Heavy boolit .357 loads?

[MasS&W]

Anyone have a nice moderate .357 load using 170-190 grain boolits? I'm hoping to use bullseye or unique to make a decently warm plinking load, but nobody lists anything other than 158 grainers (and lighter), that I can find. Light bullets really beat on K frames quick, so I'm taking the heavy and slow approach.

[DrCaveman]

Alliant 2400 is prob your best bet. I've settled on a nice load of 10.0 gr with the Lyman 358430 round nose 200 grain. This is alliant's max load so work up to it.

I went higher but accuracy fell off. I also messed around with Lil Gun and got some super-slamming loads but I prefer the 2400.

Also, after shooting the Lil gun loads through my M-19 I found top strap cutting so that was the end of that. My ruger gp100 can handle it fine though, and I got up around 1200-1300 fps. I am pretty sure this load would drop a small deer but wasn't too pleasant for everyday shooting.

Check out hanloads.com for ideas, and track down data from Lyman and Alliant to compare. Lyman provides quite a few loads for their 173 gr 358429.

[DrCaveman]

Sorry about neglecting to abide by your request for 'warm plinking load', for that I would go with the starting charge of 2400. Around 8 gr should be pretty modest. As for unique, I would again recommend handloads.com

[MasS&W]

I've been loading .38s with unique for a long while, I was planning on just duplicating my loads in .357... but then I realized it was a .357, and that would be boring. I'll grab a pound of 2400 when I'm at the store next, thanks!

[DrCaveman]

Great idea, it is an awesome powder for rifles too. As for bullseye and unique, 5-6 grains of either one behind the boolit weights you are talking about is a good starting point. Well within pressure specs at 5 gr, work your way up from there.

Have fun with the 2400! I think it is my favorite powder at this point. I buy another pound every time it is on sale.

[MasS&W]

I've heard tell Herco is a fine choice as well. Looks like I got some experimenting to do this summer.

[Nobade]

I was recently getting very good results with the Ranch Dog 175gr. and 8.0gr. Blue Dot in my 357. Not terribly speedy but quite accurate and still hits hard.

It also shot well with AA#5, but started leading the barrel just a bit near the muzzle.

[HeavyMetal]

try WW-296 everything 2400 claims to be without the filth at days end!

[Lefty SRH]

I've found an accurate HEAVY .357 187gr cast with H110 load but its heavier than you said you wanted.
I think your Bullseye and Unique are a little too fast for the heavier boolits. But I'm no expert.

[2shot]

I've heard tell Herco is a fine choice as well. Looks like I got some experimenting to do this summer.

I use Herco in all my 357 loads and most of my 38 Special loads too. With my 357 I use Herco and the Lyman 357429 (mine cast at 173 grains) and get over 1200 fps with it and I also use Herco with the Lyman 195 grain RN with similar velocities. BTW I'm not using top loads with Herco so there's room for improvment in regards to velocity. Accuracy wise Herco for me is much better than with the same bullets and 2400.

I gave up on 2400 not because of any accuracy or velocity issues but because for me the muzzle blast compared to Herco was deafening and I get a lot less muzzle flash with Herco compared to 2400. Velocities with both powders are so close no one could tell the difference.

Some don't like Herco because they say it doesn't meter well but I never had a problem with it. Also, if you think that Herco loads look punky compared to 2400 velocities just look at some of the older manuals that list these loads. The old ones that lawyers didn't sink their teeth into.

2shot

[MasS&W]

I use one of those lee disk dispensers, it will meter most things if I'm vigerous enough with my *shunk-shunk*

[frnkeore]

I use LilGun and get the best accuracy with a 35875, 208 gr bullet. I think you'll get the most velocity with it and I'd bet you'll get at least as good with accuracy as 2400 or 296.

Hodgdon list 15 gr @ 1422 fps and 34.5K cup with a 180 gr jacketed. 30 fps faster than 296 and 5K less pressure.

Frank

[MasS&W]

Just got some herco, gonna try that.

[sundog]

One of my all time favorites in .357 with 158-200 grain cast is HS-7. Alas, no longer in the Hodgdon lineup. I have started using some surplus AA#7 and it seems a good substitute.

[x101airborne]

I would have to go with Blue Dot also. That is my favorite "ruger only" powder for my blackhawks and it works for me in everything from 32 HR all the way to 454 casull.

[TCLouis]

Sundog

Have some numbers ( powder weights)to go with that range of boolits and HS-7?

I bought some of the Milsurp 820F (Fast) and it is essentially HS-7.

[hornsurgeon]

190gr rd boolit with 13.5 gr h110. Used in a gp100 and very accurate

[ruger-p94]

Just got back from the range testing 6.5 grain Unique with a Lee 158 tumble lube. Great medium load and accurate. No leading and burned clean.

[MasS&W]

Just got back from the range testing 6.5 grain Unique with a Lee 158 tumble lube. Great medium load and accurate. No leading and burned clean.

One of my favorite 357/38 loads when I was stocking more unique was a 158 over 3.2-7 grains of unique. You would be hard pressed to show me a task a 158 swc over unique couldn't do, with minimal fouling or blast.

[imashooter2]

10.5 grains of Alliant 2400 under a SAECO #353 with a Federal standard primer works well for me...

[MasS&W]

How do you manage to fit the 195 grain boolits in the M27? Most 180s are too big for my buddys M27.

[nanuk]

has anyone tried Alliant's 300MP on the 357?

looks like it could outrun Lil'gun...