38 and 38+P Loads from 357 Brass

[Jim71063]

I'm new to The High Road and after a 25 year hiatus, I've gotten back into reloading. All I reloaded back in the day was 45acp and now I've added 357 to the mix.

I apologize in advance if this has been covered a ridiculous number of times, but...

I purchased 125 grain bullets for reloading, and THEN read that hot 125 loads can cause issues. That being the case, I'd like to load these closer to 38 or 38+P specs, only in 357 brass. This raises a couple of questions...

1) What overall length to use (38/38+P, if that's even possible, or 357)?

2) Do I use 38/38+P load data (in terms of powder weight) or more of a reduced 357 data and, if so, should I go below the standard 10% reduction?

I have three firearms I'd like to be able to shoot these in (GP100, LCR 357 and Henry Big Boy Steel). Also, the powders I currently have are 2400, BE-86 and Unique and the purpose of these rounds would be for target shooting/plinking.

 

[rcmodel]

Just use +P data.

No need to measure OAL.
Just Seat to the bullet cannulure and crimp.

Whatever that measures is the correct OAL.

The 125 grain bullets won't cause you any problems in the guns you mentioned.

I'd probably go with 15 or 16 grains 2400 and bee happy.

rc

 

[Jim71063]

Thanks! I appreciate it!

 

[buck460XVR]

There are lower to moderate velocity starting loads for 125 grainers in .357 brass in virtually any reloading manual or on any powder manufacturer's website. The issue, as you said, is with 125gr and lighter bullets loaded hot with slow burning powders. Even then, that was mostly in older K-Frames and had to do with their notched forcing cone. Stick with moderate velocity charges of faster burning powders and you should not have any problem at all.

 

[Steve C]

125gr full power (1,450 fps from a 4" barrel) loads only cause issues with S&W K frame 19's and 66's due to the thinned barrel forcing cone that can be cracked useing such ammo. There is no issue using the full power loads with Rugers, or Rifles. The 125 grain max load is a bit much in a lightweight revolver like the LCR due to recoil.

For self defense loads in my K frames I still load 125gr JHP's but use the Remington Golden Sabers that run at mid level power of 1,220 fps from a 4" barrel or hand load an equivalent loading which is at the start level for magnum loads. Generally for the 125gr I like to use a slightly faster powder than 2400 close to the Blue Dot burn rate. Some powders that fit that bill are HS6, AA7, Long Shot, Herco.

Alliant currently says not to use Blue Dot with 125gr .357 mag loads though I used it for 30 years before their warning without issue to make full power ammo that chrono'd at the factory 1,450 fps from 4" .357's and 100 fps more in 6" revolvers.

 

[RealGun]

1) What overall length to use (38/38+P, if that's even possible, or 357)?

2) Do I use 38/38+P load data (in terms of powder weight) or more of a reduced 357 data and, if so, should I go below the standard 10% reduction?

I have three firearms I'd like to be able to shoot these in (GP100, LCR 357 and Henry Big Boy Steel). Also, the powders I currently have are 2400, BE-86 and Unique and the purpose of these rounds would be for target shooting/plinking.

1) Just follow the crimp groove, barely visible after crimp.

2) I have a series of "Lite" loads, one of which is 7.3 gr BE-86 and 158 gr SWC. Nice round. I find a no man's land between 38 +p max and 357 Mag min, so that's where I work these loads for the smaller guns. I am a lover of shooting magnum guns, but the little ones need special ammo.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

None of the guns you have will be adversely effected buy full power .357 Magnum loads using a 125gr bullet. No need to load light if you don't want to.

 

[Walkalong]

Just use +P data.

No need to measure OAL.
Just Seat to the bullet cannulure and crimp.

Whatever that measures is the correct OAL.

The 125 grain bullets won't cause you any problems in the guns you mentioned.

Bingo!

 

[hdbiker]

Don't use Blue Dot powder with 125 grain bullets in a .357. There have been factory warnings about it !!!!!!!!!!!!!! hdbiker

 

[RecoilRob]

2400 is a great powder for high powered loading...but sucks bad at reduced charges. I've tried it in .44 Specials and unless they were at red-faced maximum...it left lots of crap in the cases and barrel. It just doesn't burn clean unless the pressures are up! Have fired thousands of .357's with 2400 and it's wonderful. Full charge is right to the base of the 158 grain bullet so it looks like it was tailor made for the cartridge.

Don't know about BE-86 but Unique should be good for moderate target loads up to pretty strenuous ones...almost full power. One thing to watch for is load inconsistency with large flake powders like Unique. I squibbed a couple rounds before I figured out that every now and then my powder measure will short a charge. Just figure out a way to verify that all charges are equal and Unique works well for many, many cartridges. It IS Unique! Little bit dirtier than some other competing powders, but nothing major and better now than it was in the past.

 

[Jim71063]

I really appreciate everyone's input on this. Thanks!

 

[RealGun]

None of the guns you have will be adversely effected buy full power .357 Magnum loads using a 125gr bullet. No need to loabvlight if you don't want to.

The suitability of full power ammo in an LCR is certainly a personal evaluation.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The suitability of full power ammo in an LCR is certainly a personal evaluation.

I was only addressing the OPs original concern of damaging the forcing cone. I said nothing about stability, only that the guns he has were not older K frame .357 Magnum revolvers which are the guns that were being damaged by hyper-velocity 125gr jacketed ammo.

 

[Dudedog]

I load mild .357s, somewhere between 38 +P and .357 start charges with various powders.
No big deal but you loose a little vel from what a .38 +P load is in the larger .357 case is you use 38 +P data.

I have heard to be careful with light charges in rifles, make sure bullet clears the barrel.

 

[Bama Drifter]

Unique is excellent

...for a pleasant mild target load I run 158gr hard cast over 6gr of Unique in mixed .357 brass. Sorry I don't have any proven 125gr data. Start above .38+P yet below magnum charge and run a ladder loading test. Good luck!