Range Report: 357 and 2400

[forestswin]

I'm fairly new here on this forum. I've been shooting and reloading for about a year and a half and I am really enjoying this new hobby/craft. I really appreciate those who share so much of their experience and knowledge to others who are just starting out reloading.

So anyway, I've been performing some tests and just want to share my results. Maybe it will help others and maybe someone here will see something within this test that could be improved. Please let me know.
Here's the data and pictures of the targets (best group of five) below.

 

[PapaG]

Looks great but you. Eyed one click right.

 

[2ndtimer]

Very nice report, thanks. I have been reloading .357 Magnums for about 35 years, but am almost embarrassed to admit that I have never tried 2400 with cast or jacketed bullets. (I have used W-296, H-110, Unique, Accurate No. 5, 7 and 9, HS-6 and am just trying out Alliant Power Pro 300-MP) But I do have a couple of pounds of H-2400 and am looking forward to trying it out.

 

[Rule3]

Very nice write up and shooting! Groups are really good for 25 yards and you data is very constant. Hard to pick a "winner" The 12 grains had the smallest group and was probably more pleasant to shoot. Must be all that case prep work you did

I think PapaG is correct, if he is indicating adjust the scope for a tad to the right.

 

[forestswin]

PapaG and Rule -Thanks - this test was last of 3, and I really wanted to adjust scope - but didn't because I wanted to keep the same set-up.
2ndtimer - I'm convinced 2400 has got to be the best powder for the 357 and lead.

 

[SigFTW]

Very good info, thanks!

 

[Rule3]

Wait!, Stop the presses. I believe I have found a discrepancy

On the 12.0 gr chart you indicate a group size of .80" but the actual target measurement shows 1.35??

Now I am no engineer but am I reading this correctly?

Talk with you later,

 

[ljnowell]

14.5gr of 2400 has always been my go to load for 357 mag with a 158gr SWC.

 

[forestswin]

:Well, I stand corrected.

The 0.80" group in the chart only had 4 bullet holes - not sure where the 5th one went. That was the best group, but to be fair it didn't have 5 shots. So the chart needs to be corrected to agree with the 12.0 grain target.

thank you Rule, as a reward I'll send you the spreadsheet workbook.

 

[Clark]

I have never got repeatable precision - powder charge correlation.

 

[forestswin]

Clark
I'm not quite a 100% sure what you mean by that, but if its what I think you mean, 2400 really surprised me.

on the target at 25 yards - 2400 seems to be very consistent regardless of the charge weight - overlaying all of the targets (combining all the rounds) - pretty much all the bullets would be in a 2-3 inch group

these posted results are the last of 3 different tests - each test were with 100 rounds and all of these loads were shot in both previous tests and all had very, very similar velocities and groups.
that's over 300 rounds - I'd say that's repeatable

 

[Rule3]

Forest, Rather than the spreadsheet, just tell me what bridges you designed so I know not to drive over them!

 

[bluetopper]

Hasn't 2400 been the standard for 357 ever since, well, there was a 357, back in the 1930's?

 

[nix4me]

Yes - 2400 is my goto 357 powder. If i don't have it, i use Unique. But 2400 is the perfect 357 Powder for FMJ, XTP and LSWC in my opinion.

 

[SigFTW]

It's hard to find 2400 around here otherwise it would be my main 357mag powder.