.357 hunting load powder choice considerations

Status
Not open for further replies.
For full power 357 Magnum loads, I use W296/H110 with jacketed bullets exclusively.

For lighter loads, cast bullets and Unique, W231 or Accurate #5.

2400 and IMR4227 never lit my life on fire but I have not used either since 2400 was a Hercules product. If I could not get any W296/H110, I'd try something else. I've never had bad experience with either.

I have no experience with Accurate #9.

I usually have a good supply of W296/H110 on hand at most times and use it in a number of different cartridges.
 
From the list you posted I've used all but 4227 in my 357s. Over the past decade or so I've mainly moved over to AA-9 under either the 158gr Gold Dot, or my own cast 160gr HP.

I simply got tired or the flash and concussion from the 110 and 2400. The #9 has also been been plenty accurate in my Contender. The others are a pair of GP100'S.

Good luck with your loads, go for accuracy and the rest will fall into place.
 
barnfrog said:
Rather than just put out the standard "what powder should I choose" thread, I've been trying to narrow things down before ponying up for some powder to use in my new-to-me Ruger Blackhawk
Click to expand...
Not sure if you mentioned the barrel length? For .357 mag. Accurate #9 has served me well for over 15 years, other powders I have used are 2400, H-110 and 300 MP so far #9 is my favorite.
 
If accuracy is your first priority, I've gotten top accuracy with 2400 from my Blackhawk using 158 grain Hornady XTP bullets. The more powder I put in, the better it shot. I stopped because the recoil when testing from a rest just went straight into my hands. Off-hand it would probably be fine. Guns are different, and my Blackhawk is 40 years old, but that load is tied with my SW 22 Victory for accuracy off a rest. Whichever one shoots best is the one I've shot the most lately. I'd have tried H110/W296 by now if I could find small magnum pistol primers, but no luck so far. Secondary component availability might be higher on the priority list than powder performance, but that varies a lot from place to place and person to person.

Given the state of powder availability I'll offer one I haven't seen here. I tried HS-6 with 125 grain XTPs and got accuracy equal to my 148 grain HBWC target loads, which is to say about 1.25" at 25 yards. I haven't tried it with the heavier 158s, but I suspect it would work pretty well. Book velocities are respectable but not top end. Based on Hodgdens web site load information, HS-6 offers similar velocities to Enforcer with similar charge weights. If you try it you may see pressure signs near the top end. I did with 125 grain bullets.
 
So I never actually made it to the LGS near me, but the weather's warming up so I came over to the family property to start tapping and make some syrup, and stopped at three different shops along the way. First guy said he's given up trying to get powder, but I did find a few used reloading odds and ends on the shelf at very good prices so was glad I stopped. I will definitely go there again. Second guy said he doesn't carry powder because of the storage bunker he'd need to build in order to comply with regulations. Third shop was the charm, and they had some H110, of which I bought one pound. He laughed when I asked about 2400 or #9. I certainly didn't save any money, though. $47.50 for that single pound before tax. I also looked at some of the used guns he had and they were priced commensurately with what I've seen on gunbroker, so I shouldn't have been surprised. I probably won't go back there again, but I suppose it was nice to give some business to a small operation.

Anyway, I finally have at least one of the powders I was considering and will give that a try. If I can print some good groups with it I may stop there. But I like tinkering with loads so there's a pretty good chance I'll still try something else as well. AJC1 really has my interest piqued with the Shooter's World Heavy Pistol.
 
I know this is getting to be an older thread. But just reading through previous posts I see no one has mentioned acc# 11FS. It a newer powder from accurate, and here in western NY I see it available pretty much everywhere I go. I have been running it in my 7 1/2” redhawk .44 mag, and have been impressed by the accuracy that I have gotten.
I have only been reloading for a couple of years now, and still don’t have a chrony, so as far as how it measures up to H110 or 2400, I couldn’t say what sort of velocities I have been getting.
Acc# 11FS is very close to Acc# 9 with a flash suppressant er go the “FS.”
Based off your original post, I don’t think you could go wrong with 2400. Of you already have it. It’s always ran great for me.
Good Luck. I hope you find a load/powder combo that you and your BH likes.
 
