Smokey loads

[Plakerio]

I tested my first load ever today and all went fine. they seem to be as acurrate as I can be and the all went off. I noticed though that a lot smoke came out of the barrel. It worries me enough to question my load.

I'm shooting with a .357 586 S&W 6".
My bullet is a 158 grain lead bullet
and I'm shooting with power pistol powder. 5.4 grains, this is the max load for a .38 but min for a +P load I figured it to be safe in my .357.

I'm thinking that the powder is not getting burnt but being new to pistol and reloading pistol I have no clue.

 

[squarles67]

The bullet lube on Lead bullets makes lots of smoke as it burns off

 

[Jesse Heywood]

squarles67 is right. At times the combination of lube and powder makes for more smoke. I don't worry about the smoke as long as I can see the target for the next shot. There are times where I have had to wait a few seconds for the smoke to clear.

 

[Palehorseman]

Smoke combo delux is older Unique (which I still have a bunch of) and soft lubed cast boolits, almost like BP sometimes.

 

[Oro]

As above. A better way to judge unburned powder is residue on the cyl. face, frame, and inside the barrel. Smoke is usually excess lube.

I don't have personal experience with Power Pistol, but for a given powder, normally a heavier charge burns cleaner as the ignition is more rapid and complete. Again, no personal experience with that charge and powder, but it sounds like lube.