Light .357 magnum loads with 125 gr JHP

Boo586 · December 13, 2001, 03:24 PM

Help!!

I want to load up some very light plinking loads with some cheapo 125 grain jhp bullets that I have. This is what I have and will be using.

Mixed .357 cases
125 grain JHP
Winchester Small Pistol primers (non-magnum)
Bullseye Powder.

Want something with very light recoil. Max from Alliant's page shows 8.4 grains of Bullseye with magnum primers. How low can I go? Any suggestions would be helpful.

Boo586

MADISON · December 13, 2001, 06:00 PM

THIS MAY BE TOO HOT...

For years, I have loaded 8.0 grains of UNIQUE:

With 158 grain Jacketed or Lead
With 146 1/2 Jacketed HP
and
125 grain JHP

The 8.0 grains of UNIQUE brings the velocity and recoil down to a managebale leve.

sricciardelli · December 13, 2001, 10:27 PM

Use some standard .38 Special loadings....they should be light enough.

WESHOOT2 · December 14, 2001, 06:59 AM

Using 38 data is great idea, but don't go too slow; the bullet might stick in the bore.

A wee bit more zip will ensure your safety.

1goodshot · December 14, 2001, 07:34 AM

Dont go below the publised data in your reloading manual or you could have some problems with a bullet sticking in the barrel. And dont use 38sp loads in 357 cases

stans · December 14, 2001, 08:05 AM

A starting load of 6.5 gr Bullseye should provide a very low velocity 125 gr. load. This should give you the velocity from a standard pressure 38 Special 125 gr. load.

**Mike Irwin** · December 14, 2001, 10:40 AM

Pick a .38 Spl. load that gives you about 850 fps, and load it into your .357 cases.

That will probably give you about 700-750 fps given the greater capacity of the .357 case and the larger jump for the bullet.

If these are lead bullets, you can probably safely go down to about 500 fps before you might have problems with bullet sticking.

December 13, 2001, 03:24 PM	#1
Boo586 Member Join Date: May 15, 2001 Location: Indiana Posts: 85	Light .357 magnum loads with 125 gr JHP Help!! I want to load up some very light plinking loads with some cheapo 125 grain jhp bullets that I have. This is what I have and will be using. Mixed .357 cases 125 grain JHP Winchester Small Pistol primers (non-magnum) Bullseye Powder. Want something with very light recoil. Max from Alliant's page shows 8.4 grains of Bullseye with magnum primers. How low can I go? Any suggestions would be helpful. Boo586

December 13, 2001, 06:00 PM	#2
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Light .357 magnum loads with 125 gr JHP THIS MAY BE TOO HOT... For years, I have loaded 8.0 grains of UNIQUE: With 158 grain Jacketed or Lead With 146 1/2 Jacketed HP and 125 grain JHP The 8.0 grains of UNIQUE brings the velocity and recoil down to a managebale leve.

December 14, 2001, 06:59 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	CAUTION ! Using 38 data is great idea, but don't go too slow; the bullet might stick in the bore. A wee bit more zip will ensure your safety. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 14, 2001, 10:40 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	Pick a .38 Spl. load that gives you about 850 fps, and load it into your .357 cases. That will probably give you about 700-750 fps given the greater capacity of the .357 case and the larger jump for the bullet. If these are lead bullets, you can probably safely go down to about 500 fps before you might have problems with bullet sticking. __________________ "The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.

December 13, 2001, 10:27 PM	#3
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	Use some standard .38 Special loadings....they should be light enough.

December 14, 2001, 07:34 AM	#5
1goodshot Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2001 Location: chandler,az Posts: 929	Dont go below the publised data in your reloading manual or you could have some problems with a bullet sticking in the barrel. And dont use 38sp loads in 357 cases

December 14, 2001, 08:05 AM	#6
stans Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2001 Location: Virginia, USA Posts: 838	A starting load of 6.5 gr Bullseye should provide a very low velocity 125 gr. load. This should give you the velocity from a standard pressure 38 Special 125 gr. load.