.357 loaders . . . I need help!

[cdbeaver]

Okay, here's the deal--

I got new Ruger GP100 and I'm loading some .357 stuff for plinking and target shooting; nothing too hot or too mild. Have .38 Special for the latter. Trouble is, I checked FIVE different loading manuals and got as many answers, some that scared me.

I'm using the Hornady 140-grain Metal jacket hollow point. I'd like to use Unique powder, because I have that. Also have some Hodgdon H110 that would also work. Here's what I found--(all are MAX loads)

Hornady handbook, 140-grain bullet: 18.4 grains H110.
Unique: No recommendation

Lyman handbook, 146-grain bullet: Unique, 8.1 grains; no recommendation for H110

Speer handbook, 140-grain jacket HP: Unique, Nothing; H110, 17.2 grains (with CCI magnum primers)

Sierra Handbook: Unique, 9.0; H110,19.5 grains!

Lee's Modern Reloading: H110, 17.0 grains, with NO starting load recommendation; No recommendation for Unique.

Please note the high variations between handbooks. Where do I start? What do I do? Your help is earnestly solicited.

Maybe a different powder altogether?

 

[oldfart]

I use 158 grain bullets, so what I have to say may not help much. But the first thing you have to remember is that each of those manuals list loads that they used in their guns. The loads you use probably won't be much like any of them.

I use 7.5 grains of Unique behind my 158 grain bullets. I don't shoot a lot of them because heavy loads tend to wear out even the best guns. I arrived at that load by averaging all the max loads I could find and then backing off a tad. I also got a feel for the load by looking at burn-rate charts for powders that burn more or less like Unique.

If it were my problem, I'd start at about 9 grains and see what happens.

 

[wally]

I use Unique as my first choice, but it doesn't work so well for .357 so I use Blue Dot. Powders bulky enough so a double charge overflows is also one of my requirements.

Hornady no longer recommends Unique for their 140 gr bullet -- that should tell you something! When in doubt use the Hornady recipe for Hornady bullets!
Don't start with the max load.

--wally.

 

[LuckyNed]

First off..I'm certainly no expert. I haven't reloaded anything in a few years. I've always been overly careful about my reloading. I never load a round I can't find matched in a reloading book.

Yes, there sure is alot of different info in the different manuals and alot of loads you'll never see. They can't test everything and squeeze it in one manual. Here is another piece of the puzzle for ya..Speer manual# 11 /.357" dia 140grain hollow point/8.3-8.8 Unique.

Good luck and be careful.

 

[Mark whiz]

OK .......... Let's see here.......

First off - I'm basing these suggestions on how my .357Mag 4" Security Six likes it's loads.

You'll probably find that the H110 will probably work better with jacketed bullets, Unique with cast lead bullets.........at least that works for me.

Based on my best loads for 145 & 158gr jacketed & cast bullets, I 'd say to start your load work ups at:

16.5 gr of H110 - working toward a max of 18.0gr
7.0gr of Unique - working up to a max of maybe 8.2gr

There IS one reason why some don't list a minimum charge for H110............ it is rumored to be exactly the same powder as Win296 ......... and it has been found that too light of a load with it can be explosive. I use 16.0gr with 158gr bullets and 14.0gr with 170gr bullets with NO problem - so 16.5 to 17.0 ought to be good for the 140s.

 

[Clark]

17.2 gr H110
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/357mag.php


6.4 gr Unique
http://recipes.alliantpowder.com/rg...=.357&cartridgedescr=Mag.&bulletdescr=148 LWC

 

[8ring]

Hodgdon's 2003 Annual Manual has loads for six of its powders with the Hornady 140gr. XTP in .357. These include Universal and Titegroup which I use with 140 gr. and 158 gr. lead bullets in .357. If you have a different 140gr. jacketed bullet, start at the minimum load and work up.

Vithavouri's online loading info has loads for N340, 3N37, N350, and N110 for a Speer 140 gr. HP. I haven't use VV powders in my .357, but N340 meters very well, is clean, and shoots soft in my 9mm w/147gr. plated bullets.

