357 magum powder

[ECLIPSE45ACP]

What are you guys favorite powder in 357? I use 296 and love it, anyone have any other good powders to try? Preferably slower burning?

 

[Mark whiz]

Win296 is my favorite for jacketed bullets 158gr & up for sure. Win 231 works well with lighter bullets - the 145gr Win Silvertips in particular.

I've found that Hogd. Universal clays does a great job with 158gr cast LSWCs in both .357Mag and .38Spcl.

 

[ECLIPSE45ACP]

what about 4227?

 

[P0832177]

I went away from 296 and H110 because it was too fine and leaked out of the Dillon, powder measure! IMR4227 was the next best choice! Measured better and was just as impressive out of a 357 or 44 in magnum loadings.

 

[Slamfire]

2400. I use a load of 13.5 grains 2400 with a 158 in 357 brass. For the same velocity, other powders give me extraction problems, but the 2400 loads just drop out of the cylinder.

 

[ReloaderFred]

A promising powder with heavier bullets is Hodgdon's Lil'Gun. I've been experimenting with it with 180 grain cast bullets in my Marlin Carbines and it's a real thumper. We've finally got a powder that will bring the .357 Carbine into the same power range as the 30-30 carbine.

I haven't used it in my pistols yet, but plan to. Most of my .357 revolvers are 6" barrelled, and it should do well with the longer barrels. Up until now, Win. 296 has been my standard powder for full power loads in .357, .41 and .44 magnum loadings.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[Ben Shepherd]

IF I was limited to only one powder for 357, it would be 2400. Hands down.

It works well from mid range clear up to *holy cow* with all slug weights from 110 up to 200. Accuracy has been from good to outstanding in every combination I've tried it in in this caliber.

It's only drawback is that it's slightly dirty.

 

[Steve C]

2400 for 140gr bullets and heavier. Blue Dot for under 140gr bullets. Unique for cast loads. Have some 296 and H110 on hand but haven't found them any better than 2400, just need a bit more for the same velcocity.

 

[CZ57]

If you feel that the .357 Magnum has the same burn rate requirements as the .44 Magnum, maybe 2400, 296, H110 or even Li'l Gun is the way to go.

On the other hand, if you feel its smaller case capacity might require a slightly faster burn rate than the .44 Magnum . . . AA#9! Ramshot Enforcer is nearly identical in burn rate. AA#9 will cover the same load range as 2400, and it will produce higher velocity. Less muzzleblast than 2400, 110, or
296.

As far as a carbine length barrels, the highest .357 velocity I've seen recorded from a 18 1/2" barrel and published in a reloading manual with a 180 gr. bullet was 1846 FPS with AA#9. 2400 produced 1543 FPS, W296: 1679 FPS, H110: 1689 FPS in the same data. That's 157 FPS faster than its closest rival. The premise that a slower powder will get you a higher velocity doesn't seem to hold up in this case. I haven't seen the numbers on Li'l Gun and I'm not inclined to accept Hodgdon data. Remember their ad campaign, "H110, the powder that screams, No Wimps Please!" Well they were claiming 1800 FPS, or better, in the .357 Magnum with a 125 gr. JHP. Never mind that the smaller print stated velocity was from a 10" ballistic test barrel. The full pressure load that I have that is 3 grains higher made 1589 FPS from a 6" revolver. Blue Dot achieved higher velocity from the same revolver.

Nothing surprising here. For guys that have been around long enough, You already know that Blue Dot was the .357 Magnum velocity champ for typical revolvers until SAAMI reduced the pressure rating of the .357 Magnum. #9 wasn't tested at the time because it had newly arrived on the market, but it did arrive in time to get used for Rifle loads in a Marlin with an 18 1/2" barrel. #9 will produce velocity as high as the older Blue Dot loads from a 6" revolver. The max pressure limit for the data I'm referring to was 46,000 CUP. The data I'm referring to for AA#9 is current: http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/...738Cal(9.2mm)/357 Magnum pages 100 to 102.pdf
What I'm saying here is that among the powders we have available for the .357 Magnum, AA#9 has the highest energy potential. I haven't tried Enforcer yet, but I haven't seen data above the 35,000 PSI level, either. Li'l gun looks impressive in some loads, if it's anywhere near how Hodgdon rates it, but for the .357 Magnum data I've seen other than Hodgdon's, Li'l gun is too slow for the .357 Magnum to achieve maximum velocity potential from a revolver. With Hodgdon's track record for reporting velocity, I think I'll remain a bit skeptical on what it will do in longer barrels as well.

 

[GaryL]

I've used Blue Dot with great success, but I have also noticed it seemed "hotter" in cold weather. I figured it was my memory getting loose, until I read here that Blue Dot is temperature sensitive. I won't stop using it, but I may reserve it for warm weather.

