Hodgdon Longshot in .357 Magnum

[Skinnedknuckles]

I was looking at using Longshot for some efficient mid-range .357 Magnum loads with plated or coated 158 gr and 180 gr bullets. Hodgdon's web site calls for the use of small piston magnum primers, but they call for them for Titegroup as well when loading for .357 Magnum.:banghead:

These will be for target shooting/plinking and I'm not worried about sub-freezing weather reliability. Given these conditions, am I likely to see any issues using standard small pistol primers?

 

[Rule3]

You will find that if it is "Magnum" Hodgdon uses a Mag primer regardless of the powder. For example HP 38. They do that for consistency (I called and asked a long time ago)

I use LS in 9mm and 40 SW and do not use mag primers, You can use either, It is a slow powder and mag primers may actually help but are not needed IMO.

 

[gamestalker]

I don't use Longshot for .357, but I use it in a few other cartridges, including +P 38 spcl, 9mm, and .40 cal with great results. But I don't like it in .357.

As for primers, I don't usually use a magnum primer with LS, but I have on occasion when I didn't have any standard primers on hand, and they worked just fine.

If we were talking about something like H110 / 296, then yes, magnum primers would certainly be a good idea.

GS

 

[ReddOrion]

I am a huge fan of Longshot in 9mm, 40S&W, 10mm and 45 Auto, most often using Rainier plated bullets (not in 10mm). That said, Longshot is at its best when it is pushed to high pressures. At lower pressures, it tends to be a really dirty burner, and accuracy isn't the best. As it has a very nice pressure curve, I've never had issues with it even when going into published +P territory.

I do not like it in .357, especially for mid-range loads. If you want to use the same bullets for mid-loads as your general practice loads, I recommend Trail Boss. I also use the Rainier 148gr. double ended wad cutters in the .357, and load them light with Hodgdon's data for HP-38.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

I don't use Longshot for .357, but I use it in a few other cartridges, including +P 38 spcl, 9mm, and .40 cal with great results. But I don't like it in .357.

GS

Could you share why you don't like it for .357. I was interested in it because per Hodgdon I could use Longshot at levels from .38 +P up to .357 loads approaching H110 velocities. Does it get unstable at higher pressures or have other bad habits?

 

[joneb]

I have not tried Longshot yet, but for plated bullet middle loads for 357 mag, powders in that burn rate range work very well. I have had good results with Accurate #5 and 7, 800X.

 

[gamestalker]

Longshot is difficult to manage pressures with when working it up to maximum, which is where it performs most consistent. It doesn't shoot worth beans at low to mid table, but when I try to work it up any higher, pressures get higher than I'm comfortable with. It's just too fast burning to function as a magnum powder, well at least in a .357 mag. cartridge, it functions stellar as a 12 ga. magnum shot shell loads.

Here's a comparison, Hodgdon data.

158 gr. JHP
H110 - Min. 15.0 grs. = 1418 fps @ 28,600 cup
Velocity Comparison to Longshot = 160 fps higher velocity
CUP Compared to Longshot = 3,100 lower cup

Max. 16.7 grs. = 1591 fps @ 40,700 cup
Compared to Longshot = 197 fps higher velocity
CUP compared to Longshot = 2,500 lower cup

158 gr. JHP
Longshot - Min. 7.3 grs.= 1258 fps @ 31,700 cup
Max. 8.4 grs. = 1394 fps @ 43,200 cup

I load with H110 / 296 when I'm charging a .357 case, Longshot when I'm charging a .38 spcl case.

GS

 

[ReddOrion]

Could you share why you don't like it for .357. I was interested in it because per Hodgdon I could use Longshot at levels from .38 +P up to .357 loads approaching H110 velocities. Does it get unstable at higher pressures or have other bad habits?

Gamestalker has it right. Longshot does indeed behave very well when it's run at high pressures, and it doesn't spike when approaching book max (like Blue Dot can...). At low to mid pressures, it tends to burn a bit inconsistently and very dirty. This has been my observation in 9mm, .357, .40, 10mm and .45 Auto. For full-house loads in .357 and/or .44 mag, I prefer H110 and Lil'Gun. Consistency of those two in the magnums is incredible.

I typically tend to use Longshot in the autoloader calibers for full-house SD loads, or SD clones when I just want to practice with full impulse rounds.

When I want to load down, I like to use HP-38 in the 357. One of my favorite bunny-sneeze loads is 148gr double ended wadcutters seated just short of flush with just a few grains of HP38. IMR's PB powder is also good for low power loads. It is a bit dirty, but is very consistent.

 

[gamestalker]

When I was referring to Longshot getting spikey and difficult to manage pressure with, I was specifically referring to use in .357 mag. when working it up to full table charges, it's horrible for that application. I like my good old H110 / 296 for magnum loads.

But it's absolutely awesome for full house SD loads in 9mm, +P 38 spcl, .40 cal, and 10mm, and of course 12 gauge magnum loads, which is where it likely originated.

GS

 

[stubbicatt]

I remember a thread here I started some time ago on this same topic. Taking the advice of some other contributors, I scoured the earth for some 2400, and I haven't looked back.

 

[orionengnr]

Or buy yourself a 10mm...

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

I've been thinking about that 10 mm!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm also not a fan of Longshot in the .357 Magnum. I much prefer HS-6 for lead bullet and mid-range jacketed loads in the .5357 Magnum.

As for magnum primers in the Hodgdon .357 Magnum load data, I wrote Hodgdon and asked them about that. They told me they use magnum primers with all powders in magnum load data for safety. They claim they work up the data using a magnum primer because they know some reloaders will use a magnum primer in that cartridge even if Hodgdon would list a standard primer and also push the high end pressure limits. To be safe they work up all the magnum data with a magnum strength primer.