2400 + OregonTrail Lasercast SWC??

[_N4Z_]

I just bought 500 of these .38cal 158gr Lasercast SWC's and am having some trouble finding load data. Oregon Trails web site not helpful.

Would Alliant 2400 be a good match with these rounds, and what levels. Can I push medium to hot (not max) 357mag loads? Will be shooting thru a 357 GP100 w/ 6" barrel.

Any informed input would be greatly appreciated.

 

[only1asterisk]

2400 is a great powder for the .357.

You can load up to 15 grains of 2400 behind this bullet, but you may find leading gets pretty heavy before you get to the max. This is more a function of the bullet as opposed to the powder.

David

 

[zxcvbob]

It's a very good combination, but 15 grains is too high. 14 is pushing it.

11 grains of Blue Dot is also a good hot load, but leads even worse than 2400.

 

[only1asterisk]

It's a very good combination, but 15 grains is too high. 14 is pushing it.

11 grains of Blue Dot is also a good hot load, but leads even worse than 2400.

What makes you think 15 grains of 2400 is "too high"?

David

 

[zxcvbob]

What makes you think 15 grains of 2400 is "too high"?

Poor memory, I guess. Alliant and Hercules load data both say 15.3 is OK. Sorry about that.

 

[only1asterisk]

No sweat. Just wanted to make sure I wasn't missing something.

David

 

[_N4Z_]

At what point would leading start popping up on these hardcasts?

I want to load warm as possible -and avoid the leading.

Somewhere between 13 and 14gr of 2400 be a reasonable bet?

I've read that 2400 does not download well. Already using Unique for the lower power range stuff with normal LRN.

 

[zxcvbob]

Herco is a great powder for .357 Magnum cast bullet loads. About 8.0 grains with 158's. Also Winchester WSF powder, but there's no reloading data available for it for revolver cartridges. It's very close to Herco (but WSF meters better), so start at 7.0 grains and work up from there towards 8.

I bought a bunch of surplus NATO 9mm powder that loads just like AA#7 except it claims to be slightly faster. I've been using 10.0 grains in .38 Special brass with Lasercast 158 grain RNFP bullets as sort of a .38/44HV load. It's a pretty hot load (do not shoot it in a .38 Special) but does not lead at all. I have loaded some .357 Magnum cartridges using 11.0 grains of the NATO powder but I haven't tried them yet.

I tried using Blue Dot in .357, but it leaded something terrible. It's probably good for jacketed bullets, but I don't use jacketed bullets.

I have some 2400, I just haven't used it in a while. So many powders, so little time...

 

[only1asterisk]

You can download 2400 better than most powders in that class.
12 grains is a pretty good place to start. You could go as low as 11.

David

 

[Win75]

I have always loaded 15 grs. of 2400 behind my own cast 150 gr. SWC's. Personally, I would probably back off a little to around 14.5 with the 158's.
FWIW.

 

[Ben Shepherd]

What kind of gun? If it's a good stout one like a blackhawk, gp100, etc. 15 grains will be fine. If it's a smaller lighter framed gun, then the 14 grain range should be fine.

These slugs don't lead much at all. In fact, I feed over a dozen 357s, and I have a dedicated toolhead for my dillon 650 for this slug and2400. I use these slugs in front of 15.2 grains of 2400. (All of my 357s are ruger handguns or winchester 94s) None of my guns lead much at all. Sometimes the longer barreled win 94 will lead a bit near the muzzle. That's because it's out of lube, not because it's going too fast.

 

[only1asterisk]

Leading is kind of subjective I guess. I guess if you compare these bullets to other commercial cast bullets they might not lead as much, but I've found they lead more than my own bullets that are properly sized to fit the gun.

David

 

[Stinger]

I load 14.2g almost exclusively...ymmv.

 

[Steve C]

I've loaded 158gr SWC commercial cast bullets with 13.0grs of 2400 and standard pistol primer, velocity was right at 1,245 fps from a 4" S&W 66, from a 6" barrel you'll probably be around 1,300 fps. With jacketed bullets 14.0grs gives the same velocity.

 

[shu]

Pulled up this thread in a search. Very timely.

My own favorites for top end 357mag for the GP100 and Win94 center on H110 and jacketed 125 or 158gr.

But I finished out a bottle of H110 and thought I'd try some 2400. Also playing with oregon trail lasercast (158gr roundnose). Picked up a max of 14.0 gr of 2400 from one of the books.

My first tests at 11.6, 12.6, and 13.6 gr of 2400 seemed to be throwing a lot of unburned powder. After about 40 rounds, the cylinder of the GP100 would not latch and rotate properly. Cleaned around/under the ejector star, cylinder gap, etc with a dry toothbrush. Seemed to fix it.

Did not try any in the lever gun.

Was thinking maybe 2400 was not going to work with the hardcast. Would try it with jacketed bullets to see if the greater resistence in the barrel would build up pressure for a cleaner burn. Or just give up on the 2400 and go back to H110. I give 'em a good crimp, but I don't like to squeeze too hard on naked lead.

After reading this thread I may try 14.5gr with the hardcast.

Other than that, the velocity, standard deviation, and accuracy were great.
6 inch GP-100, 158gr L-RN oregon trail, 2400 powder
11.6gr..1177fps..sigma 17
12.6gr..1222gps..sigma 32
13.6gr..1282fps..sigma 25

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Even though those Laser Cast bullets are very hard I still wouldn't push them much past 1200 fps if you want to avoid leading. (IMO of course)

 

[AgentAdam]

"Herco is a great powder for .357 Magnum cast bullet loads. About 8.0 grains with 158's. Also Winchester WSF powder, but there's no reloading data available for it for revolver cartridges. It's very close to Herco (but WSF meters better), so start at 7.0 grains and work up from there towards 8."

Worked good for me in my Taurus 608 but i would still like to try 2400 for the 6 1/2" barrel.

 

[CU74]

I use Oregon Trail's Laser Cast bullets and I like them a lot. That said, I don't load "hot". IMHO, if you're looking for near-max loads you shouldn't be using Laser Cast bullets - IMHO.