357 Magnum: Medium loads wanted.

[nitroexpress]

I'd like to load the 357 Mag to less than max, but still get good accuracy. I'd like to achieve velocities midway, between 38 SPL/357 Mag.

Most data and articles give good loads for max or accurate loads just below max, but I can't seem to find any mid load recommendations.

I have a bunch of 110 jacketed HP bullets that I'd like an accurate near 1200 fps (7 1/2" barrel) load.

I have some cast 125's that I'd like to keep at about 1000 to minimize leading. I've tried Trail Boss with these and it looks promising. (More testing needed)

I have a bunch of Speer 158 LSWCHP swaged that I load over 5 grains of Red Dot, but I'd like a more accurate load.

Does anyone have a pet load they'd like to share.

I have a 2nd Gen Colt SAA NF, and I don't want to beat it up with max loads, just for killing tin cans.

 

[fallout mike]

You have to work up a load that your gun likes.

 

[rclark]

Well, in my .357 revolvers, 5.0g of Red Dot under 125g TC is accurate. Use the same under the 158g SWC. For both it is my goto load. All I shoot is lead.

Just a couple of other loads that I've found (6 1/2" barrel Ruger BH)

5.0g Trail Boss under 125g TC. (1090fps)

6.0g Unique/Universal under 158g SWC (1096fps)
5.5g Green Dot under 158g SWC marked as very accurate (1071fps)
7.0g True Blue under 158g SWC marked as very accurate (1092fps)

Again these are out of my guns, you need to test what works in yours. I get my bullets from Rimrock bullets which have a BHN 12-15.

I don't push .357 loads as I have bigger calibers to go to if I need more 'punch'. So most of my loads are in the 1000fps - 1100fps range.

 

[Salmoneye]

I'm with RClark...

5gr Red Dot under 158gr is a go-to...

I have been loading this for appx. 30 years...My first set of .357 dies were Lee, and they came with a dipper and load card, and this was the load that I happened to have lots of powder for...

Just as accurate as I am in my Rugers and Smith...

 

[Jlr2267]

Well, in my .357 revolvers, 5.0g of Red Dot under 125g TC is accurate. Use the same under the 158g SWC. For both it is my goto load. All I shoot is lead.

Just a couple of other loads that I've found (6 1/2" barrel Ruger BH)

5.0g Trail Boss under 125g TC. (1090fps)

6.0g Unique/Universal under 158g SWC (1096fps)
5.5g Green Dot under 158g SWC marked as very accurate (1071fps)
7.0g True Blue under 158g SWC marked as very accurate (1092fps)

Again these are out of my guns, you need to test what works in yours. I get my bullets from Rimrock bullets which have a BHN 12-15.

I don't push .357 loads as I have bigger calibers to go to if I need more 'punch'. So most of my loads are in the 1000fps - 1100fps range.

I've had good luck with the Green Dot load mentioned here. Depending on your bullet hardness, you can probably download even more with green dot in the 4 to 5 grain range.

 

[mbopp]

In my 4" 19-3 I found two accurate +P loads:

6.0gr of Unique and a 148gr Berry's plated DEWC.
4.5gr of Bullseye and a Missouri Bullet "hard" 158gr LSWC.

 

[jim8115]

Power pistol. 8.0 grains gives me right at 1200 FPS with any 158 grain bullet. 8.5 - 9 for a 125 gives 1350

chronoed from a 6" gp100

JIM

 

[JRH6856]

I have two loads that a very accurate out of my 6" Security Six:

5.0 grains Bullseye under 125gr lead (heavy crimp)

6.2 grains Silouette under 158 gr. lead SWC or Berrys plated HP

 

[vongh]

I use the same 4.5 gr. Bullseye load under 158 gr. RN cast wheel weight bullets. In a Colt trooper III.

 

[forestswin]

.......

I have a bunch of Speer 158 LSWCHP swaged that I load over 5 grains of Red Dot, but I'd like a more accurate load.

