357 light loading data

[ladOregon]

just picked up an SP101 357 4" yesterday. Want to put together some light loads. Have 125 gr. bullet. some Alliant 2400, H110, Alliant Blue Dot, IMR4227 which I would like to use up on this project. Anyone out there use one of these powders for lighter loads. Not sure which powders listed here can be backed off on safely.

[ShooterAZ]

Those powders are generally used in "magnum" loads. 296 & 110 should not be reduced. I would recommend getting some Unique and Bullseye or Tightgroup for your reduced loads.

[chboats]

As ShooterAZ said those are not light load powders. That being said, 2400 and Blue Dot would work the best of the 4. Look up 38special for loads with those powders. They may work OK but not the best choice.

Carl

[ladOregon]

thanks for info. Just want to mess with loads a bit today. 1-1/2 hour round trip to town for some of the right powder.
will give the 38 special thing a go. Just did not think of that. thanks

[Fistybum]

Careful with the h110, it does not like to be down loaded.....

[Larry Gibson]

As mentioned, you really need to use a faster powder. None of those powders are suitable for light loads with 125 gr bullets (cast?) in either the 357 or the 38 SPL. I strongly suggest you get some Bullesye and try 5.5 to 6.5 gr in 357 Mag cases or 4.5 -5.5 gr in 38 SPL cases under the 125 gr cast bullets.

Larry Gibson

[zxcvbob]

Do you know anybody who reloads 12 gauge shotgun? Maybe they'll give you a few ounces of Red Dot to try. (a little Red Dot goes a long way)

[ladOregon]

thanks for info. Bullseye, Titegroup, Unique. Will mak a run to town tomorrow to get one of those.

[Ole]

3.7-4 grains of Bullseye makes a good light load for .38/357 125 grain bullets.

[mpbarry1]

+1 on red dot and unique. I would also try HP 38/winchester 231.

[NZSarge]

700x works for lighter .38/.357 loads, I use it in 12 gauge as well, bit harder to meter though.
However, I use it because I have found it cheaper than Red Dot, down under anyway.

[Rex]

Have never loaded 125 gr bullets but if you have some 158 grain lead bullets and 12 grains of 2400 and some 38 special cases you will get 1100 or a bit more out of that 4" and it is very accurate.
It is close to the old 38/44 load.

[Lizard333]

I prefer 231/HP38, burns nicely and clean. You don't need a lot of it either.

[Shiloh]

Already been stated about Bullseye and Unique. I'd prefer Unique.
Your powders listed above are for more full power loads. Especially 296

You can also use .38 special loads. Keep them in the mid-range of what is listed for .38 special.

Shiloh

[ladOregon]

made a run to town. they had Titegroup and Unique. Got both. Test time.

[Shiloh]

You'll be pleased.

Shiloh

[ladOregon]

Well got a good Oregon rain going on. Going to darken the river and bring in more Salmon.
Put some TiteGroup 4.3 grain with the 125 bullet together. Not able to group it yet but shoots fine. Unique, 6.0 grains with the 125 bullet. Also, right at what I was looking for but no group yet. Both loads feel like about the same velocity per felt recoil. Very light recoil with Hogue 81000 grip installed on revolver. Nice set up. Everything I thought it would be and more. Will load some and put them on paper and bring back the results. Needed a load for my wife to shoot to get used to new Ruger SP101. I also like a light load to steady the hand. Makes a person use a good smooth trigger pull. Can't fake it witout the heavy recoil to hide the jerks.
thanks for all the above tips and help.

[Rockchucker]

Unique has got to be one of my favorite powders for light to medium loads, it'll work in all my hand gun loadings. 2400, H110 for my mag loads. I never have tried Clays but will at some point, heard some pretty good reviews on it.

[Ole]

I have loaded as low as 3.0 grains of Bullseye in .38 cases with 125 grain bullets and it was a nice (very light) load. I wouldn't try this load with jacketed bullets though for fear of a bullet sticking in your barrel.

