38 special and 357 magnum powder
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Mike Irwin
Member
For light to moderate .357 Mag. loads, Winchester 231 is a great powder.
For fullpowerer .357 Mag. loads, Winchester 296 is a great powder.
For fullpowerer .357 Mag. loads, Winchester 296 is a great powder.
P95Carry
Moderator Emeritus
Apart from Mike's Winchester powder suggestions ... and going by your subject line ..
.38 spl .... light loads can use Bullseye, the fastest powder .. and towards slightly slower you can use Red Dot .... not as good metering tho as Win powders I am sure Mike would agree. Even dirty ole Unique will do .38 loads too!
.357's ..... I like Blue Dot lighter loads ..... again not the cleanest powder perhaps .. and onto the full loads .. probably H-110, Vit N-110 .... 2400. Much slower powders.
But be sure .. consult reliable loading data before trying any of these ... and work up your loads .. standard safe practice.
.38 spl .... light loads can use Bullseye, the fastest powder .. and towards slightly slower you can use Red Dot .... not as good metering tho as Win powders I am sure Mike would agree. Even dirty ole Unique will do .38 loads too!
.357's ..... I like Blue Dot lighter loads ..... again not the cleanest powder perhaps .. and onto the full loads .. probably H-110, Vit N-110 .... 2400. Much slower powders.
But be sure .. consult reliable loading data before trying any of these ... and work up your loads .. standard safe practice.
Pumpkinheaver
Member
I use Bullseye in most of my .38 spl loads. In the .357 my favorite is H-110.
einnor1040
Member
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I use AA#5 in 38's and H-110 or Blue dot in 357.
stans
Member
Ok, it is a 357 with a conversion cylinder in 9mm, so you can shoot 9mm, 38 Special, and 357 Magnum.
Bullseye and W-231 (or HP-38) can be used in all three calibers for light to medium loads.
Unique and AA#5 can be used in all three calibers. These would be the slowest powders and allow top velocities in 38 Special and near top ballistics in 9mm. For 357 Magnum, you can get within about 200 feet per second of top velocities.
Blue Dot and AA#7 would allow you to get the most out of the 9mm, but not really that much more than Unique or AA#5.
2400 and W-296 (or H-110) will allow you to get the most out of the 357.
If I had to pick just one powder, it would be Unique. It is a jack of all trades, unfortunately, it is a master of none. For ease of use, stick with the spherical powders, they meter beautifully. I finally settled on W-231, AA#5 and W-296 for my handguns. Until I got a S&W model 29. In the 44 Magnum caliber, Unique does seem to do the best with mid-range loads.
As for primers, use standard small pistol primers except for W-296 or H-110, these do require small pistol magnum primers.
Bullseye and W-231 (or HP-38) can be used in all three calibers for light to medium loads.
Unique and AA#5 can be used in all three calibers. These would be the slowest powders and allow top velocities in 38 Special and near top ballistics in 9mm. For 357 Magnum, you can get within about 200 feet per second of top velocities.
Blue Dot and AA#7 would allow you to get the most out of the 9mm, but not really that much more than Unique or AA#5.
2400 and W-296 (or H-110) will allow you to get the most out of the 357.
If I had to pick just one powder, it would be Unique. It is a jack of all trades, unfortunately, it is a master of none. For ease of use, stick with the spherical powders, they meter beautifully. I finally settled on W-231, AA#5 and W-296 for my handguns. Until I got a S&W model 29. In the 44 Magnum caliber, Unique does seem to do the best with mid-range loads.
As for primers, use standard small pistol primers except for W-296 or H-110, these do require small pistol magnum primers.
HS6...
will do eveything you could want in 9mm & .38, and will handle all but the heaviest bullets in .357 quite well. It also meters very consistently and works fine with standard primers, which would allow you to buy one type for all your 'mid-bore' loading chores.
The others mentioned are also good overall, and yes the slower powders are the way to go for 'blast & scorch' magnum loads. W296 has given me fine service in this department.
will do eveything you could want in 9mm & .38, and will handle all but the heaviest bullets in .357 quite well. It also meters very consistently and works fine with standard primers, which would allow you to buy one type for all your 'mid-bore' loading chores.
The others mentioned are also good overall, and yes the slower powders are the way to go for 'blast & scorch' magnum loads. W296 has given me fine service in this department.
