.357 158 grain SWC with Bullseye

[aprayinbear]

What do you guys think,

Recently picked up some 158 grain Cast SWC .357 bullets to load for my Dan Wesson 15-2 .357 mag.

I have plenty of Bullseye on hand. Lee Modern Reloading says that for the 158 grain lead bullets, use between 5.9 - 6.5 grains of Bullseye. I thought I would start at the low end and see how it does.

Problem is, I keep reading that many people use between 3 - 4.5 grains with Bullseye and 158 SWC bullets.

Are these for light loads or is the Lee manual too stout?

All Thoughts Welcome!

 

[rcmodel]

The Lee manual is showing .357 Magnum data for .357 Magnum is all.

Most people who use 3.0 - 4.5 Bullseye are loading with .38 Spl data.

Bullseye is a poor choice for full power .357 Mag loads.

It is very unforgiving at max .357 pressure levels.
As you noted, there is only 6/10 of a grain difference between a starting load and MAX load.

If you want to load full power mag loads, at least get some Unique or 2400 powder to do it with.

Save the Bullseye for milder safer low pressure loads.

rc

 

[kelbro]

Bullseye is great for target loads. Use a more appropriate powder for magnum loads. Bullseye can get erratic at the top. No sense risking damage on that fine pistol.

 

[zxcvbob]

As you noted, there is only 6/10 of a grain difference between a starting load and MAX load.

That's because Lee copied the data from Alliant, and Alliant only gives max loads. So Lee backed off 10% like any good reloader would. It doesn't mean anything more than that.

Bullseye should work just fine, although something slower like Herco will work better. BE is better suited for .357 Magnum (I use it in 9mm +P) than Titegroup is, and there are plenty of folks who use that.

 

[Miata Mike]

I think I tried 4.8 grains of Bullseye and 158 grain SWC lead bullets. Found the recoil mild and very accurate in my 6" Ruger Security six.

 

[Steve C]

Nothing terribly wrong with a fast powder and magnum loads except that they will not optimize your velocities. You will max out at 100 to 200 fps slower than if you used a slower powder. If maximum velocities are not your goal then using Bullseye is fine just work your load up as a little bit of powder will do and watch for double charges.

 

[Fishslayer]

I'll second the 2400 for Big Dog 158gr magnum loads. Bullseye is OK if you're going with 125gr magnums.

I use Bullseye or Green Dot for light target loads with 158gr LSWC. I use .38 Special data in a magnum case & seat the bullet just past the crimp groove with a very light taper crimp. The magnum case prevents the dreaded carbon ring.

 

[kingmt]

I like BE. It makes for a soft shooting load @ 4-4.5gr.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

several of the faster powders are also low flash RDot is one. I have'nt tryed BE at dusk though. I have loaded RDot 158gr cast loads for hunting as they may be used at dusk/dawn. these are hog loads for me and nephew's back-up pistols. shot good too when we tryed them out and plenty of 'power' it seemed loaded to alliant data.

 

[BYJO4]

I use 4.8 grains of Bullseye with the 158 gr. LSWC. It gives me mild recoil and is extremely accurate in all my 357s.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

My best results with Bullseye, 158 SWC, 6" 686 came with 6.4 gr. Heavy recoil, very good accuracy, and enough smoke to have to wait to sight again. Not a load for indoor ranges.

 

[Fishslayer]

My best results with Bullseye, 158 SWC, 6" 686 came with 6.4 gr. Heavy recoil, very good accuracy, and enough smoke to have to wait to sight again. Not a load for indoor ranges.

hehe... you probably wouldn't enjoy my downloaded Green Dot loads!

They smell nice tho...

 

[Jim Watson]

Lee "do not exceed" loads are from the manufacturers, Lee does not run a test facility.

Lee starting loads are based on the next smaller disk measure cavity, not the usual 10% reduction or the Lyman "lowest pressure that the powder will burn at" level.
Or even the same, you will see some combinations in the Lee book with the same load listed for start and maximum. This is safe because Lee disks and dippers are apparently made with a +0, -X manufacturing tolerance, so a cavity shown on the chart as 5.0 grains will not deliver that much.

Do be careful, the long skinny .357 case will hold a double charge of Bullseye without being immediately obvious. The only gun ever demolished on our range was shot with maximum magnum Bullseye loads and no doubt got one with a double charge.

 

[mje]

I try to pick loads that fill a decent percentage of the case volume, as it makes double charging easier to spot. Also, as some have noted, Bullseye is great for low power loads, but the pressure rises *very* quickly with a fast burning powder.

When I had a .357 Dan Wesson (wish I'd never sold that!) I used 3gr Bullseye for .38spl 148gr wadcutter loads. For 158gr SWCs I used Unique for medium loads (around 6gr, I think, but I wouldn't trust that number) , and 2400 for max loads.

 

[elano]

Ive lOaded some 158 swc in 357 using 6.0 and 6.5 grains. It was a nice medium magnum load that was clean burning and didn't lead up the gun. It's worth trying out, however I use 14.5g of 2400 almost exclusively now.