Powerhouse 357 mag load

[Redneck with a 40]

I loaded up some 125 grain Remington semi jacketed hollow points yesterday, with 14.3 grains of Blue Dot, the max charge listed in my Alliant guide is 14.5 grains. I fired 10 of these today and the velocity I was getting was nothing short of awesome. My lowest reading on the chrono was 1550 fps and the highest was 1650 fps, these are smokin! I'm think I'm gonna roll with this load, pretty impressive velocity.

Just for reference, 9 grains of Unique was giving my 1350-1400 fps, pretty good boost going to Blue Dot.

My results are from a 4" Taurus Tracker 357.

 

[Snapping Twig]

I found Blue Dot too touchy near the upper end and I prefer heavier bullets, so after trying a slew of powders, H110/W296 got my attention.

I like the Lyman mold #358429 170g Keith and the #358156 160g GCSWC (Thompson) over 15.5g H110/W296. In the .357, I find that 2400 is also a decent powder with consistent results.

If Blue Dot works for you, then stick with it.

 

[alucard0822]

21.5gr of h110/w296 over a strong hp or sp bullet will give you around 1900fps out of a 6", not for light weight revolvers, or for people with a heart condition, or near anything flammable. normally at the indoor range it will look like this IIIIIIII then

BOOM

and then IIIIIIII

 

[Hutch]

Blue Dot? How'd ya like the flash? That's the most impressive blue-white photo-flash effect I've ever seen. I shot some in a 3" M65 and it singed the hair off my knuckles, I kid thee not. I'm thinking that load could serve as the common man's Flashbang grenade. Stick the gun-hand in the room, close your eyes, and let 'er rip.

 

[jcord]

I always use H110 when I need a hot 357 load.

 

[jhansman]

I prefer W296 for full house .357mag loads, and yes, it definitely turns heads at the range.

 

[Walkalong]

these are smokin! I'm think I'm gonna roll with this load,

Gotta be a youngster.

I never liked the recoil from a .357(actually prefered a .44 Mag) and now that my joints are getting older I get a har... er.. get my jollies from a nice soft shootin' mid range .357 load. I still don't like full load .357's even though I like touching off some (some, not a lot of) full load .41 & .44 mags in my Redhawks.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

I went up to my neighbor's house today, he's got a big spread where I do most of my shooting. During the conversation, he says " what'd you do yesterday, bring a howitzer!" I said " that must have been from my 357", with a grin. He asked what load I was shooting, I said "14.3 grains of Blue Dot with a 125 grain bullet". He told me it made one hell of a boom when I fired it off.

 

[Clark]

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The High Road, nor the staff of THR assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.

I bent the frame with 18.5 gr Blue Dot 110 gr in an Aluminum framed Colt Agent 38 special.

I split the cylinder and top strap in 38 specials with:
LONGSHOT
AA#5
LONGSHOT [again]

I have wrecked the timing in another with 2400.

I have had the cases get stuck with AA#9 and Bullseye.

But I have never been able to hurt a 38 Special with H110 or LIL'GUN.

What does it all mean?
If you want a big bang and big recoil in 357 mag, H110 is a better way to go.

 

[BeJaRa]

I use 16.7gr of 2400 under a hornady 125gr xtp with WSP primers. it does all I need out of 357 mag.

 

[warriorsociologist]

My fav. hot-and-accurate .357 load is a 180gr. Nosler Partitian over a max load of H-4227.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have loaded up to 16.7 gr of H110/W296 under a 158 gr JSP bullet. That load is very hot and I sometimes use it in my Carbine but I have found 15.7 gr of H110/W296 is still a stiff load but much more accurate in a 4" .357 Magnum revolver.

21.5 gr of H110/W296 under a 125 gr JHP bullet will get you somewhere between 1875 and 1960 fps.

 

[Steve C]

I load 13.8grs of Blue Dot behind 125gr JHP's. I find this to be equivalent to factory ammunition which chrono's at 1,450 fps from a 4" barrel revolver.

 

[jjohnson]

Clearing Pistol Range Goofballs

Yeah.... I had to laugh to myself reading your posts, gents.

The range I shoot at is frequented by some folks (not many, but a few can be too many) that don't mind range manners and always seem to be the ones to occupy the stall next to me when I'm already there.

To give myself a little space, I always carry a few handfuls of "hot" flash-bang ammo that I don't plan to shoot on any given day, but keep just in case. When somebody next to me gets too annoying, I just shoot up some flash-bang stuff and often they decide to go to another spot

Now that you guys reminded me, I'm going to have to get a muzzle brake installed on my 7mm TCU barrel so I can do the same with that. Mind you, I'm a gentleman, and don't get rude unless somebody forces me there, but I think all of you know what I'm talking about.

Funny, the people who get annoying at a range usually aren't "real shooters" and often have less than optimal hearing protection.

I kinda hit on this after loading max loads for my lady's 4-inch M13 .357, I recall they were 110 grain JHPs, max with Blue Dot - she touched off a bunch one evening, when the light was fading, and the flash and boom were equally impressive.....

 

[Peter M. Eick]

That is what my 357 Maximum is for!

Same concept at the range. 50 open stalls and why do they have to come next to me on my left with their darn autoloader that tosses brass right at me. I would not mind if there were not many open spaces but it always seems that these folks want to be "by" someone they can act superior to. This seems to always occur when I shoot revolvers and they shoot auto's.

Thus I pull out the 357 max and bring out good stout loads of 4227 and 158's. It usually only takes about 3 cylinder fulls for the lane to clear, but now that I have the gun dirty, I always try and finish out at least 3 or 4 boxes before I quit. No point in cleaning it for just 18 shots.

I had one guy in particular that seemed to think I was a kindred spirit and always wanted to talk even though I politely told him several times to let me alone so I could concentrate and shoot. Now I just unlimber the Max when he heads my way and start loading and firing. He usual stops in mid stride and goes and finds someone else to harass. I don't think he "double plugs".