180gr .357 MAG loads thru a Rossi

[wankerjake]

Hey fellas, here's the scoop. I bought some sierra 180 gr FPJs and I'm looking to buy either Hodgdon Lil'gun or H110 so I can push them fast. The pressure listed for the max load of Lil'gun is 34,5000 CUP and for H110 it is 39,100 CUP. I've been shooting a 125 gr JHP with 7.4 gr titegroup, which should be somewhere around 41,000 CUP, which is higher than both of the other two powders. I'll be shooting these out of a Rossi .357 with a 4" barrel. I've heard shooting hot magnum loads out with a slow powder and large bullet puts a lot of wear and tear on a handgun, and I'm kind of scared to try it out of a Rossi. However, the listed pressure for these loads are lower than what I've been shooting. Is it safe to start at the bottom and work my way up with Lil'gun, or should I hold off for awhile until I inevitably break down and buy a Ruger? What are your experiences with this situation?
thanks in advance,
-jake

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A slow powder doesn't stress a revolver, pressure does. Using a fast powder is more dangerous than using a slow powder in a Magnum application because the fast powder can spike pressures easier at top end loads.

I use Lil'Gun for 170gr and 180gr bullets in a .357 Magnum. It delivers high velocities with relatively low pressures with a heavy bullet. H110/W296 won't harm your Rossi either as long as you stay within current published limits but IMO you should stay away from very fast burning powders like Titegroup for Magnum rounds. Since you said you want to push that 180gr bullet fast why use Titegroup? That powder will develop the highest pressures with the slowest velocities of all the listed powders on the Hodgdon load data site.

My favorite powders for the .357 Magnum:
-Lil'Gun - 170gr and 180gr bullets
-W296 - 158gr and lighter bullets
-HS-6 - For medium power and Lead loads (since W296/H110 can't be downloaded)
-W231 - light plinking Lead rounds

 

[wankerjake]

Thanks for the advice. I don't want to use titegroup with a heavy bullet, that is why I was asking about the other powders. But that is encouraging and the answer I was hoping for. I just didn't know if pressure was what I needed to worry about or if there was something else I should be looking out for.