Favorite powders (or pet loads) for 357 max?

[swampcrawler]

Ok guys, sorry to put up another question on this cartridge but, i have a 10 inch MGM tube, leupold base and rings, and Burris 2x scope headed my way. I scored a thousand small rifle bench rest primers today, but have no other components. Powders on hand are alliant Unique and Hodgdon longshot, which arnt right. Just currious as to if one certain powder works particularly well.

Also, anyone know where to find brass in stock?

 

[BoltActionPrepper]

Longshot should be a good powder for the .357 Max. Maybe not optimal, but with the limited availability of components it might not hurt to try.

 

[swampcrawler]

Huh. I don't have a ton of that either. I guess il just have to grab anything that could work in it an try it due to the way things are right now. My Sierra manual would indicate Winchester 296 works quite nicely. So what qualities am I even looking for in a powder? I guess I don't fully understand how choice of powder works other than trial and error

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
I will recommend W296 or H110 (both are the same powder) and my favorite with over 180 grainers 1680. I do not shoot less than 165 grainers in my Dan Wesson. If a lighter bullet is needed then a caliber 357 mag will take care of matters.
As all you have is Unique and Longshot I would use the Longshot. Far better than Unique and far safer. Unique will pressure spike when it crosses a certain pressure curve in each cartrige. Longshot should get you into respectable velocities safely.
Mike in Peru

 

[SgtRock04]

Alliant's 2400

High velocity
Great for .357Mag and .44Mag. I use it for both calibers with great success. 158gr copper wash bullet with 15-16 grs of 2400 is very close to a max load. SgtRock

 

[swampcrawler]

Thanks for the recommendations guys. I have some ideas now at least.
Ok one more question. Using 357 mag brass and a heavy (and thus longer) bullet, could I seat it really shallow in the case to try to shorten the jump from case to rifling. Would this do any good or is it dangerous in some way?

 

[bluetopper]

IMR 4227, H110, Accurate 4100/Ramshot Enforcer, Accurate 5744 any of these are hard to beat.

I have a 13" MGM 357 Max barrel.

 

[swampcrawler]

Parasite, thanks man! How does the MGM tube shoot? I would have preferred to get a 357 mag and have mike Bellm rechamber, but Ed happened to have a 10 inch on hand, and my Sierra manual says they only saw a 75 fps velocity difference between a 10 and 14 inch so we should be ok.
And does anywhere have brass right now? Found 200 pieces on gb but at 57 per 100, seems a bit steep.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
You can long seat heavy caliber .358 in .357 mag brass but you must still retain enough case grip so the bullet does not fall off before loading. You do not need much but I would think about 1/4 inch would be minimum. A basic guidline is one caliber of bulet in the case. So for .358 that would be a "desirable" minimum.
You do not want bullets that are off center either. We call that "runoff". Bullets that are way off will not staret the journey down the barrel straight so there goes consistency. A bullet that wobbles down the barrel will do so through the air . Plays havoc with accuracy.
Mike in Peru

 

[swampcrawler]

Thanks missionary. I didn't think about the runoff issue. I'm hoping to get some Max brass for a decent price so I won't have to try that but just trying to decide how to best make magnum brass work in a pinch

 

[bluetopper]

The MGM tube shoots as good as it's supposed to. I'm thrilled with it.

There is no new manufacture 357 Max brass available at this time from anywhere. I've have a batch backordered at Midsouth now for nearly three months. All you will find is going to be second hand. Put a want ad out on some of the gun forums you might get a bite.