Help with 357 load

[marineshooter]

hey guys I am in a bind here. I am trying to use 231 for lite to medium target loads im my 357 with a 4" barrel. i have 6 different books, they say different loads. I am using missouri bullets 158 gr lead swc. winchester says 3.4 to 5.0. Lees 2nd says 6.2 to 6.7. Loadbooks says max at 6.7. Lyman's 49th do not show 231. I am trying 231 from titegroup to see if 231 smokes the lube or bullet any less. I was using 4.7 gns of tg. A bit smokey in doors. any help in a good load/

 

[Walkalong]

Start at 4.5 and work up to what you want.

 

[floydster]

I use the Missouri 158 gr. SWC Match in my 357 Blackhawk with 38 Spl brass.
The load I have found to be excellent is 4.6 grs 231 pushing the 158 gr SWC.
It is one of my favorite loads of all time.
Smokeyloads

 

[GRIZ22]

I suggest using a bulkier powder in 357. You can easily double charge 231 but not Unique and definitely not H110, 2400, or 296.

 

[Walkalong]

Oh. Try Clays if you have any.

 

[loadedround]

Marineshooter: I have checked my various reloading manuals and the Hodgdon website(Hodgdon shows HP38 which is the same powder) and can see your dilemma on the various powder weights. So let's approach this from a different direction, using WW231 powder and the 158 gr LSMC. The loading manuals that do show loads for a 38 Special + P average 4.3 gr as a starting load and 4.7 gr and since the 357 Mag can easily handle any 38 Special +P load, so logic would dictate a good starting load of 4.5 gr. Exactly the same load I use in my two 357's as a practice and plinking load.

 

[marineshooter]

thanks you guys i will try 4.6. with so many different specs. out there i was going nuts trying to make sence of it..

 

[marineshooter]

loadedround thank you very much for a very great post. I will load up some rounds and post the results.

 

[SASS#23149]

part of the smoke is from the lube used on lead bullets.
I like W231a lot,but so many other folks like it that I haven't seen a pound on the shelves in Months.

Be sure you're looking at LEAD loads in the books,sometimes designated only by a capital 'L'.

 

[joneb]

I prefer Bullseye over w-231 for such loads.

 

[Lee Roder]

I just hate it when the listed starting load exceeds the maximum listed load

 

[Steve C]

You are looking at several sets of W231 data with different goals. The light loads are generally for Cowboy competition where the power is limited or with softer lead target bullets.

I've attached 2 images, one from the 2002 Winchester publication and the other from the Hornady data in my Load book. The Hornady data covers a wide range of power levels. Winchester data is for full power magnums as is the upper level of the Hornady data and need to be reduced 10% at least to start with. Work up if you want to get the maximum. That means that 6.0 grs would be an appropriate start level if you are using magnum brass and primers and want full power mag loads.

You can use the magnum loadings if you have the Missouri bullets that are 18 BNH hard for higher velocity and pressure.

 

[loadedround]

Marineshooter: Thank you for your kind words. I do enjoy helping a fellow shooter out when I have the chance.