357 loads

[hunterwinco]

A couple of questions from a wheelgun newbie! I recently purchased a Taurus Tracker 357. I am looking for a good all around load for shooting at the range and carrying in the woods. I would like something that gives pretty good velocity with a 158g, but one that will not beat the snot out of my gun. I have some Hodgdon lil'gun on the shelf that I use for my hornet. I found a load in my hodgdon book calling for 16-18g of lilgun with a 158 xtp, and a winchester small pistol mag primer. The book showed it as quite a low pressure load (24,100 CUP). Would this be considered a mellow load? I loaded up some with 16g and it felt like it was pretty rugged. All the cases ejected fine and showed no stress. Anyone have any experience with lil'gun in a 357 or another pet load?

 

[Ceemack]

No experience with Lil Gun.

I use 9.8 gr. of Blue Dot and a WSP primer behind a LaserCast 158 gr. SWC. Velocity averages 1150 fps with an extreme spread that's almost impossibly small. Recoil is noticeable but not punishing in a 6" 686, the muzzle blast is well below full-magnum levels, and accuracy is outstanding.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like Lil'Gun and use it when I load 180gr Hornady XTP bullets. I'm still using W296/H110 for 158gr bullets. I use a Magnum primer for both powders and a heavy crimp is a must. Remember not to download H110 because it doesn't react well to light loads. Even though low pressures are reported for Lil'Gun I don't find that the felt recoil is any less than with other powders.

I charge 16.4gr W296/H110 with a 158gr Jacketed bullet.
I charge 15.0gr Lil'Gun with a 180gr Hornady XTP.

Both loads are very accurate in my guns. I shoot a 4" S&W M686 and a Marlin 1894C Carbine.

 

[Seafarer12]

I like 14 grains of 2400 behind a 158 grain JSP with WSP primers. It is pretty stout though. I would probably back off a grain or two if I wanted a milder load.

 

[machinisttx]

I like 14 grains of 2400 behind a 158 grain JSP with WSP primers. It is pretty stout though. I would probably back off a grain or two if I wanted a milder load.

+1

I just checked and I was using 14.5 grains. Pretty mild load to me.

I was playing with some H110 loads for my M28, but they were a bit heavier than I like.

 

[hunterwinco]

archangel

Im glad you mentioned the "felt recoil"! That was the thing with lil'gun that kinda had me wondering. Although it is listed as a relatively LP round...it did not feel it. That's is making me wonder if it is hard on my gun or am I just being paranoid. Thanks for all the feedback folks. I should have mentioned that my gun is ported, so I dont really want to shoot lead in it, since I HATE cleaning firearms. Does anyone use the ranier or berrys bullets?

 

[AgentAdam]

158g LSWC with 8 grains of Herco shoots like a baby in my in my 6 1/2" ported .357 8-shot Taurus 608 (44mag frame S&W clone), but then again that gun makes .38 specials feel like paint balls. Should be getting at least 1,365fps with only 7.9 MAX grains of Herco in only a 5.6" barrel.

I am going to work up to 6.8g of Unique and see how that shoots. You should try Herco or 2400 for a hunting load.

I'm not familiar with the powder you are using but that seems like allot.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Does anyone use the ranier or berrys bullets?

Many reloaders like plated bullets but I don't. Today's prices on plated bullets are so close to jacketed bullet prices I feel it's better to just buy the jacketed bullets. You can't push plated bullets much faster than lead bullets and you should use lead loading data when using a plated bullet. Even though they look like jacketed bullets you will not like the results you get if you load them to .357 Magnum velocities and pressures.

 

[Bula]

Start at 12-12.5 up to 13-13.5 of 2400 under any 158 gr Jacketed pr plain based lead bullet. Not a barn burner but more than any .38 special load. Should be nice and easy on that Taurus. As for cast stuff, I cast all mine but good plain based pills are out there commercially (beartooth bullets etc.)

 

[buck460XVR]

I like 14 grains of 2400 behind a 158 grain JSP with WSP primers. It is pretty stout though. I would probably back off a grain or two if I wanted a milder load

another plus one....but it is a milder load for me. I also use H110 @15-15.5 and16-16.5 of Lil' Gun....below my 158 GDs. I use Unique when I want really mild. I'm still playin tho........

 

[Walkalong]

I recently discovered that True Blue works very well in the .357. It's worth trying out.

