800X in the 357 Magnum?

[lawboy]

Anyone using 800X in the 357?
If so, do you use magnum primers?
I use 800X in my 100mm with standard primers but get a lot of unburned powder.
I am hoping to use a charge of 8.0grs and magnum primers in 357 for a medium load using a 165-gr. LSWC bullet.
Is that a safe starting point? Should I go lower on the charge to start? Do I even need the magnum primers?
I will be shooting these from a K-frame S&W so I don't want to beat up the gun. Let me know what you think.

 

[The Bushmaster]

Change powder. I have checked two manuals Lyman and Sierra and neighther one lists 800X for .357 magnum.

 

[lawboy]

Yeah, tell me about it. I have about 20 manuals and NONE of them list 800X with 357 Magnum loads. BUT, it just seem logical that a powder between Unique and 2400 would be suitable. 800X is slower than Unique, faster than 2400 and 296, so it should make dandy medium loads, unless I am missing something.

 

[tkcomer]

Here is some data from IMR’s website: http://www.imrpowder.com/data/handgun/357mag.php I use 7.5gr behind a 148 wadcutter, but I load kinda light because of the lead bullets. I think most of the loads listed are max loads. I’ve had no problem with it.

 

[TonyT]

I have never used 800X in a pistol. However it was a very poor metering powder in my shotshell reloaders. When I purchased my first 8lb can the dealer warned me that it would not meter well and I ignored him. It might meter well in pistol powder measures but I would check the powder drops for reproducibility.

 

[Steve C]

The data I have from IMR shows maximum 8.9grs of 800X with a 158gr Lead SWC in the .357 mag using Remingto 5 1/2 primers (magnum primers). They say this load is 1,215 fps from a 6" barrel. With the slightly heavier bullet I'd drop another 5% for 15% off that to start (7.6grs) and not go over 8.5grs. Since the data's listed with Mag primers I'd use them. I'm always a little hesitant to use Winchester Magnum small pistol primers as they're much hotter than the others and will push pressures up more than say a CCI.

If you have a chrono look for velocities of between 1,000 and 1,100 from a 4" to maybe 1,150 fps from 6" gun. Don't want to hammer those K frames too hard.

You can go to IMR and ask them for data. They'll give you something more specific.

 

[CZ57]

lawboy: Steve C is correct on two counts. IMR does recommend magnum primers and secondly, not beating up the K-Frame.

I have data from an older SPEER manual and it recommends the standard CCI-500, but the only lead bullet load is for SPEER's 158 SWC and their SWCHP. It is a medium velocity target load: 7.0 grs. of 800-X that chronographed 1003 FPS from a 6" Ruger Security-Six. I should point out that this is a soft swaged bullet in comparison to the hardcast sold by most commercial casting companies.

The reason that 800-X does not get many recommendations is because of its poor metering characteristics. Personally, I think it's a poor choice for any high pressure cartridge, because variations in metering will mean variations in several other categories. None of them good. Certainly won't hurt to use it for this application until you buy something better.

The best powder I have used for accuracy in .357 Magnum loads of this type is AA#7, also in-between the Unique and 2400 burn rates which is a good place to select a powder from, in this case. Consequently, it is one of the very best powders for 10mm. Blue Dot is also a good choice, but it is a large flake powder. Not as large as 800-X, but large enough to contribute to inconsistencies in metering and flake cutting. AA#7 is the densest handgun propellent available to reloaders and meters as good as anything you'll ever use. Data for a 165 gr. SWC is not listed, but this link: http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/...738Cal(9.2mm)/357 Magnum pages 100 to 102.pdf will take you to data for 158 and 173 gr. weights. Start charges will put you right where you want to be, 9.9 for the 158 and 9.5 for the 173. For the 165, I'd start right in the middle at 9.7 grains.

 

[lawboy]

Thanks everyone. I have loaed 18 rounds using 6.5grs 800X and standard cci primers. I will shoot them and be done with it. I was just kind of curious about using the powder in this cartridge but it seems ill advised after reading all the informative comments. I have 2400, 296, Blue Dot, Unique, 231, Red Dot, Bullseye, 700X and a number of other powders on the shelf for both light and heavy loads. I will just go back to my 2400 for medium 357 loads and be happy!