Powders for snubbies?
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Lennyjoe
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I’m using PowerPistol and Unique for 2” .357 Mag snubbie loads. Those 2 powders grouped the best with the GDHP bullet listed below.
Here’s a good start for short barrel .357 Mag loads.
Here’s a good start for short barrel .357 Mag loads.
It seems like many use a fast powder for short barrel guns, but I normally use the same loads for my 2" as my 4" (or 5" barrels), expecting a slight drop in velocity. Most of my handguns use CFE Pistol, Universal, and BR-5. If I need velocity for best performance (expansion) I'll carry my 3" or 4" guns...
I have a new 2" 357, but haven't run any handloads over my chrony, yet. I'm expecting around 875-900 fps with a 158 LSWC over CFE P. I might see what velocity I can get with some 115 gr Nukes in my 2" 9mm revolver, but hefty loads (especially 357) in a 2" revolver ain't a lot of fun anymore...
I have a new 2" 357, but haven't run any handloads over my chrony, yet. I'm expecting around 875-900 fps with a 158 LSWC over CFE P. I might see what velocity I can get with some 115 gr Nukes in my 2" 9mm revolver, but hefty loads (especially 357) in a 2" revolver ain't a lot of fun anymore...
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gwpercle
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What powder(s) can you get ... now that's the question !
Gary
Gary
N555
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I don't have a snub but I do have 3 and 4 inch 357s.
I tend to load them with lighter bullets like 125gr and powders like unique, HP38 and CBI. I don't bother with stuff like AA9, H110.
Lately I prefer CBI in 38spl cases hot loaded as its low density and I won't get a double charge and CBI is cheap and 38spl cases are way cheaper than 357mag cases.
I tend to load them with lighter bullets like 125gr and powders like unique, HP38 and CBI. I don't bother with stuff like AA9, H110.
Lately I prefer CBI in 38spl cases hot loaded as its low density and I won't get a double charge and CBI is cheap and 38spl cases are way cheaper than 357mag cases.
EricBu
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For the snubbies, non magnum = AA2/SW Cleanshot or TG. For Magnum, AA9/SW Heavy Pistol. I personally am not a fan of H110 in the short barrel guns......but it does give you the ability to immobilize an attacker with 3rd degrees burns from the muzzle flash;-)
Random 8
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I have a broad range of .38/.357 barrels including 2.5", 6", 10" and 20". Of the powders I use standard, only 2 perform well in the 2.5". I generally use HP38 with 125 or 158 cast, and Unique for 158 XTP in .38 ++P loads in that handgun. Yes, they positively do expand or at least significantly upset at those velocities at reasonable distances as recovered from snowbanks behind soft targets. I'm sure some of the other fast burning powders would work well here also, I just haven't tried. I found both of the above powders to perform better in terms of accuracy, cleanliness, and blast/flash when loaded in .38 cases vs .357.
In the short barrel, I've found all of HS-6, H110, Power Pistol, and Longshot to be very "blasty," flashy and dirty burning, and generally unpleasant to shoot. All of these are top performers in the longer barrels, with the fast powder cast loads also performing admirably.
In the short barrel, I've found all of HS-6, H110, Power Pistol, and Longshot to be very "blasty," flashy and dirty burning, and generally unpleasant to shoot. All of these are top performers in the longer barrels, with the fast powder cast loads also performing admirably.
HS-6 will work better with a magnum primer, I've tried it both ways. Most powders will be dirty at lower pressures.
Lennyjoe
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I tested most of the loads listed on the Speer 135 gr GDHP listing I provided and Unique was the better of them with PowerPistol right behind. That’s in regards to accuracy and recoil.
Haven’t had an opportunity yet to chronograph them.
Haven’t had an opportunity yet to chronograph them.
So H110/Win296 still come out on top, even with a snubby.
The Bushmaster
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For .38 Spec. and .357 Mag and a 140 grain bullet. W-231 is hard to beat in snubbies.
wcwhitey
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https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...4-win244-and-357-magnum.904263/#post-12277155
If you are looking for powder the Win244 has been working for me out of necessity. Here is a recent thread in my development. This particular load would be perfect in a a snubbie, light soft shooting and very accurate. Has been a good powder for .38, .45, .44 Spec. I will be working up some loads in the .32 H&R and .32 Long with it but I started with Unique and have not got around to the Win244 yet.
If you are looking for powder the Win244 has been working for me out of necessity. Here is a recent thread in my development. This particular load would be perfect in a a snubbie, light soft shooting and very accurate. Has been a good powder for .38, .45, .44 Spec. I will be working up some loads in the .32 H&R and .32 Long with it but I started with Unique and have not got around to the Win244 yet.
bullseye308
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I’m going to deduce you are referring to “self defense “ loads and not target loads, correct? Because that has a lot of bearing on getting the best info. Also, what powders and bullets do you have access to? No point recommending X bullet and Y powder if they are unobtainium right now.
