Looks like I'll be getting a Lee Turret press for Christmas! And as long as I'm not outbid, some very nice (non-Lee) dies to go with it, and other accessories. I may need to hand measure charges for awhile, though, until I can afford a couple Lee powder through expander dies and an Auto Disk powder measure. I'm probably going have to pay for everything but the press myself.
So, I've already got an okay amount of .357, .38, and .40 brass. I have some idea of what bullets I want to use. Just need to decide on a powder. What I need is a powder which is suitable for full power (equal to factory loads) .40 S&W loads, and reduced-power .357 loads. Given the cost of powder, I'd really prefer one type for both calibers. Minimal flash and fouling are plusses. And I'd prefer something that can be used with an automatic powder feeder thingie (press-mounted or not).
Specifically, I want a .40 S&W load that pushes a 180 grain JHP at a hair over 1000 fps from a 4" barrel, and .357 magnum loads that launch a 140 grain pill at ~1000 fps or 158 gr at ~900, out of a 2.25" barrel. The .357 mag loads translate to approximately 140 gr at 1120 fps from a 4" barrel or 1190 fps from a 6", or 158 gr at 1000 fps 4" / 1050 fps 6".
So what'd work best for those kinds of loads? There seem to be a number of powders that meet the velocity requirements easily, but most have some flaw holding them back. Bullseye, Red Dot, and Unique are filthy. Universal can spike in pressure at the upper end of .40 S&W book loads. HiSkor 800-X doesn't meter well at all. Power Pistol is amazingly loud and flashy.
And on those .357 mag loads, does anyone have experience with how well various hollowpoints in those two weights expand and penetrate at those velocities? Specifically, I'm looking at 140 and 158 gr Remington SJHPs and 140 gr Speer Gold Dots, since those seem to be easier to obtain than decent performing 158 gr lead HPs.
So, I've already got an okay amount of .357, .38, and .40 brass. I have some idea of what bullets I want to use. Just need to decide on a powder. What I need is a powder which is suitable for full power (equal to factory loads) .40 S&W loads, and reduced-power .357 loads. Given the cost of powder, I'd really prefer one type for both calibers. Minimal flash and fouling are plusses. And I'd prefer something that can be used with an automatic powder feeder thingie (press-mounted or not).
Specifically, I want a .40 S&W load that pushes a 180 grain JHP at a hair over 1000 fps from a 4" barrel, and .357 magnum loads that launch a 140 grain pill at ~1000 fps or 158 gr at ~900, out of a 2.25" barrel. The .357 mag loads translate to approximately 140 gr at 1120 fps from a 4" barrel or 1190 fps from a 6", or 158 gr at 1000 fps 4" / 1050 fps 6".
So what'd work best for those kinds of loads? There seem to be a number of powders that meet the velocity requirements easily, but most have some flaw holding them back. Bullseye, Red Dot, and Unique are filthy. Universal can spike in pressure at the upper end of .40 S&W book loads. HiSkor 800-X doesn't meter well at all. Power Pistol is amazingly loud and flashy.
And on those .357 mag loads, does anyone have experience with how well various hollowpoints in those two weights expand and penetrate at those velocities? Specifically, I'm looking at 140 and 158 gr Remington SJHPs and 140 gr Speer Gold Dots, since those seem to be easier to obtain than decent performing 158 gr lead HPs.