Loading 2" .357

ligonierbill · May 25, 2007, 07:21 PM

Anyone care to share their best load for a short barrelled .357 (S&W Model 66 - 2")?

joneb · May 26, 2007, 01:39 AM

Best load for ? I have a 4" .357 mag. and use Blue Dot and AA#7 for jacked bullets with good results. Ramshot's True Blue would be another thought, but what are you after ?

ligonierbill · May 26, 2007, 06:55 AM

Just trying to burn most of the powder inside the gun instead of our in front of me. I have dies and brass, but I haven't loaded many for the revolver, since loading manuals are typically testing with fairly long barrels. Commercial ammo and my loads to date have a vicious muzzle flash. I see Buffalo Bore sells a special load for short barrels. Can I cook up something similar?

joneb · May 26, 2007, 12:46 PM

What will these loads be used for ? target, plinking, protection. What power level do you want ? do you have any powders on hand or bullets for .357 now?

A fast burning powder should reduce the flash, I have used Bullseye with lead and jacketed bullets for my target/plinker loads in .357 mag. I load these on the light side.
Bullseye will not fill the case much and a double charge could go unnoticed. Fast powders + heavy jacketed bullets = high pressures with upper end loads be very cautious.

If I had a .357 snub I might try Vihtavuori N330, sorry I couldn't be of more help

I forgot to mention that W-231 might work well, I've loaded 125,140 and 158gr plated I found that mag. primers were not needed with these loads and WSP improved my accuracy.

ligonierbill · May 27, 2007, 07:18 AM

Thanks. I'll try some lighter loads of faster powder. These loads are for defense, by the way. For plinking, I just get whatever .38 Special is on sale. I notice a fellow on another thread just fills the case with Unique. Don't think I'll try that.

joneb · May 27, 2007, 12:36 PM

Heres some data, Note that the Win. data measures pressure in CUP and Alliant's data is PSI These are different. I would reduce Alliant's data by 10% and work up, the Winchester data gives starting load weights.

http://www.wwpowder.com/data/handgun/357mag.php
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...nd%20Revolvers

Redneck with a 40 · May 27, 2007, 12:48 PM

I'm currently loading some 125 grain Remington semi jacketed hollow points with 9.5 grains of Unique with an advertised velocity of 1585 fps from a 6 inch barrel, I'm hoping for at least 1400 out of my 4 inch barrel. I bought a chronograph and will be testing these rounds, I'll let you know what they clock.

Unique is in the middle range of burn rate, so I would think it would work pretty well in a short barrel. Its about 40% slower than Bullseye.

joneb · May 27, 2007, 01:35 PM

Quote:

I have a can of AA#5,

Your holding out on me, http://www.accuratepowder.com/loadda...ard_357cal.htm
I think you can work up a load with #5 that will suite your needs

**Unclenick** · May 27, 2007, 06:21 PM

Bill,

You in Ligonier, PA? My grandparents had a cottage up there years ago.

Not much burns completely in those short barrels if either either lighter bullets or lower peak pressures are employed. An extremely heavy bullet and full magnum pressure will help the burning, but will kick like a mule in a light revolver.

I would suggest using the lowly 148 grain bevel base (not the hollow base) wadcutter. Seated flush with the mouth of a .357 case over 5 grains of Hodgdon Universal Clays and roll crimped, it will slap it out at around 900 fps, even from that short tube. These soft flat nose bullets have a surpisingly good stopping power reputation. The powder will burn completely in the tube. Keep in mind that a good portion of a muzzle flash is unburned hot material in the propellant gas lighting up when it meets oxygen outside. The pressure won't drop enough to cool it in the short barrel. Still, your velocity extreme spread will be much tighter than with a partially burning magnum powder. The drawback will be having to watch for leading to bulid up and to keep that cleaned out. Firelap if you need to for reducing leading.

5.0 grains of W231 will do almost the same thing as the Universal in combination with that bullet, will be easier to meter accurately from a measure, but will not burn as cleanly. Your choice in this regard.

Nick

ligonierbill · May 28, 2007, 10:15 AM

My aunt and uncle have a dairy farm near Ligonier, and we used to spend a few weeks with them each summer. My "other" firearms are French & Indian War era, but that's another forum. Thanks to all for the advice. Now to the range.

