What's your favorite .357 Mag. target load.

brutus51 · Sep 7, 2020

My all time favorite was the old Speer 146gr. half jacketed semi-wadcutter over 13.5 gr. of 2400.
Didn't have a chrno back then but I'm guessing it probably yielded around 1200fps. out of my 6" Python. Most accurate and comfortable .357 handload I've ever shot, can't take credit for it's inception as I got it from Skeeter Skelton. Quit shooting magnums out of my Python years ago but got back into the thumpers with a new Dan Wesson about 2 years ago and more recently with a New Cobra target and since the .146gr. Speer has been discontinued I'm looking for a replacement.
Want to keep velocities between 1000 and 1200fps.
Ant suggestions will be appreciated.

bummer7 · Sep 7, 2020

I like shooting a 158 gr LSWC. My typical load for this bullet is 10.5 gr of 2400. Chrono around 950 fps.

ballman6711 · Sep 7, 2020

I like Sierra's 158gr jsp over 6.8gr W231. I don't have a chrono but Sierra's data shows this at 1180fps. Not a cheap bullet, but I found them on sale last year for $17 per 100 and stocked up.

For 38spcl I like the same bullet with 3.9gr W231.

I shoot both of these through my original King Cobra 6" and they are very accurate.

chris

tightgroup tiger · Sep 7, 2020

7.3 gr of BE 86 with a 158 gr Extreme plated SWC.
8 GR OF Power Pistol 158gr Extreme plated SWC.
14.5 gr of 2400 with Nosler 158gr jacketed soft point.
15 gr of 2400 with Winchester Silver tips HP 145 gr.

brutus51 · Sep 7, 2020

I shoot a lot of lead SWC's but generally steer clear of the slower burning powders. Like to use Unique, Universal, or AA#5 for those bullets
Thinking of trying .158 gr Extreme plated SWC over either AA#7 or AA#9.
Also have some VV-N105 but I'm not sure if it's a good choice for a plated bullet.

buck460XVR · Sep 7, 2020

What I use the most is a Nosler, bulk 158gr JHP over 15 gr of H110/W296. Accurate, a legitimate "magnum" load, but not unpleasant at all, to shoot all day outta my 686s.

ColtPythonElite · Sep 7, 2020

125 gr Montana Gold JHP over 10.0 gr of Power Pistol.

140 gr Missouri Bullet Company coated Zinger over 7.5 gr of BE-86.

ballman6711 · Sep 7, 2020

buck460XVR said:
What I use the most is a Nosler, bulk 158gr JHP over 15 gr of H110/W296. Accurate, a legitimate "magnum" load, but not unpleasant at all, to shoot all day outta my 686s.

Not exactly in the "1000 - 1200 fps" the OP was looking for, lol!

But I also load a true magnum round using 158gr jsp with 15.8gr of H110. I could shoot that all day.

chris

brutus51 · Sep 7, 2020

buck460XVR said:
What I use the most is a Nosler, bulk 158gr JHP over 15 gr of H110/W296. Accurate, a legitimate "magnum" load, but not unpleasant at all, to shoot all day outta my 686s.

ballman6711 said:
158gr jsp with 15.8gr of H110. I could shoot that all day.

Assuming you fellows are shooting 6" barrels buck460's 15gr. Nosler load generates 1385 fps. @ 37,600psi
While ballman's 15.8gr. load is good for 1487fps. @47,000 psi.
This is what Quick Load estimates based on my 6" Dan Wesson.
Take it for what it's worth Quick Load does good on bottle neck rifle cartridges but straight wall cartridges not so much. :scrutiny:

buck460XVR · Sep 7, 2020

ballman6711 said:
Not exactly in the "1000 - 1200 fps" the OP was looking for, lol!

From my experience and my Chrono......I believe it is exactly what the OP was looking for.

brutus51 said:
Want to keep velocities between 1000 and 1200fps.

ballman6711 · Sep 7, 2020

brutus51 said:
Assuming you fellows are shooting 6" barrels buck460's 15gr. Nosler load generates 1385 fps. @ 37,600psi
While ballman's 15.8gr. load is good for 1487fps. @47,000 psi.
This is what Quick Load estimates based on my 6" Dan Wesson.
Take it for what it's worth Quick Load does good on bottle neck rifle cartridges but straight wall cartridges not so much.

I find this very interesting. I don't use Quick Load as I only load for pistols.

But Sierra's online data shows load data for their 158gr jsp (#8340) from 15.1 - 16.9 grains H110. IIRC the Sierra book I have shows 15.0 - 16.9, but I would have to double check that. Sierra shows a velocity of 1460 fps with the 15.8gr charge.

I did work this load up, starting at 15.0gr and stopping at 16.0gr (in 0.1gr increments) of H110. Accuracy was best at 15.9 and 16.0 BUT at 16.0gr I stopped due to what appeared to be some primer flattening. So I settled on 15.8gr.

I don't know about the pressure as I have no way to measure it, BUT this is a true magnum load. I personally wouldn't load any higher, and I don't shoot many of these as parts (and qualified gunsmiths) for these older Colts are getting rare.

