend to be either Sierra or Speer.
 
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