I went away from 296 and H110 because it was too fine and leaked out of the Dillon, powder measure!

Something doesn't sound right there. I've run several pounds of H110 without "leakage". I get "droppings", but that happens no matter what powder I use, and can mostly be attributed to the operator.

 

[sansone]

I like Lil'gun.. it's kinda slow burning for anything under 6"brrl

 

[357mag357]

H110 works very good in 357mag. I feel it has more kick than 2400. 2400 IMHO might be more accurate than H110 using the same bullet. If you do try 2400 it does not require a Magnum Primer.

 

[tbtrout]

Win 296 for full power loads with jacketed bullets and Win 231 for lighter loads with cast bullets.

 

[The Bushmaster]

I use three powders for my three .357 magnums. For some reason they each seem to shoot best with these powders. Ruger Blackhawk 6 1/2" barrel=W-296 under a 140 gr SJHP...Colt SAA 4 3/4" barrel=2400 under a 140 gr SJHP and S&W Mod 19 2 1/2" barrel=W-231 under a 125 gr SJHP and I fullhouse with this one.

 

[Stinger]

Another user of 2400 here. I've never used anything else for magnum loads. Some might say that shows a lack of experience with other powders (and that's probably true,) but I say if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

A couple more-

Blue dot works well for mid-to-moderate magnum loads.

Another VERY good, but expensive powder VV's N110. It's dang near impossible to get a cleaner burning load than this powder with a jacketed slug.

 

[Chief 101]

I have to go with the 2400 and I have tried many others.
Chief aka Maxx Load

 

[LAH]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data that may be beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

It's ole fashion, it's been around for years, but 2400 is just plain hard to beat. I agree with some of the others here and say try it. About all I shoot in the 357 is a Lyman Keith 358429 and the heavy stuff works fine with the old powder.

Another I like for lite stuff is WW231/HP38. I use 5.5 grs. with the above bullet for 1050 fps in my 4" M-19. Very accurate..........Creeker

BTW all loads were used in 357 mag. cases and the bullet seated to the crimp groove.

 

[Brian Williams]

231 for low power loads,
2400 and Lil'gun for more Umph.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

LAH, just how much 2400 do you put under that slug? I'll bet my guess(1/2 grain one side or the other of 15) is close, but I'm curious.

 

[cmidkiff]

Another 2400 user here.

158gr SWC (been using Bushwhacker bullets) over 14 grains of 2400. Easy recoiling, middle of the road load... burns clean, doesn't abuse the brass, accurate out of my 4" 620. Also fills the case well, making it practically impossible to double up a charge.

I use bullseye some as well, mainly on .38spl loads, but you use so little of it... you gotta pay extra close attention. At ~5gr per charge, you get a bunch of rounds out of a pound of powder!

 

[LAH]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data that may be beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

Ben said: I'll bet my guess(1/2 grain one side or the other of 15) is close, but I'm curious.

Ben I've never used over 14 grs. and this is the reason why. The only heavy duty 357 I've owned was a M28 S&W. These have short cylinders so I seated the bullet to crimp over the front driving band eating up powder space. I also shoot this bullet in my M19 which isn't as strong so I use only 13 grs. for it. Plenty of people use more but I don't. Sure wish I had a Ruger BH, then I might push it some.........Creeker

 

[Ben Shepherd]

The way you had the heavy load warning, I figured you were *pushing* a bit. Guess not.

Still, a charge of 2400 between 13-14 grains under a 158 is a good load, and safe in any 357 I'm aware of. Usually somewhere in there, there's a sweet spot accuraucy wise in most guns.

2400 also happens to work well in 41 mag, 44 mag, and heavier 45 colt stuff. So if you load any of those calibers keep that in mind.

Eclipse45acp: Bottom line (IMO) is that you would be VERY hard pressed to beat 2400 as the best all around magnum pistol powder.

 

[LAH]

Ben I didn't mean to mislead. I haven't purchased a new loading manual since the 70's. The very few I do purchase are used ones so I never know when published loads change. I tend to load and shoot the same ole stuff I've shot for 30 years. I posted one load here I've shot most my shooting life and was called to the carpet because I didn't use the warning so I now use it for any and all loads I post. I'm a guest here and wish not to offend or break any rules. The ole saying is better safe than sorry..............Creeker

BTW I agree with your sweet spot statement.

 

[SSN Vet]

Hey CZ....

For guys that have been around long enough, You already know that Blue Dot was the .357 Magnum velocity champ for typical revolvers until SAAMI reduced the pressure rating of the .357 Magnum.

Care to ellaborate for someone who hasn't been around quite that long?

Are newer revolvers not built to withstand the higher pressures?

or ...

Did the lawyers scare the folks at SAMMI