.357 Mag loads.... What are your favorite?

[Ryan Williams]

Just curious... What is your favorite .357 Magnum load and what gun are you shooting?

 

[Walkalong]

4.0 Grs Clays and a Berrys 125 Gr TrFP for a light plinker load. (900ish FPS)

9.1 Grs N340 and a Powerbond 125 Gr HP for a midrange load. (1300ish FPS)

These are two favorites.

These loads appear safe in my guns using my load technique. Check data, start low, and work up.

 

[Ryan Williams]

I hear a lot of debate on what is the ideal bullet weight for a .357.... Are 158 gr XTP's too heavy for a 357?

 

[Seedtick]

My favorite load is this 125 grain plated hollow point (same as Walkalong) sitting atop about as much Alliant 2400 as a piece Starline nickel plated brass will hold. I've lit them off with CCI 500, CCI 550, WSP and Federal 100 primers and I can't tell much difference between them. I use CCI 500's the most because I have more of them.

I shoot these out of a New Model Blackhawk with a 6 1/2" barrel with a 2X Leupold on it. It's a hoot to shoot.

ST

 

[rg1]

Hornady 158 XTP HP's and FP's with 13.0 grains of AA#9 with standard CCI500 primer. Great shooting load in 6" revolver and Marlin rifle. You can use a magnum primer if you want but the CCI 500 shows better consistency in my loads.

 

[Gryffydd]

The two that I load most of are:
158gr LSWC from Missouri Bullet Company over 14.5 grains of 2400
125gr Remington Golden Saber over 22 grains of H110

I shoot these out of a 5" Ruger GP-100.

 

[zxcvbob]

158 grain SWC or RNFP with 8.0 grains of Herco or 11.5 grains of AA#7.
125 grain JHP with 9.5 grains of WSF ain't a bad load either.

I'm about to work up a hot load using 148 grain DEWC's. Not sure if I'll use AA#7 or 2400 powder.

 

[evan price]

Most .357 revolvers were originally designed around 158-grain bullets.

My favorite is a hard-cast 158-gr lead SWC and 5.0 grains of Titegroup.

 

[joneb]

I hear a lot of debate on what is the ideal bullet weight for a .357.... Are 158 gr XTP's too heavy for a 357?

I think any bullet weight between 125-180gr is just about ideal for the .357 mag. but some may choose less or more. I prefer 140-180gr slugs but thats just me, the load diversity is what makes this cartridge so appealing to me.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have about a half dozen loads I like to shoot in my 4" M686 but the one I shoot most lately is 14.5gr 2400 under a 158gr JSP bullet.

For plinking I like a 158gr LSWC over 7.2gr HS-6 in the same revolver or in either of my 5.5" Ruger Vaqueros....

 

[Doug b]

Same here 14.5gr. of 2400 and a Hornady 158gr.XTP bullet shot in a 8" Python and a 2.5" M66.

 

[bullseye308]

14.5gr. of 2400 and a home cast 158 swc for bowling pins @ 100 yards and 5.0 gr. Bullseye under the same home cast 158 swc for everything else. Fired out of a 6" ruger GP-100.

 

[MCMXI]

I have a 4" Python that I bought in '92 NIB but I haven't shot it for quite a while. However, now that I have two GP100s and a Marlin 1894CSS to abuse, I plan on using a 180gr RNFP from MB in front of 13.5gr of H110 (or something around there). I want one load that is accurate and lethal from the Marlin and decent enough for fast hits on an 8" target at 25 yards from the 3" and 4" Rugers.

 

[cougar1717]

For plinking, 5.5gr Universal Clays with a 125gr plated bullet. For flamethrowing, 20.0 gr H110 with a 125gr XTP. Shot in a 4" M66. Remember to work any load up in your firearms.

 

[buck460XVR]

I shoot two 686s and a lever carbine regularly in .357. For at the range when I want to shoot magnum rounds it's generally 15 grains of H110/W296 under a 158 gr JHP. When I take the guns deer hunting I use a grain more with a JSP or a XTP-FP. For general plinkin' at water balloons, hangin' bowlin pins and plastic garden gnomes, I like 7.5 gr of Unique under a 158 gr JHP.

 

[fourdollarbill]

Mine is 14.5gr of 2400 - 158gr LSWC out of a 6" GP100SS.
I use it for 50yrd cinder block busting competitions. I never one time lost with that load. I just wish someone else would join in.

My second choice is a Sierra 125gr JSP and 17.7gr of H110. It is fun to shoot at night in the range box. It looks like a welding flash coming out the doors.

 

[NuJudge]

Lyman 358156GC with 13.5gr 2400 in a Ruger Speed Six or a S&W 586.

 

[angel1216]

Buffalo Bore Tactical Short Barrel Lower Recoil Low Flash 357 Magnum Ammo - 140 gr. Jacketed Hollow Point is screaming out of my SP101.

 

[Gryffydd]

Wow, 14.5 grains of 2400 seems to be really popular with 158 grain bullets!

 

[Ateam-3]

The pet load for my 686's is from an older reloading manual. It is actually above the max listed in the most recent Lyman manual. I have safely worked up to this load and it is the most accurate I have ever fired. WSP primers, 15.0gr of 2400 and my cast bullets from a Lyman mold 358156GC. These are gas checked and sized to .358. I seat the bullet in the lowest crimp groove so the oal is too long for many other pistols. These will not work in a Python or a model 19/66. It works for me, but I do not recommend you start with this as it is over max in today's loading manuals.

 

[GP100man]

I have to many favorite loads , accordin what I`m doing with em !!

 

[Joe_556]

158cast with 6.5 of Unique.

 

[MMCSRET]

Lyman 358156 GC over 13.5 gr. AA#9 works well in my Colt Lawman 2" and all my 4" Colts, Smiths and Rugers and my 6 1/2" NMBH. Have used it in a carbine but I prefer H110 for it.

 

[Brock K]

I prefer 16.5gr of H110 behind some 158 hp xtp's...

 

[Cosmoline]

My standard hot practice load is 14 grains of H110 with 158 plated FN bullets.

Standard low recoil fun load is 1cc of Trail Boss with 180 grain or 158 grain cast.

I'm also liking H110 with the 200 grain hardcasts