.357 Magnum Loads

[allisd17]

It's been a long time since I used 2400 powder, so I made up a few rounds today; 158g XTP over 14g of 2400. Hope to chrono some this weekend. I already know that it's a softer-shooting round than my usual 16.6g of 296; that load absolutely bucks like a tiger.

 

[Slamfire]

That should be a good load. Skeeter Skelton used 13.5 grains 2400 with 158's in 38 Special brass. God knows what pressures he had, all Skeeter had were gross indications of pressure to warn him, and he said his load was safe in his handguns. I copied that load with 158 Lead bullets in 357 brass, and it works great. I think you, bumping it up by half a grain, with a JHP, is all to the better.

 

[LaneP]

I put 14gr under a Rem 158gr JHP and it hit just over 1400 fps in my 7-inch 686. Also used it in reduced loads under some 200gr Lee C358-200-RF cast in #2 alloy with good results. What I like about 2400 is it behaves well when you're looking for something that isn't full-nuclear-fireball like you get with H110/W296.

 

[DMW1116]

My most accurate load for my Blackhawk is 14.1 grains of 2400. I didn’t chronograph it so I’m only guessing the velocity. It is a heavy load for my purposes. The first time I shot it, I thought it burned the hair off the backs of my hands. If it works in your 686 it sounds like a good consistent load.

 

[243winxb]

A magnum primer seems to raise pressures, using 2400, in 357 magnum. Pressure Test- https://castboolits.gunloads.com/sh...00-in-the-357-Magnum-with-6-different-primers

158g XTP over 14g of 2400.

A mag primer may not be a good idea? What primer are you using?

Old powder vs new, big difference.

 

[allisd17]

I've been loading .357 magnum since 1978. Always used magnum primers. Not a single issue.

 

[243winxb]

Always used magnum primers

I also, till i loaded Accurate No. 9 powder. I need to try a standard primer with No 9.

 

[Walkalong]

I use 14.5 Grs of 2400 with various 158 Gr bullets in .357 Mag. Others use 14.0, both are good loads, I just prefer another half grain, seems to settle things down and is more consistent over multiple guns.

 

[DMW1116]

I use regular small pistol primers. That’s all I had at the time and load data from Alliant had them listed.

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

I also, till i loaded Accurate No. 9 powder. I need to try a standard primer with No 9.

I know that, at least until recently , Accurate recommended standard primers with their pistol powders.

I have (had?) some manuals of theirs that stated as much.

 

[allisd17]

I also, till i loaded Accurate No. 9 powder. I need to try a standard primer with No 9.

If I could find some #9 I would try it.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

If I could find some #9 I would try it.

Powder Valley https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/accurate-9/ $30/lb
MidSouth Shooter's https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/00079pb000901/accurate-nopoint-9-smokeless-powder-(1-lb) $31.04/lb
No.9 shows up pretty consistently if you really want to try it. Accurate No. 9 is kind of the "unsung hero" of revolver loads. I recommend No.4100 much more highly, though. Also known as Ramshot Enforcer.

 

[allisd17]

I use 14.5 Grs of 2400 with various 158 Gr bullets in .357 Mag. Others use 14.0, both are good loads, I just prefer another half grain, seems to settle things down and is more consistent over multiple guns.

Powder Valley https://www.powdervalleyinc.com/product/accurate-9/ $30/lb
MidSouth Shooter's https://www.midsouthshooterssupply.com/item/00079pb000901/accurate-nopoint-9-smokeless-powder-(1-lb) $31.04/lb
No.9 shows up pretty consistently if you really want to try it. I recommend No.4100 much more highly. Also known as Ramshot Enforcer.

So many options, so little time. First-world problems, I guess

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

So many options, so little time. First-world problems, I guess

I've used 2400 and No.9 with both SP and SR primers in .357Mag and really can't tell a difference in either accuracy or clean up out of a 6-1/2" Blackhawk. They're both pretty forgiving powders and easy to use in a medium bore straight-wall case. The only negative thing I can think of about No.9 is it tends to be a little temperature sensitive. It's slower cold. Around here that can be bad. It means load No.9 for the season you're going to use it and keep loads low, don't approach maximums, if you're testing in the col but plan to hunt in the heat. A good load at 60F might be a cylinder popper at 110F.

Having been to some 3rd world countries, I have to say I prefer 1st world problems.

 

[Soonerpesek]

If I could find some #9 I would try it.