Lennyjoe
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Perhaps, and I tried H110 but it wasn’t as accurate out of my Taurus 627 as Unique was…
I discovered Universal during the obumma reign when Unique was unavailable, Bought one pound, liked it, bought two more. Got a good tax return and bout 4 lbs more. I have developed good loads for every handgun cartridge I reload, a few (several?) thousand rounds (32 ACP through 45 Colt). My JIC handload for 9mm is Universal under a 124 gr RMR JHP...
When I used slower powders in my short barrel 38s/357, and 9mms a lot of powder was blown out the barrel, unburnt; AA#9, 2400, Blue Dot...
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Archie
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Powder burn rate is selected for a combination of payload weight and volume of case involved. Powder burn rate is NOT effected by barrel length.
The load that gets the highest (comparative) velocity in a six inch barrel will get the highest (comparative) velocity in a two inch barrel; albeit slower than the longer barrel.
This does not consider muzzle blast and such.
Study of results of bullet expansion in short barrels convince me expanding bullets are not indicated. So I prefer flat fronted, heavier bullets for best results. One .38 Special Wadcutter, placed in center of upper torso of villain is better than a high-speed umpa-whoopee load through the shirt sleeve. Bullet placement is important.
The load that gets the highest (comparative) velocity in a six inch barrel will get the highest (comparative) velocity in a two inch barrel; albeit slower than the longer barrel.
This does not consider muzzle blast and such.
Study of results of bullet expansion in short barrels convince me expanding bullets are not indicated. So I prefer flat fronted, heavier bullets for best results. One .38 Special Wadcutter, placed in center of upper torso of villain is better than a high-speed umpa-whoopee load through the shirt sleeve. Bullet placement is important.
Understand. But slow powder, Magnum powders in a short barrel, the expansion threshold is more difficult to obtain. Just my experience, but I got a lot of flash and unburnt powder when using 2400 and AA#9 in my 2" 357...
Interesting info comparing barrel length vs velocity; http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html
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Archie
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Expansion Ratio is the ratio between case capacity and total volume of the case capacity AND the interior of the bore to the end of the muzzle. In any one firearm, that ratio is fixed and does not change with any powder. A short (in this case three inch) barrel will ALWAYS have less expansion ratio than a four (or longer) barrel.
It is correct that a shorter barrel nearly always has greater flash than a longer barrel. It doesn't matter the burning rate of the powder. Bullseye has more flash with shorter barrels than with longer barrels. Flash is largely a product of temperature burn. It is in short the residue of highly heated 'ash', and not from unburnt powder. (Look up the subject on line. There are several articles.)
Unburnt powder exists in any fired cartridge, all cartridges. I sometime sweep up the inside range at my club and find a discernible amount of unburnt powder from .22 long rifle rounds, about equal in volume between handguns and rifles. (This is easy to distinguish as handguns are shot closer and the firing lines for rifle competition is typically twice as far if not more.)
One of the best books on the subject is Firearms Pressure Factors by Lloyd E. Brownell, Ph. D. The book is copyrighted in 1990, but seems to still be available. There is also a CD-ROM version.
Yes, slower powders with a short barrel produces greater muzzle flash and report. It also produces greater velocities. Not as fast as a longer barrel, but the fastest relative velocity comparatively for any length barrel. Often time a shooter wants to cut down on flash and noise. That can be achieved with faster powders, but at the expense of velocity.
I shot a couple of magnum snubbies and decided I did not care for the muzzle blast and recoil. The shorter the barrel the worse it gets with high pressure rounds. I practice with this load, and it is equivalent to full factory standard pressure loads in the 38 Special. Not particularly objectionable in terms of muzzle blast or recoil.
I carry factory "high performance" loads, maybe they will be better in a tough situation or not. Snubbies don't exactly have the velocity to promote reliable bullet positive expansion . Trying to squeeze out that velocity is pointless, those that do are sitting on a fence, trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents.
.38 Special and .357 Magnum Self-Defense Ammo Ballistics Test
I carry factory "high performance" loads, maybe they will be better in a tough situation or not. Snubbies don't exactly have the velocity to promote reliable bullet positive expansion . Trying to squeeze out that velocity is pointless, those that do are sitting on a fence, trying to make a dollar out of 15 cents.
.38 Special and .357 Magnum Self-Defense Ammo Ballistics Test
Ummm, OK? I was talking about the expansion threshold, the velocity needed to expand the bullet effectively. Not case volumes , barrel volume, etc,Yes short barrels will produce more flash (mostly gasses and ash/debris), but it's common and easier to understand "unburnt powder", especially for newer reloaders.
Normally when I answer a question I answer as if I'm talking to a new reloader, not one with experience and K.I.S.S. (it's often difficult to teach/tell an old reloader anything
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