What is your best all-round 357 magnum load?

[fatelvis]

I'm looking for a good, middle of the road power 357 mag load for paper and steel shooting from 25-200 yds. Not competitive shooting, just informal shooting. I'm using a 4" S&W 686. Thanks Guys-

[DrCaveman]

This might be hotter than what you are looking for, but with all my 460 magnum shooting lately, it's seeming very tame. But accurate, and hard hitting

Ideal 358429 boolit
50/50 wheel weight/pure lead + a little tin, water dropped
Lithi bee lube
Sized to .358"
12.5 gr alliant 2400 powder
WSP primer
Roll crimped over front drive band

This works damn well in my 6" gp100. Others may suggest that you skip the water dropping, and that you crimp in the crimp groove. I think the 686 cylinder is long enough to take it, but a tad more powder might be good if you do that. Id say my load is a good start however

[243winxb]

13 gr Alliant 2400 with cast 158 gr swc.

[quilbilly]

If you are just shooting targets, you could consider 4.7 gr of Bullseye for about 920 fps. It is very pleasant to shoot with 150 to 160 gr cast plain base boolits and quite accurate for me anyway.

[gray wolf]

12.5 gr Alliant 2400 is a very doable load with cast 158 gr swc.
Your 4" barrel is going to be a little handicap for 200 yards IMHO, doable but with a lot of come up for the sights.
The more speed the flatter the bullet, get it shooting at 50 and 75 first, then try it at 150 and 200.
You may want to Re-think the barrel length, Don't get me wrong it's doable, but it ain't gonna come easy.
Shoot off some good sand bags. I like to use two bags, a firm bag up front that I press the rigger guard into and a smaller softer bag for under the but. ( under my hands actually ) the but does not hit the bag.
I test all my loads this way and pick the most accurate. When you leave the sand bags it's then up to the shooter to shoot up to what the pistol can do, or what it showed you it could do.
10 and 20 yard shooting can be done with many loads depending on what level of accuracy is acceptable for each shooter.
50 to 75 yard shooting leaves a small margin for error so loads need to be worked up for some pretty good accuracy. 100 to 200 yard--well your on or your off, I don't like hit or miss Kentucky windage unless it's for dung and giggles at the sand pit.
For myself, I want to know how the bullet shoots and at what place on the target it will hit. I make small sight adjustments when it's practical. For a steady diet of hits guessing will get you more misses.

[fatelvis]

I realize 200 yds is a stretch for a 4" bbl. I compete in IHSMA with other, more competition ready pistols, and dial in the come-ups regularly. This load would be for general carry, plinking, and informal steel practice, without adjusting the sights. I don't mind aiming at the treeline in order to hit the rams at 200. Lol

[luvtn]

I have a Ruger SP-101 3 inch barrel. My general purpose load is 158 gr lswc over 13.5 gr Alliant 2400. Accurate and pleasant shooting.
lt

[Grizzly Adams]

My favorite .357 mag. load is the one in the gun when I reeeaaaally need it (Sorry I couldn't help myself).

[PAT303]

Does anyone use 4227 in their 357?,I want a good boolit for 100mtr shooting but can't get 2400 were's AR2207(H4227) is readily available. Pat

[BruceB]

Lyman (Cast Bullet Manual #3) lists 11.4 to 15.2 grains of IMR4227 with 358156, 155 grains. This bullet seems to be a decent choice for 100 meters and beyond (WAY beyond, based on a lot of shooting over open water where impacts are clearly visible).

Velocities from a 4" test barrel are reported by Lyman at 973 to 1254 fps with the above charges, and the top load gave 41,300 psi.

I've used 4227 in all three magnum revolver cartridges (.357, .41, .44), and it worked well for me. Mostly from habit, I prefer 2400..... but 4227 WILL work.

[Cherokee]

There are many good 357 loads. I've used 358477, 358429, Lee 158 RNFP, RCBS 150KT, etc. 2400, AA9 and HS6 have given me good performance. Right now in my 5" 686+ & 8" 686 I am using the Lee and 9 gr HS6, but I don't shoot past 75 yds.

[Whitespider]

Lyman #358477 from wheel weight metal + tin (air cooled), Federal #100 primer, 6.0 W231.
Colt King Cobra, 4"... something just shy of 1200 FPS.

Very first load I ever tried in that revolver... always end up going back to it.

[gray wolf]

9 grains of HS6 with a 158 SWC was also outstanding for me,
But I only had a small amount left in a jug for testing at 25 yards.
No more 4227 = no more testing ( shame )

[SteveS]

I really like 12gr. of 2400 under a 160gr. cast swc.

I just wish I could find some 2400. lol

Lately, I've settled on 12.5gr. of sr-4759 under the same bullet. A little more punch than the 2400 load and a little dirtier but accuracy is pretty good.

[41mag]

I'm REALLY starting to like 13grs of AA-9 under the MP 358-360's with the large hp. With my alloy they drop right at 160grs.

The not only shoot VERY well but they open up like they are supposed to. I can hardly wait to find something on 4 legs to try one out on.

[T-Bird]

8gr AA#5 under Lee 358-158 1175 fps from a 6" S+W 686. I shoot 2" at 40yds from a rest with a 2 power scope (can't see irons). Someone who could shoot could do better. Same powder charge does well with Ly358429 at about 1100 fps.

[fatelvis]

I see a lot of 2400 fans. Is it true that AA#9 is almost interchangeable with 2400?

[**oneshot**]

9.2grs HS-6 NOE 360160 WFN, Win SPM. Very accurate!

[USSR]

9.2gr HS-6, Mihec .359-640, Tula SRP.

Don

[harley45]

9.0 grains of Blue Dot under a MP 358-156 is a great combo for all of our 357s