357 snubbie load???

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repetereed

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Hello all, I am looking for a good 357 snubby load. This is my situation:
I have 1000 WSPM primers,
1lb of H110, and
100 140 speer unicor hollow points.
I started out with the minimum load in the speer book of 17.5 grains, max is 19.8 or so. Have'nt tried stepping up the load yet. Not happy with the current results just 1050 fps through my 2.25 SP101. I can either step up my load, but kind of thinking H110 isn't what I want to begin with. How much of a difference would a couple grains make? Though I don't want to spend more money on a different powder.
Also...What would be a good fast burning powder or load that would still allow me to use my magnum primers? Thanks in advance guys
 
In my experience, the best powder for short-barreled 357s has been Ramshot's Silhouette. A max charge ran over 1100 fps from my S&W 640 with a 158-gr. LSWC.

Speer 14 lists 357 loads with Power Pistol for their 135-gr. GDSB. That bullet, however, should not be loaded over about 1050 fps from any barrel length--it will break up.

Jim H.
 
Welcome to THR, repetereed.

As you have surmised, H110 is not ideal for a 2" barreled 357. The powder doesn't get a chance to burn properly.

There are several powders better designed to function out of the short barrel.
Go to www.hodgdon.com and look up your caliber and select a little faster powder.
You'll be able to use your primers with any powder really, seeing you are using a starting load and working up. Ball (spherical) powders often work better with magnum primers.
HS-6 and Longshot are ball powders and might work well in your 2".


NCsmitty
 
I have heard conflicting opinions on using slow powders in short barrelled revolvers. Some people say they are not suited for them yet other claim that they are. I haven't had chance to test this out myself. It makes sense that the slow powder's not reaching its' full potential, yet will a faster powder match the slower powder even at the lower end of H110's potential? No matter what powder is used, you will odviously not get the most out of a magnum cartridge with a snubby.
 
As said above, H110 and other powders with a very slow burn rate won't have time to burn completely in a 2" barrel. Powders with a faster burn rate like Longshot, HS-6, Universal, Unique, AA#5, Power Pistol and similar powders would work better.

With a 140gr Speer jacketed bullet I would use either Longshot of HS-6 personally. I've found Longshot to work best with jacketed bullets and HS-6 to work very will with lead bullets as well as jacketed bullets. Power Pistol works well too but I don't care for the excessive flash it produces.
 
Thanks a lot for the info guys, I don't have chrony of my own yet. I'll hopefully be investing in one shortly. What kind of velocity can I expect using longshot or HS-6? Thank you very much for the info.
 
I don't have my notes available for Longshot and HS-6 but I do remember I got just over 1000 fps using a 140gr bullet and Power Pistol when I was trying to replicate the Speer 135gr Short Barrel .357 Magnum round. I wasn't anywhere near the Max load because I was trying to replicate that load, not get the most velocity.

I have gotten an average of 889 fps from a .38 Special +P load using a 158gr bullet and HS-6 from a 2" J frame. As soon as I dig out my notes on midrange .357 Magnum rounds I'll post the velocities.
 
Thanks for all this great info guys. Right now Im thinking its a toss up between Bullsey, HS-6 and Longshot. Whats the cleanest burning you guys think?
 
Personally I'd use a good stiff load of Unique. H110 is too slow for short barrels and IMO so is HS6. HS6 never delivered the promised velocity for me but Unique was usually right on or faster. Speer lists their Unicor 140 @ 1, 180 fps with a load of 8.0grs of Unique and I'd expect at least that much even with a short barrel. My 4" barreled .357 mag guns usually shoot as fast or a little faster than Speer lists with a 6".
 
I think some are leary of Bullseye in large capacity cases but it performs very very well and is quite consistent and clean at high pressures. Pressures don't spike with it all of a sudden like other powders such as Clays.

It is a favorite of mine in 44 Magnum.
 
Bullseye

I agree with the above post. Bullseye is a fast burning powder that will provide you with a very nice reload. I use Bullseye for my .357 loads out of a 2" Ruger SP-101. Just remember to hang on, .357 out of the little snubbies can be a handful at times. I suggest that you subscribe to loaddata.com. Many thousands of loads for all calibers.

Chicken-Farmer
 
I'm sorry to have to disagree and disagree strongly. Bullseye is a very fast powder and not a good choice at all for a .357 Magnum load. Bullseye is one of the fastest powders on the market and should be used for light .38 Special loads, not in a .357 Magnum. (unless you are making light .38 Special target loads using .357 Magnum brass) You will not generate good velocity with Bullseye in a .357 Magnum without generating excessive pressures. Alliant doesn't even list Bullseye as a choice for the .357 Magnum, there's a good reason for that. The medium burn rate powders listed above will deliver the velocity you are looking for and burn completely from a short barrel. (at least burn a lot more than slow powders like H110)
 
How about a load for 357 cases, Montana Gold 125 gr JHP, and Federal SP primers (no magnum primers available at present)

I have Bullseye, 2400, and Power Pistol available.

What would a reasonable starting place be for rounds that would be fun in a 640? I don't want to beat the poor little gun to pieces, but it would be fun to shoot something stronger than standard 38 special but not take my hand off.
 
I have Bullseye, 2400, and Power Pistol available.

What would a reasonable starting place be for rounds that would be fun in a 640? I don't want to beat the poor little gun to pieces, but it would be fun to shoot something stronger than standard 38 special but not take my hand off.
Click to expand...

Bullseye would be my first choice, Power Pistol would be 2nd. Here's a load book from Alliant, before they streamlined their online data. Look at the Bullseye load data for .38 Special and for .357 Magnum and load anywhere in between:
http://www.thehighroad.us/attachment.php?attachmentid=81593&d=1216513445
 
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