CSA 357
Member
i use 14.8 gr of 2400 with a 158 jhp max load in my book
My new .357 mag load with 2400.
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RDub
Member
Had a chance to shoot my new Taurus 608 between rain stroms for about an hour, and it's lookin pretty good so far. Brought an old standby load( 14.9grs 2400-158gr Sierra JHP, along with some other stuff, and the 2400 load shot the best.
25 yards.
25 yards.
Yarddog
Member
"[Can someone recommend another powder for .357 magnum loads that would use the magnum primers? I was going to use them and back down on my powder but it sounds like I should avoid using them with 2400 after reading the information above. My .357 load was going to be 13.5 grains of 2400 behind a MBC 158 grain SWC]"
Unique is a good powder to use for mid range loads ; )
Y/D
Unique is a good powder to use for mid range loads ; )
Y/D
USSR
Member
HS-6.
Don
Paladin38-40
Member
Contradictions abound
The 1999 Midway LoadMAP for .357 Magnum has 74 different bullets and 18 different propellants. They used Winchester SPM primers in every one of them. Their max pressure is 35000 psi.
My pet .357 plinking load for a 4" S&W 28 is 12.0 grains of #2400 and a 158 grain cast SWC bullet. With CCI #550 primers it gives 1115 fps with an ES of 29 fps. Using CCI #500 primers it yields 1113 fps and an ES of 75 fps.
The 1969 NRA Handloader's Guide lists the max .357 magnum pressure as 45000 psi. They show Remington #1 1/2 primers (standard) for all powders including #2400. The highest handload pressure shown is 38000 psi.
So as a practical matter who can say how much it matters?
The 1999 Midway LoadMAP for .357 Magnum has 74 different bullets and 18 different propellants. They used Winchester SPM primers in every one of them. Their max pressure is 35000 psi.
My pet .357 plinking load for a 4" S&W 28 is 12.0 grains of #2400 and a 158 grain cast SWC bullet. With CCI #550 primers it gives 1115 fps with an ES of 29 fps. Using CCI #500 primers it yields 1113 fps and an ES of 75 fps.
The 1969 NRA Handloader's Guide lists the max .357 magnum pressure as 45000 psi. They show Remington #1 1/2 primers (standard) for all powders including #2400. The highest handload pressure shown is 38000 psi.
So as a practical matter who can say how much it matters?
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Seedtick
Member
Lyman 49 also says to use a mag primer, for every (357) load. Maybe that's what was on sale when they were doing their testing???
After asking the crew here about it I followed their suggestions and I just use standard primers with 2400.
Seedtick
After asking the crew here about it I followed their suggestions and I just use standard primers with 2400.
Seedtick
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Alliant's newest manual uses standard primers for all their powders FWIW.
http://glarp.atk.com/2011/2011_Catalogs/AlliantPowderCatalog.pdf
http://glarp.atk.com/2011/2011_Catalogs/AlliantPowderCatalog.pdf
mrbro
Member
Paladin, I believe that 1969 NRA reference should be 45,000 CUP, not PSI.
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
I like 14 grains of 2400 with a 158gr LSWC with just about any standard primer. I prefer Lil'Gun and 158 or 180gr LRNFP.
ssyoumans
Member
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Range Report
Great weather here in Atlanta today, 75-80 degrees, 10mph breeze.
Continuing to work with Blue Dot & 2400 with my 6" GP 100 357 with the 158 gr MBC .358" LSWC bullets.
All loads, R-P or Win Brass, CCI SP Primers, 4 - 8 shot groups
13.0gr 2400, 1290 fps, ES 43, SD 20.3, KE 584, QL predicted 1305 fps, 27,245 PSI
13.5gr 2400, 1335 fps, ES 19, SD 9.6, KE 625, QL predicted 1358 fps, 30,233 PSI
14.0gr 2400, 1391 fps, ES 22, SD 11.9, KE 679, QL predicted 1411 fps, 33,482 PSI
8.7gr Blue Dot, 1179 fps, ES 65, SD 26.6, KE 488
9.0gr Blue Dot, 1215 fps, ES 63, SD 34.8, KE 518
9.3gr Blue Dot, 1256 fps, ES 62, SD 27.2, KE 553
I was pretty happy with the 2400 results. Blue Dot wasn't flowing well I suppose, pretty high ES & SD.
