Have a ton of Triple 7. Any 38sp or 357 magnum ideas?

[Analogkid]

I have a bunch of triple 7 FFFG. Maybe 6 lbs of it I bought for my cap and ball revolvers. I have a old ruger security 6 stainless 6" barrel in 357 mag.

Anyone run the triple 7 powder in these cases either 38sp or 57 mag? If so any input on loading for either? I realize it will get messy. Totally not worried about that. Just interested in plinking with it.

Just run a compressed charge of it for either cartridge? Should I make some cardboard wad's?

I will be using a 158gr lee SWC cast from ww lead if that helps.

 

[damoc]

I loaded some 45 colt with 777 and got about 1100 fps with 250 grain bullet too hot for my replicas but a good load for Ruger Blackhawk
may be a good in a 357. 11 minutes in when I test the 777.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

PDF link: Hodgdon Load Data for Triple 7 in cartridges.

It's my understanding that you should use only minimal compression while ensuring there is no air space in the cartridge.

 

[J-Bar]

Fill the case with 777 so the powder just touches the base of the bullet. 777 does not like compression. Crimp tightly to encourage complete powder burn. Prep your revolver with a coat of Mobil 1 grease, the red stuff you get from the auto supply store, wherever the fouling will go: inside the frame surrounding the cylinder, on the ratchet, cylinder face etc. It will make cleanup lots easier. Wipe all the lube out of the barrel; better to start dry rather than have petroleum based lube in there to encourage fouling.

 

[J-Bar]

Should I make some cardboard wad's?

I will be using a 158gr lee SWC cast from ww lead if that helps.

Sorry my previous post was incomplete; I failed to address bullet lube. In my experience, 777 works best with a non-petroleum based lube on the bullet, just as if it were real black powder. I use the age-old beeswax/Crisco (50-50) mix on all my bullets whether I am using real black powder or a substitute. If your bullets are already lubed with the usual commercial crayon stuff, they might be ok. You will have to judge how hard it is to remove fouling from the barrel after shooting a while. If it is causing a problem, you can put the bullets on a paper towel on a cookie sheet and melt the stuff off in a warm oven pretty quickly, then lube with a more traditional lube. I have no experience with polymer coated bullets and black powder or substitutes. Others with experience will have to provide that information.

APP supposedly makes it's own lube when fired, but 777 doesn't do that. The bullet still needs some lube. Cleanup after 777 should be easier than with real black powder, but I think you still need to think about the right bullet lube. Loading a few rounds with different kinds of lube and experimenting at the range is always a good idea, rather than making a thousand rounds and then finding out your revolver doesn't like the combination!