best powder for 357 in 158g

[Hook686]

I use Unique or 2400 with my .357 Marlin 1894 C & S&W 627PC.

With Unique I use 158 grain JSP, 7.8 grains powder, 1.590" OAL and magnum primers.

With 2400, I either load 158 grain Rainier PFP using 12.6 grains, 1.595" OAL and standard primers; or, 13.3 grains of 2400 with 158 grain JSP, 1.600" OAL, magnum primers.

These work fine for me. As others suggested, I too suggest going to the Alliant web page and looking up the load data there. Starting 10% below the maximum list is recommended, as I recall

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For my Carbine I've used 2400, H110/W296 and Lil'Gun with a 158gr JSP bullet. All will work but I've found W296 yields the highest velocities and it's very accurate too. If you decide to use a 170/180gr bullet for hunting instead of a 158gr bullet Lil'Gun will give you the highest velocities with lower pressures than with 2400 or W296/H110. It is also a clean and accurate powder for the .357 Magnum.

With a 158gr JSP bullet I charge 16.2gr W296. (I used to charge 15.7gr W296 but found 16.2gr to be more accurate in my guns) A Magnum primer is a must with W296/H110.

With a 180gr Hornady XTP bullet I charge 15.0gr Lil'Gun for a very accurate round that's very clean too. I use a Magnum primer in this powder/bullet combination too.

 

[Seafarer12]

I like 2400 over blue dot etc because it is slower, Takes advantage of that long barrel. I am curious if anyone has ever tride a fast rifle powder like 2015 in a 357 rifle load. I have read about using it in 32-20.

 

[Brian Williams]

2400, 110/296 and Lil' Gun all make for a great load.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like 2400 over blue dot etc because it is slower, Takes advantage of that long barrel. I am curious if anyone has ever tride a fast rifle powder like 2015 in a 357 rifle load. I have read about using it in 32-20.

Seafarer12,
I haven't tried 2015 but I did try 4227. I was lucky enough to get enough to load up 10 rounds and when I shot then in my Carbine I didn't feel it was any better than W296/H110. Unfortunately it was before I bought my Chrono so I can't provide velocity numbers. I shot them at a plate 100 yards out and I didn't see anything that would make me buy another powder.

 

[Seafarer12]

Well I am getting some 2015 for my 45/70 so I might have to do some experimenting. I have also thought about reloader7. According to alliant re7 is 19% vs 2400's 27%, blue dot is 37% for comparison on burn rate. If they don't work it won't be a big deal since I have another use for the powder and you never know I might get a 32-20 one of thses days. I found a good load for the 32-20 using 2015 and it was 22k cup but gave 1700 fps out of a rifle and 1400 out of a pistol with a 110 grain pill.

 

[ForneyRider]

+1 for H110. Measures pretty easy in my Lee Auto Disk.

H110 is for max or near max loads with 100% or compressed load.

2400 and Steel show a little faster on burn rate chart than H110/W296.
Lil'gun is right in between the 2400 and H110/W296.

Of the ones I see listed here, IMR4227 and H4227 are the slowest.

Lee book has MAX load of 16.7gr of H110 with 158gr XTP bullet going 1757fps at 40700CUP. Their start load at 15gr of H110 at 1597fps.