357 mag 180gr xtp and AA#5

[fourdollarbill]

I am trying to use up this AA#5.
Do you have a good recipe for using a 180gr XTP and AA#5 in a 6" inch 357 mag barrel? Or is it just going to be a dirty load no matter what?

 

[Walkalong]

It should not be dirty at all, unless way underloaded. Speer #13 shows 9.0 to 10.0 Grs AA #5 with 158 Gr jacketed bullets. Any where in there should be very clean.

I have shot less than 9.0 Grs with 158's playing with midrange loads, and it was clean.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Is that 9 to 10 gr AA5 good with the 180gr XTP. Would that be considered slightly hot.

 

[fourdollarbill]

I wanted to try the hot side for this bullet and maybe use it for a hunt.

 

[arizona98tj]

Is that 9 to 10 gr AA5 good with the 180gr XTP. Would that be considered slightly hot.

Are you doing this without a reloading manual?

 

[rg1]

Accurate Arms Manual #1 says 180XTP, AA#5 powder, CCI 500 primer, that:
7.2 grains of AA#5--915fps
8.0 grains Maximum---1040fps
They used Hornady Frontier cases in a 6" barrel S&W 686, note they used standard small pistol primers and not mag primers, and they used an overall length of 1.575" with the 180XTP.
Slower powders for that bullet in .357 Mag are normally recommended.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

AA#5 isn't usually considered a "Magnum" powder, especially with a heavy bullet like that. You will get much better results using AA#9. (or 2400, W296/H110, Lil'Gun or Enforcer) I've found when you try to push a heavy for caliber bullet with a faster burning powder you can get pressure spikes. (which are dangerous)

 

[joneb]

Are you doing this without a reloading manual?

That's a good question ?
I like #5 for mid-range .357 Mag. with 140-158gr bullets.

 

[Walkalong]

I wanted to try the hot side for this bullet and maybe use it for a hunt.

AA#5 isn't usually considered a "Magnum" powder, especially with a heavy bullet like that. You will get much better results using AA#9.

Yep. AA #9 is much better suited, as is H-110, W-296, N110, or 2400.

Is that 9 to 10 gr AA5 good with the 180gr XTP.

Yes, that is good with the 180 Gr XTP. Start low and work up as always.

You need a manual. If you want data worked up with the XTP bullet specifically, get the Hornady book.

 

[MCgunner]

13.5 grains (quite hot, but I don't worry in the Blackhawk) AA#9 gives a 180 XTP slightly over 1400 fps from my 6.5" Blackhawk and very accurate and flat shooting. I wouldn't mess with #5 for hot loads, waste of time, energy, and components IMHO.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Are you doing this without a reloading manual?

I do everything by the book. The closest is my Lyman#49 but it did not offer the 180 with AA#5 and that is why I asked.

I always use medium to light load 158 swc and bullseye to keep down on the leading. I was given a box of 180XTP's and I think the bullseye would be a disaster (boom). I have a pound of AA#5 just setting there looking for something to do but have no recipe's to match any of my bullets. "Typically I shoot short barrel's"

So the ultimate question is answered and please do correct me if I'm wrong. The AA#5 will push that 180 gr bullet out of the 6" barrel at medium loads just fine.

Thanks again, you all have good info.

 

[Walkalong]

You are correct. AA #5 works great for medium loads in .357. When I still had my Blackhawk AA #5 shot very well with it. I was pushing 158's around 1000 FPS, not hot at all, but fun and accurate.

 

[Steve C]

This PDF Accurate data for the .357 mag downloaded in 2003 has data for AA#5 with a 180gr XTP bullet on page 2.

 

[Walkalong]

The link did not work for me. Here is an older Accurate PDF file. They only one I have small enough to upload. The 180 XTP .357 data is the same in the newer ones.

 

[Steve C]

Link fixed