Recipes for 357 mag?
- Thread starter ctjoe
- Start date
I shoot and load a lot of .357 mag. and have discovered a load that contradicted my expectations, and that of my Son's who shoot a bunch of my hand loads too. My high velocity load which is 110 gr. and 125 grain jacked bullets loaded with H110 or 296, are very uncomfartable to shoot because of heavy recoil, so that is certainly not the load of choice for you. But while trying to work up another high velocity load, which is what I prefer to shoot, I desiced on a 158 gr. jacketed bullet. I used the same powders,
H110 and 296, and loaded up at the maximum charge of 16.4 grains of 296. I was expecting a much heavier recoil, especially since they chronographed at nearly 1300 fps., This load was so nice I've decided to make it my self defense load. I don't know what gun you are shooting, but I fired these out of S&W model 66-5 and a Taurus model 608. The little S&W is a snub nosed and ususally leaves me with a sore wrist with full magnum loads, but these loads didn't even make it necessary to use a two hand hold. Try those 158s with 296 or H110 , I think you'll like them. I used Hornady XTPs.
Here is some data:
W-296 - 14.3 grains to 16.4 grains
H110 - 14.1 grains to 17.0 grains
DO NOT REDUCE THESE POWDER CHARGES BELOW THE MINIMUM OR PRESSURES INCREASE BEYOND A SAFE RANGE!
H110 and 296, and loaded up at the maximum charge of 16.4 grains of 296. I was expecting a much heavier recoil, especially since they chronographed at nearly 1300 fps., This load was so nice I've decided to make it my self defense load. I don't know what gun you are shooting, but I fired these out of S&W model 66-5 and a Taurus model 608. The little S&W is a snub nosed and ususally leaves me with a sore wrist with full magnum loads, but these loads didn't even make it necessary to use a two hand hold. Try those 158s with 296 or H110 , I think you'll like them. I used Hornady XTPs.
Here is some data:
W-296 - 14.3 grains to 16.4 grains
H110 - 14.1 grains to 17.0 grains
DO NOT REDUCE THESE POWDER CHARGES BELOW THE MINIMUM OR PRESSURES INCREASE BEYOND A SAFE RANGE!
AlaskaMike
New member
Most of what you're looking for can be found in loading manuals. Midrange .357 mag loads are extremely common.
My personal favorite midrange .357 load uses a 158 grain SWC over 231 powder for about 900 fps velocity out of my 4" S&W model 28.
My personal favorite midrange .357 load uses a 158 grain SWC over 231 powder for about 900 fps velocity out of my 4" S&W model 28.
AlaskaMike
New member
700cdl, where did you get that load data? The reason I ask is that the minimum charge weights you cite are more than 12% less than the max. Virtually all manuals warn not to decrease charges more than 3, 5, or 10%, depending on the particular manual when using H110/W296.
It's also worth pointing out that the original poster is interested in mild loads, so H110/W296 isn't a good powder for consideration. It's a powder that's only appropriate for full-house magnum loads.
It's also worth pointing out that the original poster is interested in mild loads, so H110/W296 isn't a good powder for consideration. It's a powder that's only appropriate for full-house magnum loads.
Doodlebugger45
New member
I have found several very mild .357 loads. The only one I remember off the top of my head used 4.6 gr of W231 with a 158 gr cast bullet. Very accurate and no leading from my Blackhawk. For more power, I use a 158 gr JHP with 16.0 gr of W-296 or H-110. Also very accurate but recoil is not severe with a larger revolver.
I have had good luck with True Blue as well but I can't remember the weight right now.
I have had good luck with True Blue as well but I can't remember the weight right now.
spacecoast
New member
Mine is 5.4 gr. of Titegroup under a 158 gr. plated bullet, very comfortable from a 6" 686.
5.3 gr. of Unique under a 158 LSWC is a good .38 spc. +P load, should work quite well in the .357 as well as a mild load.
5.3 gr. of Unique under a 158 LSWC is a good .38 spc. +P load, should work quite well in the .357 as well as a mild load.
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overkill0084
New member
The .38 spec vs. .357 accuracy difference is mostly theoretical, IMHO. I prefer .357 based loads simply because I don't need to deal with the carbon ring that builds up.
I found an extremely accurate load for my Colt recently:
6.6 of Accurate#5 pushing a 158 gr LSWC, CCI 500, Winchester .357 brass. This is too hot for .38 but super mild for .357.
Lee has a few good ones in the .38 +P section of their manual. Worth a look.
I found an extremely accurate load for my Colt recently:
6.6 of Accurate#5 pushing a 158 gr LSWC, CCI 500, Winchester .357 brass. This is too hot for .38 but super mild for .357.
