.357 Magnum Powder Choice?

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ArchAngelCD

ArchAngelCD

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I use mostly W296/H110 for full power .357 Magnum loads but I'm wanting to try a new powder.

If I would rather not use 2400 but wanted something different than W296/H110 would Alliant PP 300-MP be a good choice?

I know them all but have not tried them all. I have tried 2400, W296/H110 and AA#9.

I have not tried Enforcer and can't get any more AA#9 locally because Western Poders are just not available where I live. I will not use Lil'Gun in my revolvers.

So, pros and cons of using PP 300-MP against the others I have used? I heard magnum primers are not necessary but can be used, true? I also heard it is very close to W296 but not the same but we have heard that before. (cough-H110-cough)

Any first hand information would be helpful, thanks...
 
I've used Blue Dot in 357 magnum under a 158gr LSWC from MBC. It performs well when loaded at max. If you check some of the range reports for this bullet at MBC, you'll see some loads that are well above max and the guns they are shot from. I won't comment if I have tried those higher loads due to legal reasons, but I will say, Blue Dot can be a magnum powder.
 
I too, would like to hear of other peoples results with 300 MP. As stated in another thread, I just purchased some and there are very few reviews of it.

BTW, does the 50th Edition of Lymans manual list 300 MP loads? Thanks!
 
I would try 300-MP. It's cheaper than the old tech powders and plentiful. IMR 4227 is another you might try--it's also plentiful. Although it may be a bit slow for 357 I know it's a good 44 powder.
BE-86 is said to be roughly the equivalent of Power Pistol without the flash, so it might be worth trying as well. It's faster than 296 but that's not necessarily a bad thing.

Personally I like 2400, I just can't find any locally and am hoarding what I have left for cast bullets in rifles.
 
Tony,

The single most accurate powder I have used is 4227. Sure you get the little unburned "kernels" in the bore, but use the same magnum primers you use for W296/H110 to cut down on that. Plus, it's a single-base powder that's cooler burning and easier on the revolver.

Don
 
I've used 2400, Blue Dot, and Win 296 in .357 Magnum loads with 158 gr. XTP bullets but my hands down favorite is Accurate #9. AA#9 is the winner for cleaner burning and accuracy in my 6" revolver and Marlin .357 rifle. All I shoot is Hornady 158 XTP's both HP and FP XTP's.
 
1KPerDay said:
Curious what you didn't like about 2400.
Click to expand...

....and I'm curious as to why he wants something different than H110/W296 for legitimate .357 loads. While I like IMR4227 in .44 mag, and it's my go to powder for .460 Mag, I still prefer H110/W296 in .357. I too have been waiting to hear good things about Alliant PP 300-MP, but as of yet most of what I have heard is from folks that also use H110/W296 and those folks still prefer H110/W296...in .357. 2400 will not give me the velocity of H110/W296 and for moderate loads Unique gives me more accuracy. Many folks don't like H110/W296 because it takes Mag Primers. Since mag primers cost no more and are just as easy to find (or more so) than standard primers, I have no problem with 'em.

That said....I too like trying other powders.
 
1KPerDay said:
Curious what you didn't like about 2400.
Click to expand...
Mostly price and availability. I also don't get the velocity I want when loading heavy bullets in the .357. Accuracy also falls of slightly with 170gr + bullets.

buck460XVR said:
....and I'm curious as to why he wants something different than H110/W296 for legitimate .357 loads. While I like IMR4227 in .44 mag, and it's my go to powder for .460 Mag, I still prefer H110/W296 in .357. I too have been waiting to hear good things about Alliant PP 300-MP, but as of yet most of what I have heard is from folks that also use H110/W296 and those folks still prefer H110/W296...in .357. 2400 will not give me the velocity of H110/W296 and for moderate loads Unique gives me more accuracy. Many folks don't like H110/W296 because it takes Mag Primers. Since mag primers cost no more and are just as easy to find (or more so) than standard primers, I have no problem with 'em.

That said....I too like trying other powders.
Click to expand...

I'm not unhappy with W296 for the most part, I have over 6 pounds and 7k SPM primers so no problem there. I was just hoping 300-MP would equal the performance but reduce the flash but it doesn't sound like it generates less flash.

Yes, you and I both like trying new powders...

Thanks for the information everyone and I hope I cleared up the questions.
 
I use AA#5, but then I don't load full house loads either. I only use 8.2 grains, 158gr xtreme CP. That was the load I was using for my 1.8" snubby. I think now that I have a 357 with a 5.5" barrel, I'm going to increase the load. I have also been thinking of trying Power Pistol. Right now I have been using it in .380s.

Sounds like you shoot a much more powerful load than I do.
 
gonoles_1980 said:
I use AA#5, but then I don't load full house loads either. I only use 8.2 grains, 158gr xtreme CP. That was the load I was using for my 1.8" snubby. I think now that I have a 357 with a 5.5" barrel, I'm going to increase the load. I have also been thinking of trying Power Pistol. Right now I have been using it in .380s.

