what is your favorite .357 mag load?

[pdog]

I just went out today to try out 2400 for the first time. 158 Mid States cast bullet over 14.0 is 1404 fps, 14.5 is 1340 fps and 15.0 was 1490 fps in a 6 inch Ruger GP100. The 14.0 was the most accurate of the 3, other 2 started getting bigger. 14 at 40 yards was about 2 inch group, 14.5 was around 3/12 and 15 near 4 1/2 inch group.

[mrmoore2]

I've been using a 204 grain Lyman 358315 over 16.5 grains of H110 in my 16" Contender carbine. It's the max load in my Lyman manual and boy, does it thump. I can't wait to get down to the farm and try it on a feral pig. At an OAL of almost 1.9" it's way too long for the cylinder on my GP100, though.

[sniper]

Originally Posted by .357

Powder: blue dot 10grains
bullets: speer 158 grain Jacketed hollow points

i liked the load but i'm looking for one uses a cast bullet.

Based upon the Lyman reloading handbook, I used 10 gr. Blue Dot behind cast 158 gr. SWCs for years, before they issued the warning. I ran out, and never did buy more. I think that is a good load.

I never saw the need for magnum primers with my powders: 2400, Unique, Universal and Blue Dot.

My favorite load for IPSC shooting and general enjoyment is 5.9gr. Unique, 357 brass, standard primers, 158 gr cast or swaged /RCBS 150 gr. SWC.

Dunno what it chronoes, but 5.5 gr Unique and the same components chronos 860fps from a 4 in. barrel.

[That'll Do]

Originally Posted by sniper

Based upon the Lyman reloading handbook, I used 10 gr. Blue Dot behind cast 158 gr. SWCs for years, before they issued the warning. I ran out, and never did buy more. I think that is a good load.

I never saw the need for magnum primers with my powders: 2400, Unique, Universal and Blue Dot.

My favorite load for IPSC shooting and general enjoyment is 5.9gr. Unique, 357 brass, standard primers, 158 gr cast or swaged /RCBS 150 gr. SWC.

Dunno what it chronoes, but 5.5 gr Unique and the same components chronos 860fps from a 4 in. barrel.

The warning Alliant issued for Blue Dot applied to bullets of 125gr or less in 357 Magnum, and all bullet weights in 41 Magnum. I still occasionally use Blue Dot for 158gr loads in 357, and I haven't had any problems.

[357Mag]

PD -

Howdy !

The best .357Mag load I've found ( for 4, 5 & 6" bbls ) is:

Any Lyman lead SWC of 158 - 172gr over 14.5gr W296 w/ SP Mag primer.

In 34yr of use, have not found a more consistently accurate, and easy clean-up combo iin .3557Mag.

It has " Major Calibre" horsepower, yet is towards bottom of charge wts. allowed for 296 in 357Mag.

I also like 8gr I4756 and SP primer under Lyman 158-172gr SWCs.

I don't shoot gas checks atall.


Best of luck in your endeavors.

Regards,
.357Mag

[Prince555]

Hey .357 Mag,

I just tried that W 296 load after working up & it was Excellent.

Thanks

[Snapping Twig]

Three loads, all in a magnum case, all with WSP primers, pure wheel weights air cooled, lube White Label BAC.

Lyman 358156, no gas check, 5g W231. I figure this to be the equal of a .38spl +P.

Lyman 358156, gas check, 15.5g W296. Standard magnum.

Lyman 358429, 15.5g W296. Much smashem downrange.

[tackstrp]

has anyone tested or used the Lee 358 swc 158 grain trumble lube? Curuous your opinion

[kelbro]

Originally Posted by tackstrp

has anyone tested or used the Lee 358 swc 158 grain trumble lube? Curuous your opinion

Midway has one on the way to me right now. The 44SWC TL shoots well so i took a chance on this one.

[looseprojectile]

I have a rifle in .357 Magnum. In a rifle the .357 is a whole nuther cartridge. If you want power with the .357 toss that hand gun away and get a carbine or rifle.
Now I will never shoot a load that develops fifty two thousand pounds of pressure though I have loaded and shot some really wild loadings. It would be foolhardy to load and shoot some of this guys loads in handguns especially the smaller ones. Ruger single actions are very strong but are not rifles. This is just to show you what has been done with the cartridge not something that you should do at home. I do like the heavier boolits in my rifles and regularly use .38 special brass with the long boolits and see little difference as long as the loads are not over maximum for the .357. I have a S&W model 28 and I would not load anything for the rifle that I could not safely shoot in the hand gun.
Look here.

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/pa...literature.htm


Life is good

[harvey57]

Below are some loads for my favorite .357 bullet weight. I use NEI Hand Tools' #160-200gr-RNFP. It seems to work well at 100 yards and beyond. I have used H-110 and Lil'Gun with good results in both rifle and revolver. I have used AA#7-8.5gr with good results. This load is the lower end for a jacketed 185 grain bullet. I have tried IMR-4227 and had ignition difficulties.

Load Data and Range Test Results Below .357 Mag, Freedom Arms, 200 gr. RCBS cast bullets

Trim cases to fit cylinders, Freedom Arms 1.278”. Use your own cylinder length and subtract some. Then trim as needed

Todd Normally tests loads at 100 yards. Due to windy conditions these tests were 10 shots each at 50 yards with a 8" Freedom Arms 357 and Leupold scope and rings from sand bag rest. (50 Yard Load Data Crimp over Front Driving Band)


POWDER CHARGE PRIMER BRASS VELOCITY SD GROUP
WW 296 15.8 gr. CCI SPM IMI 1410 fps 13 .76"
WW 296 15.6 gr. CCI SPM IMI 1396 fps 11 .99"
AA#9 15.0 gr. CCI SPM IMI 1508 fps 10 1.08"

(Crimp in Crimping Groove)
POWDER CHARGE PRIMER BRASS VELOCITY SD GROUP
AA#9 14.1 gr. FED 205 IMI 1409 fps 8 .92"
AA#9 14.5 gr. CCI SPM IMI 1414 fps 5 1.35"
LilGun 14.0 gr. CCI SPM IMI 1325 fps 18 1.10"
LilGun 14.5 gr. CCI SPM STAR 1361 fps 18 .75"
LilGun 15.0 gr. FED SPM IMI 1363 fps 14 .59"
H-110 15.0 gr. FED SPM IMI 1313 fps 19 1.25"
H-110 16.2 gr. FED 205 IMI 1367 fps 5 .77"

NOTE: SPM = Small Pistol Mag Primer STAR = Starline Brass IMI = Israeli Military Industries


Yours, Harvey