Powder choice for 357 Mag and 125 gr JHP

[osteodoc08]

Picked up some blemished 125 grain JHP bullets the other day. Which powders do y'all recommend for medium heavy loadings. I've got H110/Power Pistol/2400/HS-6 to choose from. Usually use heavier bullets and not a bunch of experience with 125gr loadings. Ill be using them in my 586, 2-686's, and blackhawk. I'd like to stay away from the H110 due to top strap erosion.

Thanks guys.

 

[BYJO4]

Unique and 2400 have both worked very well for many years.

 

[Magnum Shooter]

I have loaded thousands of rounds with 17g of 2400 under 125g JHP for many years with no noticeable top strap erosion. It is accurate and really lights up the range so everyone knows a magnum is in the house.

 

[BullfrogKen]

I've used AA No 9, 296, Blue Dot, and 3N37 as well.

I don't play around with a lot of stout 357s, preferring 38 Specials instead.


ETA - if I shot large quantities I'd look hard at 2400, too.

 

[Walkalong]

Which powders do y'all recommend for medium heavy loadings.

Medium and Medium Heavy? Unique & 2400. Since you have PP and 2400, I would try the PP for medium. I have used N340 for medium heavy and it shoots great. Recoil is "sharper" than 2400 though. Unique for medium.

 

[ljnowell]

When you say "medium/heavy" that means you want 2400, IMO. It can be downloaded from a full throttle to a little more reasonable. If you were to say "max effort" I would say H110/W296.

 

[ap55]

When I shot NRA started with Blue dot and it worked well for me,but that was with 158gr. Many of us used it.Try some of these sugestions and see what makes the old girl happy.

 

[GP100man]

Since H-110 is out my next choice is HS-6. You did`nt mention barrel length but I bet 1400+fps from it !

Yep , with starting loads almost

http://www.hodgdon.com/

 

[Miata Mike]

2400. Neat fireballs too.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Power Pistol is my first choice followed by Unique....Both replace Blue Dot after the Alliant warning a few years ago.

 

[caster]

I would strongly consider 4227 or #7 for a 125gr bullet in .357

Both will deliver good accuracy without the fireball and both meter consistently

 

[gamestalker]

I run mostly 296 / H110 and have been for years. Flame cutting happens with all powders, and only goes a few thou deep. So if you want full throttle magnums with those 125 gr. JHP's, then magnum primers and 18.0 - 20.0 grains of H110 / 296 is the way to go.

GS

 

[ArchAngelCD]

H110/Power Pistol/2400/HS-6

All 4 powders will produce acceptable performance in the .357 Magnum with a 125gr bullet but H110 will generate the highest velocities.

I use mostly 3 powders for all my handgun loading and the 2 I use for the .357 Magnum you also listed. W296(H110) and W540(HS-6) are the 2 powders I use most for the .357 Magnum and W231(HP-38) gets the most use in my .38 Special ammo.

 

[Stormin.40]

I was going to ask the same question, I tested some A2400 loads with 125 XTPs and talk about a fire ball. I am going to try HS-6 and possibly titegroup next. I would be able to get the velocity that 2400 would provide but I also won't get the flash. By the way I loved A2400 with the 158 XTPs.

 

[Walkalong]

True Blue will work for medium heavy, and is low flash. It generally gives good ES & SD numbers, even when not filling the case well.

 

[jim243]

2400 powder works very well for 357 Mag.

Jim

 

[bobinoregon]

I'm another one for 2400 in .357 and .44 mag, it's my standard powder for both.

 

[jmorris]

For hot loads 2400 would be my pick too.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I was going to ask the same question, I tested some A2400 loads with 125 XTPs and talk about a fire ball. I am going to try HS-6 and possibly titegroup next. I would be able to get the velocity that 2400 would provide but I also won't get the flash. By the way I loved A2400 with the 158 XTPs.

I have no problem using HS-6 in this application but please be very careful with Titegroup. Not only are double and triple charges possible that powder is known to spike pressures when use in high pressure rounds. It's really not a good choice in the .357 Magnum.

 

[jmorris]

A double of any powder in almost any gun is never any good but agree that fast powders are not what you want for full house loads in the 357.

 

[Walkalong]

And very dense fast powders in a deep case are just asking for trouble. Very difficult to see a double charge.

 

[Stormin.40]

Point taken, I will avoid the title group and just try HS6 for now.

 

[beatledog7]

I'm a big fan of 2400 for .357Mag and .44Mag.

It can be soft loaded for those who are recoil sensitive and can be full-tilt loaded without magnum primers. For me it's the best magnum revolver powder (not that I've tried them all) for anything other than smoking-hot loads. For those I choose H110 and magnum primers.

 

[valleyforge.1777]

If one makes sure to NOT have a double charge, and one stays in the lower or mid range of loading data for Titegroup with 357 Magnum cases, SPP, and Montana Gold 125 gr JHP's, is it possible that this is safe? I use a progressive press, weigh often, do not think that it can double charge a case as long as I do one down stroke of the handle and one up stroke of the handle and the shell holder rotates to the next position on upstroke. Whenever I think I may have hesitated or possibly moved the handle in the wrong direction, or when something gets stuck or jammed, I discard all of the loads in progress at that moment before starting again. I really don't think I can double charge a case as long as I follow proper press operation. So, in that situation that I described, can it be safe to use Titegroup?

 

[Comrade Mike]

Do not use blue dot! Alliant put out a warning that using blue dot with 125 grain bullets could cause dangerous pressure spikes and pulled all their data.