357 Mag Loading

[J_McLeod]

Finally got some cases and the chance to load some 357 mag rounds, and notice that my Lee manual calls for a SP primer, while Hodgdon and Lyman call for SP magnum primers. Anyone have any suggestions or advice?

Here's what I have on hand..
231, HS-6
110 JHP, 140 MBC LRN, 148 HBWC, 158 WC
Winchester Small Pistol Primers

 

[zxcvbob]

Use any small primer you like, even small rifle primers, just stick with it thru the load development, and if you switch primers start over again. You need magnum primers with a few powders like 296 and H110, but even with those Winchester SP primers are probably hot enough if you crimp really really well.

I would probably start with the HS6 and the 158 SWC (they are SWC aren't they? you said WC.) Winchester SP primers will be fine.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Here's what I have on hand..
231, HS-6
110 JHP, 140 MBC LRN, 148 HBWC, 158 WC
Winchester Small Pistol Primers

Hard to ignite ball powder work much better with Magnum primers. With W231 a standard primer is just fine but with HS-6 I highly recommend using a Magnum primer.

The powder I use a Magnum primer with are:
HS-6
HS-7
W296/H110
Lil'Gun

 

[bigggbbruce]

Been loading 38 and 357 with Unique for 20 plus years... 125 - 180gr .. used both standard and magnum primers... everything has gone bang with no surprises...

 

[J_McLeod]

Hard to ignite ball powder work much better with Magnum primers. With W231 a standard primer is just fine but with HS-6 I highly recommend using a Magnum primer.

The powder I use a Magnum primer with are:
HS-6
HS-7
W296/H110
Lil'Gun

Should I be using magnum primers with HS-6 in my other calibers as well? I've loaded it in 9mm and .38. I like it almost as much as 231 in 9mm.

 

[wcavasos]

No

The reason for the Magnum primer in this case I believe is that there is a small amount of powder in a large case, making it harder to ignite.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The reason for the Magnum primer in this case I believe is that there is a small amount of powder in a large case, making it harder to ignite.

Sorry to disagree but that's not it, it's the powder itself. If that were true W231 would need a magnum primer more than HS-6 because you use much less W231 than HS-6. Also, Clays uses extremely small charge weights especially in a target .38 Special and again a magnum primer is unnecessary. IMO and experiance the powders I listed above are the hard to ignite pistol powders better served with the use of a magnum primer. There may be more but those are the ones I've come across.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Should I be using magnum primers with HS-6 in my other calibers as well? I've loaded it in 9mm and .38. I like it almost as much as 231 in 9mm.

IMO caliber doesn't matter, it's the powder that's hard to ignite. I use a Magnum primer with everything I load using HS-6 and with the other hard to ignite powders I listed above too. That's what works for me and without a magnum primer you get erratic ignition and unburnt powder not to mention very large SD numbers.

 

[tommyintx]

i've been using small rifle primers for .357 mag for.. well since i started loading .357 mag... at age 8. I don't know why, probably for one of the above reasons, incomplete detonation of propellants.. All i know is it worked back then, works now, and i have no reason to question it or change it...

old habits die hard.

 

[243winxb]

Magnum pressures require a Magnum Primer.

The old primer thing again. :banghead: Go to the website of the manufactures of primers. Most have listed a primer for 38's and a primer for 357 mags. The magnum primer cup is for the most part thicker. 357mag= magnum primers.

 

[Walkalong]

Heavy loads of H110/W296 are always shown with mag primers. Some other ball powders are shown with mag primers, depending on the data source.

Your W-231 definitely does not need mag primers.

Listen to ArchAngelCD.

 

[GaryL]

I've never had issues trying to light H110 with a standard Win primer, even in cold weather. But I have noticed slightly increased recoil with slightly reduced charges of H110 during the winter, so a magnum primer may help with that. Personally, I've decided against using H110 in anything but small rifle cartridges, like 30 carbine.

 

[murf]

your hs6 will probably ignite just fine with a regular primer until you take it up on mount lemmon in the winter. suggest you use magnum primers with the hs6 in all pistols and revolvers.

murf

 

[J_McLeod]

I'm going to /k this week, I'll pick some up.

 

[gamestalker]

I know exactly what your refering to and it can give you coniptions trying to sift through all the data. My "One Book, One Caliber" manual lists magnum primers for all the charges, and doesn't ever differentiate between SP and SPM in the Hornady, Sierra, Nosler bullet manuafacturers' data.
Speer on the other hand does specify some loads with SP and others SPM. Speer lists CCI 550 (SPM) for HS6, HS7, and 296/H110, and then everything else with CCI 500 (SP).
Hogdon lists SPM primers for every powder charge.
It can be quite confusing if your familar with the reasons for these variations. I've tried using SP primers with H110/296 and the result was unpredictable velocities, dirty burn, and higher than desired pressures.