Loud 357 loads with low recoil

[olafhardt]

I have a 3" model 60 S&W revolver. I want to put together a very loud load with as little recoil and as much muzzle flash as possible. I think blast and flash contribute to retreat incitement and fun at the range. Smoke might help too. I would appreciate your input as to boolit, powder etc.

[upnorthwis]

WW296 should make a nice flash with any magnum load.

[OS OK]

Use a slower powder the magnum loads recommend...but you'll start to see that the cases will not expand properly and your brass will be all smutted up from blowback around the case mouth.
Maybe there's a midpoint where you will find one that will have initial start pressure to seal the brass and still blow part of the powder load out the front of the barrel...but...why?

[LAGS]

Except for the mess on your gun , you might consider Black powder loads.
And I have heard that adding a little Pyro Aluminum to the BP load will increase the flash.
And with BP you get plenty of smoke to cover your retreat

[War Eagle]

2400 with a light bullet should get you there. Lots of flash and a good bark. Not sure if it's any louder than other magnum loads.

[Jack Stanley]

I've used H110 and hundred twenty-five grain bullets for that very purpose , I'm sure 296 would work as well .

Jack

[dragon813gt]

I've used H110 and hundred twenty-five grain bullets for that very purpose , I'm sure 296 would work as well .

Jack

They've been the same powder for a long time.

[jcren]

Well, bullseye is one of the most painful to my ears, and an accidental 7.2 (3.6 double charge) charge in a Taurus 85 38spc was quite terrifying and spectacular at the same time. Shot at a opossum after dark, the fireball was several feet wide and it was several minutes before I even considered examining the opossum.

[Mica_Hiebert]

110 grain bullets.

[Murphy]

I'm with the H110, or 296 crowd under a 125 grain hollow point.

At first, I tried loading 2400 for a carry load in a brand new S&W 686. After I fired the first cylinder full and dumped the empties, I stuffed another 6 in using a speed loader. I noticed something wasn't quiet right when the cylinder closed. I opened it to find 1 or 2 (can't remember, it's been 33 years) powder granules that had not burned. Of course, this may have been due to not using enough crimp, but I did not pursue it. I had just began working as a police officer and wasn't about to risk anything, so I moved over to the H110. Very clean burn, and the muzzle flash was quiet the sight indeed.

Murphy

[TMenezes]

Guys he wants big flash, but low recoil. H110/WIN296 generate lots of recoil and can't be safely downloaded.

Blue Dot loaded to ,38 Special pressures delivers exactly what your looking for if I understood your question correctly. I know 12ish grains of it in my 45 Colt delivers very mild (at least compared to my H110 loads) recoil but a surprising amount of flash and bang.

Quite entertaining actually, great fun sending bowling pins flying with that load.

[rsrocket1]

Fill the case to where the seated bullet touches the powder with Alliant BlackMZ. It is a BP substitute by volume so it will behave like a 38 special BP load with a tiny bit more oomph in the 357 mag case. It cleans up easier than BP but puts out as much smoke as BP and because it is typically used in rifle length barrels, will put up a good flash if you can see it through the smoke. Sportsmans Warehouse often has it "on clearance" at $10/pound or you can pay the regular price of $20/pound. I clean it up in my ML with just plain CLP or Hoppes No9.

As the others said, use the lightest bullet you can find for the lowest recoil.

[Wayne Smith]

BP, but be aware - I have read of experiments with BP loads in 45 Colt and 44-40 in closed rooms and candles and kerosene lanterns. The concussion blew out the lights behind the shooter! No wonder people unloaded their revolvers in saloons without hitting anyone. After the first shot or two they were all shooting in the dark!

[Texas by God]

For pyrotechnics it's hard to beat holy black. A 357 case full enough to touch a .360 round ball lubed with LLA. Firm crimp at the equator. Hellfire & brimstone but low recoil. Clean your gun!

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[Tom W.]

Or Pyrodex P........

[Texas by God]

Yep. PyroP is cheaper and more readily obtained.

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[ironhead7544]

Max load of 2400 under a 110 gr bullet.