357 Mag: velocity vs accuracy

[crabo]

The thread on the 45/70 has prompted this post.

I have been on a quest to get great accuracy at 50 and 100 yards in my 357 mag 586 and Marlin 94. It has been pretty frustrating. I want a load to shoot Pistol cartridge Silhouettes and Hunters pistol. In my pistol and rifle, water dropped boolits shoot the best.

Loking back over my targets and data, it seems like my most accurate loads are near max.

I have been using 7 grains of Herco and Unique with a 160 grain Mountain Mold that I had made. I attached a picture. I am not happy with my results at 50 yards. I am getting 2 1/2" plus groups. I was getting 1' -1 1/2" with 4.6 grains of Unique at 50 yards with an LBT boolit. I am concern about running out os steam at 100 meters on the silhouettes.

What kind of accuracy are you guys getting and in what velocity range? I do not want a hunting load. I am looking for a 60 round match load that is enjoyable to shoot with another 60 rounds in practice before the match.

Thanks,

[felix]

Work down from 10 grains BD. Circa 13 grains AA9. ... felix

[truckmsl]

I'm shooting 11 grains of 2400 with a 158 grain plain base SWC through my marlin. Very pleasant to shoot and accurate load. Easy on the brass too. Wild West trigger helps a bunch.

[357Mag]

Crabs -

Howdy !

Best .357mag load I've found ( 34yr ) is: 14.5gr WW296 w/ CCI or Win SP Mag primer. It works great w/ any Lyman .357calibre lead SWC of 158 -172gr ( PBs ).
Clean, hyper-accurate ; powerful. " Major calibre " power, w/o abusive recoil.

I've tried it in 4, 5 & 6" revolvers and Marlin 1894SC.

Skeeter's load of 8gr I4756 works pretty good, too; but... is smokey.
Regular SP primers ok here.

With regards,
.357Mag

[Blammer]

W296 is a good powder, may want to give that a go

[bobthenailer]

in my marlin i use 357 mag cases / fed spp/ 4.5 gr tight group/ and the GB lee 180 fn gc without the gas check installed , for 1050 fps and is very accurate at ranges to 150 yards at 50 yards from the bench 25 shot groups around a inch with a 2x7 on top. for normal use i use a aimpoint for off hand shooting

[crabo]

I have had the best accuracy with heavy charges of 2400 and 296, but I am looking for loads in the 1000 fps range.

[mellonhead]

I have had good results with HS6. I just got my Marlin 94 so I don't have alot of data yet, but I use alot of HS6 in all my straight wall stuff for accurate midrange loads.

Toby

[rhead]

I have had good results with 5.5 to 6 grains of unique and the 166 grain lee swc, the 170 keith and the 158 grain RCBS swc. No chrono results but probably around 1100 to 1200 from a 22 inch handi.