Lee has a few good ones in the .38 +P section of their manual. Worth a look.
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crowbeaner
New member
If you need a good reliable accurate midrange load, try 11.0 of 2400 under a 158 Speer swaged lead bullet. You can shoot hardcast as well with the same load. Standard primers, and a good firm roll crimp to make it all burn. I shot a LOT of 150 hardcast over 9.0 of 4756 for years, but IMR has detuned their data since then. Make sure the cast bullets are sized to .358" to seal the chambers. There are many good loads under the Hodgdon site, you just have to try them and see what your particular gun likes. That's the beauty of handloading.
Just be aware of the powders that will work the best for your application will not fill the case & many have room for alot more powder , Titegroup is 1 that was mentioned ,I use CLAYS alot it`s another & 4.0 grs. of RD is not much either!! But all these are excellent midrange powders for the 357.
I load in batches , meaning I size all the cases then move on to the next step wth all the cases & when I charge em all I look under good lite with em in a loading block to see the powder levels to see if they all look the same & when satisfied seat bullets .
This simple step has kept me out of trouble a few times , mainly powder hanging in the dispenser , & gives me peace-of-mind !
You & your friend enjoy yourselves & stay focused on the task at hand , wish I had someone to take me under there wing when I started this madness!!!
I load in batches , meaning I size all the cases then move on to the next step wth all the cases & when I charge em all I look under good lite with em in a loading block to see the powder levels to see if they all look the same & when satisfied seat bullets .
This simple step has kept me out of trouble a few times , mainly powder hanging in the dispenser , & gives me peace-of-mind !
You & your friend enjoy yourselves & stay focused on the task at hand , wish I had someone to take me under there wing when I started this madness!!!
Hello there AlaskaMike,
That data is Hornady data out of the One Book/ One Caliber manual which is consistent with other sources as well. Speer data is actually reduced more than that which does concern me. I noticed that in the most recent data from Speer, they increased the minimum charge and max charge with those powders. I've been loading with those for many years and have always stayed away from minimum load data. And regarding my reason for posting that data in the first place, is it was so nice to shoot with very low recoil. Not so with the 125 grain bullet or the 110 grain bullet using those powders. And yes, he did ask for middle of the road loads, and I did reiterate the fact that this powder isn't typical of that, but the particular load with 158 JHP felt nice to shoot.
That data is Hornady data out of the One Book/ One Caliber manual which is consistent with other sources as well. Speer data is actually reduced more than that which does concern me. I noticed that in the most recent data from Speer, they increased the minimum charge and max charge with those powders. I've been loading with those for many years and have always stayed away from minimum load data. And regarding my reason for posting that data in the first place, is it was so nice to shoot with very low recoil. Not so with the 125 grain bullet or the 110 grain bullet using those powders. And yes, he did ask for middle of the road loads, and I did reiterate the fact that this powder isn't typical of that, but the particular load with 158 JHP felt nice to shoot.
spacecoast
New member
GP100Man -
Good point, when I charge (with a dipper), I move the cases from the empty pile to the full pile (in rows) and that way it's pretty much impossible to double-charge a case. I tried the loading block but found it was easy to forget where I was. Even so, I still look at all of them with a light before moving on to seating the bullets.
AlaskaMike
New member
700cdl, re: H110/296 load data:
That's interesting. We hear virtually constant warnings urging us to not reduce from the max load by more than a tiny amount, and then we come across published data like this. I want to go over my own manuals now and see how many have a similar discrepancy. I guess it just goes to highlight the fact that manuals are guides, not gospel.
That's interesting. We hear virtually constant warnings urging us to not reduce from the max load by more than a tiny amount, and then we come across published data like this. I want to go over my own manuals now and see how many have a similar discrepancy. I guess it just goes to highlight the fact that manuals are guides, not gospel.
wild willy
New member
700cdl those loads may be listed in One book/ One caliber but they are over max In the newer Hornady,Hodgon,and Speer manuals
AlaskaMike
New member
Max loads for H110/296 have dropped noticeably across pretty much all the data sources. Lyman #48 actually has the max for certain 158 grain bullets being somewhere just above 17 grains if I remember correctly. I'm sure Lyman 49 has reduced that.
It's also understandable that Hornady data from the One Load booklets is different from the current Hornady manual--the data that companies sell the publisher of those booklets sell them older data, not their current stuff.
It's also understandable that Hornady data from the One Load booklets is different from the current Hornady manual--the data that companies sell the publisher of those booklets sell them older data, not their current stuff.