Powder for Plain Base 357 mag. Boolit?

[les265]

I just picked up an old Lyman 357446 mould the other day. It makes a 162g plain base semi-wad cutter boolit with two shallow lube grooves. I also have a 158g Lee tumble lube bullet mould. I use LLA as a lube. I am looking for a load for my 357 Ruger Blackhawks that will get me about 1000 fps. I was wondering what powders would be best to start with that will cut my chances of having a problem with leading? I want 357 magnum loads, not 38 special.

[sheepdog]

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipePrint.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=158&shellid=28&bulletid=30&bdid=83

This should work for both 158gr and 162gr, 1034 fps. Leading has very little to do with powder. In fact I'd dare to say 90% of leading is bullet sizing or hardness (too much or too little).

[Firebricker]

I use alliant 2400 or H-110 with 357466. It's one of my favorite moulds for 357 and 38 loads.
FB

[454PB]

Bluedot. I use 10 grains with this boolit, but recommend you start at 9 grains and add as needed/wanted. Mine chronograph at 1250 to 1300 fps, depending on barrel length (I own six .357 magnums).

[jimkim]

I like 10.0gr of AAC-#7. It is almost identical to Blue Dot in performance and meters like no other powder I have ever used.

[RSOJim]

I have been using 6 grains of unique for years in .357 guns. Since I no longer own a .38 special and have many .38 special cases, I also use this load in the .38 special case. My blackhawks have throats of 359 to 360, so I size all boolits .359. I must admit this load shoots better in my smiths. I have a model 19 six inch that shoots great with a 158 grain round nose bullet with this load. thanks Jim

[dale2242]

Red Dot. 5 gr Red Dot and 357446 at 1050 fps from my 6" Ruger GP100.---dale

[GrizzLeeBear]

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/RecipePrint.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=158&shellid=28&bulletid=30&bdid=83

This should work for both 158gr and 162gr, 1034 fps. Leading has very little to do with powder. In fact I'd dare to say 90% of leading is bullet sizing or hardness (too much or too little).

For medium .357 loads I agree with sheepdog, boolit fit has more to do with leading or not. Slug your barrel and chamber throats. Your chambers should measure slightly larger that the bore. Size your boolits to fit the throats.
For 900 - 1100 fps loads stay with the fast to medium burners like 231, Unique, Universal, Herco, HS-6, etc. Use the slow powders like 2400, etc. for full power magnum loads.

[AlaskaMike]

7 grains of Power Pistol gives me just barely more than 1000 fps in my 4" S&W model 28. That's using the RCBS 38-150-SWC 150 grain SWC, and that combination is beautifully accurate in my gun. I've also gone up to 8 grains for about 1100 fps with no loss of accuracy. Both are nice economical midrange loads.

Mike

[runfiverun]

try 7 grs of herco if you got any kicking around.
it'll put the orange dotted bottle to shame in the 357.

[les265]

Thanks guys. I have some of the powders you suggested and it gives me a good place to start.

[redneckdan]

I run 5.5 grains of promo with a 150gr Keith for about 1050fps.