Good powder for loading 38 loads in 357 brass

[LUCKYDAWG13]

Wow thats some good shooting

 

[Toprudder]

I know it isn’t in your list of powders, but based on my tests in 38 and 357, I would look at BE86.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

no not on my list but thanks

 

[joneb]

Wow thats some good shooting

I have tested 357 mag loads down loaded near 38 spl pressure for many years with 140-158 lead and plated bullets.using Bullseye, W-231, Unique, Accurate #5, VV n-340 and HS-6. The powders that stand out for me are #5 and HS-6, magnum primers are key to success with HS-6 in this application.

 

[RealGun]

Just thought that I would report back the 4.2 gr of Bullseye is the ticket I put 50 rounds in a group that a silver dollar would cover
this is out of my 3" Ruger sp101 right at 7 yards shoots to point of aim and a joy to shoot I dont think I can ask for more out of the
little Ruger

would like to ad no flyers just one hole

I note though that your load is barely 38 Special +p in .357 brass and would not feel like it in the larger case. The midpoint between +p and minimum .357 Magnum is 5.2. To do justice to the gun and the brass, you might work your way up in powder weight to find a sweet spot that is more befitting.

 

[gonoles_1980]

joneb - What load and bullet weight, primer do you use with your HS-6? I just started testing HS-6 with my 5.5" SA Bisley Valquero and I liked 6.5gr with 158 xtreme copper plated bullet and a Winchester magnum small pistol fire. It was an easy shoot, I might bump up a grain or two. I looked on the Hodgen's site and HS-6 at 6.3gr same load would max out a 38spl load, the OP would just need to make sure he used magnum primers.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I have tested 357 mag loads down loaded near 38 spl pressure for many years with 140-158 lead and plated bullets.using Bullseye, W-231, Unique, Accurate #5, VV n-340 and HS-6. The powders that stand out for me are #5 and HS-6, magnum primers are key to success with HS-6 in this application.

what is your load with HS6 I have a few # of it and some SPMP

 

[forrest r]

I use 4.0gr. of Bullseye, in a .357 Magnum case, behind a plated 158gr. SWC for target shooting. It's extremely accurate and the recoil is very manageable.

+1 ^^^^^^

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

*

I note though that your load is barely 38 Special +p in .357 brass and would not feel //////-+like it in the larger case. The midpoint between +p and minimum .357 Magnum is 5.2. To do justice to the gun and the brass, you might work your way up in powder weight to find a sweet spot that is more befitting.

I need a load just to punch paper over at a friends house he has a indoor range 1 lane about 4 feet wide and about 10 yards max
shooting a 357 magnum is just to dang loud even with a good pair of muffs on my other load is 6.5 gr of Unique still at the
fringe of a magnum load but I'm just banging steel or puttin holes in paper I have shot a lot of magnum loads over the years
now I'm just looking for Target loads

 

[joneb]

joneb - What load and bullet weight, primer do you use with your HS-6?

I used the Extreme 158gr plated flat point, these are more accurate for me than the 158gr plated FPRN and the 158gr plated SWC.
With Winchester 357 mag brass trimmed to 1.280" primed with GM 200 and 7.6gr of HS-6, I used a Lee collet crimp die this is not a Lee FCD. The COL was 1.570"
From a 2.75" barrel the average velocity was 771 fps, ES of 28 fps and a SD of 12. this load felt like a standard 38 spl load.
This HS-6 I have is pretty old, I'm not sure if I would have the same results with new powder?
Another member here recommended a magnum primer for HS-6 in 38 spl/ 357 mag, this made a improvement in the performance of HS-6 at lower pressure.
Normally I use Bullseye and W-231 for this type of load but I was looking to use up some HS-6.

 

[RealGun]

*
I need a load just to punch paper over at a friends house he has a indoor range 1 lane about 4 feet wide and about 10 yards max
shooting a 357 magnum is just to dang loud even with a good pair of muffs on my other load is 6.5 gr of Unique still at the
fringe of a magnum load but I'm just banging steel or puttin holes in paper I have shot a lot of magnum loads over the years
now I'm just looking for Target loads

I have often wished we didn't have to get so deep into a thread before the OP gives the entire context for what they are trying to achieve.