Zriz89 said:
I know this is getting to be an older thread. But just reading through previous posts I see no one has mentioned acc# 11FS. It a newer powder from accurate, and here in western NY I see it available pretty much everywhere I go. I have been running it in my 7 1/2” redhawk .44 mag, and have been impressed by the accuracy that I have gotten.
I have only been reloading for a couple of years now, and still don’t have a chrony, so as far as how it measures up to H110 or 2400, I couldn’t say what sort of velocities I have been getting.
Acc# 11FS is very close to Acc# 9 with a flash suppressant er go the “FS.”
Based off your original post, I don’t think you could go wrong with 2400. Of you already have it. It’s always ran great for me.
Good Luck. I hope you find a load/powder combo that you and your BH likes.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the tip. Have you found load data for it in any of the manuals yet? I see Hodgdon has data on their site, of course.

How far west are you in NY? Interesting that you're seeing it on shelves locally. I get as far west as Cayuga County on a regular basis, but I have friends in the Rochester and Olean areas that might be willing to pick up a pound or two for me if they knew where to look.
 
I haven’t seen any load data from Lyman. Or any other reloading sources. Only found load data from accurate’s website. I just started low and worked up.
I’m out about an hour South East of Buffalo. Hal way between Jamestown and Dunkirk.
 
Finally got around to shooting the H110 loads I put together. A little surprising based on all I've read about this powder, but still some investigating to do. Here are the targets from the eight loads I tested. H110 powder in 0.2 grain increments from 15.6 to 17.0. Hornady XTP bullets in new Starline brass with CCI 550 primers. Range was 20 yards, barrel and wrists rested.
XTP H110 1.jpg XTP H110 2.jpg
After that first group at 15.6 I thought "Wow, if things tighten up when I get closer to max like everyone says they should, this is going to be a great powder choice." Turns out, the first group was the best. Not by a ton, but by 0.5". However, extraction was very easy even at 17.0 grains, so I could theoretically try going up a couple more increments to see if the groups shrink. I'm still very new to handgun shooting, so I really don't know if 2" groups at 20 yards from a rest are dismal, decent or delightful. But, at the very least I'm getting a sense of what this gun may be capable of, so I'll know its and my limitations this fall and can stay within them when I hunt with it. Also swapping some primers for a pound of 2400, so I'll also load up some test groups with that for comparison.
 
barnfrog said:
Finally got around to shooting the H110 loads I put together. A little surprising based on all I've read about this powder, but still some investigating to do. Here are the targets from the eight loads I tested. H110 powder in 0.2 grain increments from 15.6 to 17.0. Hornady XTP bullets in new Starline brass with CCI 550 primers. Range was 20 yards, barrel and wrists rested.
View attachment 1078568 View attachment 1078569
After that first group at 15.6 I thought "Wow, if things tighten up when I get closer to max like everyone says they should, this is going to be a great powder choice." Turns out, the first group was the best. Not by a ton, but by 0.5". However, extraction was very easy even at 17.0 grains, so I could theoretically try going up a couple more increments to see if the groups shrink. I'm still very new to handgun shooting, so I really don't know if 2" groups at 20 yards from a rest are dismal, decent or delightful. But, at the very least I'm getting a sense of what this gun may be capable of, so I'll know its and my limitations this fall and can stay within them when I hunt with it. Also swapping some primers for a pound of 2400, so I'll also load up some test groups with that for comparison.
Click to expand...
Remember the 2400 is typically better with standard primers vs. magnum.
 
I don’t want to jinx it but 2400 should work well for you. 43137903-699E-439D-B3D9-B8C501934499.jpeg

Load 7 was the magic number. It’s 0.2 grains below Hornadys maximum charge. My Lyman manual goes even higher but that’s not something I really need to try.
 
DMW1116 said:
I don’t want to jinx it but 2400 should work well for you. View attachment 1078582

Load 7 was the magic number. It’s 0.2 grains below Hornadys maximum charge. My Lyman manual goes even higher but that’s not something I really need to try.
Click to expand...
Nicely done. Looking forward to seeing if I can come close to that.

BTW, my Blackhawk is almost 50 years old, but has only been mine for less than one of them.
 