VUPDblue · May 28, 2007, 10:42 AM

Quote:

An extremely heavy bullet and full magnum pressure will help the burning, but will kick like a mule in a light revolver.

Very true, but the M66 is not a light revolver.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Boris The Blade

"The weight is sign of reliability, if it does not work, you can always hit him with it."

In my 2" 66-1 I have found that my Blue Dot magnum loads with 125gr bullets seem to be very ferocious. Huge fireball and deafening report, but the weight of the revolver mitigates a lot of the recoil. Some loads of heavier 158gr bullets and Unique seem to be a little more tame as far as the fireball is concerned.

Slamfire · May 28, 2007, 11:18 AM

If you duplicate 38 Special loads in your 357 the muzzle blast will be tolerable. I don't own a single 357 snubbie because of the fact that shooting full power loads in the things is like having a bomb go off in your hand. With pressures being around 40,000 pounds, powder types are not going to change that by much.

If you notice, 357 Snubbies are not as common as 38 Special snubbies. Weight and muzzle blast are the reasons.

joneb · May 28, 2007, 09:38 PM

I loaded up some .357 mag. today with W-231, I did this awhile back with Accura 125gr plated FP w/wsp primers and the loads shot well, the loads today were 140gr Raineer plated FP Rem.1 1/2 primers(I prefer WSP or Fed 100) and 6.7gr of w-231 the 30 out of 50 shot great for my 4" .357 the other 20rnds I'll test for accuracy against 6.9 and 7.2gr of 231.
Another load that is very accurate for me is 140gr plated FP 8.2gr AA#5 and WSP my COL for the 140gr Raineer is 1.585", This load I worked down for accuracy.

rg1 · May 29, 2007, 11:17 PM

My best load in a 2.5" barrell .357 magnum was 13.7 grains of Blue Dot, 125gr Hornady XTP's, RP case, CCI 500 sp primer, Hornady''s recommended oal at 1.590". This load gave 1260fps in the 2.5" barrel.
I would recommend that you use a standard small pistol primer in Blue Dot or faster pistol powders. They gave me much better consistancy. You only need the small pistol magnum primer for the slower powders such as 296, 2400, H110, etc.

joneb · May 30, 2007, 01:02 AM

I had some 10yr old AA#7 that worked well with WSP for .357 mag. and Fed 150 in .44spl the new can of AA#7 I got looked quite different from the old and does not ignite as easilyreloading 012.jpg, I now need to use WSPM and WLP for these loads

But my loads with blue Dot have worked very well with Small pistol primers in .357 mag.

May 25, 2007, 07:21 PM	#1
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	Loading 2" .357 Anyone care to share their best load for a short barrelled .357 (S&W Model 66 - 2")?

May 26, 2007, 12:46 PM	#4
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	What will these loads be used for ? target, plinking, protection. What power level do you want ? do you have any powders on hand or bullets for .357 now? A fast burning powder should reduce the flash, I have used Bullseye with lead and jacketed bullets for my target/plinker loads in .357 mag. I load these on the light side. Bullseye will not fill the case much and a double charge could go unnoticed. Fast powders + heavy jacketed bullets = high pressures with upper end loads be very cautious. If I had a .357 snub I might try Vihtavuori N330, sorry I couldn't be of more help I forgot to mention that W-231 might work well, I've loaded 125,140 and 158gr plated I found that mag. primers were not needed with these loads and WSP improved my accuracy. Last edited by joneb; May 26, 2007 at 01:42 PM.

May 27, 2007, 06:21 PM	#9
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,060	Bill, You in Ligonier, PA? My grandparents had a cottage up there years ago. Not much burns completely in those short barrels if either either lighter bullets or lower peak pressures are employed. An extremely heavy bullet and full magnum pressure will help the burning, but will kick like a mule in a light revolver. I would suggest using the lowly 148 grain bevel base (not the hollow base) wadcutter. Seated flush with the mouth of a .357 case over 5 grains of Hodgdon Universal Clays and roll crimped, it will slap it out at around 900 fps, even from that short tube. These soft flat nose bullets have a surpisingly good stopping power reputation. The powder will burn completely in the tube. Keep in mind that a good portion of a muzzle flash is unburned hot material in the propellant gas lighting up when it meets oxygen outside. The pressure won't drop enough to cool it in the short barrel. Still, your velocity extreme spread will be much tighter than with a partially burning magnum powder. The drawback will be having to watch for leading to bulid up and to keep that cleaned out. Firelap if you need to for reducing leading. 5.0 grains of W231 will do almost the same thing as the Universal in combination with that bullet, will be easier to meter accurately from a measure, but will not burn as cleanly. Your choice in this regard. Nick __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

May 26, 2007, 01:39 AM	#2
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	Best load for ? I have a 4" .357 mag. and use Blue Dot and AA#7 for jacked bullets with good results. Ramshot's True Blue would be another thought, but what are you after ?

