The Firing Line Forums - View Single Post - Need opinion on powder for 357 and 38 special

Jim Watson · April 11, 2012, 02:28 PM

I agree with AlaskaMike.
There is not one powder that will do good work in both standard .38 Special and full house .357 Magnum.
You can optimize for .38s and get low end .357s or you can load real magnums and replicate .38-44 High Velocity. But I don't think you can cover the entire spectrum with one powder, it is false economy.
For clean burn, Vihtavuouri powders do well; N310 for wadcutters, N110 for bear bumpers.

On the other hand, you don't need to end up with a dozen different partial cans of Not Quite Right Powder on the shelf, either. Work out what you really want to do, and buy something suitable. A clean burn is mostly from operating at the pressure range the powder was made for. I know two people who tried downloading 2400 and 4227 and just made a mess.

April 11, 2012, 02:28 PM	#17
Jim Watson Senior Member Join Date: October 25, 2001 Location: Alabama Posts: 18,543	I agree with AlaskaMike. There is not one powder that will do good work in both standard .38 Special and full house .357 Magnum. You can optimize for .38s and get low end .357s or you can load real magnums and replicate .38-44 High Velocity. But I don't think you can cover the entire spectrum with one powder, it is false economy. For clean burn, Vihtavuouri powders do well; N310 for wadcutters, N110 for bear bumpers. On the other hand, you don't need to end up with a dozen different partial cans of Not Quite Right Powder on the shelf, either. Work out what you really want to do, and buy something suitable. A clean burn is mostly from operating at the pressure range the powder was made for. I know two people who tried downloading 2400 and 4227 and just made a mess. Last edited by Jim Watson; April 11, 2012 at 02:35 PM.