looking for recommendition loading .357

[george.686]

Just looking for options

Going to start loading .357.....have been loading .38 for years with 3.7gn Reddot with 158 gn SWC

plan on using 158 gn hard cast RNFP

any powder recommendations? Would like to stay with Reddot but can not find a load in .357

Looked on line for Bullseye...they show 4.8gn using 158gr LSWC..but then 8.7gn with 110gr UCHP....which did not make sense to me

 

[Blue68f100]

If you want a soft shooter you can use your 38 load data and just bump it up by 0.1-0.2gr for the larger case. Fast burn powders will not get you any where close to mag performance. Takes a slow burn powder like W296/110, 2400, LittleGun... A lot of different powders work but you need to be aware that some are position sensitive.

 

[Toprudder]

The test loads I've done so far with BE86 and 158g bullets have done very well, some of the lowest standard deviations I have seen.

I've heard some people say you can use the same charges as in 38spl, just seat the bullet to the same OAL as you would 38spl, which will push the bullet further into the 357mag case. Have not tried it myself but is sounds reasonable.

 

[Schwing]

My most accurate and all time favorite plinking load for .357 is a 158 grain SWC with 5.5 grains of Unique. I have loaded and shot many thousands of these.

As Blue68f100 stated, your .38 load we be quite close to the same. I would start with that load and work up in .1 grain increments until it is where you want it.

 

[RealGun]

My most accurate and all time favorite plinking load for .357 is a 158 grain SWC with 5.5 grains of Unique.

Unless you're in a melon patch, how does one "plink" with a 357 Magnum?

 

[RealGun]

any powder recommendations? Would like to stay with Reddot but can not find a load in .357

The Lee book shows 5.0-5.5 of Red Dot for 158 lead.

Looked on line for Bullseye...they show 4.8gn using 158gr LSWC..but then 8.7gn with 110gr UCHP....which did not make sense to me

Lighter bullets get significantly more powder in typical load comparisons.

 

[mdi]

I would use slower powders for my .357, if I could find them (Unique, Universal, 2400, TrueBlue, etc.). If not, Bullseye will work, but only suggested for light loads. I've used a lot of Unique, Universal, and WC820 for my 160 gr. LSWC, and a lot of plain old .38 Special level loads in .357 brass.

 

[george.686]

why would you want more powder behind a lighter bullet?

 

[Schwing]

Unless you're in a melon patch, how does one "plink" with a 357 Magnum?

At that low charge, they are actually a real pleasure to shoot. They only run about 800fps. I do like to load the heavy stuff too but when I want to spend a couple of hours at the range and not come home with cracking wrists, this is my load.

 

[Average Joe]

You can use Red Dot for .357 mag, Max load is 5.5 , I load to 4.5 for a nice mid level target load. Load data taken from Alliant 2002 load data table.

 

[GP100man]

I do as Average Joe 4.5 gr Reddot makes a nice lower midrange round for target, plinkin or just woods bumming. I did chrono it seems it made better than 900fps with the 158 gr swc

 

[WestKentucky]

I use 231, or aa7 for 357. 231 can put out some incredibly low numbers, and AA7 some pretty hot loads without pressure signs. Sadly 231 is not easy to find around here. Haven't seen a pound in 3 years

 

[WestKentucky]

Got the wrong quote....on the question of why you would put more powder under a lighter bullet.
Lighter bullets are still the same diameter, and are often seated to the same or very similar length, so with a light bullet you have a short bullet not sunk very deep into the case. Sounds like a small change but it changes case capacity a lot in percentage. Under pressure it acts WAY different, so a little extra powder makes up the difference

 

[jamesinalaska]

Can not help you with RedDot loads, but if you have any H110 around . . . I use 14.0 to 14.5 grains behind 158 gr. copper plated bullets. Easy on the wrists and ears and plenty accurate for shooting at tin cans with my friends.

I have used the 14.0 grain loads to introduce people to handgun shooting. (For people completely new to shooting I start with a .22)

 

[Dudedog]

You can use .38 special data in .357 case as mentioned eariler just bump up the charge .1 or .2 and you have 38 special vels from your 357. Many powders will work for light to mid range .357 loads. Some are more position sensitive than others. If you like Red Dot/Promo no reason not to stick with it unless you are after more velocity. Older Alliant data (2005) lists a MAX of 6 grains with a 158 JSP at 1.575, 5.5 with a 158 Lead SWC. (rduce 10% to start)
If you are after "full" power .357 load that narrows down the powder choices.
You should not reduce charges on some of the "Magnum" powders like H100/296 .

 

[joneb]

I found some Accurate #5 recently, it works well for a in between powder.

 

[jakk280rem]

I still have a few pounds of powder I picked up in '08 during the first shortage. I couldn't find the usual suspects so I had to make do with what I could find. HS-6, Clays and H380 had to fill in where others recommend W231, Bullseye, 2400 and H414.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm not a fan of using fast powders in the .357 Magnum. You hit the pressure limits well before you generate proper velocities. With lead bullets I use W540/HS-6 but if you have any 2400 it will do very well. I use mostly W231 for the .38 Special but not in the .357 Magnum. I'm also not a fan of W296/H110 with lead bullets but it's great with jacketed bullets.

With a 158gr SWC I start with 8.6gr HS-6 and usually used 9.2gr HS-6. I can go up to 9.7gr but be careful because all guns are not the same.

 

[Steve C]

This is Alliant data from 2000 that shows loads for all their appropriate powders for handgun at that time in the .357 mag and others. Top velocities will come from the slower that Unique powders like Herco, Blue Dot and 2400. You can however use the fast powders like Bullseye, Red Dot.

The loads listed are all maximum loads and its up to you to reduce by 10% for your start loads.

 

[stubbicatt]

Just a word of caution. Your experience may differ. I have heard of people "ringing" the chamber on lever rifles using Bullseye in 357. I do not understand the cause of this phenomenon, but perhaps using a more suitable powder, something like Unique, or slower, might be an exercise in prudence.

 

[Salmoneye]

5gr Red Dot under any 158gr bullet in a .357 mag case...

 

[Toprudder]

Someone mentioned AA#7 in 357, I found that it was position sensitive. When I did the powder-forward test, I was seeing extreme spread of almost 300fps.

 

[el indio]

WestKentucky, Don't get angry, but I picked up HP38 at a local gun show. It cost $24.00 for a pound. They also had win231. Same price. Several bottles in stock.

 

[Starter52]

I agree with trying out 5.0 gr Red Dot. It won't give you full magnum velocity but it's a good safe load for a .357 revolver.

 

[mbopp]

I found I had to bump my 357 "light" load up fairly high when using a hard cast bullet. It needs the extra pressure to upset (obturate?) in the bore. I'm using Bullseye and am in the +P 38 SPL range.