AA#5 158gr Copper Plated 357mag

[gonoles_1980]

I'm going to give this a try in my 357 with xTreme CPFP 158 gr.

Looking in the Speer Manual E14, Speer Jacketed bullets are 9.0-10.0gr.
Nothing in my Layman manual.
Looking at the Western Powders load page:
158 gr HDY XTP 8.6 to 9.7
158 gr LSWC is 8.0 to 9.0.

Considering this is a plated bullet and xtreme says to use the high end of lead to the middle of jacketed. I'm looking to try the following ladder load (5 bullets ea):

8.4
8.6
8.8
9.0
9.2

Does this look reasonable?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would use the lead load data, 8.0gr to 9.0gr and go from there.

To edit the title on the thread, once you click the edit button hit the "Go Advanced" button and the title will be available for edit too.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Your charges look reasonable. What's you goal for the load? Are you attempting to replicate factory, looking for top accuracy, building a light plinking load.

.357mag is pretty versatile. Load development can go in a lot of different directions.

 

[joneb]

If seating to the cannelure around 1.534" col, I would start at 7.8gr of #5 with a standard primer. I have found excellent accuracy at the lower end with this combo.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I use the copper plated for my higher end loads. I use lead for the moderate loads. I'm looking for a little flash (which I probably won't get out of the Accurate) and a bang. I normally shot 50 of the lead and then 50 of the copper plated. I want has high as I can go without feeling the my trigger finger or palm getting pounded.

I ended up going from 8.2 to 9.0 in 2gr increments. I'll test them out the next time I hit the range, which will probably be in two weeks.

My favorite load so far was 6.0gr of HP-38, so something close that. I think 1200 fps is probably the upper limit of what I would want to shoot in my LCR357.

 

[joneb]

With the above combo I've loaded up to 8.7gr I must not have thought to much of it as I didn't chrono the load.
I've loaded the 158gr plated Extremes with AA#7 up to 9.8gr, I'll try 10 and 10.2gr next.
The tricky part with the plated bullets is finding how much crimp you can get away with and not cut the plating, to little crimp and the bullets will start creeping out of the cases in the cylinder under recoil.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I bought a taper crimp for my plated bullets. It works great.

 

[joneb]

My memory must be fading, I found that I loaded up to 10.5gr of #7 with the 158gr Extreme PFP. At 10gr the bullets were jumping the taper crimp so I used a roll crimp that kept them in place above 10gr.
With AA#5 the taper crimp work well at 7.8-8.2gr after that ? I'm shooting a 34 once Ruger SS w/a 2 3/4" barrel, with a lighter gun the problem increases. Take some calipers with you when you test your loads and check for bullet jump.

 

[Mad Chemist]

Gonoles,
You may be better off loading some quality LSWC as your "hot" load. The plated bullets are really tricky to get a good crimp as Joneb explained.

A properly sized and lubed lead bullet will be able to give you plenty of flash and bang without any leading.

 

[Walkalong]

I bought a taper crimp for my plated bullets. It works great.

Yes they do, even when you need a heavy crimp.

 

[joneb]

Walkalong, which crimp die did you use? Redding?

 

[Walkalong]

I believe that one is, but would have to check.

 

[gonoles_1980]

I have a Lee Tampered Crimp die for the 357. I bought it based on recommendations on this site for crimping plated bullets.

 

[Walkalong]

Yep, they work just fine as well, and they are cheaper.

 

[Guy B. Meredith]

AA #5 is is one of my favorite powders for .38 spl. I don't believe I've tried the AA in .357 magnum. I haven't loaded a whole lot of .357 magnum as I load primarily for action pistol.

I tried AA#7 in the .357 magnum rounds. AA's manual says up to 11 gr with CCI 500 for 158 gr lead, Speer says up to 11.7 gr with unspecified CCI for jacketed. I did try loads from about 10.4 gr to 11.3 gr AA#7 with WSP and 158 gr X-treme RNFP.

Roll crimp all around.

The 11.3 gr loads were scary and I've put them away for future consideration. The 10.8 gr loads are brisk, but I haven't seen bad signs in the limited amount I've shot. Not going to trust them either until more testing though they have my interest.

Maybe noodling through that will add to the discussion.

These loads chrono'd up to about 1350 fps and seemed to have no major accuracy problems, but I was more interested in finding a reasonable limit than accuracy check.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Range Report on the AA#5 ladder, 357 LCR, 158gr, xtreme CPFP (Bonus 9mm load )

I loaded from 8.2 to 9.0 of AA#5 in increments of 0.2 grains. The folks that told me to start lower were correct. Turns out, I'll go with the 8.2 load, while all the other's fired without signs of pressure, I could start feeling it by the time I got to the 9.0gr load. So I'm happy with that.

As a side note, I tried 3.9gr of Vihatouri N320 in my wife's 9mm with 124gr xtreme CPFP, COAL 1.084. Was slightly strong for her, I'll drop to 3.8 and build a few for her with that.

Next experiments will be BE-86 and Unique in the 357 same bullet.

 

[Walkalong]

I tried 3.9gr of Vihatouri N320 in my wife's 9mm with 124gr xtreme CPFP,

I shoot 3.9 Grs N320 with the X-Treme 124 Gr HP @ 1.060 OAL. Nice load.

Glad to hear you found a nice load with the .357.

 

[joneb]

Around 8.0gr gr of H-6 with a F-200 primer is also a good load with the Xtreme 158gr Plated FP.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Didn't think of it, but you're right, it would have been better to post it to that thread.

 

[Walkalong]

And bingo.