My 1992 Hercules reloading guide shows 15.3gr of 2400 max with a velocity of 1620 fps.. I can't imagine that.. over 920 ft-lbs of KE. I'll probably hold at 14.0gr. Don't really see the need more more power, that's the nice thing about 2400, much more flexible than say 296. Odd how newer data (2004, 2005, 2008, 2011) from Alliant dropped 158gr LSWC & Blue Dot & 2400. Wonder why??
These are my results and proved safe in my revolver, no signs of sticky extraction or flattened primers, but always work up loads of your own.
Great weather here in Atlanta today, 75-80 degrees, 10mph breeze.
Continuing to work with Blue Dot & 2400 with my 6" GP 100 357 with the 158 gr MBC .358" LSWC bullets.
All loads, R-P or Win Brass, CCI SP Primers, 4 - 8 shot groups
13.0gr 2400, 1290 fps, ES 43, SD 20.3, KE 584, QL predicted 1305 fps, 27,245 PSI
13.5gr 2400, 1335 fps, ES 19, SD 9.6, KE 625, QL predicted 1358 fps, 30,233 PSI
14.0gr 2400, 1391 fps, ES 22, SD 11.9, KE 679, QL predicted 1411 fps, 33,482 PSI
8.7gr Blue Dot, 1179 fps, ES 65, SD 26.6, KE 488
9.0gr Blue Dot, 1215 fps, ES 63, SD 34.8, KE 518
9.3gr Blue Dot, 1256 fps, ES 62, SD 27.2, KE 553
I was pretty happy with the 2400 results. Blue Dot wasn't flowing well I suppose, pretty high ES & SD.
My 1992 Hercules reloading guide shows 15.3gr of 2400 max with a velocity of 1620 fps.. I can't imagine that.. over 920 ft-lbs of KE. I'll probably hold at 14.0gr. Don't really see the need more more power, that's the nice thing about 2400, much more flexible than say 296. Odd how newer data (2004, 2005, 2008, 2011) from Alliant dropped 158gr LSWC & Blue Dot & 2400. Wonder why??
These are my results and proved safe in my revolver, no signs of sticky extraction or flattened primers, but always work up loads of your own.
_N4Z_
Member
Brian Williams said -
I've used alot of 2400 and AA#9 with 158gr LSWC's. Good results have been had with both. I also have Li''Gun on hand which so far I've only tested on jacketed rounds.
Curious to know your experience using it with the 158gr lead slugs. What kind of charge range have you tried? Did you experience better accuracy?
I've used alot of 2400 and AA#9 with 158gr LSWC's. Good results have been had with both. I also have Li''Gun on hand which so far I've only tested on jacketed rounds.
Curious to know your experience using it with the 158gr lead slugs. What kind of charge range have you tried? Did you experience better accuracy?
Brian Williams
Moderator Emeritus
I have used 18grs of LilGun with my 158gr LSWCGC and 15 gr of Lil'Gun with my 180gr LRNFPGC. I really like LilGun because it does not seem to have the pressure needs that 2400 and 110 need particularly the need for a tight crimp.
Shrinkmd
Member
I reproduced some of these in my gun, a 5" 627 PC with the V-comp (I'm even starting to like the 2 tone, but the gun is amazing)
Starline new brass, Federal SPP, Dardas 158 LSWC 0.357 (left over from my first order before I realized I was "supposed" to order .358)
These are only 10 shot samples because I was running out of time and had to get home for barbecue!
13.0 gr
High: 1196
Low: 1111
E.S.: 85
Ave.: 1142.2
S.D.: 25.4
95%: 20.2
13.5 gr
High: 1234
Low: 1151
E.S.: 83
Ave.: 1190.6
S.D.: 20.4
95%: 16.2
A question: is the 13.5 or 14 gr load ok as an everyday load? Is it too hot to use all the time, or is it far enough below max that I will get bored long before brass or gun wear at a faster rate? I was wearing double hearing protection, and wow is that load loud with the v-comp. Totally controls the muzzle flip, though. Makes it very easy to shoot.
