Powerhouse 357 load

Redneck with a 40 · September 1, 2007, 04:21 PM

Yesterday I loaded up some 125 grain Remington 125 grain semi jacketed hollow points with 14.3 grain of Blue Dot. The velocity I achieved out of my 4" Taurus Tracker 357 was nothing short of awesome. The lowest reading out of 10 rounds was 1550 fps and the highest reading was 1650 fps. If I take the median velocity of 1600 fps, these give an energy of 710 ft lbs.

This is an awesome load, these bullets would be truly devastating on the target.

Trapper L · September 1, 2007, 07:59 PM

That combination is a fabulous load but I wouldn't subject the Taurus to a steady diet of that load. The gun isn't going to last long. Most 357's with a 6" barrel will chronograph closer to 1750'ps with this load. It brings the 357 into a whole different world. Make it a carry load but use something a bit easier on the gun for everyday plinkin'.

FM12 · September 1, 2007, 08:07 PM

Geeze, that makes MY hand hurt!

crowbeaner · September 1, 2007, 08:44 PM

I loaded some 125 JHPs with 13.5 of BD for a friend once and he said they made the factory stuff look like wadcutters. I never chrono'd them but IIRC they were supposed to be around 1450 fps. Guess the data was pretty close given the velocity readings you posted. I'll write that info down Thanks. Just remember that BD varies a lot from can to can so you might want to work them back up if you get new stock. CB.

Trapper L · September 1, 2007, 09:29 PM

FM12, it's really not that bad because of the light bullet. But talk about muzzle flash. You can light up several acres at night with it. Expect a ball of fire about three feet round and five feet long. Do not shoot this load in dry forrest conditions- I'm not kidding.

Charles S · September 1, 2007, 09:36 PM

Great load...For me in my 357s Blue Dot always burns cleanest and shoots the tightest groups with the lowest standard deviation near max. I know it is an old powder, but I still like it for some applications, particularly magnum handguns. There are better powders, but Blue Dot works.

Redneck with a 40 · September 1, 2007, 11:57 PM

I'm not going to be shooting hundreds of these out of my Taurus Tracker, I was just seeing how fast I could push these rounds.

For my normal target shooting, I'll probably back these off to 13.5 grains. I'll also continue loading using my Unique load, 9 grains of Unique, same bullet, chrono's 1350 fps, accurate and just about the right speed.

Bullet94 · September 2, 2007, 01:35 AM

Quote:

Redneck with a 40
I was just seeing how fast I could push these rounds.

When I was a kid, I used to do that too.

Redneck with a 40 · September 2, 2007, 08:59 AM

Bullet, the maximum listed load for a 125 grain bullet and blue dot is 14.5 grains. I'm at 14.3, nothing unsafe about this at all. Its a kick ass hot 357 load.

I'm using an Alliant reloading guide.

FM12 · September 2, 2007, 10:28 AM

Thanks, TrapperL. It's been a long time since I've shot any Blue Dot, seems like it was for .44Mag. I loves me them Alliant powders, though. I even use Bullseye on my taters instead of pepper!

100W_Warlock · September 2, 2007, 10:36 AM

But, I find BD to be a bit dirty if your not using enough of it.

10.5gr is the most I have played with. It does leave my revolvers moderately filthy. Any less and it gets harder to chamber the next round.

Aliant 2400 is still my favorite 357 powder.

Bullet94 · September 2, 2007, 12:13 PM

Redneck with a 40

If you want to see how fast you can push these rounds try H110 or 296.

Quote:

100W_Warlock
Aliant 2400 is still my favorite 357 powder.

Mine too.

Redneck with a 40 · September 2, 2007, 12:19 PM

Bullet, I've loaded some 125 grainer's with 18.5 grains of 296, the velocity I got was 1400 fps. With Blue Dot, I'm getting 1550-1650 fps, I think Blue Dot is better with the light bullets. I bought a pound of Blue Dot, so that's what I'm using. Besides, it takes 4 grains less powder per case with Blue Dot, which means a pound of powder will go further.

With the 158 grain bullets, 296 is better. I'm getting 1275-1300 fps with 16.6 grains of 296, I achieved about 1200-1250 with Blue Dot. For 158 grain bullets, 296 is it.

Bullet94 · September 2, 2007, 12:40 PM

Sometimes it’s fun to play around with things. Guess this is part of reloading.
Have fun and be safe.

Hoss52 · September 2, 2007, 09:27 PM

i have used a similar load in a SW 19 for many years, accurate & consistent. 800X performs about the same. Never liked 296/H110, tho I have used a lot, as they spit a lot of flack around. I have experienced that with several guns & calibers, but they will push a bullet out in hurry.

Tadpole Starr · September 2, 2007, 10:07 PM

I just got my first loads through the conograph and the above combo got 1242 and 1249 with 15 grains of H 110 powder. This is with the 2 3/4 inch Ruger Security six. The one that I really liked was the 125 grain Speer soft point for accuracy. It averaged 1295 with 9.6 grains of Unique. The 110 XTP was 1421 with 10.0 grains of Unique. For the bear load, I used a 180 grain Winchester Gold Partition with 14.5 grains of H 110. I was told that the Lyman book is higher than that. The FPS was 1160 average. Will work up a bit maybe. This is pretty good though.

We saw about a 250 pound bear cross the road today, and he stood there watching us at about 75 yards. How fun, except that they are down, due to lack of food up in the forests. Funny, how small ears, big bears have. Big ears that cubs have and this was medium ears.

