Powder options for .357 using small pistol primers

[Mr_Gun_Guy]

I’m loading some .38sp and .357mags right now. I stuffed both calibers with standard small pistol primers and then realized that the Titegroup powder I was planning on using might be a tad anemic for the mag loads.

What powder are y’all using for .357 with standard primers?

 

[Arkansas Paul]

My favorite .38 special powder is HP-38 or Bullseye.

For .357 magnum I like:
Unique for plinking/general purpose loads.
2400 for full house magnums.

I also use H110 for full house magnums, but as you probably already know, those require magnum primers.

 

[Targa]

If you have magnum primers 296/H110 is a good way to go in my opinion for full throttle. I do not have magnum primers so I have been using AA#9 and that has been a very acceptable alternative. Grain weight of the bullet can play a role in your choice as well, all of my .357’s are your standard 158 grains.

 

[Bfh_auto]

Universal works well with standard primers.
Blue Dot works well if you shoot 158s or 180s.
CFE-P and IMR4227 didn't work well for me.

 

[Mr_Gun_Guy]

Thanks, guys. I’ll do some powder shopping now.

And yes, I’m loading 158gr jacketed flat point.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

I do not have magnum primers so I have been using AA#9 and that has been a very acceptable alternative.

I've been wanting to try AA#9 in both .44 and .357 mag.
I've never used any of the AA powders but have only heard good things.

 

[derek45]

win231/HP38, CFE-p, Unique, Universal, power pistol, HS6, 2400, blue dot.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

90 yard hit. In the cold and off hand. That is some fine shoot'n.

 

[CoalTrain49]

I've been wanting to try AA#9 in both .44 and .357 mag.
I've never used any of the AA powders but have only heard good things.

It's good powder. I've used #9 for my 30 Carbine. I generally use Alliant if I can get it. AA would be my second choice.

 

[fxvr5]

It's good powder. I've used #9 for my 30 Carbine. I generally use Alliant if I can get it. AA would be my second choice.

Alliant what?

 

[Targa]

I've been wanting to try AA#9 in both .44 and .357 mag.
I've never used any of the AA powders but have only heard good things.

I just recently tried them in the .357 but haven’t had a chance to run them through the chronograph yet but they are more accurate than me. I also loaded my first batch of 310 grain .44mags to see how well it does. The powder use is a bit more efficient than H110/296 but I am not sure anything will duplicate the power the H110/296 offers.

 

[Walkalong]

Light target - WST or its close cousin, Competition.

Midrange - BE-86

Full power - 2400

 

[Dudedog]

For .357 I use
Light HP38 (but I haven't tried a lot here)
Mid BE86
Full power H110 (requires mag primer, Been meaning to try 2400 and AA#9 but just haven't got around to it)

 

[CoalTrain49]

Alliant what?

2400 for my carbine. #9 performs about the same for 30 carbine.

 

[Bugster]

Alliant 2400 is my go to powder for my 357 Magnum loads, and I have used 2400 in them with small pistol standard primers. Look at Alliant online load data.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Power Pistol or BE-86 followed by Unique

 

[WrongHanded]

Unique, 2400, and 300-MP. All with CCI 500 small pistol primers.

 

[Charlie98]

I don't know if I used anything but Unique when I loaded .38 and .357... it certainly works well enough and you can load it across a broad range of loads... that is to say from light loads, all the way to near-Magnum loads. If standard primers were a requirement, and you wanted full-house loads, I'd reach for 2400.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

As said above, 2400 is the classic .357 Magnum powder which uses a standard SPP.

I will add Power Pistol, Alliant 300-MP, Blue Dot, AA#9, H4227 and I think Ramshot Enforcer.
There are plenty of other powders you can use in the .357 Magnum with a standard SPP but I only listed the magnum class powder I'm sure of although Power Pistol should be used with the lighter bullets to be as effective as the others. (but not sure about Enforcer and a standard SPP)

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Thanks, guys. I’ll do some powder shopping now.

And yes, I’m loading 158gr jacketed flat point.

Unique.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Full power H110 (requires mag primer, Been meaning to try 2400 and AA#9 but just haven't got around to it)

When I load small cases like .357Mag/Max with either IMR 4227 or H110, I use standard small rifle primers. Seems to work about as well as a small pistol magnum primer if not maybe a little better. But I really don’t like 110 in small cases. It’s much more a rifle powder than a pistol powder in small caliber.

 

[Seymour380]

Thanks, guys. I’ll do some powder shopping now.

And yes, I’m loading 158gr jacketed flat point.

I like Red Dot, Bullseye, and AA#7 for light loads with 158 gr. LSWC. AA#7 meters smoothly compared to the other two powders.

Win 296 powder is my favorite with full-power 158 gr. Hornady XTP's. That was accurate and reliable in a Marlin lever gun previously for me.

 

[RealGun]

I've been wanting to try AA#9 in both .44 and .357 mag.
I've never used any of the AA powders but have only heard good things.

The AA magnum powders include A4100, which is the same as Western's Enforcer. Those Belgians are a step above AA#9. They have worked well for me but I don't afford a lot of jacketed bullets.

 

[EricBu]

Dug into my old notes on "pinch loads". Things I did in a pinch so I could shoot. Looks like last big shortage I shot quite a few .357 Mag rounds with AA#5 and standard small pistol primers. I also shot quite a few with H110 and small rifle primers.

 

[runner3264]

BE-86 for overall load, .357 H110 for full power loads.