Powder for .357 mag and .38 spl.

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I was looking for some kind of powder that will be a good compromise between .38 Special, and .357 Remington Magnum. I will be shooting hard cast bullets, and want something that will be easy to adapt to both cartridges.
I am aware that a light charge of "bullseye" can be used in both, as can many other powders, but I would like some other, slower burning options, as I would like to make some hotter rounds (not hard cast) while still maintaining the interchangeability. I hope my question makes sense, I am looking for a semi-slow burning powder that can be used for .38 and .357 mag. Well not really looking for one, but looking for advice on which one to use.
 
A lot of people will say Unique, and on paper and in practice it will do the trick. I just dont like the stuff. It doesnt meter well in any measure i have used and its still too dirty, even the new "clean" unique.

I really cant say that any powder that I use is perfect for both. I use AA#2 (think fast like bullseye) in both, but its surely not a thumper load in 357. Decent velocity though. It performs well in 38s, though it is a small charge in a big ol' case. I also use power pistol in both 357 and 38. Of the powders that I use I would have to say that its the one that I cross over from 38 to 357 with.

For instance, I load 158gr LSWC and LSWC-HP in 38 cases with it and also am known to use it for 158gr LSWCHP and LSWC in 357 cases also. I find that it gives great top end performance in the 38 special cartridge, albeit with lots of unecessary flash and boom, but i like that. It doesnt make it to my 2400 loads in 357, but then again, I wouldnt expect it to.

Hope some of this helps you buddy!
 
Your best bet would be one of the medium burning powders for both cartridges, like Unique. Like ljnowell posted it is dirty and doesn't meter very well. I use Universal for my mid-range 357 loads. It meters well enough and is very clean, cleaner than even the VihtaVuori powders I have been using! Any of the powders in this burning range will work well for what you want. I went with Universal.
 
That would be Unique. Or if you want to favor the .357, use Herco. If you want to favor the .38, use HP38 or 231 (they are the same powder with 2 different labels now)
 
Since I use a lot of W231/HP-38 that is probably a good place to start. If your .38 special rounds are going to be on the high end of the pressure range I would suggest HS-6 or AA#5. Both will do a good job making middle to middle-high end .357 Magnum rounds.

I mostly use 3 powders for all my handgun ammo, W231 (HP-38), W540 (HS-6) and W296 (H110) and they cover most anything you would want to load.
 
ljnowell, thanks, that is EXACTLY what I was looking for, good top end .38, good mid level .357. Thanks a lot!

If you want to, keep posting suggestions, I am not killing this thread just yet, so please post your favorite powder for these kind of crossover loads.
 
HS6 and Longshot will both perform very well in both of those cartridges. However, Hogdon doesn't include any data for standard 38 spcl using Longshot, except for +P data. I regularly load 38 spcl. +P using Longshot and it's an amazing powder for this task. HS6 is also very nice for this type of upper velocity load and is still considered a slow burning powder as per the 38 spcl. application. Both work well for .357 mag. but in terms of burn rate for that cartridge they, are a bit fast in comparison to other magnum powders such as 2400, and the big daddy of magnum slow burners is H110 / 296, not a 38 spcl. compatable powder though.
GS
 
Ramshot's True Blue

1. A go-to powder for .38 Special;

2. Good for mid-upper 357 Magnum rounds, too.

3. Possibly more economical....ck your source.

Jim H.
 
I also suggest Unique. I use Bullseye for target loads but Unique works well on mid range loads.
 
I wouldn't want to do this. I stopped caring so much about convenience and started caring more about quality and making the best load I could.

Unique, in .357, is horribly inconsistent and slow. (ES of over 100fps in weighed charges) In .38, it's horribly dirty and slow.

I like 2400 for Magnums and Power Pistol for Specials. Much better consistency (2400 gives ES in the 30s, and PP in the 20s), much better metering, much cleaner burning. The theoretical benefit of one powder for both perplexes me, frankly.
 
Unique, W-231, AA #5, & True Blue are all excellent suggestions if you want one powder for both.

Naturally you will not be able to take full advantage of the .357, or load really light .38 Spl.

I do not load full blown .357, so I can get by with two powders for both. Why only one?
 
I use Clays in both 38 and 357...it meters well and has given me consistent performance. I shoot SASS almost every weekend and have not had powder related problems when I do my part.
 
Universal, SR 7625, HP-38 (W231) are all good for the .38 S&W Special and the .357 S&W Magnum. (thought you would want to use the correct name)
 
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