It’s not all good. That load was the one that made me think I’d burned all the hair off the backs of my hands. The cylinder gap was right in the V of the rest and the flash wrapped around the backs of my hands.

Do you have the transfer bar or old trigger style? Those old Blackhawks seem to shoot great.
 
DMW1116 said:
Do you have the transfer bar or old trigger style? Those old Blackhawks seem to shoot great.
Click to expand...

Transfer bar. If I remember correctly, the gun is early to mid-70s vintage. Early New Model Blackhawk.

ETA: Ruger doesn't have my serial number in their data, but 1973 .357 BHs started with 31. Mine starts with 33, so probably made a couple years after.
 
Last edited:
I've also read that H-110 likes to be run at max, but my testing showed different in my gun, a Colt King Cobra with a 6" barrel. My Colt is a 90's vintage if it makes a difference.

I tested H-110 from 15.0gr to 16.0gr in 0.2 increments. I have the data written in my book, but for some reason I never wrote down any notes regarding my testing. I did like 15.8gr, and went on to do another test of 15.8, 15.9, and 16.0, which I did write notes for. I settled on 15.8gr. I do remember my groups started opening up at 16.0gr.

My load data:

Hornady 158gr XTP-FP
H-110 15.8gr
Federal GM200M smpp
Federal brass

I also noted that this load had a "big push, but not snappy" recoil like other powders. All my spent cases ejected easily, but at 16.0 I was getting some flattening on the primers. That could have been due to the Federal primers having a softer cup but I honestly don't know.

I also have some Sierra 158gr sjsp (#8340) that I have used with W-231. They work well and are very accurate. I haven't done any testing with these bullets using H-110 but think it just made my short list of things to do.

chris
 
I forgot the wide load range I found with a lower charge of 2400.
56CAC3C5-AB9C-42B8-A142-16C7CFD6547D.jpeg 344A97E9-B662-4809-B1CB-85628F75A288.jpeg

From 12.9 to 13.3 grains it basically shot the same size groups. Recoil was noticeably more tolerable and no heat waves up the backs of my hands. I remember pulling that shot in group 4 but group 3 was the same as 1. Ever since testing these and my target wadcutter loads I’ve pushed a Blackhawk on anyone that would listen.
 
Never tried H110 for some reason. However, you'll likely be happy with that 2400 in your .357. I use 11.5gr 2400 under a Missouri coated cast 180gr rnfp. VERY accurate load in my Henry rifle. I'm about to try that load in my '75 Blackhawk.
 
Maybe I’m doing something wrong but I’ve had really good luck with IMR 4227 it seems the most forgiving to me rarely have a fast or slow cartridge when I chrono. It was actually the first load I ever cooked up in .357 because it was available. Since then I’ve gotten some H110. And I personally have have had some largish variance in velocity with H110 and have since changed how I meter powder for pistols.

I harvested a fawn last year with 180gr Hornady XTP over a max charge of H110. It had an average velocity of just below 1100 fps in a 6in Ruger Security Six. That batch was the 2nd iteration of a lot I had developed but was showing more pressure signs than the original lot. I used one round out of the batch for the deer and pulled the bullets and powder to use elsewhere.

But in summation. I like my IMR 4227 loads. They’re middle ground velocity and easy to load. But H110 is the hottest and fastest I can make for hunting rounds. And I believe the H110 is technically lower pressure than the slower burning 4227 so thats always a plus if you’re shooting alot of rounds. I’m not trying to prematurely wear out my old Security Six.
 
KansasTrapper77 said:
Maybe I’m doing something wrong but I’ve had really good luck with IMR 4227 it seems the most forgiving to me rarely have a fast or slow cartridge when I chrono. It was actually the first load I ever cooked up in .357 because it was available. Since then I’ve gotten some H110. And I personally have have had some largish variance in velocity with H110 and have since changed how I meter powder for pistols.

I harvested a fawn last year with 180gr Hornady XTP over a max charge of H110. It had an average velocity of just below 1100 fps in a 6in Ruger Security Six. That batch was the 2nd iteration of a lot I had developed but was showing more pressure signs than the original lot. I used one round out of the batch for the deer and pulled the bullets and powder to use elsewhere.

