reloading 140gr .357 with bullseye powder

freqlord · April 14, 2011, 07:05 PM

Yesterday my dad and I got the Lee's reloading guide, and a box of Hornaday XTP 140gr .38s. We have some bullseye powder that we're trying to use up before breaking out the HP38, but in all of our reloading data, we have not been able to find any 140gr recipes for Bullseye powder. Does anyone have any recipes?

Thanks

GP100man · April 14, 2011, 07:32 PM

freqlord

BE is as fast as they come & is most suited for low velocity loads in the 357.

With a 140 gr. bullet you`ll be press to get a decent fps before pressure signs !!!!

& this is why there`s no listing for it !!

Now the hp-38/231 (same powders for yrs. now) is better suited & will build a decent load .

If ya want true magnum performace get ya some H-110/WW296 (another powderthat has been the same for yrs.) & don`t down load it because this ball powder takes pressure to burn good.

The differences is the burn rates & pressure peaks of the powders !!

Have fun ,be safe !!!!

freqlord · April 14, 2011, 08:16 PM

Excellent! We shall go ahead and do that route!
Thanks man!

Adamantium · April 14, 2011, 08:51 PM

From the Lyman 49th edition reloading manual starting load is 5.7 grains for 705 fps, max is 8 grains for 1116 fps. OAL 1.590". They used a CCI 550 magnum primer, which is 100% not needed for Bulleye.

HP38 will get you about 250 more fps at max, but will anything you shoot care is the real question.

WESHOOT2 · April 15, 2011, 07:19 AM

For the 357 Magnum case and 140g XTP-HP I most highly recommend H110.

Shootest · April 16, 2011, 01:52 PM

I do not recommend H-110 / WW 296 to a new reloader as it can not be loaded light. It goes against the start light and work up mentality, that is important for a new guy to learn. If someone went against my advice I would strongly recommend that the load NOT be reduced and a heavy crimp and magnum primers be used. When I was new to reloading, some 35 years ago, I had a bad experience with WW 296 and I am trying to prevent that from happening to anybody else. Luckily no one got hurt and the gun was fine but it can scare the @#%# out of you. I think Alliant 2400 is a better choice for the newbe since it can be loaded like a fire breathing monster and can still be down loaded safely. Save the H-110 till you get some practice under your belt.

Clifford L. Hughes · April 16, 2011, 04:11 PM

Freglord:

When I was competing with the .38 special in the center fire match I shot a 148 gr. bullet over 2.7 grains of Bullseye and it was very accurate. In a 357 mag. you should be able to shoot this load under a 140 gr. bullet because you have more case capicity. I'm not sure how the accuracy will be, but pressure wise you will be all right.

Sem[er Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
USMC Retired

zxcvbob · April 16, 2011, 04:35 PM

Alliant used to list .357 Bullseye loads before they gutted their load data. For a 158 grain JSP bullet, they recommend 6.8 grains (max), and for a 125 grain the max is 8.4 grains. So with a 140 grain jacketed bullet, you might try starting at 6.5 grains and working up to a little over 7.

April 14, 2011, 07:05 PM	#1
freqlord Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 58	reloading 140gr .357 with bullseye powder Yesterday my dad and I got the Lee's reloading guide, and a box of Hornaday XTP 140gr .38s. We have some bullseye powder that we're trying to use up before breaking out the HP38, but in all of our reloading data, we have not been able to find any 140gr recipes for Bullseye powder. Does anyone have any recipes? Thanks

April 14, 2011, 07:32 PM	#2
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Fast powders !!!! freqlord BE is as fast as they come & is most suited for low velocity loads in the 357. With a 140 gr. bullet you`ll be press to get a decent fps before pressure signs !!!! & this is why there`s no listing for it !! Now the hp-38/231 (same powders for yrs. now) is better suited & will build a decent load . If ya want true magnum performace get ya some H-110/WW296 (another powderthat has been the same for yrs.) & don`t down load it because this ball powder takes pressure to burn good. The differences is the burn rates & pressure peaks of the powders !! Have fun ,be safe !!!! __________________ GP100man

April 15, 2011, 07:19 AM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	ask me how I know For the 357 Magnum case and 140g XTP-HP I most highly recommend H110. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 16, 2011, 01:52 PM	#6
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	I do not recommend H-110 / WW 296 to a new reloader as it can not be loaded light. It goes against the start light and work up mentality, that is important for a new guy to learn. If someone went against my advice I would strongly recommend that the load NOT be reduced and a heavy crimp and magnum primers be used. When I was new to reloading, some 35 years ago, I had a bad experience with WW 296 and I am trying to prevent that from happening to anybody else. Luckily no one got hurt and the gun was fine but it can scare the @#%# out of you. I think Alliant 2400 is a better choice for the newbe since it can be loaded like a fire breathing monster and can still be down loaded safely. Save the H-110 till you get some practice under your belt. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

April 16, 2011, 04:11 PM	#7
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	Clifford L. Hughes Freglord: When I was competing with the .38 special in the center fire match I shot a 148 gr. bullet over 2.7 grains of Bullseye and it was very accurate. In a 357 mag. you should be able to shoot this load under a 140 gr. bullet because you have more case capicity. I'm not sure how the accuracy will be, but pressure wise you will be all right. Sem[er Fi. Gunnery sergeant Clifford L. Hughes USMC Retired

April 14, 2011, 08:16 PM	#3
freqlord Member Join Date: April 12, 2010 Location: Castle Rock, CO Posts: 58	Excellent! We shall go ahead and do that route! Thanks man!

April 14, 2011, 08:51 PM	#4
Adamantium Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 1999 Location: El Paso, TX Posts: 1,021	From the Lyman 49th edition reloading manual starting load is 5.7 grains for 705 fps, max is 8 grains for 1116 fps. OAL 1.590". They used a CCI 550 magnum primer, which is 100% not needed for Bulleye. HP38 will get you about 250 more fps at max, but will anything you shoot care is the real question.

April 16, 2011, 04:35 PM	#8
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Alliant used to list .357 Bullseye loads before they gutted their load data. For a 158 grain JSP bullet, they recommend 6.8 grains (max), and for a 125 grain the max is 8.4 grains. So with a 140 grain jacketed bullet, you might try starting at 6.5 grains and working up to a little over 7. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth