Pet load's for .357 mag ?

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clearcut

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whats your favorite 357 load?I would like to know, I'm getting ready to load for my dessert eagle .357 and my .357 max. TC. The bullets are158gr cjfp ,primers are win.wsp it's what I have on hand. I haven't bought any powder yet.
Thanks CC
 
Although probably not the load most prefer, I like a jacketed bullet, doesn't matter what it is really, just jacketed, and a published charge of H110/296, and a magnum primer. Nothing says magnum handgun louder than H110/296 does, nothing.

Other wise, just thumb through the data and pick something that includes a powder you can get your hands on for that cartridge, and then begin working it up.

GS
 
Just loaded some 158gr LSWC over 13.4 gr of 2400. Winchester SPP. It seems like a medium magnum load from my 4" Model 19-3.
 
158 Grain Hard Cast SWC with H110/W296 or Lil Gun loaded to duplicate the velocities of the original 1935 .357 Magnum Factory Load.

If you can't handle it with that load, get a .454 Casull. Work up your loads and follow all safe reloading practices.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr
 
Hundreds of 357 loads available. Find a handgun powder first and go from there. You'll get recommendations for 20 different powders, but you'll be lucky to find 1 or 2.
 
I shoot 125 grain HP's over H110/296 in my revolvers. If you can get some 180 Sierra FPJ, load them up in your Maximum Contender. You will also like 158 HP's out of your maximum. Look up Mike Bellm contenders. He is a big fan of the maximum cartridge in a contender.
 
My favorite factory equivalent 158gr loads for the .357 mag are loaded using 2400. The first powder that I had used for mag loads 40 years ago was 2400 and always go back to it after trying others.

With standard primers and 14.0 grs of 2400 behind a 158gr JHP or SP the load chrono's right around factory velocities at 1,243 fps from a 4" S&W 66. I load hard cast using 13.0 gr.
 
I know it's not what you want to hear but a .357 Magnum load that shoots well in my S&W M686 might not shoot well in your Desert Eagle. (and probably won't) Why not open your load book of go online and work up a load for your handgun like we all do? I'm not being nasty at all and I would be happy to help if I thought your pistol would not need it's own workup.

Standard primer = 2400, 300-MP, AA#9, 4100, Enforcer, Lil'Gun
Magnum primer = W296/H110, Lil'Gun

If you want real magnum performance that will move that heavy slide using a standard primer give Power Pro 300-MP a try.
 
Magnum Research specifies not to use lead bullets in their gun. When I had my DE .44 it would only cycle with legitimate magnum ammo.


I would think 15 gr of H110/W296 under the OPs 158 JFP would be minimal for cycling.
 
I concur on that Alliant 300-MP powder... GOOD STUFF! Not much data out there for this newer powder, but after burning 3 pounds of it through various handguns I have load data for most magnums using a variety of bullets from .357 to .460 if anyone should like. In most instances more velocity/less pressure and the recoil is noticeably less... more of a push than the normal jump.
 
Ive tried almost all the possibles but the easiest to deal with in 3 revolvers has been a max load(published) of VV N110 with 158gr XTP and a standard spp. Clean accurate and excellent velocity. Will it work on bottom feeder, all you can do is try and see.
 
I've been using 2400 so long that it's second only to Bullseye in my reloads. In my S&W N frames I like 15 grains of 2400 behind a 155 grain to 165 grain swcgc or a good 158 grain jhp. The cast bullets give about 1450fps and the jacketed load about 1280fps. This load also shoots very well in my 686. For lighter pieces such as the S&W M19 and Colt Python the cast bullet load is reduced to 12.5 grains of 2400 to give 1150 fps to 1200 fps depending on gun and barrel length. Great accuracy with these loads.
 
My go to load is 14gr A2400 behind lead SWC, for jacketed bullets I really like 14.3gr A2400 behind 158gr XTP. These were fired in 4" revolvers but not chronographed, i expect them to be between 1200 and 1250fps.

I have some AA#9 on hand to try but haven't yet, it seems to be easier to find than A2400 in my area.
 
The Hornady manual lists 11.5 grains of AA No. 9 as the max load with that powder and the 158 grain XTP. In my Ruger 77/357 carbine it gives me 1 inch groups at 50 yards. Not impressive compared to real rifle cartridge like the 308 Win, but not so bad for a pistol cartridge.

This is by no means a super power load. If you consult other manuals you will find much hotter loads, especially using H110/296.

For AA No. 9 I still use standard primers - and they work just fine. The current manual does specify magnum primers for AA No. 9, but I get consistent accuracy and small standard deviations on my chronograph. For H110/296 magnum primers are the way to go.

It depends what you are looking for. Some people are recoil junkies. Personally, I will pick the tightest groups over the biggest boom.

Tom
 
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9.5 Grains of Power Pistol behind 125 XTP. I don't shoot maximum loads in my Model 19. It is extremely accurate and not too much flash,suprisingly.
 
Clearcut,

You do not mention if the cjfp - copper jacket flat point? - bullets have an exposed lead base or not.

FWIW, I would NOT make a habit of shooting exposed lead base bullets in a Desert Eagle.
Gases do vaporize some of the lead upon firing and those gases go into the gas tube cast under the barrel. No way to clean or remove the eventual lead build up.

I shoot 14.5 gr. of 2400 or 16gr. of 4227 in my .357 D.E.s with 158gr. jacketed bullets. Both loads function fine in a clean D.E., even with a 'loose' hold on it.

Good luck finding either of the powders I use (and am running LOW on) or most any of the medium to slow burning powders listed above.
It will be a hunt!

JT
 
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Desert Eagle = Full power 158 grain jacketed bullet to function properly.

Try 14.5 - 15.0 grains 2400 with anyone's 158 JHP and standard primers.

Disregard all the 'Favorite Loads' posted for revolvers.

Because you don't have a revolver.

rc
 
In my guns, my plinker 357 magnum load is 14.5 grns of 2400 with a 158 LSWC. My full bore is more than that which is above book max.

In my 357 Maximum 20 grns of 4227 with a 158 LSWC makes a nice plinker load. You can go up to around 23 grns with it if you want. I find that 20 gives me good accuracy so I stop there for light lead.
 
I have a .44 Desert Eagle and it supposedly only takes certain powders. I believe it has something to do with burn rates, but I truly can't remember and I have never deviated from the list in any event.

The Desert Eagle will typically take max-power loads of magnum powder (2400, H110 and AA#9 all work for the .44).

As several others have mentioned, do not use bullets with any exposed lead in your Desert Eagle!
 
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