As always work the loads up from manuals and the data on the powder manufacturer web sites. That being said, I have found HERCO to be very versitle. I have used an older Sierra manual and an older Speer manual along with Alliant's site to work loads up. Herco works well in all three calibers listed. Byron
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greeting's All-
I use a lot of Alliant "Bullseye" in light .38 Special target
loads, and a LOT of "Unique" for mid-range .357 magnum
load's; and I'm experimenting with Hodgdon "Universal
Clays" for the heaviest of magnum load's.
*FootNote- as noted previously, Alliant "Unique" is a
flakey powder; thus it won't meter through some powder
measures uniformly.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
I use a lot of Alliant "Bullseye" in light .38 Special target
loads, and a LOT of "Unique" for mid-range .357 magnum
load's; and I'm experimenting with Hodgdon "Universal
Clays" for the heaviest of magnum load's.
*FootNote- as noted previously, Alliant "Unique" is a
flakey powder; thus it won't meter through some powder
measures uniformly.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
mtnbkr
Member
I use Bullseye for 38Special and H110 for heavy bullet 357mag loads.
I've played around with Unique and 2400 in both as well. If I had to go with only one powder, I'd choose Unique or maybe 2400 if those 38's were +p. Unique is probably your best bet for a "do it all" powder in those three calibers.
Chris
I've played around with Unique and 2400 in both as well. If I had to go with only one powder, I'd choose Unique or maybe 2400 if those 38's were +p. Unique is probably your best bet for a "do it all" powder in those three calibers.
Chris
Matt Dillon
Member
Folks, I'm still looking for a powder for my primed 357 magnum cases. I have a good amount of Unique, but I tried to load up a few boxes a couple of months ago, and got a huge variation in dropped charges from my old Redding powder measure.
I was looking at ~6.8 grains of Unique behind a 158 grain lead bullet, but I couldn't find a way to measure this load uniformly. I hate to think about weighing 1000 cases. Does anyone have any ideas? I was considering trying one of the Lee powder dippers to see if it got close to this load. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your advice and help, Richard Dillon
I was looking at ~6.8 grains of Unique behind a 158 grain lead bullet, but I couldn't find a way to measure this load uniformly. I hate to think about weighing 1000 cases. Does anyone have any ideas? I was considering trying one of the Lee powder dippers to see if it got close to this load. Any thoughts? Thanks in advance for your advice and help, Richard Dillon
Mike Irwin
Member
Try tapping the powder measure several times with a wooden stick or the handle of a screwdriver before throwing the charge.
That may help the situation.
I know of one person who uses an old electric razor taped so the side of his powder measure to vibrate the powder. He fills the measure, lets it vibrate for 10 or so minutes, then lets it run while he's trowing charges. He says that it helps.
Me, I don't use Unique. I'm not a big fan of Hercules/Alliant powders because of the measuring problems and also because they're not as clean burning as other powders. That's in handguns.
I am, however, a BIG fan of Red Dot in 12 gauge shotshell loads, and have used a lot of it over the years.
That may help the situation.
I know of one person who uses an old electric razor taped so the side of his powder measure to vibrate the powder. He fills the measure, lets it vibrate for 10 or so minutes, then lets it run while he's trowing charges. He says that it helps.
Me, I don't use Unique. I'm not a big fan of Hercules/Alliant powders because of the measuring problems and also because they're not as clean burning as other powders. That's in handguns.
I am, however, a BIG fan of Red Dot in 12 gauge shotshell loads, and have used a lot of it over the years.
Ala Dan
Member in memoriam
Greeting's Richard-
I have the same problem with an R.C.B.S. "Uniflow".
I have made a powder baffle to ride on top of my
powder while in the hopper; but I haven't had the
opportunity to try it out.
I like "Unique" really well, but it does leave the
weapon very nasty when done.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
I have the same problem with an R.C.B.S. "Uniflow".
I have made a powder baffle to ride on top of my
powder while in the hopper; but I haven't had the
opportunity to try it out.
I like "Unique" really well, but it does leave the
weapon very nasty when done.
Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
I have been using 231 and 2400 but have been reading alot about Lil' gun.
Clark
Member
I like LIL'GUN for 357 mag and 38 Special in 158 gr.
H110 = W296 is second place
AA#9, 2400, N110, third place
All other pistol powders will work, just not as well.
H110 = W296 is second place
AA#9, 2400, N110, third place
All other pistol powders will work, just not as well.
Arub
Member
I use Unique (not as dirty as some folks say, improvements made over the years and way cleaner than Federal American Eagle loads) for 9mm, .40S&W, .38spl, .357 magnum and .45 auto. I do hand weigh each charge, so form of powder is not a factor. Unique is one of the most versatile powders on the market, also, one of the safest. If you have a double charge, it is readily apparent.
