unique and 357

[JO JO]

found a pound of unique and I have some 158gr lswc
oregon trails bullets anyone use unique for a mild 357
load with 158 lswc,
Thanks all

 

[rcmodel]

Sure.

Try 4.5 to 5.0 grains.

6.0 is MAX according to Alliant.

rc

 

[Schwing]

My best light load for .357 158 grain LSWCs is 5.6 grains of unique. It is a bit above what RC recommends but it is still very mild and, at least with my own cast bullets, very accurate.

 

[cfullgraf]

I use Unique with 158 SWC in 357 Magnum as well.

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

I don't shoot SWC in mine but 4.5 gr. of Unique and a 158 gr. lead flat nose is dandy...mild and accurate. Should do a 158 gr. LSWC just the same way.

VooDoo

 

[mbopp]

Hard cast Oregon Trail bullets? I had to go to 6.0gr of Unique with 158gr Missouri 18BNH bullets to get the best accuracy. My theory is they need more pressure to upset properly compared to softer alloys.

 

[Steve C]

5.2grs of Unique behind a 158gr bullet is a .38 spl +P load, For a mild load that's still a 1,000 fps+ magnum I generally load 6.2 to 6.5grs using commercial cast in the .357 mag whith Unique.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

Excellent results with 4.5-5.0 gr. Also with a heavy load of 6.8 gr., shown in Lee #2.

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.

Ken Waters' Pet Loads shows a max load of 7.5 gr. at 1,274 fps. But with recoil of 6.8 gr., I was not willing to work that high.

 

[JO JO]

defiantly will try the 4.5 - 5.0 range just want a mild paper puncher

 

[Vodoun da Vinci]

Unique really starts to shine at higher pressures - you'll like the mild shooting characteristics at this loading but it may be kinda sooty. With Unique, the hotter the load the cleaner it burns.

VooDoo

 

[Armored farmer]

6.2gr is my load with 158gr Keith style LNFP.
Plenty of zip, but not scary