What's your favorite mild-to-medium .357 load...

Status
Not open for further replies.
My favorite, since you asked, is Longshot. The performance is very similar, almost the same as Power Pistol. Even the load data is practically the same -- but they are totally different powders as Longshot is a ball powder and PP is flake. These powders burn well even in short barrels. So what load specifically? It depends on the barrel length. In a short barrel (3") I want a maximum load. In a longer barrel (5 to 6") 7.7 gr. of Longshot is enough.

Thanks.
I'll give some Longshot loads a try. I use Longshot for shotshells but haven't tried any handgun loads with it yet. Hodgdon shows a starting load of 7.3gr. with a max of 8.4gr.
 
Thanks.
I'll give some Longshot loads a try. I use Longshot for shotshells but haven't tried any handgun loads with it yet. Hodgdon shows a starting load of 7.3gr. with a max of 8.4gr.

Yes, even though it's a ball powder, it can be loaded over a wide range. Take a look at the .38 Special +P data too. You can go down to 5.5 gr with a 158 gr. bullet. But with a 4" M66, a 7.4 gr load should be mild enough and at that point, you're shooting a load that, with the right bullet, would perform well for a defensive load -- similar to a premium defensive 147 gr. 9x19mm +P load (~1000fps). From there, you can go up another whole grain and gain another ~150 fps.
 
Pet Load for decades :
7.5 grains Unique , 158 gr. JSP/JHP/ cast lead w/GC
Works like a charm for all of them .

Accurate #5 might work as a substitute for Unique but I haven't had time to test it extensively ... the accuracy with 6.1 grains of Acc. #5 and a cast 158 gr. SWC looks promising
Gary
 
Last edited:
For my handguns (Ruger Blackhawk & Taurus M66), I prefer 7.4 grains of Unique with 158gr. JHP bullets. I stay with 14.5 grains of 2400 for .357 magnum rifle loads (Henry .357 BBS).
 
I've toyed with the idea of using it in .40 but haven't really settled on anything just yet. That and my 700-x are candidates as I have a lot of each for my 16 ga.
It works in 40. There are better options, but I've used it with good accuracy.
 
My best load is 6.1 grns of Universal under a 158-160 grn LSWC. Been using this for years, deadly accurate in my Blackhawk and a good medium round with no leading. For the flame-throwing, fire breathing loads 20.0 grns of 296 under a 125 grn jacketed soft point. Gotta love that fireball!
 
For 357 mag with plated bullets I like Accurate #5 somewhere between 38spl and .357 mag velocities.
 
For mild and medium .357 Magnums I stick with cast SWC bullets, either 158 gr or 170 gr from commercial casters. For mild, I like 6.0 gr of Unique and the 158 gr. For medium, I like 7.9 gr of Power Pistol and the 170 gr Keith SWC. For high performance loads, Hornady 158 XTP or Speer 158 jacketed with W-296/H-110 or Alliant 300-MP.
 
BE86 has worked well for me for mid power .357 loads.
Meters better than Unique, cleaner as well, less flash than PP.
 
Last edited:
I have a modified Lee mold that casts a 158 grain hollow point gas check bullet and loaded over 6.5 grains CFE-P delivers 1140 fps from my 6" bbl Ruger Security Six. I'm becoming a big fan of CFE-P actually, especially given its efficiency in 9mm loadings.

Also a 135 grain Speer Gold dot over 15 grains A2400 for about 1110 fps out of the 1-7/8" bbl Ruger LCR. I haven't clocked this one out of a longer barrel yet.

The remainder of my .357 load history is with H110, W296 and Lil Gun, but these are nuclear fireball loads that deliver top velocity, recoil and blast.
 
I would recommend Longshot but it's very loud. When I say that many reply they use hearing protection but it's still too loud like many shotgun powders.

Why not buy some 2400 or AA#9 so you can load mild and hot with the same powder? I understand trying to use what you have but loading ammo just the way we want it is one of the advantages of reloading.
 
In my opinion, Unique does not make medium loads. It's a fast powder for light loads.
It's a medium fast powder at best, and is very forgiving and accurate in medium loads. It has been used for medium loads in magnum cases for decades.
I suggest BE-86 as a starting point for medium loads.
It is definitely good stuff for that.
I believe AA#7 makes medium loads, but I have no experience with it.
It likes pressure, so is happier with full loads. AA # 5 is really good stuff for medium loads in magnum cases.
 
Currently testing a 357 load with H-110. Started with 15.0 gr and it was stout, loud, and a big fireball. But wasn't accurate.

Planning on testing some more in a ladder up to 16.0 gr next weekend.

Using a 158gr XTP/FP in a six inch Colt King Cobra.

Hodgdon data max is 16.7 gr at 40,700 CUP.

Always verifiy anything you see here or elsewhere.

chris
 
Currently testing a 357 load with H-110. Started with 15.0 gr and it was stout, loud, and a big fireball. But wasn't accurate.

Planning on testing some more in a ladder up to 16.0 gr next weekend.

Using a 158gr XTP/FP in a six inch Colt King Cobra.

Hodgdon data max is 16.7 gr at 40,700 CUP.

Always verifiy anything you see here or elsewhere.

chris

Out of my S&W 28 with 6” barrel and using 296 or 110 the magic number was 16.5 grains. I don’t shoot many of them though. Never could get an accurate load with any less. I use HS-6 for that
 
I think it's a blast (yuk yuk yuk) shooting those top-end H110 loads at the range. But has anyone shot one in the field, while not wearing hearing protection? I think I'd be afraid to! :)
 
I think it's a blast (yuk yuk yuk) shooting those top-end H110 loads at the range. But has anyone shot one in the field, while not wearing hearing protection? I think I'd be afraid to! :)

I have and yes it’s loud but no where near as loud as in an indoor range.
 
I load most of my 357 Magnum with 158 gr cast SWC and Unique with a muzzle velocity of 900-925 fps from a 4" barrel.

I used a lot of Blue Dot in the past in a number of cartridges including 357 Magnum. It worked well but I've since found some powders that I like better. I'd go back to Blue Dot if the newer powders were in short supply.

For full powder 357 Magnum loads, I use W296/H110.

FOr full power loads, when I used Hercules 2400, I'd get too much unburned powder grains left in the chambers and IMR4227 never lit my life on fire. But, I'll admit, I have not tried these powders again in the 20-25 years.
 
I have and yes it’s loud but no where near as loud as in an indoor range.

One of the first handguns I ever shot was a buddy's new 4" S&W 686. I was standing on a dock along the side of a boathouse. There was another boathouse not fifteen feet away. I shot back to shore at a big retaining wall of railroad ties. I was basically surrounded on three sides by structures. I was shocked by how loud the report was and my ears rang HARD.

I immediately applied for my pistol permit and bought a S&W Model 66-2. :)
 
I whipped up some batches of .357 with:

146 gr Eggleston Coated RNL with 6.5 of Unique and another with 6.8 gr Bullseye. I call them ‘lipstick loads.” The nickel are the ones loaded with Bullseye:

DA6FCA28-EE7B-47C1-87E2-5BDBA3FD022E.jpeg


158 gr Extreme plated RNHP and 6.5 gr Unique.

72D5B733-83DC-4ADB-BBA7-41ABF8B41A90.jpeg
Both were fun to shoot, had decent accuracy and recoil wasn’t too much more than +P .38’s.

For full power load in my L-frame I loaded a 140 gr Speer over 18.8 gr of H110 (19.0 is listed as max). Out of a 4” barrel there is fireball aplenty with these loads...

82A6C52A-DB86-4067-9AFF-404E838368ED.jpeg

Stay safe.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top