Mid Range 357 loads

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dave from mesa

dave from mesa

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Just got new to me a Security-Six w/4" barrel.
Of course I go to look for components and all I have is brass.
So I have to buy everything else so I thought I would ask here what powder do you guys think would be best for mid range loads. Don't want to shoot 38's thru it. Would like to use 158 gr SWC. I have lots of WST but I guess it isn't a good powder for the application.
Want powder that is somewhat clean burning.
Thanks
 
Midrange - powders like Unique, Universal, Titegroup, AA#5 & AA#7, will work very well. Others like Bullseye, AA#2, Win 231 will work if that's all you have. AA#9 and Alliant 2400 will get you rocking pretty good, but those can be downloaded a bit to the warmer end of midrange. H110 is basically full magnum only and does not download well at all so that one is probably not a great choice.

That's just some off the top of my head. Others will add to the list, I'm sure.

Q
 
For plinking and target I load berry's preferd plated bullets using Universal. I don't remember the load but in plated I go a litttle hotter than lead data, but not as hot as jacketed. Ill look in my books and let you know the weight. I shot around 200 rounds through my K- frame a few months back, and they turned out prity clean.
 
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"Why not shoot 38s ??????

Literally billions of .38s are shot through .357s every month without any harm whatsoever."

I know this but am tired of cleaning out that little carbon ring in the front of the chamber. I have as much 357 brass as I have 38. Either way I need to get powder, primers and bullets.
Would prefer lead 158 swc. Cheap bugger that I am.
 
I load 158gr LSWC for my GP100. I admit many of them end up in .38spl cases, just because I have hundreds of them laying around.

For plinking with lead, I recently discovered IMR Trail Boss. It's on the mild side, but meters surprisingly well, is bulky, making it difficult or impossible to double charge.

Another unusual powder I've had fun with is Winchester AutoComp. It's a faster burning ball powder. Meters very well, and a little goes a long way. Literally more bang for your buck @ 5gr per load.
 
My favorites for this application are Unique and Universal. IMO, you need one of the midrange powders for this type load. 2400 can be downloaded to the same ballpark, but gets extremely dirty when pressures are low, at least for me...

One of my favorites is MBC's 158 gr. LSWC (.357 Action) over 6 grs. Universal with a Winchester SPP. I've used the same charge of Unique with good results, Universal just a bit cleaner...
 
Unique, N340, AA #5, True Blue, etc

Congrats on the Security Six. Great guns.
 
Walkalong
Thanks. I have an old Security-Six with a 6" barrel. Before we moved to AZ I was cleaning the trigger group and I heard a "ping" from it. Don't know what I lost but it was under spring pressure or it was a spring. Lazy me I haven't sent it back to Ruger to get it fixed. Always thought that a 4" barrel would be better and one came along last week. Couldn't pass it up.
thanks guys I am going to go and buy the components Fri or Sat. Got to see what powder will be available.
 
Unique would be my choice for a cast SWC. I use a lot of each for loads like you are looking for....I just looked at my notes in one of my reloading manuals. I tried both Unique and Blue Dot with Berry's plated 158's. The Unique was nearly 100 fps faster than the Blue Dot and more accurate according to my testing. However, that was just the opposite of what the manual showed....The Blue Dot was the faster of the two.
 
HP38 and 700X work well for me. Sportsmans Whse., Greenfield @ 60 keeps a pretty good stock now.
 
I had some Unique and Berrys 148 plated DEWC bullets, and I wanted a load with a bit more oommph than a target load. To my pleasant surprise I found 6gr of Unique in 357 cases was very, very accurate in my 19-3.
 
I've used Universal, Titegroup & AA5.
Using Hornady HP XTP 158

AA5 gave the fastest fps (9.5 gr) 1150+

Titegroup (6 grains ) had the lightest recoil - really a powder puff - but had only about 950 - 1000 fps.

Universal (6 grains ) was in between - harder recoil than Tite Group, not as fast as AA5.

Forgot to mention I used Fed small magnum pistol primers

Loads were developed with a S&W M66-2 4" barrel
 
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HS-6 would be hard to beat for your purpose. You could load it to an equivalent of .38+P+ in your .357 and shoot forever. AAC#7 wouldn't be bad either.

Universal is a bit faster, but I think you'd be well satisfied with it as well.
 
9.0 gr HS-6, 158gr JHP, standard primer has proven to be the most accurate mid-range 357 load I have assembled so far. Some folks insist that a magnum primer is required when using HS-6, but there is no need to do so.
 
I try both primers in most low to midrange loads. One of my favorites shoots the best in my S&W 586 with mag primers and the regular primers work the best in my DW 15-2.
 
Another vote on the Blue Dot. I use what is almost MAX on the 38 SPL loading in the 357 brass with great results. Do use a heavy crimp as the pressure needs to build for a clean burn. I have used almost 3# B-D in the past year with 158 GR lead SWC in my 357's with great accuracy.
 
158 grain hard lead bullet with 8 grains of Herco. (this is close to a max load)

For something juicier, I tried hot loads of Blue Dot and hated it. Switched to AA#7 and got the same performance but with less leading and less split cases. (The Blue Dot worked very well in .45 Colt loads)
 
Well went to buy components today. Got primers. Powder was limited, got Unique. They had no LSWC bullets. Ordered some just now from Missouri Bullet Co.
Have about 200 158 LRN and will use those while I wait (I hear they are quick).
Thanks for all your help.
 
My favorite middle to middle-hot .357 Magnum ammo is made with HS-6. That powder will produce accurate ammo with both jacketed and lead bullets.
 
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