MCgunner
Member
HCgunner's handloads.
what 357 ammo do you use
- Thread starter mike6161
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DMK
Member
mike6161
Member
I did not know so many people hand loaded.
I have a friend with a reload bench and he will let me use it but I always thought I would not be saving that much if I reload my 9mm. but know that i have a 357 i think that could be something i could do to save some money.
How much does it cost to reload 357?
I have a friend with a reload bench and he will let me use it but I always thought I would not be saving that much if I reload my 9mm. but know that i have a 357 i think that could be something i could do to save some money.
How much does it cost to reload 357?
Zeke/PA
Member
I shoot strictly reloads in my revolvers.
For plinking with the .38 Special I shoot 158 gr. semi wadcutters and the SD loads for my .357 are 140 gr. Remington HP's.
Zeke
For plinking with the .38 Special I shoot 158 gr. semi wadcutters and the SD loads for my .357 are 140 gr. Remington HP's.
Zeke
Darkness
Member
I use whatever is cheap for practice, last time is was Blazers. I carry 158gr Black Talons in my S&W model 28 with Hydra-Shoks in my speedloaders.
My last purchase of practice ammo ran $25+ per box for the cheap stuff, so I can only imagine the savings from reloading, especially if you already have access to the equipment.
My last purchase of practice ammo ran $25+ per box for the cheap stuff, so I can only imagine the savings from reloading, especially if you already have access to the equipment.
Fishman777
Member
- Joined
- Sep 20, 2007
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Leadfree ammo only...
I only shoot jacketed bullets that have lead-free primers. For plinking, I only use Winchester Winclean and Remington's lead-free ammo.
I have two reasons for doing this...
1. Reduces lead exposure. I really don't care to develop neurological or other health issues later in life because I shoot indoors too much.
2. The lead-free ammo (winclean) keeps my GP100 really, really clean. I get very minor carbon rings on my cylinders when I use the winclean. When I used other "normal" factory ammo, it would take me forever to clean my gun. My gun looks just as nice as it did the day that I bought it.
To me, it is worth the extra $$$.
I only shoot jacketed bullets that have lead-free primers. For plinking, I only use Winchester Winclean and Remington's lead-free ammo.
I have two reasons for doing this...
1. Reduces lead exposure. I really don't care to develop neurological or other health issues later in life because I shoot indoors too much.
2. The lead-free ammo (winclean) keeps my GP100 really, really clean. I get very minor carbon rings on my cylinders when I use the winclean. When I used other "normal" factory ammo, it would take me forever to clean my gun. My gun looks just as nice as it did the day that I bought it.
To me, it is worth the extra $$$.
Depending on whether you use cast or jacketed bullets, a 50rnd box could run you anywhere from about $8 to $15 to reload. The price of lead has gone through the roof recently. Cast bullets being much cheaper than the jacketed. This is of course assuming that you re-use your brass at least 10 to 15 times, which is easily done. I've loaded .44mag full power loads up to 20 times in the same brass with no failures of any kind. I haven't gone past 20 reloads yet just to be safe, but the brass can certainly take it. If you cast your own it's even cheaper. I can reload a 50rnd box of .44mag for about $4, but I cast my own for those. They type of powder makes some difference. Faster powders are cheaper because you don't use as much, but they usually don't produce higher velocities either. It just depends on what you want to do.
zxcvbob
Member
If you shoot heavy cast bullets, you can get them for about 5¢ each. Primers are about 2¢, and powder can run anywhere from .5¢ to about 3¢ (depends what you use and how much.) The brass does not last forever, but I don't know how many uses you get from .357 brass; lets say 15, and new brass is $15/100. That's about a penny per use.
So about $5 per box of 50 is a pretty good estimate. More if you use jacketed bullets and/or stout charges of expensive slow-burning powder.
(You can cut that in half if you cast your own bullets)
Dain Bramage
Member
Remington classic green box 158g SJHP's are extremely accurate in my guns, so I use them for hunting. Magtech 158g SJSP's or SJHP's are great for magnum plinking and practice.
In 38 spl, my Dan Wesson hates wadcutters, but plain-jane CCI Blazer RN are spot on. Go figure. That's why you should try different ammo in your gun, instead of just relying on the words of others.
In 38 spl, my Dan Wesson hates wadcutters, but plain-jane CCI Blazer RN are spot on. Go figure. That's why you should try different ammo in your gun, instead of just relying on the words of others.
DawgFvr
Member
I voted other....
1man
Member
I use Rem. Golden Sabers and Corbon DPX for defense.
I train with the caliber that I use. I use a 357 gun, I shoot/train with 357 loads. I train the same as I fight.
