357mag load quite a handful..help?

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sparkyguy

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I bought some 110gr Hornady JHP XTP bullets from midwayusa the other week and decided to load up a dozen using the H110 I bought a few months ago. There was some varying load data from different sources, and what I finally loaded up was 21gr of H110. I took them to the range today and O..M..G!!! :what: People around me put their guns down to see what canon I was shooting and the clerks behind the glass both were looking in my direction after the first shot. The fireball in front of me totally covered my FOV of the target 15yrds away. I was shooting out of my S&W 686-5 6" revolver, so I know it can handle the load, but I believe it to be quite a bit much for starting load like given in the manual and the Hodgdon site. Anyone with any experience with said bullet and powder care to share their insight on what would be a better starting point? I also bought some 125gr XTP and 158gr XTP's, so if anyone has loaded either/all of those, I'd appreciate some tips.
Thanx.
 
My Sierra manual shows a starting load of H110 and a 110 grain bullet at 18.5 grains and toping out at 20.4 grains. Just a little hint. H110, W-296 both tend to be attention getters at magnum loadings. If you are worried about drawing attention to yourself try Alliant 2400. Of course you still might have people lookin' at you...

Ya ought to see H110 go off at night, you want to see a real flash...

125 grain bullet---H110 from 17.6 grains to 19.8 grains.
158 grain bullet---H110 from 13.3 grains to 16.3 grains.

Above listings are from Sierra Edition V 2nd printing
 
I also bought some
125gr XTP and 158gr XTP's
Click to expand...
, so if anyone has loaded either/all of those, I'd appreciate some tips.
Thanx.
Click to expand...

I have loaded many of the 158XTPs in various 357s with great results. Far less muzzle blast than the lighter 125s and the 110s as you might have noticed.

My 6th Edition Hornady manual here in front of me lists:

125XTP with H110
17.4 - 19.9 max


158XTP with H110
12.7 - 15.6 max

They do not list H110 or 296 for the 110 XTP 357s in this 6th Edition. The older 4th Edition lists a "flame thrower" load using 296 with the 110 XTP.
 
2400 still makes some flames. My load is 158 JSP with 14 grains of 2400. Makes a nice show out of a 4- 5/8 blackhawk.
 
I load the same load as Seafarer12 I think. The 158gr I use are the Hornady XTP HP or the FP(Flat Point). Both are really accurate and out of my S&W model 66 4" barrel my chrony shows 1325fps. Primers are CCI Magnum Pistol.
 
Will it matter if I don't use the SPM (small pistol magnum) primers? I had heard the magnum primers increased pressures, and after what I had this morning, pressure is not an issue here.
 
I haven't tried it with the 357magnum, but in my rifles I have tried non-magnum vs magnum primers and it reduced the velocity by approximately 50fps. As long as you aren't getting a lot of unburnt powder residue I would think non-magnum should give enough of a spark. Just a little slower I think would be your tradeoff.
BTW the POI(point of impact) changed by about 3 inches to the right when I tried magnum primers with my 7mm-08.
 
For your 110 grain bullets ... H-110 From 17.5 grains to 23.0 grains CCI-550 Primer.

For 125's ... H-110 From 16.3 grains to 22.0 grains CCI-550 Primer.

For 158's ... H-110 From 12.7 grains to 17.7 grains CCI-550 Primer.
 
H-110 and Winchester 296 work best with heavier bullets. For your 110 grain bullets, I'd use a different powder, something a little faster in burn rate, so all the powder will burn before the bullet leaves the barrel. All that flash you're seeing is the powder burning outside the barrel.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
I agree with what Fred wrote. H110 and W296 for 158gr bullets and heavier. The amount of powder you need to use with lighter bullets is excessive and that big ball of flame you see is cutting the front strap of your revolver like a cutting torch.

For 110 and 125 gr bullets the slowest powder I ever use is Blue Dot.
 
Ref. the H110 muzzle flash at night, can you imagine what might be ther perception of a bad guy who is IN FRONT of all that flash-bang!
 
