148g HBWC in 357 Magnum

[goldpelican]

Looking for an excuse to load up a bunch of 357 Magnum cases I have. I have a Taurus 38/357 with a 2" barrel - I've only been loading 38 Special for it, but am interested in seeing just how accurate a loading I can get going in it, so have been considering getting some HBWC bullets to load.

I have about a pound each of HP-38, BE-86 and Power Pistol (fastest to slowest). Looking at the Lee manual, there is a HP-38 load quoted for the HBWC in 38 Special - would the starting load for 38 Special be too low a starting load for the same bullet/powder in 357 Magnum? I've read "bump you starting load by 10%" for using changing from 38 Special to 357 brass.

Anyone aware of published load data for 148g HBWC in 357 Magnum?

 

[mdi]

FWIW, I have used HBWC data straight outta my manuals' 38 Special section in 357 Magnum brass. No squibs, but I didn't care for the performance so I upped the load a grain or so. My 2015 Hodgdon manual has data for HBWC in 357 Magnum, with HP38 included...

 

[reddog81]

Just add .1 to .3 grains of powder if you want to account for the extra space - or 5% to 10%. Most charges are around 3 grains so 10% would be .3 grains.

I don't think I've ever seen published data. Publishing the data with .357 cases would just confuse people, and they'd complain that the loads are watered down and aren't real .357 loads. The loads would just overlap with the .38 special data anyways.

 

[goldpelican]

Could one use regular SP primers for such a mouse fart load, or should you always use magnum primers in the magnum case?

 

[reddog81]

I'd use regular primers. Magnum primers are only required with certain powders. Generally any powder that will work in 38 Special doesn't require a magnum primer even when making regular pressure.357 loads.

However, you could use magnum primers and most likely wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

 

[Sunray]

Shot bullseye for years using 148 grain WC's with 2.7 grains of Bullseye in .357 cases. That's the classic .38 Special target load. Works well in .357 cases with no fuss of any kind.
"...require a magnum primer..." No .357 load requires a magnum primer unless the powder being used needs a magnum primer. The cartridge name has nothing whatever to do with what primer is used. Magnum primers are about the powder, period.
Why Hodgdon's site shows a magnum primer with magnum named cartridges but not with other cartridges and the same powder is anybody's guess. My guess is that the programming monkey(been a computer technician for eons. I know how they think.) thought the data he/she was given must be wrong and incorrectly edited the data.
"...starting load for 38 Special..." It's higher than the Max load for .357 with the same bullet. No .38 load is going to bother a .357 revolver.
"..."bump your starting load by 10%"..." Absolutely not. Just use .38 data in the .357 case. No changes or adding a few more grains is required. You can do exactly the same thing with .44 Special and Magnum too.
"...the Lee manual..." Uses Hodgdon's data. Lee tests nothing themselves.

 

[ATLDave]

Could one use regular SP primers for such a mouse fart load, or should you always use magnum primers in the magnum case?

No, no, no, no. The case/cartridge does not determine what needs a magnum primer - the powder does.

Many full-bore magnum loads don't require magnum primers.

 

[Walkalong]

ALTDave is correct.

Use a small charge of a fast powder and regular primers.

 

[Dudedog]

Just add .1 to .3 grains of powder if you want to account for the extra space

When I load .38 power loads in .357 cases (which I do because I prefer to only have to deal with one case size)I have found this to be pretty close if you want to try to match the velocity of the load in the .38 case.
Is there a need to try to match it, not really, unless you just want to. Just be aware you will loose a little velocity going to a larger case. (at least everything I have tested has, not much but some)

For light to medium loads HP38 is probably your best bet from the powders you listed.

Shouldn't need Mag Primers with any of the powders you listed.
Some powders like H110/W296 require them most don't.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you look at the data on the Hodgdon site they recommend less powder in the .357 case than in the .38 Spl case. I'm guessing it's because they use a magnum primer in the .357 case even though it's not necessary.

 

[SSN Vet]

I tried loading the Berry's 147 gr. HBWC and SBWC in .357 cases and didn't have very good luck.

The most accurate load I have for 357 is a full power load with 158 gr jacketed soft points and 2400 powder.

 

[Steve C]

Remember that HBWC have pressure restrictions due to the Hollow Base. Over pressure the bullet and the skirt will open so tightly in the bore that it will tear off leaving an obstruction in the bore. Maximum charge listed for a .38 with hollow base wad cutters should be the maximum charge used for the .357 mag. If you want higher velocity in the .357 mag with wad cutters use the solid double ended or bevel base wad cutters that you can drive as fast as any other solid lead bullet of the same hardness.

 

[goldpelican]

I tried loading the Berry's 147 gr. HBWC and SBWC in .357 cases and didn't have very good luck.

The plated HBWCs? I read somewhere by someone else that was having accuracy problems with them.

 

[Walkalong]

The plated HBWCs? I read somewhere by someone else that was having accuracy problems with them.

They shoot very well for me in either .38 or .357 cases. I lean towards the X-Treme 158 Gr SWC for 357 cases though.