May 26, 2007, 06:55 AM	#3
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	Just trying to burn most of the powder inside the gun instead of our in front of me. I have dies and brass, but I haven't loaded many for the revolver, since loading manuals are typically testing with fairly long barrels. Commercial ammo and my loads to date have a vicious muzzle flash. I see Buffalo Bore sells a special load for short barrels. Can I cook up something similar?

May 27, 2007, 07:18 AM	#5
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	Thanks. I'll try some lighter loads of faster powder. These loads are for defense, by the way. For plinking, I just get whatever .38 Special is on sale. I notice a fellow on another thread just fills the case with Unique. Don't think I'll try that.

May 27, 2007, 12:36 PM	#6
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	Heres some data, Note that the Win. data measures pressure in CUP and Alliant's data is PSI These are different. I would reduce Alliant's data by 10% and work up, the Winchester data gives starting load weights. http://www.wwpowder.com/data/handgun/357mag.php http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloade...nd%20Revolvers

May 27, 2007, 12:48 PM	#7
Redneck with a 40 Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2006 Posts: 336	How about Unique, works for me I'm currently loading some 125 grain Remington semi jacketed hollow points with 9.5 grains of Unique with an advertised velocity of 1585 fps from a 6 inch barrel, I'm hoping for at least 1400 out of my 4 inch barrel. I bought a chronograph and will be testing these rounds, I'll let you know what they clock. Unique is in the middle range of burn rate, so I would think it would work pretty well in a short barrel. Its about 40% slower than Bullseye.

May 28, 2007, 10:15 AM	#10
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,448	My aunt and uncle have a dairy farm near Ligonier, and we used to spend a few weeks with them each summer. My "other" firearms are French & Indian War era, but that's another forum. Thanks to all for the advice. Now to the range.

May 28, 2007, 11:18 AM	#12
Slamfire Senior Member Join Date: May 27, 2007 Posts: 5,261	If you duplicate 38 Special loads in your 357 the muzzle blast will be tolerable. I don't own a single 357 snubbie because of the fact that shooting full power loads in the things is like having a bomb go off in your hand. With pressures being around 40,000 pounds, powder types are not going to change that by much. If you notice, 357 Snubbies are not as common as 38 Special snubbies. Weight and muzzle blast are the reasons.

May 28, 2007, 09:38 PM	#13
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	I loaded up some .357 mag. today with W-231, I did this awhile back with Accura 125gr plated FP w/wsp primers and the loads shot well, the loads today were 140gr Raineer plated FP Rem.1 1/2 primers(I prefer WSP or Fed 100) and 6.7gr of w-231 the 30 out of 50 shot great for my 4" .357 the other 20rnds I'll test for accuracy against 6.9 and 7.2gr of 231. Another load that is very accurate for me is 140gr plated FP 8.2gr AA#5 and WSP my COL for the 140gr Raineer is 1.585", This load I worked down for accuracy.

May 29, 2007, 11:17 PM	#14
rg1 Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Posts: 1,125	My best load in a 2.5" barrell .357 magnum was 13.7 grains of Blue Dot, 125gr Hornady XTP's, RP case, CCI 500 sp primer, Hornady''s recommended oal at 1.590". This load gave 1260fps in the 2.5" barrel. I would recommend that you use a standard small pistol primer in Blue Dot or faster pistol powders. They gave me much better consistancy. You only need the small pistol magnum primer for the slower powders such as 296, 2400, H110, etc.

May 30, 2007, 01:02 AM	#15
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	I had some 10yr old AA#7 that worked well with WSP for .357 mag. and Fed 150 in .44spl the new can of AA#7 I got looked quite different from the old and does not ignite as easilyreloading 012.jpg, I now need to use WSPM and WLP for these loads But my loads with blue Dot have worked very well with Small pistol primers in .357 mag.