back to my revolver....

[SSN Vet]

I have some 48 gr Berry's DEWCs I want to use up....

I used to load them in 38 spc cases over ~3-1/2 gr. of W231 for what I called my "happy little poppers", which shot quite accurately.

but....

my revolver is a .357 magnum and I'm all done shooting .38 spc brass in it.

soooooo....

any recommendations for a load using W231 and flush seating this bullet in .357 brass??

I'm on my last sleave of large pistol primers so I'm soon to run out of ammo. for my new Commander. Going to have to dig out the revolver to keep me occupied for a while, as I'm still well stocked with components for it.

Also going to load some "regular" (not flaming hot) loads with 2400 and Zero 158 gr. JFN bullets. Any suggestions?

 

[Walkalong]

W-231 & .357 cases instead of .38 cases.

Up the powder charge .1 or .2 grs to make up for the larger .357 case. Depending on case wall thickness, you may not be able to load that Berrys 148 Gr DEWC flush without making too big a bulge at the bottom of the bullet. Seating them out of the case a little, if needed, won't hurt a thing.

2400 is a bit slow for .38 loads. Check your load book for powders giving the velocity you want. Unique, Universal, True Blue, HS-6, AA #5.........

 

[rcmodel]

I believe you can safely use the same load you were using in .38 cases with very similar results.

Hodgdon lists 3.0 starting @ 845 FPS- 3.4 Max @ 908 FPS with a 148 HBWC in .357.


I like 14.0 grains 2400 with 158 jacketed bullets for a mild yet powerful .357 Magnum load.

rc

 

[Steve C]

I like 14.0 grains 2400 with 158 jacketed bullets for a mild yet powerful .357 Magnum load.

I also load 14.0grs of 2400 behind a 158gr jacketed but don't consider them to be mild unless you consider factory loads as "mild". Using a standard primer to lite it these loads chrono at 1,247 fps from my 4" S&W 66 duplicating published ballistics by Remington and Winchester.

Below is some data from Winchesters 15th Ed on line publication. They list 3.4grs as their load in the .357 mag with a 148gr WC though they don't specify if its a HB or
Solid Base bullet I'd guess that they chose the safe rout and assume that some reloaders would use the HB type. 3.5grs with a 148gr solid base bullet certainly will not be a problem.

 

[Starter52]

I used to load 3.5 grains of 231 with Berry's plated wadcutter bullets, but not anymore.

Berry's recommends that you not shoot their plated bullets under 800 fps. I use 4.0 grains of 231 when shooting Berry's to keep the load over 800 fps in all barrel lengths.

Try 4.0 gr in your .357 cases. Works for me.