357 HB Wadcutter 148 gr. loads

[Redfern]

Hello. I have been loading 38 Special, 148 grain HBWC loads for a new shooter. Using 3.2 grains of Unique for 775 fps.

Can anyone recomend a comparable (sub 800 fps) load for a 357 cartridge? Those crud rings in the cylinders are a hassle to clean.

 

[coonan357]

Gums and Blamo ran an article on how to load these into .357 cases several years ago . I don't remember which month or year. I would recommend you look in the back issues to find it .

 

[stans]

I have that Guns and Ammo article, but they did not use 357 cases. They just loaded the bullets further out of the case. They also developed their loads in a pressure barrel of unknown length. They also stated "Revolver velocities will depend on barrel length but will average 50 to 100 fps slower in 6-inch barrels." Kind of a lame article, if you ask me. My general rule of thumb when loading the 357 to 38 Special velocity is to start with data for the 38 Special and add 0.5 grains of powder. This usually gets me close to 38 ballistics.

 

[Quantrill]

"My general rule of thumb when loading the 357 to 38 Special velocity is to start with data for the 38 Special and add 0.5 grains of powder. This usually gets me close to 38 ballistics."
An excellent suggestion from Stans. Maybe even a little less in the fast burners such as Bullseye, 700-X, Red Dot etc. I use 2.5gr 700-X for the .38wadcutter and 2.7 for the same wadcutter in a .357 case. Quantrill

 

[Tony Z]

I have been using 148Gr WC's in 357 mag brass for years. I am in general agreement with Quantrill. If your going to use Unique I would bump it up about .003 to 3.5 Gr this should give you a good starting load. My Unique load is 4.0 Gr under 148 copper plated WC.
I switched to the 357 brass for target shooting for the same reason.
I have made some very accurate low pressure loads with many different powders.

 

[Redfern]

Thanks for the advice

I am using Unique because 1. Perceived to be less "sharp" recoil and 2. I have a full pound to burn.
Eventually,I would like to use 2.7-2.8 grains of Bullseye but wanna use the Unique first. Has anyone tried 3.5 grains of Bullseye in .357 cases? What velocity could I expect?

 

[Tony Z]

I have use 3.5 to 4.0 of bullseye in the 357 case, I don't have a crono, so I would have to guess, i am thinking it was in the 750 FPS area maybe less.


Tony

 

[Standing Wolf]

I've been using 2.5 to 3.5 grains of Bullseye in .357 magnum cases with 148-grain HBWCs for years. Most of my guns seem to deliver the best accuracy with 2.7 to 2.9 grains.

Given that the .357 magnum case is all of a tenth of an inch longer than the .38 special, I don't see how the extra empty space could make a significant difference.

 

[stans]

The extra length does slightly decrease the pressure compared to the same powder charge in a 38 Special case. It is not a huge difference and that is why it takes no more than an extra 1/2 grain of powder to get 357 loads to equal 38 Special velocities.

 

[Paul "Fitz" Jones]

Max .357 HBWC loads

My Speer reloading manual warns that the HBWC can cause bullet deformation that can damage your gun if their max loads are exceeded. (Probably from leaving pieces in your barrel which has to have happened in the past otherwise the warning would not be in their manual)

Max loads are
4.4 gr Green Dot
3.4 gr Red Dot
3.2 gr 700X
3.8 gr 231
3.3 gr Bullseye

My Hornaday manual exceeds these amounts but the Speer manual info is fine for me.
Safety First is my MOTTO

Previous discussions in this thread have exceeded these amounts.

For shooters wishing higher velocities I suggest they use solid wadcutters not hollow base wadcutters.

John Paul

 

[Novcon]

I use the same bullets in a 50' bullseye league. I have two loads for myself and a friend.

Mine are:
148 grn HBWC
2.8 grn of Bullseye Powder
Starline .357 Brass
seated flush and medium roll crimped.
Shot from a TC Contender 10" bbl

His are:
148 grn BBWC
3.5 grn of Win 231 Powder
Starline .357 Brass
seated flush and medium roll crimped.
Shot from a Ruger GP100 6" bbl

Both loads are very accurate. I have shot a score of 58 out of 60 with these loads.

 

[moxie]

Speer #11 shows 3.0 Bullseye for 733fps, and 3.3 for 806fps. Doesn't show any loads for the 148HBWC and Unique. By the way, I do believe you're still going to get a crud ring, just .135" further into the chamber.

 

[Redfern]

Thanks Moxie and all others that have replied. So, 3.0 grains Bullseye in .357 cases. And 2.8 grains in .38 cases.

I picked the Unique load out of a Lee Reloading manual, at 3.2 grains.

Any ideas on what fps with 2.8 Bullseye in .357 cases? My guess is 690 fps.