Berry's 158gr .357 Load

[WNC Seabee]

I want to load up some LIGHT .357s. It's always hard to find published data for Berry's plated bullets, so I wanted to run this by the experts...all suggestions and comments will be take for what I paid, so no worries about anyone getting sued for giving load advice...

Here's what I was/am going to do...

158 gr Berry's Plated RN .357
5.8 gr W231
1.570" OAL
.357 case
Winchester Small Pistol Primer (not a Magnum primer)

Will this load....a) blow my hand off or 2)make it to the end of the barrel?

 

[Steve C]

Should be more velocity than a .38 spl +P but less than the .357 mag full power lead load of 6.7 grain listed in the Winchester data published before Hodgdon went to only listing light "Cowboy Loads" for lead bullets in the .357 mag. Probably will run 1,100 fps + from a 4" gun, not exactly light but not a full load either. It will be perfectly safe in your .357 mag. If you want really light loads use what is listed by Hodgdon for 158gr lead bullets 3.4 to 5.0grs. Personally I wouldn't go below 4.0grs.

 

[GP100man]

I found 4.5- 5gr. of 700x worked good & clean !!!!

Just hang `round 1000fps

 

[Walkalong]

I'll second the 700X for light loads. Your load is more of an intermediate or reduced load, but not light. AA #2 is also good. For velocities in the midrange and up as yours is, Unique works extremely well.

 

[mbopp]

Hodgdon's site lists a starting load of 6.2 gr of W231 for a jacketed 158gr bullet in 357. But when I tried it with the Berry's 158gr plated bullet I got 2 pierced primers out of 10 rounds. I don't know if it's some quirk with that load but I quit using 231 and plated bullets.
I wanted something more than a target load for woods carrying. I found 6.0gr of Unique in a 357 case topped with a Berrys plated 148gr DEWC is very accurate in my old M19.

 

[243winxb]

My guess is>max is 5.0gr for a 158 lead, reduce 10% and start there. Load 3 rounds of 4.5 gr. See what happens. No expert here.

 

[buck460XVR]

...from Berry's website.

FAQ: How do I load Berry's Preferred Plated Bullets?
Plated bullets occupy a position between cast bullets and jacketed bullets. They are soft lead, but have a hard outer shell on them. When loading plated bullets we have found best results using low- to mid-range jacketed data in the load manual. You must use data for a bullet that has the same weight and profile as the one you are loading. Do not exceed mid-range loads. Do not use magnum loads.

 

[Berry's MFG]

Stay under 1250fps and don't be too aggressive with the roll crimp and you will be fine. I prefer Dillon's Accu-Crimp die on revolver bullets that don't have a cannelure like ours, it is a hybrid between a taper and a roll crimp profile.

 

[WNC Seabee]

Thanks for all the responses...

I loaded up 50 rounds and went to the range at lunch. They were perfect for what I wanted.

Worked very well in my GP100, SP101 and Rossi M92 lever gun.

Thanks for the verifications everyone.