Disclaimer: Any one using my loads is doing so at their own risk. ALWAYS work your load up in your gun, and follow published data while using your best common sense.

That being said, I would be curious what Quick Load shows with my W231 loads listed above, if it's not too much trouble.

Thanks for taking the time to run the data on the H110!

chris

ballman6711 · Sep 7, 2020

buck460XVR said:
From my experience and my Chrono......I believe it is exactly what the OP was looking for.

May I ask what barrel length and what your chrono showed with that load?

I would have thought it would be above 1200 fps, but I could very well be wrong.

chris

Bwana John · Sep 7, 2020

My favorite .357 Magnum target load is .38 Special.

brutus51 · Sep 7, 2020

I find that Quick Load usually comes pretty close velocity wise, case in point QL 1487 Sierra 1460.
What it seems to fail at is it's pressure calculations for straight wall handgun loads. Several proven safe handloads right out of the loading manual are often way over in Quick Load.
Your 231/HP-38 load is listed at 865fps and 15,553 PSI
Here's one of those conundrums. Went back through my record and found I have tried
HP-38. 5gr. even on top of a 158gr. lead SWC's produced an average velocity of 836fps. with a min of 796 and a max of 894.out of my 6" Python. and recorded on the competition electronics chrony.
According to Quick Load I should get 987.

brutus51 · Sep 7, 2020

I've shot a lot of 296 H-110 loads and they all run a lot faster than what I'm looking for in a target load.
Looking for the best accuracy and I'm thinking 1000/1200 is going to be the sweet spot.

Walkalong · Sep 7, 2020

tightgroup tiger said:
7.3 gr of BE 86 with a 158 gr Extreme plated SWC.

Good stuff.

158 Gr X-Treme SWC .357 Mag Light Load @ 40%.JPG

Walkalong · Sep 7, 2020

brutus51 said:
Looking for the best accuracy and I'm thinking 1000/1200 is going to be the sweet spot.

The BE-86 load @tightgroup tiger posted will be in the neighborhood of 1100 to 1150 FPS depending on the barrel/gun, and it shoots great. The same load works well with a coated 158 Gr SWC.

For a very accurate but very light plinker load in .357 Mag brass use the same X-Treme 158 Gr SWC but only 3.8 to 4.0 Grs of WST or it's close cousin Competition. Work it up. Runs 700/750ish.

brutus51 · Sep 7, 2020

Never tried BE-86 and since I currently have about 20 different handgun powders I don't think I will be in the near future.
Got into a similar conversation regarding 38Super when 460Shooter convinced me to try some VV-N105, even paid the Hazmat fee to get some.
Great powder really like it but this powder thing is just like the guns themselves, want to try them all. :uhoh:

buck460XVR · Sep 7, 2020

ballman6711 said:
May I ask what barrel length and what your chrono showed with that load?

I would have thought it would be above 1200 fps, but I could very well be wrong.

chris

ffin I remember correctly, and why I posted it, it averaged right around 1200fps outta my 6" 686. Been awhile and I don't really get enamored with velocities. I generally load for accuracy and only use the chrono after I achieve an accurate load, to give me some idea of where my velocity is at. Most times, I don't bother shooting more than a few rounds thru the chrono and most times not enough(10 rounds) to even compute SD. If my accuracy is consistent enough for me, I figure my SDs are too. Again, a few shots to get a general idea is all I generally do.

brutus51 · Sep 7, 2020

^ I agree grew out of magnumitis years ago. Accuracy trumps power every time even on elephants.

horsemen61 · Sep 7, 2020

Walkalong said:
Good stuff.
View attachment 940886

Dang @Walkalong your cartridge pics are so good a man could hang em up in his loading room!

Walkalong · Sep 7, 2020

brutus51 said:
since I currently have about 20 different handgun powders

I would have to look, but I am fairly sure I have more than twenty, although I have had three or four I've used up and not replaced.

brutus51 said:
38Super ......some VV-N105

Yep, @fxvr5 convinced me to try it in .38 Super, glad he did, and heck, I already had some.

Let's see, N-310, N-320, N32C, N-330, N-340, N105, N110, plus some rifle powders.

frankmako · Sep 7, 2020

my nra lever action pistol cartridge silhouette load in a marlin 1894 cb is 6.5 of titegroup with a 158 gr hp bullet. runs around 1,280 fps.

Hartkopf · Sep 7, 2020

I don’t have much experience loading 357 magnum but I’ve been loving 158gr xtp bullets over 7.3 to 7.6gr of Longshot. Feels like a magnum and runs clean.

Riomouse911 · Sep 7, 2020

An Eggleston 158 gr coated SWC over 6.2 gr Unique is one of my favorites in .357 cases. Easy shooting and accurate in all of my .357 revolvers no matter the barrel length.

In .38 Spl. cases I’ll shoot the same bullet over 4.5 gr Unique.

For a tad more oomph I’ll shoot Extreme 158 gr plated HP over 6.5 gr Unique.

The plated SWC mentioned above can also be used for either load.

Stay safe.

What's your favorite .357 Mag. target load.

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