Sounds like you shoot a much more powerful load than I do.
Click to expand...
Yeah, if I were to use an Accurate powder for the .357 Magnum it would be AA#9. I use AA#5 for some .38 Special +P work, tried it in the 45 ACP and a few others. Accurate Powders are good just not locally availability to me. When shooting lighter loads I go to HS-6 which is in the same class as AA#5.
 
Shooters World/Lovex powders seem to be plentiful and affordable at the moment. Heavy Pistol is their H110/2400 equivalent. All of their pistol powders are suited for a 357 at varying levels of performance. I have not used any of their powder. But their Blackout powder has gained a pretty good following and people seem to really like it. I'd try out their powders but I don't have the time to work up any loads. The powders are listed in Quickload under their Lovex numbers.
 
I mostly use Power Pistol, BE-86, Bluedot, H110 and 2400 in my .357s. I can still get lots of 2400 and H110 and the 2400 is still $22.00 lb for 1 lb bottles.

There's lots of 2400 around here where I live so I don't see the need to buy any more 300mp. I've had good luck with BE-86 but I still like Power Pistol for range use and Bluedot for an in between magnum powder and 2400, H110 for heavy loads.

I don't have a chrono so I can't say if there is any benefit to using 300MP over H110, it's just what I read in the books.

Sorry, I can't help much.
 
IMR 4227??
Right up there with H110 as to velocity per Hodgdon.

Are you shooting lead, or FMJ?

I know you said no to 2400 but heck the 357 was developed around that powder. Perhaps not the absolute velocity of H110 but does that little bit really matter?

I have never used Lil Gun . Whats the issue with use in your revolvers?
 
rg1 said:
I've used 2400, Blue Dot, and Win 296 in .357 Magnum loads with 158 gr. XTP bullets but my hands down favorite is Accurate #9. AA#9 is the winner for cleaner burning and accuracy in my 6" revolver and Marlin .357 rifle. All I shoot is Hornady 158 XTP's both HP and FP XTP's.
Click to expand...
I shoot a lot of AA9 with 180 XTPs. H110 and 2400 will crank out faster, but my GP100 loves the AA9. Have taken several deer with it. The only time that I used 4227 was in 45LC and 221 Fireball. Don't know what it does in a 357.
 
Rule3 said:
I have never used Lil Gun . Whats the issue with use in your revolvers?
Click to expand...


Forcing cone and top strap erosion. These problems are really bad in 454 Casull which is where they were first noticed. The powder burns really hot. All powders will heat up a barrel. My short tests w/ Lil'Gun lead to not being able to touch the barrel at all. There are to many other powders available to mess w/ Lil'Gun.
 
Rule3 said:
IMR 4227??
Right up there with H110 as to velocity per Hodgdon.

Are you shooting lead, or FMJ?

I know you said no to 2400 but heck the 357 was developed around that powder. Perhaps not the absolute velocity of H110 but does that little bit really matter?

I have never used Lil Gun . Whats the issue with use in your revolvers?
Click to expand...

I load some 170gr Sierra and 180gr Hornady JHP bullets for my Carbine and 2400 doesn't match W296 and by a lot. I'm loading both lead and jacketed bullets.

As for Lil'Gun, that powder is amazing in performance. It delivers ~100 fps more velocity over W296/H110 BUT it generates an amazing amount of heat. That along with the reports from Freedom Arms about forcing cone erosion, it's just not worth it.

I do sometimes use Lil'Gun for heavy bullets shot in my Carbine only.
Using a Cast Performance 180gr WFNGC bullet: (Hard Cast)
Lil'Gun - CCI-550 primer - AV=1657 fps
H110 - CCI-550 primer - AV=1547 fps

Using a 180gr Hornady XTP bullet:
Lil'Gun - CCI-550 primer - AV=1584 fps
W296 - CCI-550 primer - AV=1495 fps

I also tried a 170gr Sierra JHC bullet and liked the results.
Lil'Gun - CCI-550 primer - AV=1793 fps (that's amazing velocity!)
H110 - CCI-550 primer - AV=1699 fps

Just to illustrate the shortcomings of 2400 against H110 here are the numbers when I shot a 125gr Hornady XTP bullet in my Marlin levergun.
2400 - Win WSP primer - AV=2055 fps
H110 - CCI-550 primer - AV=2239 fps
 
I've loaded 357 with 2400, Bullseye, Titegroup, H110, Lil Gun and 296. I prefer 2400 for cast bullets. Lil Gun is a nice every now and then powder, but I wouldn't use it every time. I have a canister of 300 MP I've been meaning to try as well. There was a good article in a recent issue of handloader magazine (April, May?) that had a pretty detailed article with load data for 357. 300 MP was one of the powders listed.
 
Rule3 said:
Per the Hodgdon MSDS, LIL GUN is double based as is H110 and many others?

Guess erosion is like shooting 125 gr bullets out of a K frame?:confused:

Perhaps after a few thousand??

https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/MSDS Fi...rs/All Hodgdon Spherical Powders_02-11-14.pdf
Click to expand...
Oh no, it's much more than that according to Freedom Arms. I think it was less than 500 rounds. I can tell you without a doubt it generates extremely high temperatures with as little as 6 shots in my M686. For real, a lot of heat.

I can't find the article right now about it but I did read it. I think it was on GunBlast.
 
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