357 mag load? 185 gr

[randyrat]

I cast a few up from my 38-175 RN gc mold and plan on loading for the GP100. They turned out 185 gr. should i use 200 gr data Start loads and work my way up?
I'm not sure which powder i should start with. Looking medium target load. i've got plenty of plinkin loads for lighter bullets.
Medium target load= Something with a little OOOOMMMMFFF, not a nuke load, just something a little stiffer to prepare someone to shoot factory loads. I don't want to ruin a young shooter.
2400? 4756? Unique?

[mooman76]

Unique should work well. I use it allot but haven't used the other powders you list so I don't know about them.

[oksmle]

randyrat .... Six grains of Unique behind a 180 grain boolit gives right at 950 fps from my 7 1/2" SSA. It's far from being a punishing load, but still has enough "crack" to keep one's interest. Accurate too....

[Leftoverdj]

Lyman has a pile of data for their 358429 which typically casts about 173 grains. Stay a grain down from their top loads and that will work for you. I'd be inclined to start with 10 grains of 2400, AA-9, or WC 820.

[Echo]

+1 for Lefty - A medium-slow pistol powder usually provides the best results (IMHO) with the .357. I use 2400 and WC820 in mine, but with somewhat lighter boolits (~160 gr).

[Gunslinger]

Personally I'm a sucker for H110. Try 13gr.

[Rick N Bama]

I like W296 with the 358-180RF, very accurate in my 357s.

Rick

[shooting on a shoestring]

Randyrat, sounds about like my experience with my first 4&5/8 inch .357 Blackhawk. Short story, took me over a year to get rested groups in the 2 inch range. It was/is my skill level with the single action. The barrel sits high over the hand, the grip is very responsive to changes in hand position, coupled with the short sight radius, its much more difficult to shoot well than my 6" Model 19 or 7.5" Blackhawk. I'm going to doubt its your gun or loads, but a new revelation in the skill needed to keep a short barreled Blackhawk recoiling to the same place on the target.

[EDK]

I'm using 5.0 of TITEGROUP with the NOE 360 180 WFN in 5.5 inch Original Size VAQUEROS/BISLEY VAQUEROS...relatively heavy guns....ought to dust of my 627s!

Use the 200 grain data and start low. TITEGROUP, UNIQUE or HERCO would be my choices because of recoil characteristic and muzzle blast.

:Fire::cbpour::redneck:

[cbrick]

Randyrat, sounds about like my experience with my first 4&5/8 inch .357 Blackhawk. Short story, took me over a year to get rested groups in the 2 inch range. It was/is my skill level with the single action. The barrel sits high over the hand, the grip is very responsive to changes in hand position, coupled with the short sight radius, its much more difficult to shoot well than my 6" Model 19 or 7.5" Blackhawk. I'm going to doubt its your gun or loads, but a new revelation in the skill needed to keep a short barreled Blackhawk recoiling to the same place on the target.

Yep, absolutely!

Rick

[randyrat]

I loaded up 5 grs of Unique today and they shot like a dream. Not a very heavy load. Very tight pattern. How far can i go with Unique and a 185 gc lead bullet before i run into trouble? Or should i say what is max? I don't have a chronograph anymore (wounded in battle) and i can't find much info in any of my books on this bullet weight. So far i like the accuracy.

[denton]

I use 10.4 grains of AA #9 behind a 180 grain bullet in my Marlin lever action. It is not a maximum load by any means, and it is an excellent target load: 2MOA.