Where you at, I have an unopened 8lb jug we could make a deal on..........

 

[allisd17]

Where you at, I have an unopened 8lb jug we could make a deal on..........

I appreciate it but I'd better stick with the 1 lb size.

 

[nofendertom]

It should be noted that Skeeter Skelton while loading 13.5gr of 2400 in a .38spl case, he used a 158gr bullet with 2 crimping grooves. He crimped the bullet
in the lower groove thus seating the bullet further out. This gave the .38spl a case capacity more like you would get with a .357mag case.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

It should be noted that Skeeter Skelton while loading 13.5gr of 2400 in a .38spl case, he used a 158gr bullet with 2 crimping grooves. He crimped the bullet
in the lower groove thus seating the bullet further out. This gave the .38spl a case capacity more like you would get with a .357mag case.

Skelton was a Marine during War 2, was a Amarillo, TX police officer, then a Border Patrol agent, Sheriff of Deaf Smith County, US Customs agent, and a DEA agent before retiring in 1974. He started writing '66 for Shooting Times . He wrote for twenty-something years - over four hundred articles and two books - and while Keith was a devout fan of his .44Magnum, Skelton and Bill Jordan were both more fans of the .357Magnum. Jordan assisted Keith and Skelton in development of the .41Magnum - the cartridge with three fathers. Those guys broke new ground, which is always risky, so those who came after could enjoy the fruits of their labors with relative safety. It's worth noting we now have .357Magnum cases and don't really have a need to risk loss and injury by overloading smaller cases. Just sayin'

Let's be safe out there, okay?

 

[Hooda Thunkit]

It should be noted that Skeeter Skelton while loading 13.5gr of 2400 in a .38spl case, he used a 158gr bullet with 2 crimping grooves. He crimped the bullet
in the lower groove thus seating the bullet further out. This gave the .38spl a case capacity more like you would get with a .357mag case.

Back in those days, one had to wade through the 38 Spl brass at the range to get to the firing line. It was quite literally there for the taking, just pick it up off the ground. One could use a scoop.

357 brass, on the other hand, was expensive and hard to find.

Many folks used 38 Spl brass and the 358156 mould, which was designed, with the dual crimp grooves, to be used with 357 data in either 357 or 38 brass.

 

[AJC1]

Back in those days, one had to wade through the 38 Spl brass at the range to get to the firing line. It was quite literally there for the taking, just pick it up off the ground. One could use a scoop.

357 brass, on the other hand, was expensive and hard to find.

Many folks used 38 Spl brass and the 358156 mould, which was designed, with the dual crimp grooves, to be used with 357 data in either 357 or 38 brass.

I had a rare find at the range yesterday, a pile of gfl 357 spread all over the deck... it's an indoor range so always hot... I managed a few and was very happy....

 

[allisd17]

I had a rare find at the range yesterday, a pile of gfl 357 spread all over the deck... it's an indoor range so always hot... I managed a few and was very happy....View attachment 1082190

Nice score. I find .357 brass just about as often as I find my other two "holy grails", .30 carbine and 7.62x39. In other words,..... NEVER

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Nice score. I find .357 brass just about as often as I find my other two "holy grails", .30 carbine and 7.62x39. In other words,..... NEVER

I've asked people at the range before if they're going to keep their brass or toss it and quite a few times had handed to me nice, neat, full boxes of revolver brass - .38Spl and .357Mag mostly. I even got a near full box of .45Colt once! One case missing... feller told me he was sorry he lost it. There's some real nice people in this world.

 

[allisd17]

I've asked people at the range before if they're going to keep their brass or toss it and quite a few times had handed to me nice, neat, full boxes of revolver brass - .38Spl and .357Mag mostly. I even got a near full box of .45Colt once! One case missing... feller told me he was sorry he lost it. There's some real nice people in this world.

At my old club, people would throw all kinds of stuff in the trash cans, even perfectly good live ammo; I always went "dumpster diving" there, no matter what I had to dig through

 

[AJC1]

At my old club, people would throw all kinds of stuff in the trash cans, even perfectly good live ammo; I always went "dumpster diving" there, no matter what I had to dig through

Range trash is the only type ill dig through..... almost nothing to surprise you there....

 

[allisd17]

Range trash is the only type ill dig through..... almost nothing to surprise you there....

A couple of times a month, club officers would burn the trash pile. It was always entertaining hearing all the discarded rounds cook off.....