Best powders for 357 magnum?

[Throwingdown]

I have loaded 9mm and 45 acp using 231. I was wanting to start reloading 357 magnum and was wondering which are the best powders to use.

I was going to primarily use 158gr bullets - how many grains with what powder work best.

 

[243winxb]

Alliant 2400 works well. For the powder charge, start low and work up. Data at the Alliant website.

 

[The Bushmaster]

If you are after "magnum performance". Alliant 2400, Hodgdon H110 or Winchester W-296 are all good performers and difficult to beat...

 

[Ala Dan]

Universal Clays, Unique (dirty), and 2400 are my choices.

 

[PA Freedom]

For full power loads- Alliant 2400 and Winchester 296/H110 (same thing, diffrent brand names) Please note that "magnum" primers are not necessary for 2400, but highy recommended for Win296/H110. Also Win296/H110 cannot be reduced much.

 

[Six]

Alliant 2400 and Unique for me.

 

[RedHawk357Mag]

Tite Group does pretty good for me. IMR SR7625 does extremely well in my RedHawk357. Trying to find my sweet spot with Universal. All powders meter fairly well and aren't too bad to clean up after.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The powders that are considered "Magnum Powders" are: AA#9, Alliant 2400, W296/H110, both IMR & H4227, Ramshot Enforcer and VV N350. You can add Hodgdon Lil'Gun for heavier bullet in the .357 Magnum. (158gr and heavier)

All will do a very good job so pick the one that's made by the company you like best, look up the proper charges and load up some ammo. Note, those are all the powders that are used for full power Magnum rounds. You can use slightly faster powders for less velocity and downloaded rounds too. (like HS-6, Longshot, Unique, True Blue, AA#5 and others in that burn rate range)

 

[Steve C]

My preference has been Unique, Blue Dot, and 2400 though I have AA#9, W296 and a little H110 around. Unique and occasionally 2400 or AA#9 is used for cast bullets.

I really like W231 for the .38 spl and it works ok for lead bullets in the .357 mag too. 6.0gr for hard cast and you can go to 6.7grs according to the previous Winchester data. Current Hodgdon data only lists Cowboy level light loads at 5.0grs max with pressures just barely over the +P .38 spl for lead bullets.

The previous Winchester data and Hodgdon both say 6.9 is maximum for jacketed bullets so 6.2grs would be the start load.

 

[Griz44]

For mass quantity plinking loads I use Titegroup, it works great for lighter loaded rounds and burns great in mostly empty cases. My younger family members love to go with me, but do not enjoy the recoil of a full power 357 loads, so I load bunches at light 38 special level for them. I shoot my own cast medium hardness lead (11-14 BH) at 158gr.

 

[Walkalong]

Universal Clays, AA #5, Unique, N340 for midrange loads, AA #9, H110/W-296, 2400 for upper end loads.

 

[RVenick]

My Speer manual says that Magnum Primers need to be used with w296 and h110 has anyone loaded these powders with standard primers and if so was there any difference?

 

[buck460XVR]

My Speer manual says that Magnum Primers need to be used with w296 and h110 has anyone loaded these powders with standard primers and if so was there any difference?

H110/W296 is a great magnum powder, but has a coupla quirks. In .357 it does require the use of magnum primers to properly ignite. The use of standard primers may result in a squib load and a bullet stuck in your barrel. Also........... you should also never download them below recommended starting loads and always use a heavy crimp.

 

[Jim Watson]

Vihtavuori N110 (not to be confused with H110) is a very good magnum powder, if you don't mind paying for it.

 

[Snowboy]

Blue Dot for me, around 10,2GR for a 158GR JSP

 

[tactikel]

+1 on Unique or 2400. Titegroup or Power pistol are good too. It depends on what bullet weight you are using.

 

[depoloni]

Personally, Unique for cast/reduced loads (or 231 occasionally). 2400 for full-house loads.

I prefer 110 over 2400 in the 44mag I shoot, but have a stockpile of 2400 from before I "discovered" 110 so I use it up in the 357 where I'm usually plinking. Someday it'll be gone and I'll probably be a pure 110/unique guy.

 

[lgbloader]

I use H110 in all my magnum caliber revolvers. I like it.

LGB

 

[Redneck with a 40]

H-110, 296, lil-gun, 2400, and for general purpose plinking loads, Unique or Universal.

 

[TheotherMikeG]

2400 for full-power loads. Unique and Herco for mid-range.

 

[RVenick]

I use a Lee Pro 1000 to load and have asked this question in other threads. The Lee disk measure does not play well with stick type powders so I am looking for a good ball type powder and from the response from above H110 & W296 require Magnum Primers (which I don't and have) so can anyone recommend a powder that fits my need?

 

[rcmodel]

If it won't throw 2400 you need to get a better powder measure.

2400 is not stick type powder. It is small disks.
No need for Mag primers with it.

rc

 

[Smokey Joe]

Target rounds...

Throwingdown--For target-level loads (that is, very light) with lead wadcutters, either double-ended or hollow-based, I have been using W 231 for years with excellent results.

My revolver shoots 'em better than I can hold it.

 

[ultralightbackpacker]

I always use 2400 for full house 357 loads. If you shoot them at an indoor range, nobody will shoot while you are pulling your trigger.

 

[zxcvbob]

I like Herco with heavy cast bullets. Lately I've been using a lot of AA#7 -- it gives exactly the same performance as Blue Dot but it measures better and doesn't seem as moody.