But in summation. I like my IMR 4227 loads. They’re middle ground velocity and easy to load. But H110 is the hottest and fastest I can make for hunting rounds. And I believe the H110 is technically lower pressure than the slower burning 4227 so thats always a plus if you’re shooting alot of rounds. I’m not trying to prematurely wear out my old Security Six.
Click to expand...
I'm with you on h110 being the velocity king in 357. But I figure if I'm going for the velocity 4227 gives I'll use a faster powder. If I'm going to use the amount of powder 4227 takes. I'm going to use h110 and get velocity.
4227 is too good in cast rifle to waste in my 357.;)
 
Yet another long interval update. Got back out to the range to try a couple more increments of H110 and a full ladder of 2400. In short, the results were disappointing. Of 10 loads, only one was less than 3 inches and I think that one was a fluke.

Afterwards, I finally got my act together and slugged my barrel and chamber throats and my conclusion is that I wasted a box of bullets and a quarter pound of powder on these ladders. My chamber throats are between 0.3575 and 0.3585, and my groove diameter is 0.3585. So before I test any more loads I'm going to get those throats reamed.
 
So I couldn't help myself and did a bit more shooting even though I haven't consulted a gunsmith yet about my throats. I had it all figured out: I have a whole bunch of 158 grain cast lead SWCs loaded up with 5.0 grains of Bullseye. Keep in mind these are gas check bullets loaded without gas checks. I decided to shoot one cylinder with the barrel and my forearms rested, one with the gun frame and my forearms rested, and one with just my wrists rested. Then, using whichever of those rest configurations gave me the smallest group, I would shoot five cylinders of rounds at six targets, starting with the same chamber each time, which would give me one five-shot group from each chamber, to see if the difference in chamber throat diameters showed up in the groups.

Didn't start off too bad, except that the groups were pretty horrendous. At 20 yards, the groups were 5.5" with the barrel rested, 9" with the frame rested, and 3" with just my wrists rested. Resting only my wrists seemed the way to go. Then the wheels fell off. After shooting only four cylinders at my six targets, I had six groups ranging from 5.5" to 9" so I didn't bother shooting any more. I'm guessing the small throat diameters combined with the lack of gas checks led to some leading, which grew my groups pretty rapidly. I don't really know how to recognize leading, so I can't swear to it. I figured at 5.0 grains of Bullseye I'd be just under 1000 fps, but with the tight throats and no gas checks, maybe they were a tad too hot.

I'm pretty sure it wasn't me. I may not be the greatest pistol marksman, but I warmed up with the K-17 on the four-inch steel target and went 12 for 12 at the same distance shooting from the isosceles stance.

Oh well, live and learn. It's always fun to shoot.
 
joneb said:
Not sure if you mentioned the barrel length? For .357 mag. Accurate #9 has served me well for over 15 years, other powders I have used are 2400, H-110 and 300 MP so far #9 is my favorite.
Click to expand...
Well that post was pretty opaque sorry, I'm using #9 in a 2.75" barreled .357 magnum with 158gr bullets.
 
Shot a ladder with MBC 158-grain Action coated SWCs with 4.5 to 5.7 grains of Universal. At 25 yards with wrists and elbows rested my best group was over four inches.

The saga continues. I'm beginning to think this gun is irredeemable. At least the more I shoot it the better I learn its capabilities, abysmal though they may be. I have some Accurate #9 to try with the XTPs still. Maybe that will be the magic combination (but I'm not holding my breath).
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

Lokichoki
  • Locked
10mm load suggestions
Replies
20
Views
2K
Lokichoki
Lokichoki
Rule3
  • Locked
Something to Ponder. One powder vs Another?
2
Replies
33
Views
2K
Rule3
Rule3
L
  • Locked
Blue Dot, Steel, or 2400 for .357 Magnum?
2
Replies
31
Views
3K
Steve C
S
D
  • Locked
Best value powder, read more
Replies
15
Views
895
Sport45
S
ms6852
  • Locked
Accuracy loads vs hunting loads
2
Replies
25
Views
3K
witchhunter
W
Back
Top