accuracy load for .357 cases w/ 158 gr JFP

[SSN Vet]

looking to load the following

bullet = 158 gr. Zero Jfp

brass = once fired .357 mag. brass (not looking for .38 spl brass loads)

powders = W231 or 2400

Goal = a nice 'temperate', ACCURATE load to shoot from a revolver w/ a 6" barrel

Thanks in advance
__________________

 

[Ben Shepherd]

For a true "magnum" load:

Between 13 and 14 grains of 2400, with a firm crimp. WHAT revolver? Ruger? Taurus? Colt? The charge wieght can be a little different depending on what gun.

231 is too fast for use in true 357 magnum loads.

 

[Steve C]

231 is too fast for use in true 357 magnum loads.

Nothing really wrong with using fast powder in the .357 mag IMO. You won't get top velocities out of them but they'll give you respectable velocity with less muzzle flash. I like faster powder with lead bullets a little better than jacketed and use 231 and Unique in both the .357 mag and .41 mag.

 

[SSN Vet]

not looking for a "full boat" magnum load, but rather a target load in a .357 case.

I've loaded 6.7 gr. of W231 behind this bullet and did not like it at all.

It's for a mid. frame Taurus revolver w/ a 6" barrel

 

[GP100man]

i`m with ben 13gr. of 2400 should be the middle of the road loading


GP100man

 

[Ben Shepherd]

For a middle of the road load there are several powders that would work better. But, given what you have I'd start with this:

13 grains of 2400, standard primer, firm crimp.(the firm crimp will be critical to the round burning cleanly and being consistant.) With a weak crimp it'll be very sooty/dirty.

Reccomend a redding "profile crimp" die.

 

[buck460XVR]

Speer lists 13.8grs of 2400 as the starting load for their 158's. I have found that 14grs under either their 158gr Unicor JSP or their 158gr GDs makes for a pleasant shooting, accurate round out of my 686.

 

[broham]

I have loaded 2400,unique,H110,231,AA9 and AA5. I will say the AA5 metered very well with my pro auto disk measure. From 8.5 to 9.5 grains with the Zero brand SJHP 158. It's not a full mag load but a good target load out of my GP100. H110 is a good mag load as well as AA9. I have loaded from 12.5 to 13.5 of the 2400 with a mag primer. I have heard that You don't need a mag primer with this powder but I stick to my load data. I prefer other powders for my mag or target loads.

 

[joneb]

I've loaded 6.7 gr. of W231 behind this bullet and did not like it at all.

Why ?

 

[Steve C]

If you are looking for a mid velocity load 6.7 grs of W231 really doesn't fit the bill as its just .2grs below the old Winchester data's maximum load of 6.9 for 158gr JHP. The old data I have list the velocity at 1,270 fps and pressure at 42,000 CUP with 6.9 and you should be getting around 1,240 fps from your 6.7gr load or about what full power 158gr factory runs at.

Drop the load down to 5.5grs and work up in .02 increments to to 6.5grs using W231 and try that. Some where in between those loads you should find something your pistol and you like. It should give you a velocity of over 1,000 fps with your 158gr jacketed bullets.

 

[xsquidgator]

Quote:
I've loaded 6.7 gr. of W231 behind this bullet and did not like it at all.
Why ?

I've also gone up as high as 6.7 grains of W231 under 158LSWC (home-cast boolit about BHN 12), the max per either Speer #13 or Lee #2.
Clocked it at 1035 fps out of a 2.5" Ruger SP101! I have a 6" Ruger Blackhawk that I'm curious to see how fast it'll go out of. I only tried a few of these so I'm not sure about accuracy. Felt recoil is fairly hot, although not as hot as the Remington basic defensive 125JHP ammo I usually keep in it (which clocks at 1284 fps out of the 2.5" SP101).

For target use I've been using 5.3 grains of W231 with the 158LSWC, but that's not necessarily an accuracy load, just seemed like an ok mid-range load. In my SP101 it seems to shoot several inches low at a distance of 20'. FWIW this 5.3 W231/158 LSWC clocks at 867 fps out of my 2.5" snubbie 357.

 

[SSN Vet]

Why ?

way to "snappy" for my taste

 

[joneb]

I have loaded plated and lead bullets between .38spl+P and 80% of MAX in .357 mag. with W-231 and Bullseye but I prefer AA#5 for this as it seems to shoot softer, I have found some very good loads near the middle.

Drop the load down to 5.5grs and work up in .02 increments to to 6.5grs using W231 and try that. Some where in between those loads you should find something your pistol and you like. It should give you a velocity of over 1,000 fps with your 158gr jacketed bullets.

I 2nd this approach.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I haven't done enough loading with 2400 to be able to tell you what my most accurate load is.

Like said above, W231 is too fast a powder for full power rounds in the .357 Magnum.

My favorite and most accurate load for the .357 Magnum is a 158gr Jacketed bullet over 16.4gr W296. A Sierra 158gr JSP .357" bullets are probably the best I've shot.