Shrinkmd
Member
Maybe I switched the box or something an shot the 13.5 load twice, or I screwed up somewhere. I reshot some of the leftovers from last time and added in some new ones. It was about 85 or so degrees out today, about the same weather as last time.
13 gr
High: 1161
Low: 1095
E.S.: 66
Ave.: 1117.8
S.D.: 23.6
95%: 18.8
13.5 gr
High: 1217
Low: 1172
E.S.: 45
Ave.: 1193.6
S.D.: 12.9
95%: 10.3
14 gr
High: 1219
Low: 1167
E.S.: 52
Ave.: 1188.8
S.D.: 13.5
95%: 6.7
14.5 gr
High: 1292
Low: 1231
E.S.: 61
Ave.: 1257.4
S.D.: 16.3
95%: 8
So unless I made an error picking out the rounds to shoot, or dropping the powder
charges incorrectly, how on Earth can the 14 gr load shoot the same or slower than the 13.5 gr, but then the 14.5 load jumps up nicely to 1257?
Does this sound right? Again, as in the post above, these are Starline brass (new), 158 LSWC (Dardas bhn 16), Federal SPP, and the same lot of 2400. Fired out of the same gun, 627 PC 5" with V-comp.
13 gr
High: 1161
Low: 1095
E.S.: 66
Ave.: 1117.8
S.D.: 23.6
95%: 18.8
13.5 gr
High: 1217
Low: 1172
E.S.: 45
Ave.: 1193.6
S.D.: 12.9
95%: 10.3
14 gr
High: 1219
Low: 1167
E.S.: 52
Ave.: 1188.8
S.D.: 13.5
95%: 6.7
14.5 gr
High: 1292
Low: 1231
E.S.: 61
Ave.: 1257.4
S.D.: 16.3
95%: 8
So unless I made an error picking out the rounds to shoot, or dropping the powder
charges incorrectly, how on Earth can the 14 gr load shoot the same or slower than the 13.5 gr, but then the 14.5 load jumps up nicely to 1257?
Does this sound right? Again, as in the post above, these are Starline brass (new), 158 LSWC (Dardas bhn 16), Federal SPP, and the same lot of 2400. Fired out of the same gun, 627 PC 5" with V-comp.
billybob44
Contributing Member
Seed, every time I turn around, someone here local wants to sell me name brand Mag primers at $10-15.00 less per K then the going price (Before the Haz-Mat)Lyman 49 also says to use a mag primer, for every (357) load. Maybe that's what was on sale when they were doing their testing???
After asking the crew here about it I followed their suggestions and I just use standard primers with 2400.
Seedtick
So-needless to say, I need to use some mag primers in my pistol loads..HA HA..Bill.
kostner
Member
The late Skeeter Skelton favorite 357 load was 15.0 2400 under LYMAN 358156 160 SWC/GC. Have tried them and they are true 1350fps round. And use a real 357 not a pocket pistol with "magnum" stamped on the barrel. Ruger or Colt and SW will keep you safe. Fired mine with SW-19 and was a thrill. Yes I do miss Skeeter and his writings in Shooting Times. Guess that kind of ages me?
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LTR shooter
Member
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I found it to be the other way as my standard primer 2400 loads was not nearly as accurate. As I use Hornady and Sierra bullets their manuals say nothing about using standard primers only with 2400.
Overkilll0084
Member
Ditto on the 14.0 gr of 2400. With a MBC .357 action, the leading is pretty much a non-issue in my old revolvers, the newer S&W is a bit more susceptable. Very accurate load though.
Detachment Charlie
Member
I use 2400 w/ 158 LSWC out of a 6-1/2" Ruger New Model Blackhawk. My first loads used data from an older Alliant manual.
Let's just say that current load info is SIGNIFICANTLY less powder than earlier.
WOW!!!
Now, that was an introduction to .357 mag reloading, and a testament to the strength of the single action Blackhawk.
Now, I'm down to 14.5 --15.0gr and the results are more accurate, but nowhere near as spectacular or attention getting!
Let's just say that current load info is SIGNIFICANTLY less powder than earlier.
WOW!!!
Now, that was an introduction to .357 mag reloading, and a testament to the strength of the single action Blackhawk.
Now, I'm down to 14.5 --15.0gr and the results are more accurate, but nowhere near as spectacular or attention getting!
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