 

[CZ57]

How recent?

One thing you'll have to watch for is sticky extraction with the 7 shot Tracker when the loads start getting warm. One reason why I worked up the .357 Short Magnum in .38 Sp. length trimmed .357 Magnum brass. Velocity can be about as fast as you'll find comfortable. True Blue, 3N37, Blue Dot, Power Pistol and AA#7 can all be used. If this were a legitimate cartridge there would be no reason it couldn't be loaded to the same pressure level as Semi-Rimmed .38 Super which can be fired in .357 Magnums they will chamber in.

 

[mkl]

Try 5.0 to 5.5 grains of Unique behind most any bullet.

I've used this load for 25 years in 38/357 revolvers and find very good accuracy, mild recoil, and plenty of power for any "woods critter" up to 50 pounds or so.

Probably my favorite load is 5.0 grains Unique behind a 146 grain lead SWC. I use it in both my 38 Special and 357 mag revolvers and it has shown consistant accuracy in all of my guns.

 

[hunterwinco]

to the range tonight

I just loaded up another 10 rounds of 16grains of lil'gun with the 158 XTP's and headed to the range tonight. I dont have a crony and the book says 24,100 cup...but man she feels like shes got some SMACK. More than I care for just playin. I have be shooting 158g S&B's and they are quite mellow. I would like to replicate a commercial load like that. I assume the Taurus Tracker is a fairly rugged handgun, but I would like to be able to make it last. I really want to stick with jacketed bullets though.

 

[zxcvbob]

I like 7.5 to 8 grains of Herco with 158's.

I've also just started using some 9mm NATO pulldown powder and I really like it too. I've been using 10 grains with 158 grain cast bullets, and it's a good load that probably still has some headroom (11 grains maybe?)

I really want to stick with jacketed bullets though

Jacketed bullets? That's easy: 10 to 10.5 grains of Blue Dot.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

hunterwinco,
I would expect Lil'Gun to have that "smack" feel. After all, it was developed for high velocity .410 Shotshells!! LOL

This is from the Hodgdon site:

Advanced technology propellant design just for the 410 BORE. The 410 shotshell has long been difficult to load due to shortcomings in powder fit, metering, and burning characteristics. Not any more! LIL'GUN was designed to fit, meter and perform flawlessly in the 410 BORE. No more spilled shot or bulged cases. In addition, LIL'GUN has many magnum pistol applications and is superb in the 22 Hornet.

I don't used Lil'Gun for target rounds either but I do like it for making 180gr rounds for my Carbine like I said above. Lil'Gun really pushes that 180gr bullet well.

 

[CZ57]

hunterwinco, you didn't mention barrel length. Since the Tracker is compensated your true barrel length is about an inch shorter than it's rated. I'd be hesitant in trying to find optimum performance with a powder as slow as L'il Gun even with the 6" (5" actually) barrel, unless you like flame coming out of the barrel and ports along with the buck and roar. If you have the 4" (3" actually), I'd forget about L'il Gun altogether. The powders I mentioned are better choices and Herco and Unique should be thrown in there. I'm not a big fan of flake powders for magnum loads. Particularly if they're self defense oriented. Flash can be intense and when you load Power Pistol to higher pressure, you'll get plenty. But, as I said, I load with the trimmed cases for 7-shooters and snubs with short ejector rods.

You didn't mention any extraction problems. At that pressure level, you may not have any, but did you get a noticable amount of unburned powder?

If you have the 6", AA#9 or Ramshot Enforcer are about ideal in burn rate for barrel length. If it's the 4", I'd speed up to a good powder starting at Unique to AA#7 when loading in full length .357 Magnum cases. That covers all the powders I mentioned as well as Herco which Bob mentioned.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

I have found hs-6 as primary powder works very well in every length of weapon I have including my 1894c lever action. I like bluedot as well but in short barrels "2in" it does not burn completely.

 

[38 Super Auto]

.357 Mag Load

13.3 gr AA#9 under a Lee 150 gr SWC , light roll crimped on the crimp groove, is a very accurate load for me. It is moderate recoil, less than full factory loads.

 

[dagger dog]

11.5 gr. 2400, 158 gr lswc,small pistol magnum primer good stiff crimp, makes a good starting load for .357 won't intimidate but gives more than +p 38special performance