Outerlimit,

I've used H-110 and Winchester 296 with 158 grain bullets very successfully in my Marlins for full power loads, but lately I've switched to heavier 180-185 grain cast gas check bullets and Hodgdon's Lil'Gun. It's the cats meow with those heavier bullets. More velocity, less pressure and better accuracy. Doesn't seem reasonable, but it works like a champ.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
Your load is a full grain under MAXIMUM for that bullet. Hodgdon gives 22.0(1992fps. 32,400 CUP) to 23.0(2078fps. 37,200 CUP) for a 110gr bullet using H110. Those velocities are PDQ. It's not surprising they're loud.

Modetrator edit: Sorry Sunray, but you had it as "under minimum." and we don't want anyone starting out at that point. ;)
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Since H110 and W296 are slow burning powders that need near maximum charges to get over the problem of inconsistent ignition. I personally don't think that using a small pistol primer instead of a small magnum pistol primer would be an effective solution. The velocity would decrease, but it's probably going to be incredibly dirty to fire. Everyone has their pet powder, but a faster burning powder would allow you to shoot without having to make up a story about how you lost your eyebrows.
 
You ABSOLUTELY WANT TO USE MAGNUM PRIMERS WITH H110. H110/win 296 are notoriously hard to ignite, particularly in colder temperatures, and with reduced loads. I found this out the hard way. I loaded some reduced loads with H110 and standard primers, and got a squib load shooting at our indoor range when the heater broke this past winter. There was unburned powder in the case and in the gun, so I'm pretty sure the powder just didn't ignite.

H110 does best at MAX or max -5% loadings. Of course, the question then is what is max loading, since all of the manuals list something different. For my SP101, I load 158 gr bullets over 15.0 - 15.4 gr H110 (still playing around with the loads a bit). If you want reduced loadings in 357 mag, 2400 is a good bet. 2400 does best with standard primers.
 
sparky... as a completely unrelated note... ever since i started handloading the 357 mag, i have a whole new respect for it. my particular load uses 2400 and 158 cast bullets, but i can tell you a solid handload is far, far more powerful than any factory load i've sent down range. after working up a nuclear option load in my 686, i think the 357 mag is underrated as a performer - probably because most shooters just use the factory loads... while not a completely fair comparison, i would much rather 'plink' w/ my deer-killer, heavy load in my 480 than my deer-killer 357...
 
I'm going to list the charges that are on the Hodgdon Load Data Site but you should always check any load data you get from someone you don't know on a forum. The data can be bad or could have a mis-print. BTW, H110 and W296 are exactly the same powder now.
These are the charges listed by Hodgdon for H110/W296:
110gr HDY XTP 1.590" COL 22.0gr 1992 fps 32,400 CUP, 23.0gr 2078 fps 37,200 CUP
125gr HDY XTP 1.590" COL 21.0gr 1881 fps 38,400 CUP, 22.0gr 1966 fps 41,400 CUP
158gr HDY XTP 1.580" COL 15.0gr 1418 fps 28,600 CUP, 16.7gr 1591 fps 40,700 CUP

Of course don't expect those velocities in the real world. With a charge of 16.4gr W296 under a 158gr bullet be happy if you get 1200 fps from a 4" barrel. Also, like said above, a Magnum primer is necessary when loading W296/H110.
 
Your load is a full grain under MAXIMUM for that bullet. Hodgdon gives 22.0(1992fps. 32,400 CUP) to 23.0(2078fps. 37,200 CUP) for a 110gr bullet using H110. Those velocities are PDQ. It's not surprising they're loud.

Modetrator edit: Sorry Sunray, but you had it as "under minimum." and we don't want anyone starting out at that point.
Click to expand...

Looking at the data on Hodgdon site it doesn't look like it was a typo.
 
I have heard that the S&W Model 66 (which is what I have) should not be pushed to the extremes of the reloading capabilities due to it being a K-frame.

As noted above I have worked up a great 158gr load for a hunting round, but I have some 125gr XTP that I would like to make up a good strong SD load that won't damage my pistol. I want it fast, but I think extreme pressures should be avoided.

Any Model 66 owners have suggestions?
 
I have heard that the S&W Model 66 (which is what I have) should not be pushed to the extremes of the reloading capabilities due to it being a K-frame.

As noted above I have worked up a great 158gr load for a hunting round, but I have some 125gr XTP that I would like to make up a good strong SD load that won't damage my pistol. I want it fast, but I think extreme pressures should be avoided.

Any Model 66 owners have suggestions?
Click to expand...

Don't make a steady diet of them and it will be fine. I have one. Full throttle is my carry ammo.
 
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