Bisley Valquero 357 5.5" barrel loads

[gonoles_1980]

It's a range gun, I have used AA#5 8.2g with an extreme 158g CPFP, when I ran out I wanted to get rid of my Power Pistol, so I have been loading 7.8g initially with 158g CPFP, I've since switched to Missouri 158g LSWC. I have enough Power Pistol left for 200 rounds, so I am going to want to replace it.

Curious to what others would use in this gun power and bullet wise, as you can tell, I like less than magnum loads. On hand I have HP-38, Unique, Titegroup and Bullseye. But I need to make a new order in April sometime, so I am open to other powders. The lightest bullet I want to use is 158g.

Thoughts?

 

[Lee Q. Loader]

Of those powders you listed, Unique is the best option for medium to medium-heavy 357 loads. If you hadn't listed any powder choices for a medium .357 load I still would have suggested Unique!
BE-86 would be a great choice for when you order more.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Duh, I left off BE-86, I use that in my medium-heavy 44mag loads. I really like that powder in that gun, I use Unique for my medium 44mag loads.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I use a lot of W231/HP-38 in the 45 Colt. I have since changed over to HS-6 and like it a lot but many reloaded don't want to use it because it requires a magnum primer. I don't mind having the primers on the shelf. If course there is always Unique, the original smokeless powder for that cartridge. I prefer W231/HP-38 instead.

 

[horsey300]

Bullseye makes for tame loads, when I wanna crank the thump, I drop 2400

 

[ArchAngelCD]

@gonoles_1980, just wondering, so you have an original Vaquero or the New Vaquero with the smaller frame?

 

[Reeferman]

I use a lot of W231/HP-38 in the 45 Colt. I have since changed over to HS-6 and like it a lot but many reloaded don't want to use it because it requires a magnum primer. I don't mind having the primers on the shelf. If course there is always Unique, the original smokeless powder for that cartridge. I prefer W231/HP-38 instead.

I also use HS6 for midload magnums. Using a Campro 158 grain plated with 8.5 grains of HS6 is a very accurate load in my revolvers.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also use HS6 for midload magnums. Using a Campro 158 grain plated with 8.5 grains of HS6 is a very accurate load in my revolvers.

It does seem HS-6 really shines in the 45 Colt alright.

 

[Reeferman]

It does seem HS-6 really shines in the 45 Colt alright.

I should have stated 357 and 44 magnums. I don’t have anything in colt 45 but it’s my next purchase.

 

[Random 8]

Your unique is a good bet, but it will be a little sooty.

I generally use HS-6 for ".357 light" loads in my Taurus M66 for IHMSA silhouette. I get performance with cast or jacketed between .38+P and full power .357 mag velocities with good accuracy and reasonably clean burning. I was shooting Jacketed Noslers on 100m FP rams, have since switched to a 158 Penn hardcast TC and am very pleased. You can get nearly the same level of performance with HP-38, but pressures are significantly higher, IMHO, HS-6 is a better fit here. Reference Hodgedon online data, as my loads are interpolated, off book.

 

[gonoles_1980]

@gonoles_1980, just wondering, so you have an original Vaquero or the New Vaquero with the smaller frame?

I believe I have the New Vaquero, it's the one in my picture. I just bought it a few years ago new.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I believe I have the New Vaquero, it's the one in my picture. I just bought it a few years ago new.

Probably the New Vaquero. It will not tolerate very heavy loads in 45 Colt but the new frame is similar to the Colt SAA in size and weight which is a big plus when competing. The Magnum revolvers are plenty strong.


EDIT: to specify only the 45 Colt New Vaqueros are not as strong as the original Vaqueros.

 

[gonoles_1980]

So it looks like if I get HS-6 I will have to buy magnum primers, Hodgon's shows "Winchester SPM, Small Pistol Magnum". Just want to double check, because I don't want to fire magnum loads out of the gun, I stick to pretty much moderate loads.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

So it looks like if I get HS-6 I will have to buy magnum primers, Hodgon's shows "Winchester SPM, Small Pistol Magnum". Just want to double check, because I don't want to fire magnum loads out of the gun, I stick to pretty much moderate loads.

Magnum primers do not turn your ammo into magnum loads.

A magnum primer will burn slightly longer and slightly hotter than a standard primer. Actually, they should be used even more with less that full pressure loads that with max loads. They insure a proper ignition and more complete burn with slower hard to ignite Ball powders like HS-6 and W296/H110. Are they required, no but they are highly recommended. They work better for me and they reduce the SD numbers to single digits compared to the same load without a magnum primer.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Magnum primers do not turn your ammo into magnum loads.

A magnum primer will burn slightly longer and slightly hotter than a standard primer. Actually, they should be used even more with less that full pressure loads that with max loads. They insure a proper ignition and more complete burn with slower hard to ignite Ball powders like HS-6 and W296/H110. Are they required, no but they are highly recommended. They work better for me and they reduce the SD numbers to single digits compared to the same load without a magnum primer.

Thank you, I will had a box of magnum primers with my next order and work up a load for HS-6.

 

[gonoles_1980]

So I went to Bass Pro Shop with a buddy of mine and went ahead and bought a lb of HS-6 and 200 SPM's. I will give it a try after my Power Pistol runs out. Not a fan of the Power Pistol.

 

[Reeferman]

Magnum primers do not turn your ammo into magnum loads.

A magnum primer will burn slightly longer and slightly hotter than a standard primer. Actually, they should be used even more with less that full pressure loads that with max loads. They insure a proper ignition and more complete burn with slower hard to ignite Ball powders like HS-6 and W296/H110. Are they required, no but they are highly recommended. They work better for me and they reduce the SD numbers to single digits compared to the same load without a magnum primer.

I tried 8.5 grains of HS6 with a158 grain plated with standard primers instead of magnum ones and had lots of powder and residue. With everything the same except using magnum primers that went away. I use these plated bullets http://campro.ca/en/ and not sure what the brand the OP is using.

 

[336A]

Probably the New Vaquero. It will not tolerate very heavy loads but the new frame is similar to the Colt SAA in size and weight which is a big plus when competing.

Fairly certain this only applies to the .45 Colt. The OP is asking about loads for a .357 magnum in which case he need not worry about what frame size he has as that gun will easily handle any .357 magnum ammo.

 

[JohnB-40]

For a nice accurate lower recoil round in my 4.62" Vaquero,I like 4.5 gr of HP-38/W231 with a 158 gr Penn TCBB or Badman 158 gr RNFP

 

[Master Blaster]

HP-38 with regular primers will give you a 900 fps non magnum load. At 900FPS it will be pretty clean. Unique is also a good powder for this but a little dirtier.

 

[Toprudder]

For 357 and 44 mag medium loads, BE86 works great. Don't need magnum primers, either.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Thanks folks, I have the HS-6 to play with now, will just order more HP-38 and BE86 with primers on my next power/primer order. Gives me a few powders to check out. I do like the BE86 in my 44mag heavy-medium load.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Fairly certain this only applies to the .45 Colt. The OP is asking about loads for a .357 magnum in which case he need not worry about what frame size he has as that gun will easily handle any .357 magnum ammo.

Yes Sir, you are correct. I mixed up the 2 cartridges.

I own both and I do fire full power .357 Magnum ammo in the 38/357 New Vaqueros all the time.