Does anyone have a pet load they'd like to share.

nitro
I really like 5.0 gr Unique with Hornady 158 gr swaged LSWC in my 6" 686
might be similar to your Speer swaged. the book says they're doing 950 fps

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[tcj]

I like accurate #5 which can be loaded from mild to full power. Favorite load is 9.2 under a 158 SJSHP. Gives me about 1,200fps from a 6" revolver and just under 1,500 from a 24" carbine.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have a bunch of Speer 158 LSWCHP swaged that I load over 5 grains of Red Dot, but I'd like a more accurate load.

I would load that bullet with W231 and a charge of between 5.0gr and 5.5gr. Somewhere in there you will probably find an extremely accurate load in your revolver. You can also try 7.0gr to 7.2gr HS-6 with a magnum primer. That is also a very accurate load for me. I'm sorry I can't help you with a 125gr cast bullets or 110gr jacketed bullets because I don't load them. If I did I would use the same powders, W231/HP-38 and HS-6...

 

[nitroexpress]

Thanks for sharing your loads.

Looks good, and I appreciate the help. I'll load a few and test in spring.

 

[7mmb]

Lots of good load suggestions here. I'll throw in that Universal is another good powder for 357 mid-range loads. Gives velocities right in between 38s and full power 357, burns clean and meters well. I've gotten good accuracy with my loads with it too.

 

[Kurastduuks]

Well you say you want between 38 and 357 velocities. That would fit pretty much every max load published in current manuals:banghead:

 

[nitroexpress]

My Bad, what I meant to say was that I was shooting for loads that were "Half" way between 38 SPL max and 357 Mag max (velocity/pressure). I don't want max pressure. For theory sake, what if the max pressure for a 357 Mag was just 25,000 pressure units. What loads would work with that criteria?

The load above, HS-6 @ 7.0 > 7.2 with a mag primer, would fit that criteria, as would some of the other suggestions.

Interestingly, with a light bullet, it would duplicate the performance of a .36 caliber cap and ball BP revolver shooting conicals, without the smoke. My son wants me to load the 357 with BP, but that would make for too much cleaning, and the 357 case is too stiff to properly seal @ BP pressures.

I've also had sealing issues with some other reduced loads, not unsafe, just darkened half way down. I think it has to do with the pressure curve/burning rate more than the absolute pressure. In other words, some of the powder is still burning after the case mouth relaxes it's seal.

My other project is a 9mm Browning Long, not much data around for that one.

 

[JRH6856]

QuickLOAD can extimate the charge that will give 25,000 psi (or any pressure you want) for any bullet/caliber, but it can't speak to accuracy. If you are interested, PM me and I'll run it for you.

 

[anothernewb]

my 3 favorites are covered already here. I pretty much use 158 grainers for everything

Unique
231
HS6

both unique and HS6 work real good in the 6-7 grain range. HS6 likes a mag primer in my loads though. 231 ends up near 5 grains for me.

My other favorite which is scary accurate, clean, and mild in all 10 of my revolvers is 2.3 grains of Trail Boss under a soft lead 148 HBWC. (38 cases) Haven't yet found a gun it wont bullseye at 50' with.

 

[joneb]

Another vote for AA#5.
Great for hot 38spl, Great for warm 45acp, Great for the middle between 357mag and 38spl, and great for 44spl.

 

[PJSprog]

HP-38/W231 will probably get you just into .38Spl +P load levels at the most. HS-6 will get you a little farther. This might be what you're looking for. Good luck, and let us know what you find works best for you.

 

[Godsgunman]

If you use Unique I like 158gr LSWC at 6.4.

 

[Eb1]

You should purchase a chronograph.

 

[Hanshi]

I tend to reserve jacketed bullets for full power loads and have some full power swc gc lead bullet loads. For medium I like (my guns like) 155grn gc and 168grn gc swc bullets over 12.5 grains of 2400. Depending on barrel length this load gives from 1150fps to 1200fps and accuracy is splendid.

 

[Mark in GA]

I agree, this sounds like a very suitable place to use HS-6. It excels with medium loads and would quite well with cast bullets too. It's should get you the speed you want with less pressure than the faster burning powders. That being said, I could get along well with power pistol or even unique in this application very well too.

Mark in GA