2400 for 357mag with 158gr lswc

[Buckeye357]

What are some good medium to high velocity loads for 357 mag using 158gr SWC Missouri .38 Match bullets and Laser-Cast bullets also 158gr. The powders I will be using are 2400 and the new Alliant BE-86. I shoot a lot of 158 gr. lead with Trail Boss thru my S&W new model 66-8 which I really enjoy but I want to try to ramp it up a little with the LSWC bullets. Thanks

 

[stubbicatt]

IIRC 12 to 13.5 grains was a great loading for both my SW 19 and my Marlin lever rifle several years ago. I was shooting Lyman "cowboy" RNFP hand cast bullets with the big fat grease groove, and used a healthy crimp.

One thing I observed is that .358" bullets would not fit into the charging holes of the revolver. Given the choice of having the charging holes opened up, or sizing to .357" I chose the latter. Never a trace of leading in either firearm, and using home made bullet lube, cleanup was extremely easy in both.

Hope this helps some.

 

[forestswin]

Buckeye
what hardness (BHN) of the MBC did you get?
The harder MBC (18) and the Laser-cast ones need to be pushed harder than the softer cast bullets (12 to 16).

I've loaded 11.5 grains of 2400 to 14.5 grains in 357 cases in my 686 6 inch and incremented up and down in 0.2 grain increments using 158 gr LSWC

All guns shoot a little bit different, so I wouldn't pass over any of the increments while developing loads for your gun - try them all!

 

[Buckeye357]

The MBC .38 Match have a Brinell hardness of 12 and are for lower velocities. I know they are made for lower velocities but would like to know if they can be used with 2400. The Laser - Cast's are better suited for higher speeds. I have reloaded for over 25 years but believe it or not have never used 2400. Most of my earlier reloading was done with jacketed hp 158gr bullets with Win 296 at the high end of the velocity scale. I've only recently started using lead because of price and wanting to shoot softer loads. I guess with age comes some wisdom. One of my best loads shot out of my 6" Python is 16 gr Win 296 ,158 gr. Win JHP with CCI 550 primers. Thanks again for the info

 

[Gadawg88]

I've loaded the MB 158 gn .357 action 18 Brinell version with 2400. I worked up my load from 12gn to 14gn and 12.8gn worked the best for me out of a 6in barrel. 2400 does not need a magnum primer by the way. I have not loaded the softer 12brinell version in .357 so I can't say how they will do if you push them to higher velocities. I would expect them to show signs of leading sooner than the 18s, but there are a lot of variables when it comes to shooting lead.

 

[forestswin]

2400 is THE powder for lead bullets and 357

I found some very good accuracy for 158 LSWC's at 11.5 grains
and at another load at 12.8, like gadawg, with a 6" barrel

the best was 13.2 grains with Bayou hitech coated 158 LSWC

I also found on the whole range of loads - they pretty much all shot in a 2" group at 25 yards from a rest

 

[ljnowell]

Buckeye

what hardness (BHN) of the MBC did you get?

The harder MBC (18) and the Laser-cast ones need to be pushed harder than the softer cast bullets (12 to 16).



I've loaded 11.5 grains of 2400 to 14.5 grains in 357 cases in my 686 6 inch and incremented up and down in 0.2 grain increments using 158 gr LSWC



All guns shoot a little bit different, so I wouldn't pass over any of the increments while developing loads for your gun - try them all!

Not exactly. I load the Missouri Bullet 158 SWC BHN18 all the way down to bullseye competition velocities in 38 special(3.5 grains AA#2) and get zero leading.

If the bullet size(.358") fits the throats well you can shoot hard lead soft and softer lead pretty darned hard. I load the Cowboy 255 grain LSWC from Missouri over a tremendous charge of 2400 that is making over 1400fps and I don't lead up my Blackhawk with it.

 

[Catpop]

You are very lucky to even be able to ask this question. 2400 was my go to 357 powder until it dried up after sandy hook. I now have to use 4227. Catpop

 

[Hanshi]

12.5 grains of 2400 is a wonderful and accurate load with 158swc lead bullets. It's mild enough for extended use in K frame magnums. I get 1100fps and 1150fps in my 4" S&W M19 and 6" Python, respectively. Going up to 15 grains with similar bullets gives around 1450fps in my S&W M28. 2400 and cast bullets go together like oil companies and politicians.

 

[Buckeye357]

It took almost 18 months to get 2400 at my LGS. I was lucky to get a pound of it and also a pound of BE-86 at the same time. Thanks for all the input,keep it coming. Yesterday I loaded 50 LSWC 158 gr. Laser-Casts over 14 gr. of 2400 and 50 more of the same bullet with 7.3gr. of BE-86 I used CCI 500 primers for both loads. I have to wait until work slows down before I try them out. I looked up the BE-86 data on Alliant's site and the max BE-86 for cast 158gr. RNFP was 8.1 grs. they listed 7.8gr. as max for 158 gr. JHP. Not much data out there yet. If anybody has done any loading of BE-86 for 357mag, 38 Spec,45ACP or any other calibers please share results Thanks again.

 

[32_d3gr33s]

i use 13.2 in a 1.8" barrel and its quite the hand cannon. shoots awesome though! have yet to get my hands on a nice wheel gun with a longer barrel.

 

[joed]

+1 for what Stubbiecatt said. I shoot 13.5 gr of 2400 in my .357 magnums with 158 gr LSWC and also 170 gr Keith style. It's a handful but never any pressure.