Brass for days, but..... no .357

[Walkalong]

Hey guys and gals.
Anybody want to trade some .357 brass for something else. I have all kinds, but no .357 and I just bought a 586. I am going to shoot reduced loads for the most part, but want to do it with .357 brass. I gave all mine to a friend years ago when I sold my 686. Thanks..

 

[layusn1]

I get 357 out the butt at my range but I dont grab them because the one time I did they were all a PITA to deprime. I don't mind thinking of you next time I head to the range.

I'm sorry...Percocet induced brain fart...did you mean 357 magnum, If so I have 50 right now that I'm willing to trade but can look during the next range trip for more.

 

[nitesite]

Walkalong~

Alas, I don't have an abundance of .357 Magnum brass from which to share. I wish I could but I only have about 250 cases.

I thought I'd chime in because you say you were looking for reduced loads using the .357 case. Recently I made up some very accurate 900-fps 158-gr LSWC loads that could have been produced with .38-Spl cases but (like you) wanted to use .357 cases. Here is a cut/paste of the thread I started on the Smith-Wessonforum.com and handgunplace.com forums:

I became determined to find the best load for the revolver that my wife has chosen to be her "go-to" handgun here at home. Kathy is, shall we say, pretty shy on recoil . But I want her to have a load that will deeply penetrate. Therefore any choice of light bullets which keep recoil to a minimum is not an option. So I have made the decision to stay with my favorite 158-gr bullet in "her" gun.

She has chosen my/our 4" 686 L-frame as her defensive firearm. I have kept it loaded with factory Remington .38 +P 158-gr LSWC R38S14 ammo. Kathy takes it out every once in a while and practices, but she definitely won't go with anything above .38+P.

I don't like shooting .38SPL ammo in .357Mag revolvers (I know.... I'm being anal). When I got the revolver I vowed that I would try to shoot only .357 ammunition thru it. So let's see what I did to switch from a .38+P LSWC to a similar load using .357-Magnum cases...

I wanted to find an accurate load that chrono'd around 900-fps using the Remington 158-gr LSWC bullet in .357 magnum cases. I chose Hodgdon Titegroup because it is less sensivive to position inside the larger capacity .357 case. Hodgdon's load data starts at 4.5 gr for a velocity of 1028-fps thru a 10" barrel.!!!!!!

Since I was going to start slow and work up, and since I didn't have a 10" revolver, I thought I'd start with the suggested 4.5 grains of Titegroup and see how velocity and accuracy came together.

Here are the results from my very first try, and I'm fairly pleased. Chrono data is from my starting load of 4.5-gr Titegroup in .357 cases with a Remington 158-gr LSWC, standard primers, and Lee FCD. Surprisingly it was almost exactly the velocity I wanted to achieve.

AV = 895
ES = 36
SD = 14



Even better yet, the accuracy at 15-yards from a rest was quite acceptable if you don't count the flyer (heck, go ahead and count the flyer for all I care...)



I've never before set out to get a particular velocity and then search for the accuracy and HOLY CRAP get it right all on the first try!!!!!!

I'm very pleased with my first stab at this...

 

[nitesite]

If I come into some more .357 Magnum cases real soon I'll send some your way!

 

[Walkalong]

Thanks for the info nitesite. I am not a big Tightgroup fan though. I have some data from years back. I am also going to try some of the newer powders that were not available back then. American Select, N320, WST, & WSF will be tried out. 700X, AA# 2 and W231 shot real well for me in the .38 Spl. back then and still do, but I am curious to try others as well for .38 loads in .357 brass.
I am thinking American Select is going to work well for some reason.

 

[wcwhitey]

Walkalong, a have a good amount of nickel, mixed headstamps. How much you looking for? I could always use some 44 mag or 44 special (first choice). Hollar at me when you get a chance. Bill

 

[nelson133]

If you want some reduced power loads and have .38 special cases, there's a couple of things you can do. The old Skeeter Skelton trick is to use the Lyman 158 grain gas check slug and crimp it on the bottom groove, giving you almost as much room as the .357 case. Or you can load the bullet in the 38 case normally and use the .38/44 loads which predate the 357 mag. I have done both, but usually do the latter. I use 11.5 grains of 2400 for a load that feels about 1/2 between a .38 and a .357. The original loads were hotter, but this satisfies me. The Skeeter load was 13.5 grains of 2400 and that is getting pretty close to .357 levels.

 

[Walkalong]

I want to use .357 brass because it will fill the chamber fully. I guess I will just buy some. I don't have enough .44 Spl. or .44 Mag to trade for .357 as wcwhitey kindly offered. I sent out some .223 in trade Monday for some .40 which I will squirrell away when it gets here. I have more .38 than I need if someone wants to trade .38 for .357. I have 400 ( I believe - may be 500 ) once fired I got from from Midway in .38 Spl. in a box I stuck back.

 

[Barr]

The following data is well above current published 38 Special load data. The following information is to be only used in .357 Magnum revolvers only at your own risk.

I have been working with some of the older 38/44 data using 2400 as well. 12-12.5 grains seems to work the best with me. Velocities are 1100 and 1150 fps in a 4" barrel S&W 686.

 

[ReloaderFred]

Walkalong,

I sent you an e-mail.

Fred

 

[Walkalong]

Got it. AC

 

[joneb]

WA, I am sorry to be of no help I am .357 mag brass deficient my self or should I say my Trooper is a hungry selfish beast Don't forget about AA#5 for reduced .357 mag. loads, I have had excellent results with lead and plated bullets with this powder. jj

 

[nitesite]

Walkalong~

Wow, a thread from the dead!

My brass situation is a little bit better now than it was back in March. Are you still in need of some?

I'm in north AL.

 

[Snapping Twig]

Try that Lyman #358156 (160g GCSWC) over 5g of W231 in a magnum case. Sweet shooter! I have a 4" 686 and that's my load for plinking. I also use a cast wadcutter with the same data and components for an equally excellent target round - some spice, but not harsh in the slightest.

 

[Walkalong]

Don't forget about AA#5 for reduced .357 mag. loads, I have had excellent results with lead and plated bullets

I have found that to be true as well, at least with plated. I have not tried lead.

Are you still in need of some?

I am good now, Thanks.

Wow, a thread from the dead!

Yep, I did not recognize it until I opened it.