Light .357 load, thoughts?

[gonoles_1980]

My Layman manual doesn't show W231 or HP38 for a .357. So I'm using the Hodgon site for info for a 158gr lead bullet. I'm trying to keep my power and primer supplies simple. I have both W231 and HP38 for powder and CCI 500 and Winchester WSP.

Using a 158gr lead bullet.

For my 38's I use 3.6gr W231/HP38, nice light load, works fine for me.

I was wanting a light load for the .357
The Hodgon site shows
HP38/W231 - 3.4 to 5.0

So I was thinking of using 4.0gr W231/HP38 with either the CCI 500 or Winchester WSP primers. Can I get away with doing that or do I have to use the CCI 550 or Winchester WSPM magnum primers? I've seen some recipes for the 357 that use the CCI 500's.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A charge of only 4.0gr W231 will only produce a .38 Special load in a .357 Magnum case. That's my standard 158gr LSWC .38 Special load.

No need to use a magnum primer with W231. You only need magnum primers with hard to ignite ball powders like W296/H110, HS-6 and HS-7. Using a CCI-500 primer is just fine.

If you something close to a real magnum load you will need a lot more W231 that 4.0gr. Hodgdon stops @ 5.0gr W231 because of the lead bullet. They want to be sure no one gets leading in the barrel. I would use at least 5.0gr but even that's not a magnum load, it's barely over a .38 Special +P load.

 

[Walkalong]

W-231 will work well for light loads in .357 brass. Stay around midrange .38 Spl loads or so to be sure of getting the bullet out of the barrel all the time. Some starting .38 Spl loads may not be 100% sure to do that. Most will, but some may not, especially with the longer bearing surface of 158 Gr bullets.

 

[zxcvbob]

No need to use a magnum primer with W231. You only need magnum primers with hard to ignite ball powders like W296/H110, HS-6 and HS-7. Using a CCI-500 primer is just fine.

Absolutely right. I just want to add that you *can* use a magnum primer (or even a small rifle primer) with 231 or Titegroup or Unique, etc. if that's all you have. The pressure will be a little higher, and accuracy may suffer a little -- or it may be a little better, it depends on the load.

When I first started reloading, I used Federal small rifle primers for everything because I didn't yet trust myself to not get them all mixed up.

 

[stavman11]

with w231 and Tightgroup I was using 4.3 to 4.6gr with great results.. Decent Pop and pretty accurate

I use SPP not magnums... not needed with W231

Good Loads for me