I train with the caliber that I use. I use a 357 gun, I shoot/train with 357 loads. I train the same as I fight.
SoonerSP101
Member
In my 2.25" SP101 I use Remington 125 grain Golden Sabers. LIKE the Gold Dot and may look at those soon.
P. Plainsman
Member
In my .357 snubby:
* Buffalo Bore 158 gr LSWCHP Gas Check .38 Spl+P
* Cor-Bon 125 gr DPX .357 - see DawgFvr's pics above
* Buffalo Bore 180 gr JFN .357 [ ooh - extreme wilderness duty!!
]
In my .38+P snubby:
* good old Remington 158 gr LSWCHP .38+P "FBI load"
* Buffalo Bore 158 gr LSWCHP Gas Check .38 Spl+P
* Cor-Bon 125 gr DPX .357 - see DawgFvr's pics above
* Buffalo Bore 180 gr JFN .357 [ ooh - extreme wilderness duty!!
]In my .38+P snubby:
* good old Remington 158 gr LSWCHP .38+P "FBI load"
_N4Z_
Member
For plinking I'll use the cheapest stuff I can find.
Blazer 158gr hp are usually it @ 12.95 per 50.
Aguila 158's too when I can find it. It is a stout load similar to S&B recoil wise.
Also occasionally use .38 fmj's.
For HD I've historically kept Rem 158 sjhp's (R357M2) on hand, but those now run 30+ bucks a box !
As such the Remmys are being slowly replaced by Monarch .357mag 158gr sjhp's. These rounds are very wide across the front, which appeals to me. Monarch is sold by Academy Sports. Actual manufacture is PRVI Partisan (Serbia). They shoot very well out of my GP100.
My 2 cent.
Blazer 158gr hp are usually it @ 12.95 per 50.
Aguila 158's too when I can find it. It is a stout load similar to S&B recoil wise.
Also occasionally use .38 fmj's.
For HD I've historically kept Rem 158 sjhp's (R357M2) on hand, but those now run 30+ bucks a box !
As such the Remmys are being slowly replaced by Monarch .357mag 158gr sjhp's. These rounds are very wide across the front, which appeals to me. Monarch is sold by Academy Sports. Actual manufacture is PRVI Partisan (Serbia). They shoot very well out of my GP100.
My 2 cent.
Cosmoline
Member
My favorite is the old black talon 180's, but they're tough to find. SXT's are not made in that weight as far as I can tell so I usually opt for Federal SP's as a replacement.
Black_Talon
Member
In 6" guns I use Speer 158gr GDHP.
In 2-3" guns I use either the 135gr 38Spl +P SBGDHP load, or the 357Mag version of the 135gr SBGDHP load.
In 2-3" guns I use either the 135gr 38Spl +P SBGDHP load, or the 357Mag version of the 135gr SBGDHP load.
Old 112
Member
Blazer 158 JHP. It is kind of midrange.
Old 112
Old 112
mike6161
Member
Does any one know about cci blazer is it any good. I know some guys who say that it has aluminum cases that well get stuck in the gun
Is this true well it hurt my gun. is there any truth to this or should I go buy some
Is this true well it hurt my gun. is there any truth to this or should I go buy some
P. Plainsman
Member
Bottom line for me: Blazers w/ aluminum cases are great in revolvers, bad in autoloaders.
My home defense ammo is CCI Blazer .44 Special with the Gold Dot hollowpoint. A great load, never a problem with it in my S&W. I also like the Blazer 158 gr .357 JHP for practice with my Ruger SP101. It's affordable, very accurate, loaded to a moderate level.
Unfortunately, my experience with the Blazer aluminum-cased 115 gr 9mm ammo has not been good. It's the only thing that will make my highly reliable CZ pistols choke. (CZs have tight chambers.) Accuracy is lame -- inferior to other budget ball ammo from the big companies. I won't use regular Blazer anymore in my autoloaders.
OTOH, the Blazer Brass line works fine in my CZs, shoots pretty well.
CoRoMo
Member
Mostly what I reload myself.
MCgunner
Member
I dig free lead at the range, range scrap, and cast my own. I can handload any caliber I shoot for around 2 dollars a box of 50. I buy JHP Speer 140s for carry and a box of 100 is about $13, so figure about 8 bucks for carry loads.
I shoot gas checked 158s for practice and hunting. Gas checks are around $13 a thousand and last me a while, cost is negligible. I shoot a lot of .38 reloads at the range from my .357s, though, and don't use gas checks on those and Bullseye goes a lot farther in .38 loads than 2400 goes in .357 loads (more dense, much lighter charge).
dawei
Member
Other: Magtech® for practice in both 38Special & 357Mag. For self defense I use Magtech® Guardian Gold™ in both calibers.
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