Just picked up a 6" S&W 686 and am looking for a moderate 357 plinking load.... don't need full throttle. Will be using the Lyman #358311 160gr RN bullet cast from straight wheelweight. Powders I currently have on hand are Red Dot, Green Dot, W-231 and Unique. Primers are Winchester Small Pistol Magnum but might change to Federal just so I can tell the difference between Mag and Std primers... the Winchester are brass color and the Federal are nickel color. Cases are brass (no nickel) and of assorted headstamps. Would prefer to stay within the components I already have on hand. Suggestions? Thanks.
Moderate 357 plinking load
- Thread starter Evil Dog
- Start date
Tadpole Starr
New member
Light comfortable loads
I am using Unique with the 110 and 125 grain bullet. and H110 with the 158 and 180 grain bullets. My 2 3/4 inch barrel is a problem with the heavier bullets and flash. The 125 grain is sure fun to plink with though
I am experiencing a problem with some of the "once fired" shells though. The nickle plated have small splits and rounded ends. It appears that they get work hardened with even one firing. The brass from the same source is not a problem.
enjoy, and thanks jibjab for helping me get started a couple of months ago.
I am using Unique with the 110 and 125 grain bullet. and H110 with the 158 and 180 grain bullets. My 2 3/4 inch barrel is a problem with the heavier bullets and flash. The 125 grain is sure fun to plink with though
I am experiencing a problem with some of the "once fired" shells though. The nickle plated have small splits and rounded ends. It appears that they get work hardened with even one firing. The brass from the same source is not a problem.
enjoy, and thanks jibjab for helping me get started a couple of months ago.
crowbeaner
New member
A pound of Unique is all you need. WW bullets will be just fine. Follow the loading manual for charge weights and be sure to trim all your cases to the same length to get a uniform crimp. Enjoy. CB.
I'm also looking for a powder on the fast end of the burn rate chart for my 6" GP100 .357 (using 158 gr. jacketed bullets) but am having a difficult time finding one that is fairly clean-burning. I've heard pros and cons about the "cleaner burning" Unique but haven't tried it yet.
Does anyone use a powder in this range that doesn't burn dirty?
Thanks!
Does anyone use a powder in this range that doesn't burn dirty?
Thanks!
IMR Trail Boss is far cleaner than either Bullseye or Unique, which are nearly 100 years old. Of those two old timers, Unique requires more pressure to avoid leaving unburned flakes behind, so it is not as suitable for the lightest of loads. Both include a lot of graphite. Hodgdon Clays (just Clays, not International Clays or Universal Clays) is very fast and does quite well for plinking loads. Economical, too, as it doesn't take a lot. Vihtavuori N310 is another. It is a super-short stick powder that is also very fast and clean. Faster, I believe, than anything except Norma R1.
crowbeaner
New member
Try some IMR SR 4756. It's about the same burn rate as Unique but much cleaner burning. With the OLD data I used to shoot 9.3 gr. over a 150 plainbase (1976). Start around 7.5 and work up to appease the timid. CB.
Any of the faster powders will give you less perceived recoil. I have used Unique in both its incarnations, and these days it is definitely cleaner. I think Alliant probably changed the formulation when it aquired the name. I don't care for the way any of the Alliant flake powders meter in my equipment, so I have changed over to w231. All pwders burn differently under different pressures. What might burn clean for me in my load might burn dirtier for the next guy. As an unresearched rule of thumb I figure that all other factors being equal, lighter load = less powder = less pressure = more carbon.
tested
I have found that Hodgdon's Universal Clays (also referred to as "Universal") to be the correct choice in 357, 41 and 44 Magnum, and 45 Colt.
I have tested it with lead, plated, and jacketed bullets of varying type.
It allows considerable shooting before cleanliness becomes a function issue.
Alliant Power Pistol is also superbly clean, but not as compatible with 'mild' loads.
I have data.
I have found that Hodgdon's Universal Clays (also referred to as "Universal") to be the correct choice in 357, 41 and 44 Magnum, and 45 Colt.
I have tested it with lead, plated, and jacketed bullets of varying type.
It allows considerable shooting before cleanliness becomes a function issue.
Alliant Power Pistol is also superbly clean, but not as compatible with 'mild' loads.
I have data.
straight-shooter
New member
Just for plinking with my 686 6" I just shoot 38's. 158gr LRN cast with 4.8gr of Unique & standard primer. Plenty accurate and fun!
For the 357 Loads - 158gr SJHP with 13.5gr of Alliant 2400 & standard primer.
For the 357 Loads - 158gr SJHP with 13.5gr of Alliant 2400 & standard primer.
WESHOOT2--
According to the Hodgdon data I have, Universal is too slow for the velocity I'm looking for with 158 gr. jacketed bullets. I like to shoot reduced loads between 1200-1300 fps. Even though this is still pretty fast for a .357, it's less recoil and stress on the revolver than my max. loads, which are about 200 fps more. Plus, I save money by using a faster powder. Target shooting and plinking with loads that aren't too far down from max. helps me to stay in practice for when I shoot the heavy stuff.
Thanks for the info about Power Pistol! That looks like it would fill the bill: clean burning, good velocity, and less than half the powder charge of my max. loads.
For some reason the Winchester data I have does not show starting loads for 231. I know there are warnings not to reduce listed charges of 296, but according to your post (#3) the same restriction does not apply to 231?
Thanks!
According to the Hodgdon data I have, Universal is too slow for the velocity I'm looking for with 158 gr. jacketed bullets. I like to shoot reduced loads between 1200-1300 fps. Even though this is still pretty fast for a .357, it's less recoil and stress on the revolver than my max. loads, which are about 200 fps more. Plus, I save money by using a faster powder. Target shooting and plinking with loads that aren't too far down from max. helps me to stay in practice for when I shoot the heavy stuff.
Thanks for the info about Power Pistol! That looks like it would fill the bill: clean burning, good velocity, and less than half the powder charge of my max. loads.
For some reason the Winchester data I have does not show starting loads for 231. I know there are warnings not to reduce listed charges of 296, but according to your post (#3) the same restriction does not apply to 231?
Thanks!
straight-shooter
New member
The Winchester data I have here on W231 shows that 6.9gr of W231 will produce a velocity of 1,260 fps using a 158gr JHP and 6.7gr gives a velocity of 1,275 fps using lead.