September 1, 2007, 04:21 PM	#1
Redneck with a 40 Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2006 Posts: 336	Powerhouse 357 load Yesterday I loaded up some 125 grain Remington 125 grain semi jacketed hollow points with 14.3 grain of Blue Dot. The velocity I achieved out of my 4" Taurus Tracker 357 was nothing short of awesome. The lowest reading out of 10 rounds was 1550 fps and the highest reading was 1650 fps. If I take the median velocity of 1600 fps, these give an energy of 710 ft lbs. This is an awesome load, these bullets would be truly devastating on the target.

September 1, 2007, 09:36 PM	#6
Charles S Senior Member Join Date: July 29, 2002 Location: North East Texas Posts: 950	Great load...For me in my 357s Blue Dot always burns cleanest and shoots the tightest groups with the lowest standard deviation near max. I know it is an old powder, but I still like it for some applications, particularly magnum handguns. There are better powders, but Blue Dot works. __________________ "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf." -- George Orwell

September 2, 2007, 10:36 AM	#11
100W_Warlock Senior Member Join Date: May 23, 2004 Posts: 267	Bluedot is nice stuff But, I find BD to be a bit dirty if your not using enough of it. 10.5gr is the most I have played with. It does leave my revolvers moderately filthy. Any less and it gets harder to chamber the next round. Aliant 2400 is still my favorite 357 powder.

September 2, 2007, 12:40 PM	#14
Bullet94 Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2004 Location: Kansas Posts: 723	Sometimes it’s fun to play around with things. Guess this is part of reloading. Have fun and be safe. __________________ PRO-SECOND AMENDMENT - Live Free or Die

September 2, 2007, 10:07 PM	#16
Tadpole Starr Member Join Date: February 28, 2007 Posts: 52	158 Grain with H 110 I just got my first loads through the conograph and the above combo got 1242 and 1249 with 15 grains of H 110 powder. This is with the 2 3/4 inch Ruger Security six. The one that I really liked was the 125 grain Speer soft point for accuracy. It averaged 1295 with 9.6 grains of Unique. The 110 XTP was 1421 with 10.0 grains of Unique. For the bear load, I used a 180 grain Winchester Gold Partition with 14.5 grains of H 110. I was told that the Lyman book is higher than that. The FPS was 1160 average. Will work up a bit maybe. This is pretty good though. We saw about a 250 pound bear cross the road today, and he stood there watching us at about 75 yards. How fun, except that they are down, due to lack of food up in the forests. Funny, how small ears, big bears have. Big ears that cubs have and this was medium ears.

September 1, 2007, 07:59 PM	#2
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	That combination is a fabulous load but I wouldn't subject the Taurus to a steady diet of that load. The gun isn't going to last long. Most 357's with a 6" barrel will chronograph closer to 1750'ps with this load. It brings the 357 into a whole different world. Make it a carry load but use something a bit easier on the gun for everyday plinkin'.

September 1, 2007, 08:07 PM	#3
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	Geeze, that makes MY hand hurt!

September 1, 2007, 08:44 PM	#4
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	I loaded some 125 JHPs with 13.5 of BD for a friend once and he said they made the factory stuff look like wadcutters. I never chrono'd them but IIRC they were supposed to be around 1450 fps. Guess the data was pretty close given the velocity readings you posted. I'll write that info down Thanks. Just remember that BD varies a lot from can to can so you might want to work them back up if you get new stock. CB.

September 1, 2007, 09:29 PM	#5
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	FM12, it's really not that bad because of the light bullet. But talk about muzzle flash. You can light up several acres at night with it. Expect a ball of fire about three feet round and five feet long. Do not shoot this load in dry forrest conditions- I'm not kidding.

September 1, 2007, 11:57 PM	#7
Redneck with a 40 Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2006 Posts: 336	I'm not going to be shooting hundreds of these out of my Taurus Tracker, I was just seeing how fast I could push these rounds. For my normal target shooting, I'll probably back these off to 13.5 grains. I'll also continue loading using my Unique load, 9 grains of Unique, same bullet, chrono's 1350 fps, accurate and just about the right speed.

September 2, 2007, 08:59 AM	#9
Redneck with a 40 Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2006 Posts: 336	Bullet, the maximum listed load for a 125 grain bullet and blue dot is 14.5 grains. I'm at 14.3, nothing unsafe about this at all. Its a kick ass hot 357 load. I'm using an Alliant reloading guide.

September 2, 2007, 10:28 AM	#10
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	Thanks, TrapperL. It's been a long time since I've shot any Blue Dot, seems like it was for .44Mag. I loves me them Alliant powders, though. I even use Bullseye on my taters instead of pepper!

September 2, 2007, 12:19 PM	#13
Redneck with a 40 Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2006 Posts: 336	Bullet, I've loaded some 125 grainer's with 18.5 grains of 296, the velocity I got was 1400 fps. With Blue Dot, I'm getting 1550-1650 fps, I think Blue Dot is better with the light bullets. I bought a pound of Blue Dot, so that's what I'm using. Besides, it takes 4 grains less powder per case with Blue Dot, which means a pound of powder will go further. With the 158 grain bullets, 296 is better. I'm getting 1275-1300 fps with 16.6 grains of 296, I achieved about 1200-1250 with Blue Dot. For 158 grain bullets, 296 is it.

September 2, 2007, 09:27 PM	#15
Hoss52 Member Join Date: December 30, 2006 Posts: 17	i have used a similar load in a SW 19 for many years, accurate & consistent. 800X performs about the same. Never liked 296/H110, tho I have used a lot, as they spit a lot of flack around. I have experienced that with several guns & calibers, but they will push a bullet out in hurry.