357Mag Pros Please Chime In!

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I am going to be in the minority, here.
I have shot "Skeeter's Load" 13.5 gr. 2400, 158 gr. SWC, 357 brass, in my S&W 586 4", and didn't like it very much, thank you!
My brother in law and I settled on what we called "hot .38, Mild magnum loads. More fun to shoot accurately. For 30 + years my go-to IPSC and everything load was/is 150-158 gr. Cast SWC, 5.5 gr. Unique. 4" barrel, 860 fps chrono'ed, pleasant to shoot, and very likely adequate for any reasonable need. The recoil is similar to Speer's 357 Magnum Short barrel 135 gr load. Nice ammo, but expen$ive!
"The Revolver Guy" has some interesting comments on his web site regarding 38+P/357 magnum loads. One I recall is that few people have the time, money,or dedication to become truly proficient with .357 magnum full snort loads.
Federal has recently introduced a 130 gr. HST 38 +P loading that has shown great results in Lucky Gunner tests, as well as another site on YouTube. Velocity is 825 fps from a 2" barrel. and 850 from a 4". I have recently obtained a small sample of the bullets, and will be trying to approach Federal's advertised velocity of 890 fps, using my old reliable powders..Universal and Unique. AA#5 is still an untried quantity, but I expect good results from it, also.
.357 Magnum has no purpose unless shooting hotter than 38 +p. My load with your 150+ bullet and Unique is 6.5 and rated only as Tier I, suitable for small guns.
 
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The .357 mag is a great and classic round and has accounted, for me, more than a few deer. I don't like heavier or lighter than standard bullet weights. That means 158 (+ or -) cast or jacketed bullets and 125 grn for specific applications. My loads are a cast 160 (+or -) swc at 1420 fps and the 158 grn JHP at 1280 fps. The 125 grn gets 1400 fps.
 
Another vote for coated 158gr swc (I use Missouri Bullets) and 2400 for loads that average between 1400-1500 fps. My experience is that 2400 likes being pushed-too much unburned powder with light loads. If I want something more easy-shooting I've had great success with Unique and Herco.
 
Hondo,
I remember your thread about the KB in your SP101.
That was a bummer for all of us.
It had to really suck for you!
It shoots so well with factory ammo that I expect to have a lot of fun tailoring reloads for it.
For a 'camping/walking in the woods' load I am thinking about an 80% to 90% load of 2400 under a 158gn XTP or similar.
There isn't much in Florida that would call for a raging full-house load in a magnum. Not even in a 3" barrel.
 
I use a 158gr LSW with a small amount of Unique for light loads (under 1000fps) and a larger amount of Unique for heavier loads (over 1000fps).
 
I use a 158gr LSW with a small amount of Unique for light loads (under 1000fps) and a larger amount of Unique for heavier loads (over 1000fps).
I limit Unique to no more than medium loads, because its burn rate creates a sharp recoil impulse (pressure spike?) beyond that, noticeably more than a slower burning, true magnum powder.
 
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