Which powder for 357 Sig?

[CZ223]

O.K. My reloading components have arrived and I am ready to start reloading but which powder should I use. I have several on hand that ought to be suitable but I haven't found a lot of data out there or any real indicators as to which is best. The bullets that I have on hand at this time are the 124 grain Remington Golden Sabers JHPs. I have 1000 of these on hand. I also have app. 200 115 FMJs, probably Winchester or Remington from waaaay back when I loaded for 9mm. The powders that I have on hand that should be suitable are the following:

Tite Group-4lbs., Unique, Bullseye, Blue Dot, American Select, AA#5 and, AA#9

I also like WW231 for some of the other cartridges I load for but don't have any on hand at this time.

What I would like to know from you guys is which powder is your favorite regardless of whether it is on my list or not. Now I am not looking push the envelope with velocity nor am I looking to make one little hole at 50 yards either. What I am looking to achieve is decent accuracy, Combat accuracy if you will, at say 25 yards. As far as velocity and pressure goes I am not looking to blow up my Glock nor am I looking for a wimp load. Basically I want a resonable facsimile of a duty or carry load not a Cor-Bon Carbon Copy. I would really like to know if you think my parameters can be achieved with any of the powders I have on hand, especially the titegroup as I have quite a bit of it. Since I will also be loading for the 40 S&W I would like, if possible to use the same powder for both.

 

[griz]

Blue Dot and #9 are both excellent powders for the 357 Sig. Power Pistol works great too, but I would try what you already have first.

 

[Walkalong]

Tite Group-4lbs., Unique, Bullseye, Blue Dot, American Select, AA#5 and, AA#9

Of these, Blue Dot & and #9 like griz says.

 

[ReloaderFred]

I use Accurate #9 almost exclusively in 357 Sig. It fills the case and takes care of any bullet setback problems and is very, very accurate.

As for bullets, you'll have to use either flatnose or hollowpoint bullets to keep the loaded round the right length. With most round nose bullets, when you seat to the proper length, the ogive of the bullet is in the neck of the case and it will set back, often with just finger pressure. This is one caliber you don't want the bullet setting back on and increasing pressure.

I use Berry's 124 grain flatnose for most shooting and for hollowpoints find that the Hornady 124 grain XTP works just fine. Another good bullet is the Speer 124 grain Gold Dot that's made specifically for the 357 Sig.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[shooterwolf]

hs-6 and unique work well for me. Read thread posted above yours about 124 grn golden sabres and .357 sigs. Good luck.

 

[EBRDude]

I use Blue Dot (9.5-10.5gr) with 125gr Gold dots in Starline or Speer cases. Winchester primers. The CCI primers often leave unburnt powder.
It is accurate, and hits hard. I use it to shoot Space Aliens.

 

[bmperry]

357 sig & titegroup.

My personal-defense round of choice consists of Speer golddot 124gr. JHP (for 357sig), 6.0gr of Titegroup, and winchester primers. It is a nice all around round. I can consistantly get a 2" moa from 100 yards, and a 1/2" moa from 50 yards. This round does have a bit of punch to it. It runs between 1300fps-1400fps (I don't currently have my data in front of me, for I'm at work...) When I'm practicing, I'll drop the charge to 5.0gr-5.5gr. this might be the round your looking for. It's a bit softer at around 1100fps-1200fps.
Now previously in this forum it was mentioned that titegroup may be dirty... I have never had a problem with this in my afore mentioned round. I have always found this to burn nice and clean (all the powder burns in low-powder rounds in a bottle-neck). Just try compairing it to a box of Speer Blazers... You'll see what I mean.

 

[ATAShooter]

I use Green Dot in my 357sig. If I happen to run out, I use Red Dot as a backup.

 

[Jhorn]

I'm just starting to reload for the .357sig but I have gotten some incredible groups with HS-6, I need to get some #9 next since it seems to be popular for the .357sig.

 

[Uncle Don]

I have used Green Dot, Blue Dot and Unique in Sig and found that each one is good for something the other isn't. My opinion of course, but the Blue Dot gives you good velocity, Green Dot gives lower pressure but not as much velocity and I used Unique once when it was handy and found it was a good comprimise between the two. Since I'm sitting on 16# of Green Dot, I'll give you one guess as to what I'm using now.

 

[Walkalong]

I use Accurate #9 almost exclusively in 357 Sig

I have not loaded the .357 Sig but I have had great success with AA # 9 and the .400 Corbon which is also a bottleneck design. You will find that the 124 GS probably will not work well as it is full diameter for only a small length of the bullet.

The Sierra SportsMaster 125 Grain Jacketed Hollow Point has a great rep in the .357 Sig and the Rainier 124 Grain Plated Flat Point should work well also because of its shape.