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sniper
07-04-2014, 02:25 PM
Miscellaneous ramblings...
Have a good 4th of July! :smile:
Last night, for the second time in more than 40 years of reloading: I installed a primer upside down! :shock: I discovered it during the final inspection. Hoo Boy! It pays to check, then check again, and one more time doesn't cost a thing!

Lately I have been researching loads for my 357 Mag., with the wish to choose 3 or 4 loads as "go-to" for all my shooting. I find I have reached the stage where experimentation is not as fun as shooting any more!

What I would like to have, when the dust clears, is several loads that will produce velocities of 950-1,000 fps for my 150- 162 gr cast boolits, as well as A .38 +P or better equivalent load for 125 gr plated, 125 gr JHP, and the Remington Golden Saber 125gr., and Speer 135gr. JHP boolits.

For higher velocities, and the j-word boolits, I would like to match the present Remington GS 357 mag. load of about 1200 FPS, With both the Golden Saber and Speer 135 gr. products, but, as I enjoy shooting what I term "Hot .38-Mild Magnum" loads, at about 950-1,000 fps, those will be the majority of what I will load.

I use standard primers, even with 2400, and 357 brass in my 4" 586. BUT! I've just seen the new model 66 S&W introduced earlier this year. Oh, Boy, I WANT! Have wanted one for at least 20 years! Maybe this time... :smile:

Anyway, for cast Boolits from 150-165 gr., a rather mild load of 2400; 10.5 gr., maybe increasing to 11.5. I tried several dozen of Skeeter's 13.5gr. "medium" load and was surprised at the bark and bellow.
Since then, I have replaced the grips with Hogue's synthetic monogrip, and was surprised at the seeming reduction of recoil, better accuracy, and general comfort of shooting. Have others experienced this? The only negative is they are ummmm...utilitarian-looking! Perhaps they fit my hand better.

For years, my standard load for 150-158 cast IPSC and general shooting was 5.5gr. Unique, which chrono'ed 860 fps from my 4" barrel. To get it more to the famed Miami/Dade/FBI/RCMP_load velocities, I will raise it to 5.8gr, (Which is what my powder measure bushings will throw.)That should raise the velocity to about the 950-1,000 fps., I hope.

Hodgdon's Universal...I don't know why I bought it, but it seems to be a good powder, and 5.2-5.8 gr. seems to be a good range for the desired velocities.

I have a friend who is determined to get me using AA #5 powder, which I know nothing about. A good choice?

In the absence of loads at the level I am researching, I use .38 +P data from my manuals, and add 10% for the increased case volume, which is still less than beginning 357 Magnum loads, and has proved completely safe...so far!

What do you think? any recommended loads for the desired velocities, and boolits?

Thanx

jmort
07-04-2014, 02:27 PM
Red Dot/Promo 4.4 grains with 158 grain boolit

jonp
07-04-2014, 02:46 PM
Promo 4.6gr under the 158gr lead. This is the same load I use frequently in my 45ACP which is convenient.

You can download a faster powder better than using 2400. I'm surprised you don't use Unique as my most accurate target load with a 158gr lswc in my BlackHawk uses Unique.

3leggedturtle
07-05-2014, 12:58 PM
My 2 favorite loads for the 357 are a 180gr RNFP Saeco over 13.5grs of 2400 that does almost 1600fps, and a R-P 125gr GS over a forgotten wieght of HS7 at close to 1700fps. Both shoot nice out of a 4" and 6" Security Sixses. Just havent chronoed them out of the pistols. Only in my 20" Puma.

Southpaw 72
07-05-2014, 11:46 PM
5.8 gr bullseye under 160gr cast good for about 1050 out of 4" barrel. 4.8 gr of 700x will get 900-925.

rintinglen
07-06-2014, 03:32 AM
AA-5 is not a Powder of choice for the .357--you'll likely have more joy with AA-7 for the "Medium-hot" loads you seem to be seeking. I like Unique, 2400, and H-110, but have come to appreciate Power Pistol. 8.6 grains under a Winchester bulk 125 grain JHP works very well for a mid-range .357 load.. For cast, I have shot an awful lot of 358-156 boolits using 15.7 grains of h-110, but these days I am more likely to use 6.0 grains of Unique under a plain base 158 grain boolit. That loads hits 1,000 fps from my 6 Inch M-28, but is very comfortable in my M-66 S&W as well. A load I used a lot back in the late 70's was a 348-432 160 grain wadcutter crimped in the crimp groove over 4.4 grains of Red Dot. Quite accurate out to 50 yards, and murderous on Desert Jacks, I used to load these in my House Gun back then.

Jeff82
07-08-2014, 08:47 AM
Hodgdon's Universal...I don't know why I bought it, but it seems to be a good powder, and 5.2-5.8 gr. seems to be a good range for the desired velocities.

I've used Universal extensively in 357 loads with 158 grain bullets. 5.8 grains is a good loading. It's a good powder, but needs to be pushed hard for good accuracy, at least that's what I found for 100-yard carbine shooting. It also leaves a fair amount of residue. I prefer SR-7625, which is nearly identical to Universal, but burns cleaner. Unfortunately, it's being discontinued.