.357 Slow-burning Magnum Powder for 158 grain Lead RN or SWC

[il.bill]

Any recommendations on powder for a .357 Magnum load under a 158 grain Lead RN or SWC bullet?

I currently like 4.2 grains of Bullseye using regular small pistol primers to set off the fast-burning BE. Bullseye and TiteGroup have been hard for me to find locally, and I would like a third powder choice. I am looking for a slow-burning powder that would use Small Pistol Magnum Primers, and I would like to approximate the accuracy and recoil I now get utilizing BE and TG.

 

[Jlr2267]

Only powder I've used that requires a magnum primer is h110. You won't duplicate Bullseye loads with it though because it's a full house magnum powder that has to be loaded near max charge. May not work well with your lead bullets, depending on other factors.

Other powders that work well with lead 158gr bullets are Herco, Unique and Green Dot

Edit: I would add 2400 in there too...I've seen loads with both std and magnum primers with it.

Edit 2: IMR4227 works well too, and is recommended for use with a magnum primer (forgot about this one)

 

[tightgroup tiger]

I would have to say 2400 since it has a much wider range between min and max. H110 has a very narrow margin between min and max and you can't go below the minimum load data with it.

2400 is a lot more forgiving in this respect but you do have to load it differently than the faster powders. It does require a healthy crimp and a tight neck tension to help it build pressure and heat so it will burn consistently.

I've gone to using nothing but Power Pistol in my target loads and you can get respectable velocity from it.

 

[MEHavey]

All of these will roughly duplicate your Bullseye load:
(primer type not a factor)

Cartridge: .357 Magnum (SAAMI)
Bullet: .357, 158, LYM LRN 358311
Cartridge O.A.L. 1.590 inch = 40.39 mm
Barrel Length: 5.0 inch



DO NOT LOAD FROM THIS TABLE (!)
Refer to Published Manuals & Manufacturer's Recommendations

 

[USSR]

2400 or 4227. No magnum primer needed or advised with 2400, and a magnum primer is a good option with 4227. Both powders are much more flexible than W296/H110.

Don

 

[beatledog7]

2400, a very flexible powder.

 

[243winxb]

Remington 5 1/2 primer is for the 357 mag. I use 2400 with cast 158 gr. at 13.0gr. More recoil than your current loadings

 

[tightgroup tiger]

More recoil than your current loadings

Probably more accuracy too.

Seriously though, if you have some power pistol try around 8.2gr with the 158gr bullet. It won't disappoint. You can run it up to 8.6gr if you want and it really barks. 8.2 gr for me and my old 28 is the sweet spot and no one at the range has outshot me with it yet at 25 yds off hand unsupported with iron sights.

If you want superior noise, flash, bang, and accuracy go with 2400.

If you want maximum effect go with H110/296 but theirs no lightening the load with H110/296. H110/296 is what it is, full blown maximum effort.

I would love to find data for Long Shot in .357mag but can't find any. It just seems it should be so good for .357 but there's nothing out there.
I'm disappointed all to hell over it. I may have to experiment/extrapolate and see what I come up with.

I know, I know! but I don't need to crimp the crap out of loads in Long Shot/ Power Pistol heat range.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Any recommendations on powder for a .357 Magnum load under a 158 grain Lead RN or SWC bullet?

I currently like 4.2 grains of Bullseye using regular small pistol primers to set off the fast-burning BE. Bullseye and TiteGroup have been hard for me to find locally, and I would like a third powder choice. I am looking for a slow-burning powder that would use Small Pistol Magnum Primers, and I would like to approximate the accuracy and recoil I now get utilizing BE and TG.

You're looking for Alliant 2400, which doesn't need a Magnum primer to set off. And you're going to get a lot more recoil than using BE and TG.

Next up for full-tilt Magnum revolver cartridges would be Winchester 296/Hodgdon H110. These do need Magnum primers, have a pretty narrow charge window and in my experience will delivery more top-end performance than 2400. The downside is the very limited range between min and max powder charges.

Now if you're just looking for something slower then BE and TG but don't want full-tilt .357 Magnum performance, you have a whole range of powders that work. I've used Unique, W231 and Power Pistol with good success. They won't match the velocity you can hit with a true Magnum powder though.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't like W296/H110 for lead bullet .357 Magnum loads at all. That powder requires top end loads and not all lead bullets can be pushed that hard even if they fit the barrel correctly and are hard.

My favorite powder for .357 Magnum lead loads is HS-6. It will deliver real magnum performance and is accurate in my revolvers. Of course it will not develop the velocities W296 will but that's not a bad thing with a 158gr LSWC bullet IMO. If you can't find HS-6 you might want to give Universal a try or SR4756.

Just a note, if you're going to load lead bullets it's my opinion you should buy the Lyman 4th Edition Cast bullet Handbook. It's a must for cast bullet reloading...

 

[nix4me]

I too like 2400 for magnum loads with both jacketed, plated and SWC in 357. I've also used a healthy dose of Unique. Good luck finding either of them.

