.357 For target shooting

[0ne3]

I, have had a Ruger Blackhawk 38/357 for about a year now, and have been reloading for it. I, have been using Hornady 158gr. XTP with 12.7 gr of H110. Why am I using H110, because the Hornady reloading manual said it was a good powder to use in a .357. All I am doing with this revolver is target shooting. I want to use jacked bullets. What loads do you guys use, for your target shooting, and what would you recomend for me to use. If you need any more information let me know. Thank You for your help.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

In jacketed bullets, I use 125 gr Montana Gold over 10 gr. of Power Pistol. I buy them by the case for about a dime a piece.

 

[Catpop]

Why limit yourself to just jacketed bullets? Indoor range?
There are many good more economical choices in lead boolits, the time proven 148 gr wadcutter for one.
And an old favorite powder is Unique.
Jmho

 

[WrongHanded]

What I'm using right now is a 158gr polymer coated LSWC. That's generally over one of two powders. IMR 4227 at 15.1gr has been working well as a moderate power load. The other powder I use a lot (more) is A2400. That's anywhere between 14.5gr-15.0gr. I get more recoil from that than my 4227 load. I'm still experimenting with these two powders, but they are working well for me. Neither seemed clean much below these grain weights however, and for lighter loads, other faster burning powders must surely be better.

 

[Walkalong]

For low power plinking I use an X-Treme 158 Gr SWC over a modest charge of WST or Competition.

For a medium power load E-86 under an X-Treme 158 Gr SWC works very well. You could substitute a coated 158.

For full power I use a coated 158 Gr SWC over 2400.

These all shoot very well.

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

H110 is a great powder for full power .357 but not for reduced loads.
There are many powders that work well in 357 or 38 target loads. Here is Hodgdon's data http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/
Why use jacketed bullets? Cast, coated or plated will do the same thing for less.

 

[bullseye308]

For years I have been shooting a home cast Lee 158 swc over 5.0 grains of bullseye. Once you get the fit, hardness, and lube dialed in, the barrel is self cleaning. Mine has just over 4K through it since it was cleaned(the barrel) and it is still clean. I’m shooting a 6” GP-100.

 

[Blue68f100]

W296/H110 is a great powder if you want full magnum loads, but is not good at all for reduced plinking loads. I use a 158gr LSWC (HyTec by MBC) bullet with WST. I'm getting a velocity around 650-700fps out of 6" Python. These are quite soft and fun to shoot. No need in punishing your gun or you just for plinking.

 

[WestKentucky]

Bullseye is good for 38spl level loads. I agree with the others though, if your target shooting you should consider heavy cast lead bullets, especially wadcutters.

 

[kidneyboy]

I use 2 different loads/boolits -
6.0gr W231 over a Berry's 158gr FP which is pretty good in my Vaquero and excellent in my Henry carbine (see avatar)
3.7gr of Trailboss over an Acme 158gr RNFP which is very good to excellent in The Vaquero, 4" GP-100 and the Henry

CCI small pistol primers and Starline or R-P brass

 

[gonoles_1980]

I usually get my bullets from xtreme or speer. Typically xtreme 158gr LSWC, with 4.5gr of HP-38 for my LCR 357. In my Vaquero Bisley 5" 357 I use 8.3 AA#5 with xtreme SWC CP 158gr.

 

[ray15]

I, have been using Hornady 158gr. XTP with 12.7 gr of H110. Why am I using H110, because the Hornady reloading manual said it was a good powder to use in a .357. All I am doing with this revolver is target shooting. I want to use jacked bullets. What loads do you guys use, for your target shooting, and what would you recomend for me to use.

As others have mentioned this is a misapplication of H110. Hodgdon's listed range for H110 with the 158gr. XTP is 15-16.7 grains with a magnum primer, with 16.7 being the most accurate. And it is very accurate, but pretty intense for target work.

A lot of this revolves around what power level you want to achieve with your load. A true target load would use wadcutters and a fast-burning powder like Bullseye, Titegroup or W231. You could concoct a hot 38 special equivalent using any number of powders and bullets. Or if you want something beyond 38 special, medium speed powders like BE-86 work out well. For full power the above H110 load is very good.

I tend to use 38 special +P power level at most for plinking, using xtreme 125gr. plated bullets and the +P max of 5 grains of Titegroup in 38 special cases for 970fps on average from my 4" GP100.

 

[murf]

i would stick with the 158xtp bullets, use w231 powder and run your muzle velocity up to 11 or 12 hundred feet per second. non-magnum primers with this powder, also. hogdon has a load range for this bullet and powder.

luck,

murf

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A charge of only 12.7gr is a very low charge weight for a powder that doesn't react well to downloading. I know that is the starting charge in the Hornady manual but Hodgdon doesn't recommend more than a 3% decrease from the max.

