Quick replies needed -- best powder for maximum .357 loads

[Chris Pinkleton]

I'm off to the gun show tomorrow. I just started reloading this year. Currently, I've been playing around with HP-38 and BlueDot in .38 Special and .45ACP. I want to work up some "original strength" (1350-1450fps w/158grain JHP) .357 loads for my stepdaughter's 6" GP-100. I know BlueDot will make it into the 1200 fps range, but what powder is best for the next step? Lil'Gun and H110 seem like good possibilities -- any other ideas? A powder well suited for .30 Carbine and .44+ caliber heavy magnum revolver loads would be a plus. ( I plan to pick up a M1 carbine and a heavy revolver in .44, .45 colt, or even .454 sometime in the next couple of years.)

Please feel free to respond even after 8/15 -- I may need the cash for .22 match and 7.62X39 ammo, and may order the powder via the internet anyway.

Thanks.


Chris

 

[dakotasin]

alliant 2400.

 

[stans]

I have had good experiences with H-110 and its twin, W-296. Li'l Gun is supposed to be even better, but I have not had a chance to try it. These powders will work in the 357 and 44 magnums as well as 30 Carbine.

 

[EchoSixMike]

W296 or H110, Lil Gun is also good. I have also had good luck with N110 and 2400, but for the heavy bullets, W296 and H110 are hard to beat. S/F...Ken M

 

[Matt Dillon]

H110 is what I use for full power .357 magnums.

 

[Mike Kerr]

H 110 works very well for maximum velocity. However, you would be surprised how well W231 does for a fast powder and AA5 for a medium burn rate powder.


Regards

 

[TooTaxed]

What is the MV and PSI for a standard 158-gr JHP load? I also want to duplicate the standard MV with minimum pressure...

I've been using 5.0 gr Win #231 with mag primers for a moderate, accurate load.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

2400 is the best that I can find. Most of the reloading manuals seem to agree with this, particularly Lyman and lead reloads.

 

[Black Snowman]

For a long time I used H-110 until I decided to try and save some dough by getting WC820 from www.gibrass.com

It's worked well so far. It seems less likely to have ignition issues than H-110 and requires about 16% less powder to achieve the same velocities as H-110 in the particular lot of pull-down powder I have.

I load it in .357 Mag, .44 Mag, and .50 AE so you can see why I might look for a less expensive alternative For full-house loads H-110 and it's brothers are my favorites.

 

[Ala Dan]

Another vote here for 2400.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Okiecruffler]

I was using H110 just because that's what everyone else was using, and it worked. But then I started using 2400 because I was using it in my 44. Found out I like it better, and one less can of powder to deal with. Not sure how it will work in the 30 tho'.

 

[mtnbkr]

I use H110 for my heavy 357mag loads. 180gr jacketed@1200-1300fps (4" barrel) is no problem with H110. Truth be told, I can do the same with 2400, but I only have enough 2400 for half a box of ammo at best. I have over 5lbs of H110 left.

Chris

 

[Chris Pinkleton]

I ended up picking up some H110 (and some titegroup, and some Wolf .22, and a Glock 17 that I traded my G33 for, meaning I needed some .355 bullets too to work up some loads -- but by that time JUST ABOUT EVERY TABLE WAS OUT OF BULLETS! Poor me.... ). Thanks for all the advice. y'all.

Where is everyone finding these screaming loads for 2400? In my very limited selection of manuals, it always came in way slower than H110 or even Blue Dot in the max loads listed. Do I need some more "liberal" manuals with hotter loads listed?

I promise to give an update once I put some of that H110 behind some 158 grain JHPs. I hope the friends whose house I normally shoot at will relax that "no supersonic stuff" rule of theirs, at least for the afternoon.

 

[stans]

Alright, you have some H-110, make sure you use small pistol magnum primers in the 357 and either Winchester large pistol or any other makers large pistol magnum primer in the 44. A very firm roll crimp is required for H-110 in the revolvers, otherwise the bullets may pull forward and ignition of the powder will be inconsistant.

 

[JohnK]

Lil'Gun has generated the highest velocities in my guns, over 1,500 fps with a 158gr LSWC. H110 is good too, but for getting every last FPS I've found Lil'Gun to be better.

 

[Hornet]

I've also had the best luck with Lil Gun, Speed and consistency between shoots.

 

[Chris Pinkleton]

Thanks again to everyone for the responses! I almost went with Lil'Gun, and I may still get some at the next gun show. My "reloading guru" (who hasn't done much reloading in a while) is interested in helping me out with his chrony. I think I should have something interesting to tell y'all within a few weeks.

Special thanks to Black Snowman for the link! That is an interesting site for us value sensitive folks (but what reloader isn't?).