Loading the 357

[Mason]

I've got a question for all of you with experience loading the 357.

I am now out of H110 and magnum primers. I still have a great deal of HP-38 and non-magnum primers that I use for 9mm and 38. What are your thoughts about using this mix for loading 158 JHP's up in 357 for light to medium target loads? I would be using a 6" GP100 and 6.5" BH.

Hodgdon's says to use between 6.2 to 6.9 of HP-38, but with magnum primers.

Normally, I would love to hear different options. But please consider that this is what I have to work with and no other options at this time.

If anyone has used this combo, how many grains did you start with?

 

[BBarn]

W231 will work fine in the 357 Mag. with standard primers. I'd work with Hodgdon's charge range even when using standard primers. Velocities will be less than those using magnum powders, perhaps 150 fps or so less.

 

[Kevin Keith]

I routinely use small pistol primers/2400 or Unique loading .357. It works very well.

 

[Mr_Flintstone]

You can use .38 Special or .38 Special +P load data in your .357 Magnum cases (so says Phillip Sharpe, co-inventor of the .357 Magnum). I would think .38 Special +P HP-38 loads in .357 cases would make excellent target loads, and they use small pistol primers.

 

[buck460XVR]

I would feel safe using your Hodgdon recipe and using standard primers.

 

[Reeferman]

I use lots of 231 with Hornady 158 XTP and standard primers with the same load range with no issues. I haven’t tested the difference between standard and magnum primers with this load but have with others and the most fps that I’ve seen with using a LabRadar was around 30 FPS faster with a magnum primer when the load data called for a standard primer.

 

[labnoti]

Hodgdon is the one who only ever lists data for magnum primers whenever the cartridge has "magnum" in the name out of concern that people will use magnum primers for cartridges with "magnum" in the name even if it isn't necessary. If they published data for HP-38 with standard primers and someone used that maximum charge with a magnum primer, they could potentially exceed the limit. Even though there is still a margin of safety above the published limit, Hodgdon is trying to be responsible and even anticipate a probable mistake on the part of their customer.

What you're proposing is generally safe. Using a standard primer, you would not exceed the pressure of load data worked up using a magnum primer. There may be some concern about piercing a primer cup. For a higher pressure cartridge like 327 Magnum, this might be a real concern, but standard primers are used at maximum pressure (35,000 psi) in 357 (and 9x19mm for that matter) all the time and we don't see pierced primers as a substantial concern. In handgun loads at these "normal" pressure (35,000 psi), 357, 9mm, 40 S&W cartridges all use standard small primers to contain the pressure, and only use magnum primers where the charge of powder is harder to ignite (full case of H110). For higher pressure cartridges like 327 Magnum (45,000 psi) or 454 Casull (60,000 psi) small pistol magnum or small rifle primers are called for to prevent piercing.

 

[Walkalong]

HP-38 and non-magnum primers......for loading 158 JHP's up in 357 for light to medium target loads?.

That'll work just fine.

 

[frankmako]

hp38 and standard primers will work well together. there is no need to use mag primers with hp38.

 

[docbrown]

231/HP38 will work just fine with standard primers. Don't have my load book with me, but I have run low to mid level 357 loaded to 38 special to 38+p without issue.

 

[ballman6711]

I've got a question for all of you with experience loading the 357.

I am now out of H110 and magnum primers. I still have a great deal of HP-38 and non-magnum primers that I use for 9mm and 38. What are your thoughts about using this mix for loading 158 JHP's up in 357 for light to medium target loads? I would be using a 6" GP100 and 6.5" BH.

Hodgdon's says to use between 6.2 to 6.9 of HP-38, but with magnum primers.

Normally, I would love to hear different options. But please consider that this is what I have to work with and no other options at this time.

If anyone has used this combo, how many grains did you start with?

I used Hodgdon's data and started at 6.2 and went all the way to 6.9 in 0.1 grain increments using W231 (supposed to be the same as HP38). I use Federal spm primers, both standard and match, because that's what I was able to get at the time although non magnum primers should work fine. My bullet is a Sierra 158gr jsp, and it's accurate and mild shooting out of my 6" Colt. I settled on 6.8 grains but as always start low and work up.

I also have an unused can of H110 that I picked up a couple of months ago. I'd be willing to part with it as well as some of my small magnum primers if you're near southern WV. You can pm me if interested.

chris