Help with .38/357 loads please?

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ccjcc81

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Guys, care to help a newbie with some starting .357 magnum loads using HS6 and a 145gr NOE bullet?

My Lyman 48th shows these loadings for .38/.357 with HS6. Take a look at this data, and tell me if you think it’s safe to load a 145gr cast bullet a little lower than the .357 starting loads to try to achieve a 900fps-1000fps load for a snubby .357. I’m looking for a light load somewhere between .38spc +P and light .357. Is it safe to download and start with 8.7gr-9.0gr of HS6? I will load some full house loads for fun, but I want a lighter load for range and shtf stockpile use. Any advice on if this is safe, and if so, what my starting load should be?

.38spc 155gr
HS6 4.4gr 564fps 8,000cup 6.7gr 894fps 16,600cup

.38spc 160gr
HS6 4.5gr 610fps 8,200cup 6.7gr 901fps 16,200cup

.357 125gr
HS6 9.4gr 987fps 30,500cup 10.5gr 1230fps 38,600cup

.357 150gr
HS6 9.0gr 1103fps 32,600cup 10.0gr 1301fps 40,100cup

Here’s the NOE bullet I’m trying to send down range.

NOE%20360%20180GR_zpsyvav3evi.jpg

I will load some full house loads for fun, but I want a lighter load for range use and shtf stockpile.


Thanks guys
 
HS-6 isn't the ideal powder for what you want to do. If it's all you have to work with then go for it. HS-6 doesn't respond well to reduced pressure loads, leaving large quantities of unburnt powder kernels. Magnum primers aren't required, but help tremendously. Full power loads will still be slower than 2400 or H110 loads but might be over your velocity goals.
 
You probably won't find much for lead bullets in 38 +p, but think about using load ranges in the void between 38 +p max JHP and 357 Mag min lead.

If you drop 10% from the 38 +p load for 146 gr Speer JHP to get a lead load, you get about 6.0 gr.

The starting load for 140 gr FTX in 357 Mag, the closest in weight but quite different actually, shortened case and all, is 6.0 gr.

I am thinking that to use HS-6 in mild 357 Magnum and 145 lead you should simply use the full 38 +p 146 gr JHP max load of 6.7 gr. My own full bore load for medium to large size guns and rifle in 357 Mag is 10.0 gr with 158 gr lead and mag primer, so I expect this 6.7 gr/145 will be an easy shooter (in 357 Mag cases). It might be dirty though.

I use BE-86 or Unique in the lighter stuff better suited to smaller guns.

Of course, this all has more to do with how I would guess at a load, making do with a given powder and bullet, rather than recommending something tried and true for you to use.

ref: Hodgdon data
 
Is it safe to download and start with 8.7gr-9.0gr of HS6? .357 150gr
HS6 9.0gr 1103fps 32,600cup 10.0gr 1301fps 40,100cup
Click to expand...
Yes, 8.7 gr is ok. Do use a magnum primer. In 38 special, stay close to maximum.
th_HS%206%20%2038%20spec_zpslxq1thst.jpg
[/URL][/IMG] Check and confirm the weight of the bullet in photo.
 
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Ok, that's good info.

I wanted to use HS6 because I've got some, but if it's really dirty I might consider getting something different. What's a good powder that meters well that would run a good range of .38spc +p all the way up to .357 mag that's cleaner?
 
I wanted to use HS6 because I've got some, but if it's really dirty I might consider getting something different. What's a good powder that meters well that would run a good range of .38spc +p all the way up to .357 mag that's cleaner?
Click to expand...

Try BE-86. There is a lot to like about it. Alliant has the data.
 
ccjcc81 said:
Take a look at this data, and tell me if you think it’s safe to load a 145gr cast bullet a little lower than the .357 starting loads to try to achieve a 900fps-1000fps load for a snubby .357. I’m looking for a light load somewhere between .38spc +P and light .357.
Click to expand...

Accurate No. 7 would be good in this application, burns clean, easy flow though powder measure, readily available.
 
i'll second 243winxbs comment about using a mag primer with hs-6.

murf
 
I'm going to go ahead and use something different. I'm glad I asked. I'd rather spend some more and get a powder that I know will do the right job. I think I'll pick up some No. 7.

Thanks for all the help guys. I'm very grateful for this resource.
 
Got a recommendation on where to find some BE-86?
Click to expand...

Do you mean at prices you like? Where have you looked? When I really want something, I go straight to Reloading Unlimited (don't start!) or Powder Valley, wherever, paying the going rate. For BE-86, one pounders have been at my LGS about every time I go there. Sorry if it hasn't shown much in your area. It is good powder.
 