I'm playing with Power Pistol. A little flashy, but promises to burn more consistently in the lighter loadings than Blue Dot and be capable of near nuclear loads. I believe it was originally developed for the 9mm - small case volume and high pressure.
Clark
Member
Cal4D4,
Power Pistol is my favorite for short cases 25acp, 32acp, 32sw, 7.62x25mm, .380, 9x19mm, 9x23mm, and 45acp.
Power Pistol is my second favorite [behind 800X that does not meter worth a hoot] for 40 sw and 10mm.
LIL'GUN or W296/H110 work best in long cases like 32sw long, 32-20, 38sp, 357 mag, 44 mag, and 45 Colt.
Power Pistol is my favorite for short cases 25acp, 32acp, 32sw, 7.62x25mm, .380, 9x19mm, 9x23mm, and 45acp.
Power Pistol is my second favorite [behind 800X that does not meter worth a hoot] for 40 sw and 10mm.
LIL'GUN or W296/H110 work best in long cases like 32sw long, 32-20, 38sp, 357 mag, 44 mag, and 45 Colt.
Snorkel Bob
Member
Anyone use H108 at all? It should work pretty well for some neat 357 loads, but was curious is it could be use for 38 special at all. I have a feelings its too much for that cartridge though
WOW! Great replies thanks to all. I think I may try a pound of either Bullseye or Unique. I just ordered some Lee dies, 8 boxes of different weight bullets so the 800 rounds should keep me busy for a day or so. A friend that used to shoot 38 Spec. and 357 Mag gave me around 1000 cases for each. Thanks again!!!!
Grump
Member
re: Unique
Well, how did they shoot? If the accuracy is good at 50 yards, and velocities are not too far out of whack, who cares about weight vs. volume discrepancies when metering?
IME, Herco did not do as well as Unique using 125-gr bullets in .357 Mag. It still shows slightly greater promise with more "conventional" bullet weights, and worked great for me in .40 S&W. It approaches 296 with some loads, but without the need for Magnum primers (my most recent goal for .357 loads).
Edit: I like both Unique and Herco over Power Pistol and 296/H110/LilGun, etc. because they both produce a lot less flash.
Well, how did they shoot? If the accuracy is good at 50 yards, and velocities are not too far out of whack, who cares about weight vs. volume discrepancies when metering?
IME, Herco did not do as well as Unique using 125-gr bullets in .357 Mag. It still shows slightly greater promise with more "conventional" bullet weights, and worked great for me in .40 S&W. It approaches 296 with some loads, but without the need for Magnum primers (my most recent goal for .357 loads).
Edit: I like both Unique and Herco over Power Pistol and 296/H110/LilGun, etc. because they both produce a lot less flash.
Big_R
Member
I gave up Unique when I discovered AA#5. I use it in all three loadings with good success.
Ryan
Ryan
dleong
Member
Powders
I use Universal Clays for my 38 Special load. This powder burns extremely cleanly.
For my 357 Mag. loads, I was using H110 until I discovered WC820 mil-surp powder. WC820 burns about 13% faster than H110, and loads have to be adjusted accordingly, but it burns slightly cleaner, and costs way less (I paid $64 for an 8 lb. jug of it).
DL
I use Universal Clays for my 38 Special load. This powder burns extremely cleanly.
For my 357 Mag. loads, I was using H110 until I discovered WC820 mil-surp powder. WC820 burns about 13% faster than H110, and loads have to be adjusted accordingly, but it burns slightly cleaner, and costs way less (I paid $64 for an 8 lb. jug of it).
DL
NavajoNPaleFace
Member
I don't have much experience with .38SPL and .357 mag but I did load about three hundred each for a friend recently.
With the .38SPL, and pushing a 125 gr. lead flat nose we used Hodgdon Tite Group and with the .357 mag, pushing a 158 gr. copper plated flat nose, we used Unique.
Honestly, we couldn't find a load with either that printed well.
Two things I will say: Tite Group burned fairly dirty and blackened the cases quite a bit. Secondly, on the reverse, the Unique burned quite clean.
With the .38SPL, and pushing a 125 gr. lead flat nose we used Hodgdon Tite Group and with the .357 mag, pushing a 158 gr. copper plated flat nose, we used Unique.
Honestly, we couldn't find a load with either that printed well.
Two things I will say: Tite Group burned fairly dirty and blackened the cases quite a bit. Secondly, on the reverse, the Unique burned quite clean.
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