If you are only shooting target practice I recommend a faster powder at .38 Special pressures. You got good advice on powders already, I use W231/HP-38. If you don't want to use .38 Special brass you can lo a .38 Special pressures in .357 Magnum brass too.

Posted bullets or coated lead bullets will cost you less than XTP bullets no loss of accuracy.

 

[ray15]

i would stick with the 158xtp bullets, use w231 powder and run your muzle velocity up to 11 or 12 hundred feet per second. non-magnum primers with this powder, also. hogdon has a load range for this bullet and powder.

Looking at that Hodgdon W231 data, you would have to using a 10" barrel for 1,200fps to be within pressure limits. I know a lot of older 231 data is hotter than the current stuff, but 1,100fps is a lot safer goal for typical revolver barrel lengths no matter how you slice it. In my 4" gun W296 doesn't eclipse 1,200fps by much before you hit the max charge.

 

[Bfh_auto]

2 powders I don't like are 700x and CFE-pistol.
Universal works well and Bluedot is decent.
H110 is great for fire breathers in 357.
Try Missouri bullet company. I love their 158 action

 

[mjsdwash]

i discovered long ago with reloading data being incredibly wimpy for .357, theres almost no use in using the slow powders, at least in a pistol. A max load of Bullseye will get me within 150FPS of a max load of H110 at 1/3 the powder cost. Less recoil, just as accurate. I used to shoot heavy loads with Bluedot and got some real power, but Alliant no longer recomends those loads. I would say Power Pistol, or Bullseye, whatever the loads are these days.

 

[PO2Hammer]

I've switched to 125 grain jacketed for target loads.
7.0 grains of Unique, N340 or HP-38 under any 125 jacketed bullet makes for a nice target load. Not too hot, not too soft, just right!
I don't shoot hundreds of rounds per session, so jacketed is affordable for me. I watch the sales.
Been shooting a lot of Speer 125 TMJ lately, very accurate bullet.

 

[Damon555]

I shoot a 158 grain power bond plated bullet propelled by a minuscule charge of Bullseye.

Very accurate out of my GP100. I suspect the revolver would be slightly more accurate if my red dot was a little smaller......the current dot covers too much of the target for my liking.

1-27_target_4

• Damon555
• Jan 29, 2018

GP100 Target Load

 

[cp1969]

I don't generally shoot jacketed bullets in the .357. But the most accurate load I ever developed was with a jacketed bullet.

The problem is, it was before I kept records but I'll share what I do remember about it. The gun was a 6" S&W 586. Starline brass, Winchester Small Pistol primer (not magnum), 125 grain Remington JHP and a near-max charge of Unique.

This load would put all six under an inch at 25 yards, sitting with back against truck wheel and hands resting on my knees. Lots of blast but almost no recoil.

I didn't load any more of these once the bullets were used up. I didn't see much use for a 125 grain load in a .357.

 

[Iroquois]

Why limit yourself to just jacketed bullets? Indoor range?
There are many good more economical choices in lead boolits, the time proven 148 gr wadcutter for one.
And an old favorite powder is Unique.
Jmho

Another load that has been an accurate, mild, economical and fun is 3.5 gr of Universal with a Speer 148gr HBWC. This load shoots very well in my SP101 4.5” and my Dan Wesson 6” with no leading. Just don’t try to drive it too fast.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I shoot a 158 grain power bond plated bullet propelled by a minuscule charge of Bullseye.

Very accurate out of my GP100. I suspect the revolver would be slightly more accurate if my red dot was a little smaller......the current dot covers too much of the target for my liking.

1-27_target_4

• Damon555
• Jan 29, 2018

GP100 Target Load

is this load with 38 brass or 357

 

[someguy2800]

I recommend Bullseye with your choice of bullet. I've never had an inaccurate load with bullseye in 38 or 357.

 

[brewer12345]

If you are shooting target, a wadcutter is what you want. If you are open to cast bullets, 148 grain DEWCs are cheap and very accurate. If you insist on no bare lead, I have been really, really happy with Berry's plated DEWCs in 38 brass with 4 grains of HP38 seated to a COAL of 1.27". If I hadn't started casting my own DEWCs, that is about all I would be shooting out of my revolvers.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Looking at that Hodgdon W231 data, you would have to using a 10" barrel for 1,200fps to be within pressure limits. I know a lot of older 231 data is hotter than the current stuff, but 1,100fps is a lot safer goal for typical revolver barrel lengths no matter how you slice it. In my 4" gun W296 doesn't eclipse 1,200fps by much before you hit the max charge.

Where did you get the 1200fps number? In the first post the OP asked about "target loads" and they are generally lighter loads, not full power loads. A 158gr bullet @~700fps to 800fps will be a good target or range load IMO.

Sorry if I got the question incorrect.