Reloading for the 357 Snubnose Question

[BullSkater]

I have a air lite 357 snub and am going to load some 125 to 158 grain bullets.
Reduced loads but not 38's.

Question #1 What is a good low flash powder for short barrels?

Question #2 Anyone know of a good 140 grain bullet for about 1100fps?

 

[The Bushmaster]

I've never worried about low flash from a short barrel. It's going to happen. I use W-231 for all my short barreled revolvers. Mod 10 with 2" barrel and a Mod 19 with 2 1/2" barrel.

A good 140 grain bullet for about 1100 fps? Remington 140 grain SJHP.

My opinion, of course...

 

[Hikingman]

You might consider moving up to 135 Speer GD. or 130 Sierra #8325 JHP. There are those that recommend do not favor loading 125 for .38 but not for 357. Currently, for 357 cartridges, I'm reloading 135 GD, 140 JHP. and 158 SWC.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would suggest using a medium burn rate powder for what you are look to achieve. Powders like HS-6, Power Pistol, AA#5, Longshot, True Blue and several others will give you good results. I like HS-6 best for medium load Magnum rounds because it's a clean accurate powder which is also low flash.

 

[Steve C]

If it was me, I'd work up a load using 125gr Remingon Golden Sabers using 7.0 to 8.5 grs of Unique. This should give you over 1K fps from a 2" barrel. I'd probably use the .38 GS that has a bit wider and deeper hollow to ensure expansion at .38 velocities but if chrono'd speeds where in excess of 1100 fps .357 mag GS would be just as good.

 

[zxcvbob]

140 grain Hornady XTP-HP with a max charge of Bullseye. Should give you right at 1100 fps from a snubbie, and almost 100% powder burn (not a lot of muzzle blast) Just because Bullseye has enough energy to use tiny amounts in WC target loads doesn't mean it won't work as a short-barrel magnum powder. (I like to use 5.7 grains of Bullseye with 148 grain wadcutters in .357 Magnum cases just to startle other shooters -- they see me loading wadcutters and assume they are lightly-loaded .38 Specials. This is a powerful load, over 1400 fps from a 4" barrel)

Or you could use 158 grain soft lead HP's with just enough Bullseye, 231, AA#2, or Red Dot to give you 950 FPS.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

I'd use a 140 XTP slug, and though spendy, try vit 3n37 powder. Vit powders are fretty low flash across the board. If you go full tilt mags, try their N110.

 

[jfh]

Of the powders I've used recently, Ramshot Silhouette definitely has the least flash.

OTOH, I don't think of it as a superior 357 powder.

Jim H.

 

[BullSkater]

I want to get about 1150 to 1200 fps useing a 140 grain bullet in a S&W mod 60 SS. I ordered a 500 ct box of the remington 140 gr bullets but they are still back ordered. I have some power pistol , WW 231 and green dot powder to start with. Not even going to try unique or bullseye. They leave to much powder in the gun for carry loads. Was thinking about useing 38 special cases or triming some 357 cases back to 38 length to help with extraction.

 

[zxcvbob]

Have you tried Bullseye loaded to high pressures? (Power Pistol is just a much slower burning version of Bullseye.) I've used BE for max loads for 9mm, which run about the same pressure as .357 Magnum, and it cleans right up above about 30000 psi.