 

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I too have often wished for post not to end in a negative way from the beginning i was looking for a 38 Special load in 357 brass I think that I found it
With some help from the members of THR and I thank you all for the help

 

[Walkalong]

now I'm just looking for Target loads

WST or Competition under a 148 Gr SWC. Bullseye works well too, just not as good PF numbers. You'll never notice that at close range though.

 

[desmobob]

I have 357 brass and would like to load to 38 special level I know that i can use 38 special data
I have a few K of plated bullets to use 158 gr Whats a good powder to use on hand
Unique Red DOT Bullseye 231 HS6
thank's

I use Unique for .38 Special loads in .357 brass.

 

[IWAC]

Lucky;
My go-to load has been 5.5 gr. Unique/150-158 gr cast SWC. standard primer, chrono'ed at 860 fps from a 4" barrel. Pleasant shooting. Economy? Whatever pleases you. 1,260+ 5.5 gr loads in a pound of Unique, or ~1100 at 6 gr. accounting for a little spilled here and there or otherwise disappearing is not too shabby.

 

[RealGun]

Lucky;
My go-to load has been 5.5 gr. Unique/150-158 gr cast SWC. standard primer, chrono'ed at 860 fps from a 4" barrel. Pleasant shooting. Economy? Whatever pleases you. 1,260+ 5.5 gr loads in a pound of Unique, or ~1100 at 6 gr. accounting for a little spilled here and there or otherwise disappearing is not too shabby.

But that is 38 Special performance, not magnum. In a similar gun and bullet I like 6.5 grains. More like 38 Special for me is 5.0 grains.

 

[1-12 INF (M)]

HP-38/231 will work fine. I find myself reaching for Bullseye for almost everything now. The AA's no 2 and 5 measure really well, as does Ramshot Silhouette, if consistent automated measuring is a concern on a progressive. Unique is the classic, 'do-everything' powder and it's popular for a reason - it does.

 

[RealGun]

A real concern for loading 357 Magnum cases is whether you can see the powder charge before placing a bullet. These were designed for or adapted from black powder for 38s, which would have almost completely filled the case. Magnum powders intentionally have more volume, avoiding erratic ignition. In powders faster burning than magnum powders, Unique is often favored for its relative volume and then appearance before seating a bullet. The new kid on the block for volume is Vihtavuori Tin Star, which reportedly can be well loaded hotter than just cowboy performance, then a candidate for moderate magnum loadings with powder easily viewed. Not everyone stands up to load, so looking into a tall, skinny case is not trivial, some using a mirror setup.

 

[Walkalong]

I have some Tin Star and it acts similarly to Trail Boss, it definitely fills the case so you can see it. I haven't tried it at moderate .357 Mag levels. Haven't played with it in some time actually.

 

[IWAC]

But that is 38 Special performance, not magnum. In a similar gun and bullet I like 6.5 grains. More like 38 Special for me is 5.0 grains.

And your point is?

 

[desmobob]

But that is 38 Special performance, not magnum.

And that's exactly what the OP asked for... "I have 357 brass and would like to load to 38 special level..."

 

[RealGun]

And your point is?

My anecdote, same as you.

 

[RealGun]

And that's exactly what the OP asked for... "I have 357 brass and would like to load to 38 special level..."

Reading more carefully, you should note that I wasn't responding to the OP. But you feel better now.

 

[desmobob]

Reading more carefully, you should note that I wasn't responding to the OP. But you feel better now.

Lucky was looking for 38 Special load info and that's exactly what IWAC gave him. I was suggesting that there didn't seem to be a reason for you to jump back in with what seemed like criticism of IWAC's help. Forgive me if I misunderstood.

 

[pennsylvanian]

I have tested 357 mag loads down loaded near 38 spl pressure for many years with 140-158 lead and plated bullets.using Bullseye, W-231, Unique, Accurate #5, VV n-340 and HS-6. The powders that stand out for me are #5 and HS-6, magnum primers are key to success with HS-6 in this application.

Any suggestions with the N-340 and a 125 grain plated in .357? (or Unique?)