357 Magnum, 158g hard cast lead TCBB, SPM primer: HS-6, IMR4227, H110?

[larry44]

I've just started reloading for my 1974 Blackhawk 6.5" 357. I'm using a Lee Challenger Breech Lock SS press, Lee carbide dies and a mix of other stuff. I've successfully loaded lots of 38 Special using Trail Boss and SP primers.

My intent is to develop the most accurate load for 25/50/100 yard target shooting. I've got a Leupold 2x mounted on the Weig-i-tinny rail.

I've bought the 158g Truncated Cone Beveled Base directly from Penn Bullets (I live 30 minutes away) which is rated up to 1600 fps velocity. While there, the owner suggested the best powders (in his opinion) for target shooting.

Looking online there seems to be a lack of multiple loads for those powders. I've loaded up 10 rounds each of HS-6 at 6.0gr, 6.4gr and 6.8gr to shoot tomorrow, using load data from the Reloading Guide for Revolvers 357/38 by Gun Guide.

Will this load cause squibs?

What are some other loads for the other powders in my title? Is there a better powder to use for target shooting at these distances?

Thanks for any advice!!

 

[Random 8]

I've fired 158 gr jacketed over HS-6 in similar increments. I've found this powder to be quite forgiving of loads reduced below max. Accuracy has varied in my case with reduced loads (working down to find a sweet spot of recoil vs performance in my wife's carry revolver), but was never off the chart bad. I've run the same jacketed bullet (Nos 158) and Lazer 158SWC over H-6 at Hodgdon max load and it is one of the most accurate in my Taurus M66. This is my ram load in IHMSA at 100m, less muzzle blast and recoil than max with H110, and I plan to work with the same 158 Penn you are using over the winter and find a load. H-6 or HP38 will be my go-tos here.

You might look into Red Dot, Unique, HP-38, or Titegroup for ".357 light" loads. I have used all 4 of these with good results for casual plinking ammunition and for the closer targets in silhouette. Never tested specifically for accuracy, as I got there with H-6, but was good enough for chickens, pigs and turkeys to 75m as well as the birch log "bowling pins" I shoot on my private range. Ignition was consistent in all cases from .38 special velocities and up with 125 and 158 grain cast. At the low end of .38 speeds with a standard SP primer, I did get some soot and unburned powder with unique, but accuracy did not suffer noticeably. This went away with slightly higher speeds and a spm primer.

 

[larry44]

This is my ram load in IHMSA at 100m​

Is this the Hodgdon max load at 7.0gr over your Lazer 158SWC?

 

[Random 8]

This is my ram load in IHMSA at 100m​

Is this the Hodgdon max load at 7.0gr over your Lazer 158SWC?

Ram load is near the 9 grain load, I believe I stopped at 8.8, but I'm away from my notes so can't check for sure, with the JACKETED Nos 158. Sorry, I was unclear in the first post on that. For the shorter distances, I've been using up some oddball components with the 158 Lazers. When I ran them with H-6, I believe I was around the 7 grain mark though, and I've run as low as 5 gr in plinking loads and still got useful accuracy.

I think the Hodgedon data stops around the 1100fps mark with the cast bullets in deference to the softness of the bullets they are using. With a hardcast such as the Penn, you can certainly run warmer if you need to without leading or excessive pressure.

 

[Jonesy814]

The powder manufactures have data available online for the piwders you listed as do many manuals

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you are looking for standard pressure .38 Special loads in .357 Magnum cases those HS-6 loads will do it. They are not over .38 Special pressures according to the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition.

 

[larry44]

The powder manufactures have data available online for the piwders you listed as do many manuals

Thanks for your reply but I'm still having difficulty finding any good load data for IMR4227 using 158gr hard cast lead bullets. Can you or anyone point me to some for that combo?

 

[larry44]

I just returned from the range firing my loads from last night. This is the best:

I'm going to load some more of this tonight.

Still looking for 4227 loads for hard cast lead

 

[Jonesy814]

Thanks for your reply but I'm still having difficulty finding any good load data for IMR4227 using 158gr hard cast lead bullets. Can you or anyone point me to some for that combo?

Lymans 49th Edition lists loads using IMR 4227 for both 155gr and 160gr cast bullets. For the 155gr they start at 11,4gr and go up to 15.2gr. With their 160gr bullet they run from 11.8gr up to 17gr. They also list a load with 150gr bullet f 11.8gr up to 16gr. These are all cast linotype bullets and 155gr & 160gr bullets are close enough in weight to 158gr bullets that I feel the data is useful in developing a load
Their web site gives data for 158gr Hornady XTP with a starting load of 14.5 ending at 16gr
Based on all that info, I have loaded cast HiTek coated bullets with up to 15gr of IMR 4227 and had no problems. I don't own chronograph, but primers were not flattened, cases ejected with little to no effort and recoil was much more mild than shooting any factory 158gr ammo that I have used.

 

[larry44]

Thanx!

 

[Jonesy814]

Layman's also has data for the same three bullets as quoted above with IMR 4227 data
For the 160gr, which is a RN shape they list 15.8-16.5 grains of H-110 and for the 155gr bullet which appears to be a cast HP design the list a range of 15-15.7gr of H-110. It's interesting that they list a lighter load range for the lighter of the 2 bullets since usually you can load a heavier charge with a lighter bullet
They also have HS-6 data. For the 155gr bullet its 8.8gr-9.7 and for the160gr bullet its 8.5 - 9.7gr
I have personally loaded a cast TCBB bullet with 15.7gr of H-110 powder. Primers were starting to look flat and while ejection wasn't hard, they didn't just fall out either .I felt that 15.7 was probably as high as I should go with H-110 and that bullet.

 

[larry44]

I have Lyman's 50th on order for Wednesday delivery.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I just returned from the range firing my loads from last night. This is the best:

I'm going to load some more of this tonight.

Still looking for 4227 loads for hard cast lead

From the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition:
158gr Lyman #358665 bullet, IMR-4227 14.0gr to 15.5gr, 1.575" OAL , 42,700 CUP

If you are going to load cast bullets you should buy the above named manual. It is not a reprint of the cast loads in the full Lyman manuals and it contains load data for other bullets than from Lyman molds.

https://smile.amazon.com/Lyman-Cast...ywords=lyman+cast+bullet+handbook+4th+edition

 

[larry44]

This book is also coming to me on Wednesday.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

This book is also coming to me on Wednesday.

Very cool, I feel you did yourself a great service. You will like that manual and probably use it a lot.

 

[larry44]

I've been doing my best to spread out my purchases as I get funds from selling more guns. Ive got rhe RCBS Uniflow powder measure coming tomorrow and a vibratory drum on Friday.