I finally bought a Lyman four cavity 358429

[S.B.]

Now, lay your load data on me. I already know that I'll have to load these in .38 special cases for my S&W model 27s but, what's been working best for you and your guns as far as powder selection and amounts? I assume Aliant 2400 is one of the best?

[Echo]

The old standard load was 15 grs 2400, but I understand the new 2400 is somewhat hotter, so I would start @ 13 grs, and if accuracy is acceptable, stop there and enjoy!

[fecmech]

For a "standard" .38 spl load, 5.0 of Unique has been around forever and with good reason. Approx 900 fps out of a 6" gun and excellent accuracy to boot. It is very accurate also out of my 94 lever gun grouping an inch or less at 50 yds.

[LAH]

I use 13 to 13.5 grains of 2400 in the shorter case. This makes one fine load............Creeker

[S.B.]

LAH, what kind of velocity do you get with this load?

[LAH]

S.B. I made a horrible mistake on this load. The post should have read 12 to 12.5 grs. of 2400. There are several guys over at handloads.com who use the load listed above but I don't. I like a grain less. Never put it over screens but I'll guess 1200 fps. or so from a 6 inch barrel. Sorry for the mixup........Creeker

[EDK]

I hadn't loaded 357s for 15 years...or followed the trends on it much in the magazines. When I started up and did some looking in the "freebie" reloading books, I was surpised to see how much the loads had been reduced from my old LYMAN Cast Bullet book, one of the spiral bound 5X8 type from the 60s or 70s...unfortunately missing the cover.

I have VAQUEROS, S&W 627s and a MARLIN 1894 Cowboy...all of them good for heavy loads. BUT the old data is over the top for them.

We must have been d--- lucky 'way back when!

:Fire::redneck:

[crowbeaner]

Try 12.5 of IMR 4227 in the 38 case. Trim all of them so you get the same crimp and use a good firm crimp to get it all to burn. About 1000 fps.

[Mack Heath]

I can add a bit of info here as I chrono'ed the loads listed for 2400 not too long ago.

These were put up in .38 Special cases of mixed variety and the charges ran from 10.0 through 13.5 grains of new 2400. They were fired in a 4" GP-100.

10.0 grains - 975 fps
11.0 grains - 1055 fps.
12.0 grains - 1140 fps
12.5 grains - 1165 fps
13.0 grains - 1190 fps
13.5 grains - 1240 fps

For the record, Lyman still listed a load for the 357429 in the .357 case and crimped over the front driving band at least through the #48 manual. The LOA was 1.553" and, in a 4" vented pressure barrel, they reported a velocity of 1242 fps at 41.1 KCUP for the 13.5 grain max load. When you load them into the .38 Special case and crimp in the crimp groove, you wind up with an LOA about 0.010" to 0.015" shorter. According to Quickload, that shorter length only raises the pressure about 3000 psi. So you are still in safe .357 Mag pressureland. But that will give you an idea where the pressures are running. The 10.0 grain starting load runs close to 18,000 CUP.

[LAH]

Thanks Mack...........Creeker

[vanilla_gorilla]

I've been using a load from the old Speer #8: 158 gr LSWC over 8.0 grains of SR-4756. Makes 1150 fps out of my 5 inch Model 27. I wouldn't shoot that load in a J frame, but I'm perfectly happy with it out of a N frame. I'd drop to 7 grains with the 173 and work back up. In fact, once I get my 358429 moulds, that's exactly what I intend to do.

Should make a dandy hog load, and the cases eject more quickly than the .357 cases.

[AzShooter]

I've been using 4 grains of Bullseye for most of my shooting these past35 years. It's reliable, accurate and always make the power factor I need for USPSA and ICORE shooting.

I recenly switched to two other powders that work just as well. 4 grains of Solo 1000 for about 795 fps with a 158 grain RNL bullet and TRAILBOSS at 3.8 grains for the same velocity.

Trailboss has the least amount of felt recoil of any powder I've tried. It is the cleanest leaving very little residue on the gun or my hands. I'm sure it will be my Go To powder from now on.

[AZ-Stew]

A good plinker load is 3.5gr Bullseye in a .357 Mag. case sparked by a standard CCI small pistol primer. I crimp the case into the side of the forward driving band (not over or below it) so the meplat is just below flush with the cylinder face. The recoil is not enough to pull the boolits out and jam the gun, it's accurate and very mild to shoot. No leading.

Regards,

Stew

[shotman]

i must have missed something why would you shoot 10 to 12 gr of 2400 when 3 to5 gr will load 2 or 3 times as many rounds? i used Bullseye for years aways shot well for me i tried the Titegroup and like it better in the 45 acp very clean in an auto shotman

[S.B.]

I've been using 4 grains of Bullseye for most of my shooting these past35 years. It's reliable, accurate and always make the power factor I need for USPSA and ICORE shooting.

I recenly switched to two other powders that work just as well. 4 grains of Solo 1000 for about 795 fps with a 158 grain RNL bullet and TRAILBOSS at 3.8 grains for the same velocity.

Trailboss has the least amount of felt recoil of any powder I've tried. It is the cleanest leaving very little residue on the gun or my hands. I'm sure it will be my Go To powder from now on.


Are we still talking about Lyman 358429s and data for that bullet?

[vanilla_gorilla]

i must have missed something why would you shoot 10 to 12 gr of 2400 when 3 to5 gr will load 2 or 3 times as many rounds? i used Bullseye for years aways shot well for me i tried the Titegroup and like it better in the 45 acp very clean in an auto shotman


I don't know about you, but I enjoy shooting loads you can really feel instead of mousefarts. Besides, when I'm shooting at a 250 yards target, the flatter trajectory of a 13.5 grain load of 2400 makes a real diference.