Load advice for MP 360-180 WFNGC

[osteodoc08]

Hoping to load up some 357 Mag tonight. Haven't paid it much attention in the past but I picked up a stainless NMBH with 4-5/8" barrel. I'd like to start load development with the MP 360-180 WFNGC boolit. It will also be shot out of my marlin 1894c that has a Lyman peep sight.

Powder on hand includes 2400, 296, AA#9, Lil Gun, Blue Dot. Working towards top end load with best accuracy. I can extrapolate from 180gr jwerd info, but was hoping someone out there may already have a pet load.

i also have several hundred 358429 cast, S&L and ready to go, but I've got load data for it from my Lyman manual and will work from it (but am open to suggestions).

thanks guys.

[jmort]

The 296 is the "top end load." Since I like mid-rage loads, I would use 2400 data or Blue Dot. I won't use Lil Gun for fear of erosion. AA #9 is a fantastic powder. You got some real good options. I subscribe to Load Data, and can get you anything you want, but I think the Lyman data is all you need. I use 9 grains of Blue Dot in my 4 5/8" BH.

[osteodoc08]

Funny you should mention erosion. I've shot Lil Gun with heavy boolits in my 41 for years without issue. I shot some 210gr boolits with it and noticed some accelerated erosion. Was not happy with that. I'll keep using Lil Gun but only in rifles and heavy for caliber loadings where I haven't had issue.

[3leggedturtle]

I have been using 13.5grs of 2400 with a Saeco 180RNFP. It chronoes 1560fps out of a 20" Puma. Never saw the need to go to anything else, it also shoots great out of both a 4" and 6" Security sixes.

[TXGunNut]

Nice score on the NMBH, doc. Looking forward to hearing more about your experiences with it. I'm hoping to stumble across a nice one someday to go with the 1976 model 4 5/8 45 Colt I've had for years.

[osteodoc08]

Nice score on the NMBH, doc. Looking forward to hearing more about your experiences with it. I'm hoping to stumble across a nice one someday to go with the 1976 model 4 5/8 45 Colt I've had for years.

Thank you. I was pretty excited. I traded some 22 ammo for it and was very cheap (my cost of the 22 ammo years ago). I still have plenty of 22 ammo for my casual uses and now that it's starting to come around, I think I made the right call (to trade).

Once I get out of this mall in Kennesaw GA, I'm heading home to go do some reloading.

[TXGunNut]

Good use for 22 ammo, haven't fired a rimfire since I started casting IIRC. Wonder if that's a cause/effect relationship?

[harley45]

I use 9.0 grains of Blue Dot and have good luck on all my guns so far!

[osteodoc08]

***UPDATE***

Ended up loading the 180gr WFNGC with 13.5gr of LilGun for my Marlin 1894c and was pleasantly suprised. Velocity was VERY consistent over 10 shots 1681, 1685, 1684, 1686, 1688, 1680, 1686, 1681, 1688, 1685. Thats an extreme spread of 8 and Standard deviation of 3!! 1 shot ragged hole at 30 yards. 14gr yielded me a little more velocity, but wasnt as consistent as the 13.5gr.

Loaded up the 358429 with 9.2gr of Blue Dot and got velocities of 1050 or so out of my 4" 586. Accuracy was about 2-3" at 18 yards over 3 cylinders full. I was happy with that. Had a few unburned specs of powder, but no big deal.

Gonna keep working with the powders and loads to find a sweet spot. Thanks for all the input guys.

[bobthenailer]

Lil gun powder has worked excellent in my 357 mag rifles & pistols with any one of my two -180 grgc cast boolets a saeco #354 and a GB lee 180 fngc wfn

[imashooter2]

Li' Gun will really get 'em smoking out of the 1894C. 14.5 grains under a Lee C358-180-RF group buy (very similar to your boolit) gets me 1,732 fps average.

[osteodoc08]

I wasn't having any high pressure signs in my pistols or rifle with the LG load. I'm gonna creep up on the charge weights to see what happens with velocity and accuracy. Accuracy of course being the primary endpoint. Velocity without accuracy means nothing to me. The LG didn't shoot worth a darn out of my 586 or stainless BH.

[imashooter2]

FWIW, 14.9 grains in my rifle was just fine, but flattened the heck out of primers in Slughammer's rifle. Same day, side by side shooting.

Lil' Gun doesn't do well in revolvers for me either. Great in the rifle though.