Making my first foray into .357 Mag loading- advice? - Page 2

spacecoast · October 23, 2012, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Just FYI, I tried loading 38 spls with ww296/H110...

Don't do that!!!

FM12 · October 23, 2012, 11:34 PM

@ sport: Seems it was a speer manual. 35 years ago so dont have the data or mrmory, LOL

Worked well in 44 mag though. Really accurate loads.

FM12 · October 23, 2012, 11:40 PM

@ sport: Seems it was a speer manual. 35 years ago so dont have the data or mrmory, LOL

Worked well in 44 mag though. Really accurate loads.

tkglazie · October 31, 2012, 02:13 PM

Thanks again to all who posted advice. With things being a little slow up here in the Northeast thanks to Sandy I decided to load .357 today.

15gr of H110 under 158gr hardcast SWC at 1.585" with a good solid crimp (FCD) got me a very consistent 1140fps out of my wife's 3" SP101 with no leading whatsoever and only minimal unburnt powder residue. Accuracy was excellent, especially when you factor in my jacked up adrenaline levels. I loaded a few at 15.3gr and those were a tad faster (1165fps). These seem to shoot and feet a lot like Magtech 158gr LSWC factory loads.

I started with new Winchester cases, all trimmed to 1.275" for consistency. It really is a luxury working with new brass at a consistent length. Other than for my .32 special all of my other loading has been with range pickups.

Later on I will work up the load properly for max accuracy but considering the application (loud plinking and SHTF loads) I am already quite satisfied, especially at $7/box.

Update- I just noticed a happy coincidence. The ballistics of this load are almost an identical match to the Buffalo Bore .38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP ammo that we keep in my wife's gun for home/self defense. https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=108 (item 20A/20)

So as it turns out, I unintentionally created a perfect, low-cost practice round. Better to be lucky than good!

October 31, 2012, 02:13 PM	#29
tkglazie Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2011 Posts: 558	Thanks again to all who posted advice. With things being a little slow up here in the Northeast thanks to Sandy I decided to load .357 today. 15gr of H110 under 158gr hardcast SWC at 1.585" with a good solid crimp (FCD) got me a very consistent 1140fps out of my wife's 3" SP101 with no leading whatsoever and only minimal unburnt powder residue. Accuracy was excellent, especially when you factor in my jacked up adrenaline levels. I loaded a few at 15.3gr and those were a tad faster (1165fps). These seem to shoot and feet a lot like Magtech 158gr LSWC factory loads. I started with new Winchester cases, all trimmed to 1.275" for consistency. It really is a luxury working with new brass at a consistent length. Other than for my .32 special all of my other loading has been with range pickups. Later on I will work up the load properly for max accuracy but considering the application (loud plinking and SHTF loads) I am already quite satisfied, especially at $7/box. Update- I just noticed a happy coincidence. The ballistics of this load are almost an identical match to the Buffalo Bore .38 Special +P 158gr LSWCHP ammo that we keep in my wife's gun for home/self defense. https://www.buffalobore.com/index.ph...t_detail&p=108 (item 20A/20) So as it turns out, I unintentionally created a perfect, low-cost practice round. Better to be lucky than good! Last edited by tkglazie; October 31, 2012 at 04:58 PM.

October 23, 2012, 11:34 PM	#27
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	@ sport: Seems it was a speer manual. 35 years ago so dont have the data or mrmory, LOL Worked well in 44 mag though. Really accurate loads.

October 23, 2012, 11:40 PM	#28
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	@ sport: Seems it was a speer manual. 35 years ago so dont have the data or mrmory, LOL Worked well in 44 mag though. Really accurate loads.