.357 magnum Ruger Vs Smith load

DavidAGO · October 30, 2009, 09:41 PM

In the past, I have loaded .357 magnum for use in my 6" ruger GP100 with a cast SWC, 158 gr., pushed by up to 14.5 gr.s of 2400. A stout load, but no signs of overpressure, they go boom without the gun going boom. This deer season, I want to take out the Smith & Wesson 686, 8'' barrel. Lyman's says 14.8 gr max for a 155 gr LSWC. Looking online, Alliant doesn't give data for lead bullets. My older Lyman's lists 15 gr max. Having heard that Rugers will take a heavier load, I want to err on the side of caution and start with 13 gr of 2400, moving up by .5 grains (10 rounds of each). Is the "ruger load" for real? is the smith less able to handle the maximum loads of 15 grains?

DavidAGO

Sport45 · October 30, 2009, 11:30 PM

Your Smith should be good for any published .357mag load. Provided, of course, that you start at the "start" load and work your way up to "max" stopping when the accuracy suits you without sticky extraction.

tom234 · October 31, 2009, 12:07 AM

FYI. The 1996 and 2001 Reloader's Guide lists the max .357 mag 158 gr LSWC load with 2400 as 15.3 gr.
You might want to look on the Internet for copies of the old Alliant Reloader's Guides. Sadly, since ATK owns Alliant and Speer, Alliant only publishes Speer jacketed bulled loads and then only in 3-4 powders they want to push. The older guides listed data with 8-9 powder options. I used to be a Hercules/Alliant fan but now I've switched to AA.

GP100man · October 31, 2009, 12:14 AM

with todays Alliant 2400 13-13.5 grs would be puttin a good head of steam out of a longer barreled revolver!!!any more i bet would be skiddin em out , no matter how hard or with a GC.

Is your bullet a 358156 with gas check?????

when workin up loads there`ll be a sweet spot that the revolver likes , then any futher will only result in groups openin up . I found this out with a 357 Redhawk & being young & all then, i pushed the envelope with that revolver so to speak!

Jeff H · October 31, 2009, 09:21 AM

I regularly shoot 15g of 2400 with no issues at all behind a 158g LSWC. 15.3 is max in the info that I have available to me. (several year old Alliant data and Lee data)

steveno · October 31, 2009, 03:11 PM

I would say that there isn't any such thing as a "Ruger" 357 load. a load that is safe in the Ruger should be safe in the S & W. there may be a little different loads for 45 Colt using a Ruger or Freedom Arms but not for a 357.

B.L.E. · October 31, 2009, 04:56 PM

The same load may actually develop more pressure in a Smith and Wesson than it does in a Ruger. It seems to me that all my Ruger barrels were bored to the big side of SAMMI specs. I gotta shoot .359 cast bullets in my Ruger or it will completely lead the barrel.

Slamfire · October 31, 2009, 08:59 PM

Quote:

The same load may actually develop more pressure in a Smith and Wesson than it does in a Ruger. It seems to me that all my Ruger barrels were bored to the big side of SAMMI specs.

I believe this is true. It may not be a Ruger versus S&W thing, but loads that I have to pound out of the cylinder of my M27, they fall out of the cylinder of my three screw Blackhawk.

I think the chamber mouths are larger in the Ruger. Might be something else different, but I have never slugged the barrels.

B.L.E. · October 31, 2009, 09:50 PM

Smith & Wessons are hard to slug because they like to use 5 groove rifling. You can't just measure the slug with a micrometer because a land is always opposite of a groove. You need a series of calibrated holes to use a go-nogo gauges for the slug in order to measure it.

That'll Do · October 31, 2009, 11:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tom234

FYI. The 1996 and 2001 Reloader's Guide lists the max .357 mag 158 gr LSWC load with 2400 as 15.3 gr.
You might want to look on the Internet for copies of the old Alliant Reloader's Guides. Sadly, since ATK owns Alliant and Speer, Alliant only publishes Speer jacketed bulled loads and then only in 3-4 powders they want to push. The older guides listed data with 8-9 powder options. I used to be a Hercules/Alliant fan but now I've switched to AA.

Here's a link to the older Alliant reloading guide: alliant_reloader_pdf
Once you click the link, go to the bottom of the page, and click the "Download Now" button.

It is ten times better than what Alliant currently offers on their website.

flyguy958 · November 1, 2009, 08:23 AM

"Here's a link to the older Alliant reloading guide: alliant_reloader_pdf"

I must not be computer smart, I can't figure how to download this!

bedlamite · November 1, 2009, 08:30 AM

flyguy, The link is at the bottom of the page, after they describe how much faster it is if you send them money. You have to wait 30 seconds after clicking it and it gives you the actual download link.

That'll Do · November 1, 2009, 11:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bedlamite

flyguy, The link is at the bottom of the page, after they describe how much faster it is if you send them money. You have to wait 30 seconds after clicking it and it gives you the actual download link.

A lot of work just to get the reloading guide, eh? I tried to add it as an attachment to my post, but the file size was too large.

rogn · November 1, 2009, 03:55 PM

I dont believe safety is any issue with either of the 2 revolvers, but the Smths tend to get looser and rattle faster than the Rugers, not a matter of quality or safety, just structure. Hard to beat Rugers. theyre on a par with farm equiptment, really cant get em to wear out.

orionengnr · November 2, 2009, 03:12 PM

That link seems to be stuck in a loop, never actually takes you anywhere. I gave up after three tries...

crimsondave · November 2, 2009, 07:04 PM

Let me start by saying I vastly prefer S&W to Ruger. However, unless something has changed, no one builds a stronger mass produced revolver than Ruger.

I've seen a Taurus revolver destroyed with loads (over max) regularly shot out of a Ruger.

October 30, 2009, 09:41 PM	#1
DavidAGO Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2008 Location: Magnolia, AR Posts: 340	.357 magnum Ruger Vs Smith load In the past, I have loaded .357 magnum for use in my 6" ruger GP100 with a cast SWC, 158 gr., pushed by up to 14.5 gr.s of 2400. A stout load, but no signs of overpressure, they go boom without the gun going boom. This deer season, I want to take out the Smith & Wesson 686, 8'' barrel. Lyman's says 14.8 gr max for a 155 gr LSWC. Looking online, Alliant doesn't give data for lead bullets. My older Lyman's lists 15 gr max. Having heard that Rugers will take a heavier load, I want to err on the side of caution and start with 13 gr of 2400, moving up by .5 grains (10 rounds of each). Is the "ruger load" for real? is the smith less able to handle the maximum loads of 15 grains? DavidAGO

October 30, 2009, 11:30 PM	#2
Sport45 Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 1999 Location: Too close to Houston Posts: 4,196	Your Smith should be good for any published .357mag load. Provided, of course, that you start at the "start" load and work your way up to "max" stopping when the accuracy suits you without sticky extraction. __________________ Proud member of the NRA and Texas State Rifle Association. Registered and active voter.

October 31, 2009, 12:07 AM	#3
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	FYI. The 1996 and 2001 Reloader's Guide lists the max .357 mag 158 gr LSWC load with 2400 as 15.3 gr. You might want to look on the Internet for copies of the old Alliant Reloader's Guides. Sadly, since ATK owns Alliant and Speer, Alliant only publishes Speer jacketed bulled loads and then only in 3-4 powders they want to push. The older guides listed data with 8-9 powder options. I used to be a Hercules/Alliant fan but now I've switched to AA. Last edited by tom234; October 31, 2009 at 12:30 AM.

October 31, 2009, 12:14 AM	#4
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	with todays Alliant 2400 13-13.5 grs would be puttin a good head of steam out of a longer barreled revolver!!!any more i bet would be skiddin em out , no matter how hard or with a GC. Is your bullet a 358156 with gas check????? when workin up loads there`ll be a sweet spot that the revolver likes , then any futher will only result in groups openin up . I found this out with a 357 Redhawk & being young & all then, i pushed the envelope with that revolver so to speak! __________________ GP100man

November 1, 2009, 08:30 AM	#12
bedlamite Senior Member Join Date: August 10, 2000 Location: WI Posts: 1,395	flyguy, The link is at the bottom of the page, after they describe how much faster it is if you send them money. You have to wait 30 seconds after clicking it and it gives you the actual download link. __________________ A plan is just a list of things that doesn't happen.

October 31, 2009, 09:21 AM	#5
Jeff H Senior Member Join Date: August 20, 2009 Posts: 176	I regularly shoot 15g of 2400 with no issues at all behind a 158g LSWC. 15.3 is max in the info that I have available to me. (several year old Alliant data and Lee data)

October 31, 2009, 03:11 PM	#6
steveno Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2004 Location: Minden , Nebraska Posts: 1,407	I would say that there isn't any such thing as a "Ruger" 357 load. a load that is safe in the Ruger should be safe in the S & W. there may be a little different loads for 45 Colt using a Ruger or Freedom Arms but not for a 357.

October 31, 2009, 04:56 PM	#7
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	The same load may actually develop more pressure in a Smith and Wesson than it does in a Ruger. It seems to me that all my Ruger barrels were bored to the big side of SAMMI specs. I gotta shoot .359 cast bullets in my Ruger or it will completely lead the barrel.

October 31, 2009, 09:50 PM	#9
B.L.E. Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2008 Location: Somewhere on the Southern shore of Lake Travis, TX Posts: 2,603	Smith & Wessons are hard to slug because they like to use 5 groove rifling. You can't just measure the slug with a micrometer because a land is always opposite of a groove. You need a series of calibrated holes to use a go-nogo gauges for the slug in order to measure it.

November 1, 2009, 08:23 AM	#11
flyguy958 Senior Member Join Date: June 27, 2009 Location: SC Posts: 200	"Here's a link to the older Alliant reloading guide: alliant_reloader_pdf" I must not be computer smart, I can't figure how to download this!

November 1, 2009, 03:55 PM	#14
rogn Senior Member Join Date: December 25, 2005 Posts: 203	S&W v. Ruger I dont believe safety is any issue with either of the 2 revolvers, but the Smths tend to get looser and rattle faster than the Rugers, not a matter of quality or safety, just structure. Hard to beat Rugers. theyre on a par with farm equiptment, really cant get em to wear out. Last edited by rogn; November 1, 2009 at 04:04 PM. Reason: fat fingers

November 2, 2009, 03:12 PM	#15
orionengnr Senior Member Join Date: July 9, 2004 Posts: 5,177	That link seems to be stuck in a loop, never actually takes you anywhere. I gave up after three tries...

November 2, 2009, 07:04 PM	#16
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	Let me start by saying I vastly prefer S&W to Ruger. However, unless something has changed, no one builds a stronger mass produced revolver than Ruger. I've seen a Taurus revolver destroyed with loads (over max) regularly shot out of a Ruger.