2400 loads in between 38spl and 357mag

[Soonerpesek]

Your decimal
Your decimal is floating. 2.6 cents not 26 cents. The entire load is 26 cents.

Isn't that what this statement says....??

I use TiteGroup and it is on the low end for cost per round (compare at $0.26)

 

[Az Bob]

You are probably getting close to their limit with the 357 mag load.

When they come apart you can see it if you shoot a target just far enough away muzzle blast doesn’t destroy it. There will be a pinwheel of spray around the hole.

View attachment 1185740

I am using the Berry's tough plate bullets. Box says max velocity 1500fps

 

[41 Mag]

For what it's worth, I've loaded the AA powders for a long time in everything from a .380 to 454. My main loads generally use #9 but 5 has plenty of use as well. It is very similar to Unique but meters great and is a bit cleaner burning.

I don't load the Berry's in 357 but do in 9mm. I use 7.0gr of #7 for about 80%of my loads and 4.2gr of Bullseye for the rest.

With my 357 loads I'm running a home cast 160gr HP over 13gr of AA-9 out of a couple of GP100'S. If I were loading for your revlover, I would be looking hard at #5 & 7, and probably leaning towards 5 for the economy.

Hope that helps.

 

[DMW1116]

I shoot 357 Magnum minimum charges of Winchester 231 and CFE Pistol with 125 grain cast bullets and have tried them with 158 grain cast bullets. I use the data from Hodgden's website/reloading guide linked earlier in this thread. Minimum listed charge or maybe 0.2 grains more has worked pretty well, though accuracy wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I've reserved my 158 grain cast bullets for full power loads of Alliant 2400. When I run out of 2400 powder, I'll try some of the other two. I don't have enough 2400 to finish the box of bullets I bought a while back. Hopefully you can get better accuracy in your revolver. Mine seems to do best with heavier loads or with bare minimum loads pushing hollow based wadcutters from 357 Mag cases. To be fair, I think you could push those hollow based wadcutters with anything and they'd group pretty well. Wouldn't surprise me if I could throw them and get a decent group.

 

[Az Bob]

I shoot 357 Magnum minimum charges of Winchester 231 and CFE Pistol with 125 grain cast bullets and have tried them with 158 grain cast bullets. I use the data from Hodgden's website/reloading guide linked earlier in this thread. Minimum listed charge or maybe 0.2 grains more has worked pretty well, though accuracy wasn't as good as I'd hoped. I've reserved my 158 grain cast bullets for full power loads of Alliant 2400. When I run out of 2400 powder, I'll try some of the other two. I don't have enough 2400 to finish the box of bullets I bought a while back. Hopefully you can get better accuracy in your revolver. Mine seems to do best with heavier loads or with bare minimum loads pushing hollow based wadcutters from 357 Mag cases. To be fair, I think you could push those hollow based wadcutters with anything and they'd group pretty well. Wouldn't surprise me if I could throw them and get a decent group.

I prefer 158grn bullets. I have been led to believe that lighter full house 357mag loads aren't to good for the K frame revolver. Still have a box & half of the FP/TP 158GRN. Probably try some hp target bullets next time I get some. People have said to try the 231, 244 powder.

 

[DMW1116]

I haven’t really found a good accurate target load with a 125 grain bullet in my Blackhawk. I thought I did but after loading and shooting the rest of my 125 grain cast bullets, I think I was wrong. A full power load of HS6 and a 125 grain Hornady XTP was a very accurate combo but that’s not a target load by any definition. The mildest load I use is 3 grains of W231 in a 357 Mag case pushing a Hornady HBWC. No fear of stressing the gun and they’re the most accurate centerfire loads I’ve tried in a handgun.

I haven’t tried with any 158 grain bullets. As I understand, that was considered the standard weight in 38/357 when they were developed. Maybe that’s a good place to start looking.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I haven’t really found a good accurate target load with a 125 grain bullet in my Blackhawk. I thought I did but after loading and shooting the rest of my 125 grain cast bullets, I think I was wrong. A full power load of HS6 and a 125 grain Hornady XTP was a very accurate combo but that’s not a target load by any definition. The mildest load I use is 3 grains of W231 in a 357 Mag case pushing a Hornady HBWC. No fear of stressing the gun and they’re the most accurate centerfire loads I’ve tried in a handgun.

I haven’t tried with any 158 grain bullets. As I understand, that was considered the standard weight in 38/357 when they were developed. Maybe that’s a good place to start looking.

I have had several RBH .357’s in both the 4-5/8” and 6-1/2” barrels and they all performed better with skirted bullets and heavier loads of fast powder. A 148gr HBWC over 2.8gr of Bullseye has never disappointed.

In my current Rugers (which are pushing 40) Ramshot Competition, Accurate No.2, and Winchester WST using both DE and HB WC’s have been more accurate than I can shoot freehand - and that’s really all I do anymore is freehand, unsupported, single handed shooting.

I would also give some heavier solids a try, too. Something like the Sierra 170gr Silhouette bullet with a medium slow powder.

 

[Palladan44]

OP- One powder that would be perfect for your application would be WIN 244
The silver lining is its the least expensive powder out and I've currently seen it in stock frequently.
It's a tad bit newer offering, so it hasn't caught on mainstream. But it's good stuff.
To me, it's the Winchester version of BE-86

 

[Az Bob]

OP- One powder that would be perfect for your application would be WIN 244
The silver lining is its the least expensive powder out and I've currently seen it in stock frequently.
It's a tad bit newer offering, so it hasn't caught on mainstream. But it's good stuff.
To me, it's the Winchester version of BE-86

I will have to look up the loading data on the web site