I tried and chrono’d these loads a couple weeks ago using HS-6. I used HS-6 because it’s what I had. I will use other powders and work up loads for them as well, based on what I have in stock at the time. Half the fun of reloading is in the experimentation, so have FUN and try lots of powders! Some will be better, some not. I don’t get too picky unless loading up for long-term storage. But I don’t do that until I have used/tried differing recipe’s (powders/bullet) to find out a favorite load.

These were for my wife’s new Ruger GP100 6”. These worked great and make for pretty nice plinking rounds. The HS-6 is a bit on the ‘dirty side’, but guns do require cleaning after range visits anyways, right? An extra 2-3 minutes spent cleaning not a deal breaker for me.

Shoot, clean, re-holster and repeat at next range visit. A little ‘dirtier’ doesn’t really change that concept.

***As always, verify your loads from a published manual. You are responsible for your safety! These I got from Hornady's Manual 9th Edition.

125gr Hornady XTP; 6.6gr HS-6; COAL 1.450 @ 728fps
125gr Hornady XTP; 7.0gr HS-6; COAL 1.450 @ 850fps

Good luck and update us on what you come up with! Cheerz
 
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My favorite.38 Special +P powder is HS-6 and for light to medium .357 Magnum loads with a 158gr lead bullet. One of my loads is 7.0gr to 7.2gr HS-6 in a .357 Magnum case using a Magnum primer. No reason not to use it with your slightly lighter bullet. Very accurate and clean load I'm my revolvers. Give it a try before you buy more powder. I have also used AA#5 and was happy with it but came back to HS-6.
 
Some really good info in here, but so many different experiences to draw from.

I'm not averse to cleaning. I actually enjoy cleaning guns, within reason. What I don't want is a bunch of unburned powder to foul up the operation. My uncles use Unique for everything, and when I shoot their loads there's a ton of unburned powder everywhere. Their loads actually jammed up the crane on my 686 once. It was nothing serious, just moving it round worked it out, but that unburned powder is just a nuisance.

The NOE bullet I posted was a 160 gr with a hollowpoint, reducing it to 145. I haven't bought the mold yet, and I see that a whole bunch of NOE molds show out of stock, with no way to order one. Is there a way to order one, or do I just have to wait until they whip up a batch?
 
ArchAngelCD said:
My favorite.38 Special +P powder is HS-6 and for light to medium .357 Magnum loads with a 158gr lead bullet. One of my loads is 7.0gr to 7.2gr HS-6 in a .357 Magnum case using a Magnum primer. No reason not to use it with your slightly lighter bullet. Very accurate and clean load I'm my revolvers. Give it a try before you buy more powder. I have also used AA#5 and was happy with it but came back to HS-6.
Click to expand...


I was wondering if you were going to weigh in here. You are most definitely the guy with the most experience with HS-6. I recently picked up a pound but haven't had time to work with it.
 
just don't forget about the mag primers with hs-6. in my experience they make a big difference with this powder.

murf
 
I like Winchester 231 for my hand guns If I want a hot load for my 357 I use #5 accurate for my 44 I like # 9 accurate. Good luck
 
Load it as you would a 160 grain flat nose. With the HP pins or the FN pins you're seating depth and amount of bearing surface in the bore won't change.

When ordering from NOE either wait till they are in stock or you can join the forum their and post in their "What would you like to see ran" section under inventory runs. Once 10 people get on the list to they'll make a run. The people on the list before it gets ran get a discount on their molds.
 
RealGun said:
Why say that, if the bullet weighs 145, and there are loads for bullets closer to that than 160?
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A main cause of pressure is how far you seat bullet into the case. If you see load data for a cast RNFP that is 140 gr that bullet will be occupying less space in the case as it is entirely shorter bullet than what you've got. For practicality sakes, what you have is a 160 grain bullet with a void in it.

If you were to follow Hodgdons recommendation on finding the correct load for using Trail Boss you're load range would not change between the HP version and FN version. Since that powder is not to be compressed and the minimum load is whatever the weight is that fills the case to 80 percent of the volume of the case with a seated bullet, your minimum is the same as well as the max (100 percent fill but no compression) since the bullets are the same length. You're combustion chamber stays the same regardless of what pins you use in that mold.

Likewise the bullet may be lighter but the HP cavity has no effect on bearing surface of the bullets on the rifling. You reduce the mass of the bullet but it still hasn't changed the amount of friction the bullet has going down the barrel.

I'm sure there's a formula to increase loads safely, but I'm 90 percent sure if you were to load that bullet to data for hot 140 gr loads you'd be getting into some pretty high pressure ranges and at the very least get some pretty horrible leading, but would also likely damage the handgun.

Hope this all makes sense. I have a few NOE hollow points and like them a lot but I always load them to data for the solid versions so as not to damage my guns. If you have data for the specific bullet as a HP then by all means disregard my what I've said. If you're looking for loads people use, aire on the side of safety and treat it as if it were a solid.
 
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