 

[Lj1941]

I would echo what another poster said-Try Power Pistol. I have found it extremely accurate and low recoil for the loads that I used it with. It can be flashy and some say extra loud. It is not like H110/W296 in that you don't have run it full power.

 

[gamestalker]

About the best powder for achieving magnum performance with lead, would probably be 2400 since it's more flexible than 296/H110 is. And it doesn't require a magnum primer either. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love 296/H110, but it's not a powder that can be manipulated at all. In other words, it basically has one purpose, and one level of performance, which is full house magnum. I have seen reloaders use it for lead loads though, so depending on the specifics of the projectile, it can be done.

GS

 

[RealGun]

Currently loading either 7.0 gr HS-6 with 158 lead or 13.0 gr A2400, either with magnum primers as my decision, not law.

I don't think there are any handgun powders or others adaptable to handguns that are available right now. Without being in line when the doors opened at our recent gunshow, an hour and a half later showed nothing but W296 and PowerPro 300-MP available for handguns.

Lots of stuff available for .223. Either there is a war brewing, or ugly black rifles that are fun to shoot rapid fire have become quite a sport of late.

 

[MEHavey]

"...I would like to approximate the accuracy and recoil I now get utilizing [4.2gr] BE and TG...."

I read that to mean he wanted to duplicate a relatively mild ~16,000psi/800fps load -- not a magnum load.

 

[USSR]

I read that to mean he wanted to duplicate a relatively mild ~16,000psi/800fps load -- not a magnum load.

That may very well be, but he is contradicting himself when he says "I am looking for a slow-burning powder that would use Small Pistol Magnum Primers...". Perhaps he doesn't realize that slow-burning powder + magnum primers do not equal "recoil I now get utilizing BE and TG".

Don

 

[il.bill]

That may very well be, but he is contradicting himself when he says "I am looking for a slow-burning powder that would use Small Pistol Magnum Primers...". Perhaps he doesn't realize that slow-burning powder + magnum primers do not equal "recoil I now get utilizing BE and TG".

Don

Point taken.

Thanks for all the responses. I now have a better understanding of what I actually posted. Finding ANY handgun smokeless powder has been difficult and I wanted to try to broaden my options with nice weather finally on the horizon. I have enough factory loaded ammunition to enjoy the .357 magnum power experience now and then, but mostly I just punch holes in paper out to 25 yards. Using a different (and possibly available?) slower burning powder, even if it used SPMP for ignition, was a thought that came to mind.

Now I can see that 'mild load with slow-burning powder' in a .357 magnum is an oxymoron. Looks like my plinking this year may be on a .38 spl. reloading diet for a while. These responses did give me some powder brands to consider for somewhat hotter .357 loads, if I can find them on the shelf somewhere. My retirement age wrists and hands may just have to put up with more recoil shooting fewer rounds each trip to the range.

Thanks again to all who took the time to respond.

 

[huntershooter]

I use both HS-6 and AA9 in .357 for less than top end loads.
Magnum primers are beneficial in consistent velocities/burn--with less than max loads.

 

[RealGun]

I like SR4756 for 357 cases in lighter weight guns that are punishing with full up magnum loads. It has a low enough density to be able to see more easily in that tall case, while placing bullets for seating.

That is a powder with which it is difficult to achieve a clean burn, so I use magnum primers and push the limit on max load. It still is not difficult to handle. when shooting.

I am currently using 6.5-7.0 gr with 125 gr LSWC. I prefer the 7.0, which is the same as I use on jacketed.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

With a magnum primer, my best results were with 8.4 gr. 800-X and 15.1 gr IMR 4227.

 

[MEHavey]

My retirement age wrists and hands may just have to put up with more recoil shooting fewer rounds each trip to the range

ANY of the powders/charges in Post #4 above will give you
the same ballistics/recoil as what you're loading for now.
(Table is in order of burn speed--faster top/slower bottom)

If they're more readily available, buy`em and shoot`em.

 

[il.bill]

All of these will roughly duplicate your Bullseye load:
(primer type not a factor)

Cartridge: .357 Magnum (SAAMI)
Bullet: .357, 158, LYM LRN 358311
Cartridge O.A.L. 1.590 inch = 40.39 mm
Barrel Length: 5.0 inch



DO NOT LOAD FROM THIS TABLE (!)
Refer to Published Manuals & Manufacturer's Recommendations

Thank you - that was most helpful.

I printed out the .BMP file and now have an extended choice when I go smokeless powder shopping. I will verify any/all actual loads in reloading manuals before proceeding, and will work up some test loads gradually.

 

[Salmoneye]

Add 4-4.5gr Red Dot to your list...

Or look at page 42:

http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=182147&d=1364769070

My favorite .357 plinker is 5gr Red Dot with any 158gr bullet...

 

[stompah]

If your wrists are hurting try some trail boss. It is recommended to be used with lead and has super light recoil. Works perfect for people with carpal tunnel.

I bump into trail boss here locally more often than any other pistol powder. Good luck.

 

[MSgtEgress]

Blue Dot is my favorite powder for pushing lead to th max without using magnum primers About 10g of Blue Dot will push the 158LSWC about 1300fps.