I bet that Alliant's and Accurate's manuals also have mid-range loads for this weight bullet with many of their powders. Check your local gun shop or Sportman's Warehouse for these manuals.

Mid-power .357s are fun. Load cautiously and stay safe.

Chris



`

 

[BluesBear]

Unique is manufactured by Alliant.
The following is taken from my personal printed copy of the 2000 edition of the Alliant Powder Reloaders Guide. It lists for .357 Magnum using Federal 200 primers;

148gr Lead Wadcutter ----- 6.4gr Unique @1,465fps - 33,800psi
158gr Lead SemiWadcutter 6.8gr Unique @1,295fps - 33,900psi
158gr Jacketed Soft Point - 7.8gr Unique @ 1,280fps - 33,200psi

Velocity recorded from a 5.6" barrel.

-------------------

If it was me, and I was looking for a good medium plinking/target load, with the 140gr jacketed bullet you mentioned, I'd start somewhere around 6.0-6.5gr Unique and go from there.

Another idea would be to start with a high end .38 Special load and using .357 brass, work your way up until you find a good combination of power and accuracy.

DISCLAIMER: The above reccomendations are based on 25 years of personal experiance and aquired knowledge and no claims or guarantees are implied. I am not responsible for any actions taken based on this information.

 

[Rico567]

I can only echo a previous post when it comes to max loads- a lot of them will accelerate the wear and tear on even the most rugged pistol (and you have it, same as me, I use a 6" GP-100), and should be approached in your particular gun with great caution. Never trust published data when you are approaching maximum. Most of the publishers of manuals use test barrels in something called a "universal receiver" when testing loads. This is fine and dandy when pursuing a general range of loads in a given caliber, but this is a perfect illustration of the notion that YMMV (Your Mileage May Vary). In this case, it's almost certain to vary. BACK OFF at least 10% from any published maximum, and start working up by small powder increments. Examine fired cases for the standard pressure signs (in my experience, primer flattening is a good indication in .357, and is quite linear.

In the case of the specific powders you mention, I've never used Unique in .357. Winchester 296 and H110 (which, according to my reading, are the same powder) are supposed to be ideal for heavy loads in .357. I just loaded a batch of silhouette thumpers, but I used Speer 180 gr. FMJ bullets, and 13.0 grains of 630, a discontinued Winchester powder in the same general burning range as Unique, 540, WSF, and Universal, that has always given me good results in .357, as long as a magnum primer is used.

 

[cdbeaver]

Thank you all for your excellent advice. You've given me some very good places from whch to start.

I have never loaded maximum charges in any cartridge with any powder and have no intentions of starting now. I merely wanted to give examples of how various manuals vary in their loading extremes.

I'll check the on-line sites of Hodgdon and Alliant to get their recommendations. Thanks again, all.

 

[Matt Dillon]

I have a few .357 loads, using Unique and H110 powders. My Unique load, using 158 grain lead semi wad cutters uses 6.8 grains of Unique. Unique doesn't meter well, so after I drop 50 cases, I visually check the powder level of each case, and way at least 10 of the 50 cases to ensure uniformity. This load isn't wimpy, nor is it hot, but just right for me!

 

[Mark whiz]

OK...
I finally got a chance to consult my "Handy Dandy" .357Mag LoadMap book for the 140gr Hornady XTP............

No listing for Unique
for H-110 the loading scale starts around 16.0gr and ends at 18.2gr ---- with 17.6gr being the equivalent of a 95% max charge.

SO we're in the ballpark here

 

[kimbernut]

.357 mag. with Unique

Definitely not the best choice for clean burning and for velocity out of the .357 Mag. but it will work. You are apparently looking at Speer # 13 when you say no listing with Unique. I do not yet have that issue but my Speer #12 says: Speer case out of an S&W 19 with 6" bbl. and CCI500,550 primers go:

140gr.JHP,COL1.590, Start 7.2 gr Unique should yield 1086 fps

Max 8.0 gr. Unique should yield 1185 fps