[Norbrat]

I also like a light load to steady the hand. Makes a person use a good smooth trigger pull. Can't fake it witout the heavy recoil to hide the jerks.
thanks for all the above tips and help.

To un-learn flinching, try "Russian Roulette". Well, not for real, but you get my drift.

Load 2 or 3 rounds in the cylinder at random, fill the rest of the holes with fired cases, spin cylinder and close.

Now you will not know if the gun will go off. Having the hammer fall on a fired case will soon show up any flinching.

Practicing with all the chambers filled with snap caps or fired cases is not the same, as you KNOW the gun will not go off, so you tend to NOT flinch.

We use this technique at our club, especially with newbies or those who always plough the dirt with shots, but absolutely insist they do not flinch (too Macho to admit!)

[cwheel]

Just remember the safety issue with Blue Dot. Never use it with 125gr. bullets. See the factory warning on this one.
Chris

[zxcvbob]

To un-learn flinching, try "Russian Roulette". Well, not for real, but you get my drift.

Load 2 or 3 rounds in the cylinder at random, fill the rest of the holes with fired cases, spin cylinder and close.

Now you will not know if the gun will go off. Having the hammer fall on a fired case will soon show up any flinching.

Practicing with all the chambers filled with snap caps or fired cases is not the same, as you KNOW the gun will not go off, so you tend to NOT flinch.

We use this technique at our club, especially with newbies or those who always plough the dirt with shots, but absolutely insist they do not flinch (too Macho to admit!)

If you get a batch of primers that sometimes take 2 hits to set them off, (or if you don't seat them deep enough in the pockets, which causes the same thing) this is a great way to use them up. The more unreliable, the better ;)

[ladOregon]

yes, that is great method of working on your technique. good info. I shoot my 22 revolver that way a lot. empty 22 case turned to new crimp spot for the dummy cylinder.

[**oneshot**]

My father swore by unique for medium load in his 357. I still use it in his gun. It makes a very accurate load for this gun, no reason to try anything else.

[10mmShooter]

I have used both Red and Green dot in light .38 let me know and I can scan the old Hercules data for you.

Green Dot is still my favorite .44 powder

[BigboreShooter]

LadOregon,
I have the same gun, picked up in January.
I've did some some extensive loading and testing.
The results:
RCBS 150 swc/ 4gr.Bullseye/38special case= 850fps
RCBS 162 swc-gc/7grs Unique/357case 1175fps
Hornady 140 xtp/8grs Unique/357case 1200fps

Many loads shot well.These were picked to fit my needs right now.

BigBoreShooter

[Any Cal.]

I think the old standard was 2.8g Bullseye under a 148-158g wadcutter in .38 Special cases. The wadcutter sits entirely inside the case. Makes a super light recoiling load that is accurate. I used to shoot a lot of those with no issues, (provided I'm remembering the numbers I think I am...)

[Swampman]

Unique works well for both light and magnum loads.

[ladOregon]

10mm thanks for offer on scanning data. giving the Unique and Titegroup a try and it is working super. Both of them burn well in the 4" barrel and they both work with light load. Pepped them up also and super clean burning loads. Have to get them on paper and group them. So far have just been shooting steel pig and having fun.

[ladOregon]

thank to everyone for info, tips and reply on my need. enjoy your day

[MtGun44]

"shooting steel pig and having fun" - Sounds like a winner to me!

Enjoy!

Bill

[Echo]

To un-learn flinching, try "Russian Roulette". Well, not for real, but you get my drift.

Load 2 or 3 rounds in the cylinder at random, fill the rest of the holes with fired cases, spin cylinder and close.

Now you will not know if the gun will go off. Having the hammer fall on a fired case will soon show up any flinching.

Practicing with all the chambers filled with snap caps or fired cases is not the same, as you KNOW the gun will not go off, so you tend to NOT flinch.

We use this technique at our club, especially with newbies or those who always plough the dirt with shots, but absolutely insist they do not flinch (too Macho to admit!)

It's called 'Ball & Dummy' practice, and I recommend it to all folks interested in improving their pistol shooting skills, as it can be done without the need for a coach.