Best bullet weight and powder for 357 magnum

[Virginia Jim]

I bought a S&W 686 the other day and have shot up almost all my 357 ammo. I just bought a set of Hornady dies and have plenty of cases and primers.
What is a good plinking load to start with? I don’t need full house but more that 38 special equivalent.
I’ll mostly be shooting steel plates at 25 yards.
(I’ve been loading 44 mag, 45 acp, and 40 S&W for several years.)

 

[Ohen Cepel]

I would start with Hodgdon's reloading page. 158g lead bullets down to 38+p is a lot of what I'm shooting now. Don't have to scrub the ring from the cylinder that way. Good way to go. I have been using TightGroup with good results but lots of options depending what you have on hand.

 

[George P]

For 38+p level loads, the powder choices are many. Personally, I prefer 158 gr SWC, lead, coated, plated, jacketed, HP or not; always accurate.

 

[Virginia Jim]

Thanks. I have plenty of titegroup and HS6.

 

[Ru4real]

Thanks. I have plenty of titegroup and HS6.

I’m using 5 gr Titegroup with Speer coated 158 gr cast SWC and Berrys 158 gr plated bullets both at about 925 fps out of my 6” S&W 586, practice loads, in 38 Special cases, OAL 1.500”

Loaded, the Speer is about 12 cents per round, and the Berrys is about 15 cents per round. Berrys are slightly more accurate in my 586, but both shoot pretty well, with low velocity spreads.

I tried 5.5 gr of Tightgroup getting 1070 fps out of my 586, but it was too much for my Colt, IMO, and I wanted a load for both, but a little more than 38.

 

[Walkalong]

158 Gr SWC and WST or Competition.

 

[BBarn]

I like a starting load of Power Pistol under a 125gr jacketed or plated. Gives some of the "magnum" experience with modest recoil.

 

[Toprudder]

For mid-range loads in 357, I like BE86 with 158gn bullets.

I used up the last of a bottle of HS6 with 125gn plated bullets and it worked very well for me. Since you have HS6, I would recommend starting there.

 

[AJC1]

I run from 140s to now 180s. 158s cast are great for plinking, and 140s are great for varmints at mag speed. Obviously the lighter bullets shoot flatter and faster. I love 357 and shoot pistol and carbine.

 

[Random 8]

Thanks. I have plenty of titegroup and HS6.

I'm a big fan of HS-6 with a hard cast 158 in your application. This is my field pistol silhouette load, I'm charging per Hodgedon .38+p levels with a Penn 158 TC. Unique, BE-86 or Power Pistol would do well in this application also.

If you wish to go a little lighter, your tightgroup would be a good answer.

 

[Chillydog]

158 Gr SWC and WST or Competition.

Do you mind sharing your numbers for WST? Also in 38 special or 357 brass?

thank you.

 

[Walkalong]

3.8 in a .38 Spl case and 4.0 Grs in a .357 case. Start at 3.6 and make sure all shots leave the barrel. Lead or coated lead is easier to get out of the barrel than plated, I don't use jacketed in plinker loads.

Try it at your own risk, but it works for me. Mild and accurate, not necessarily low pressure.

 

[AJC1]

3.8 in a .38 Spl case and 4.0 Grs in a .357 case. Start at 3.6 and make sure all shots leave the barrel. Lead or coated lead is easier to get out of the barrel than plated, I don't use jacketed in plinker loads.

Try it at your own risk, but it works for me. Mild and accurate, not necessarily low pressure.

3.0 TG in a 38 case is mild and I have 100% leave the gun. I worked it down for a senior shooter.

 

[35 Whelen]

My standard less-than-maximum load for my .357's is 6.0 grs. of Unique and ant cast semi-wadcutter weighing 150-160 gr. Velocity is generally runs 1000 fps out of my revolvers.\

35W

 

[ColtPythonElite]

MBC coated 140 gr Zinger and 7.5 gr of BE-86 is a nice performer on steel.

 

[Blue68f100]

Do you mind sharing your numbers for WST? Also in 38 special or 357 brass?

thank you.

I use 4.8gr of WST in a 357 mag case behind a 158gr LSWC, MBC 12 BRN.

 

[ballman6711]

38spcl brass gets 3.9gr of W231 with a 158gr SJSP.

357mag brass gets 6.8gr of W231 with the same bullet. Accurate and mild recoil.

chris

 

[Walkalong]

3.0 TG in a 38 case is mild and I have 100% leave the gun. I worked it down for a senior shooter.

I assume you have checked that powder forward away from the primer.

 

[lordpaxman]

.38 brass with Bayou 138 BNWC at 1.260” and 3.7 for of WST will get you a 129PF if you’re doing games. This is a very soft shooting load in a 686 6”. Less than that for a really light load.
Even softer is a Clays load of 3.5 gr.
.38 brass with a 158 coated SWC at 1.465” and 3.1 gr of Clays is a very light lady-friendly load as well. No offense.
I don’t have a problem with using .38 cases in .357, but I’ve heard here that if you want to use .357 cases, just add 10% to your .38 load.
The fast powders do really well, Clays, IMR Red, IMR Target, WST, N320 are all good performers. Good luck!

 

[Hondo 60]

For less than full house loads, I use 125 gr plated bullets & Titegroup powder.
Very nice shooting.

If you want full 357 loads, I'd step up to 158gr jacketed bullets & Alliant 2400

 

[Charlie98]

When I loaded .38/.357, 99.9% of my handloads were Unique under a 158grn bullet.

I loaded a box of Hornady's swaged 158grn SWC's over 4.0grn Unique for my mom's 3" J-frame, that is probably the most accurate handgun load I've ever worked up... the accuracy of those bullets was astounding... messy as all get out, but accurate.

Even mid- to upper-range .357 loads got Unique.

I have used some other powders... BlueDot (terrible, wrong application...) RedDot, (worked well for standard .38's,) I'm sure I tried W296 in the .357's.

 

[AJC1]

I assume you have checked that powder forward away from the primer.

I have for functioning but no cronograph

 

[Riomouse911]

My favorite 158 gr coated or plated 158 gr SWC load fir .357 is 6.5 gr Unique.

Ssme bullet, same powder in .38 Spl cases is 4.5 gr.

A truly fun and accurate load in all of my .38/.357 revolvers is an Eggleston coated 148 gr RN over 3.5 gr Unique in a .38 Spl. case. It’s a VERY mild and is easy to insert into the chambers (compared to wadcutters) for beginners learning how to shoot a centerfire revolver or action-target where there is no minimum power level.

Stay safe.