good powder for .357 mag

rbf420 · January 21, 2011, 01:18 AM

whats a good accurate powder for .357 loads with a bullet of 158 grains? im using 700x at the moment.

mc223 · January 21, 2011, 01:24 AM

Unique, 2400

WESHOOT2 · January 21, 2011, 07:44 AM

How fast?

jmortimer · January 21, 2011, 09:17 AM

+1 Unique and 2400 - Unique for moderate and 2400 for near max. If you want more 296 or 110. Alliant has new powder 300M which might be worth checking out. I have not seen load data for it but I'm sure it's on their site.

Jim243 · January 21, 2011, 09:42 AM

Alliant 2400 powder

cerberus65 · January 21, 2011, 10:19 AM

I use BlueDot and 2400 for full power loads. I've tried but haven't settled on TrailBoss for lighter loads. TrailBoss shot great (a bit smelly) but I'm just not done experimenting.

**Mike Irwin** · January 21, 2011, 10:22 AM

For moderate loads, WW 231.

For heavy loads, up to full power, WW 296 or AA 7.

FlyFish · January 21, 2011, 10:34 AM

For full-house loads, I started using W296/H110 (same powder, different brands) nearly 40 years ago and never found a need to look further.

AlaskaMike · January 21, 2011, 11:43 AM

I came back to 2400 for my full power .357 mag loads where I was previously using 296, both with 158 grain cast SWCs.

For midrange I use either 231 or Power Pistol, depending on where in that midrange I want velocity to be--231 on the light side, and PP on the fast side. I played around a lot with Blue Dot early on with the .357 and have come to dislike it tremendously. I had settled on a load of 10.2 grains with a 158 grain cast bullet, and it was mostly adequate. What I didn't like was that just going up two-tenths of a grain to 10.4 gave a significant jump in velocity and sticky extraction in my S&W model 28. Blue Dot seems to work better in short, fat cartridges where you get a bigger expansion ratio as the bullet starts heading out of the chamber.

Brian Pearce did a nice article in a recent issue of Handloader about AA#9. He cited a number of factors why he preferred it in .357 magnum, including far less blast and flash while still providing similar velocities as other popular magnum handgun powders.

BigJimP · January 21, 2011, 12:55 PM

I like Hodgdon TiteGroup ...

Its been a good powder for me...meters very well, shoots pretty clean...

DiscoRacing · January 21, 2011, 12:58 PM

Thats what IM talking bout BigJimP

Quantrill · January 21, 2011, 01:00 PM

Light loads, I stick with 700X, heavy loads, 4759.

spacecoast · January 21, 2011, 01:27 PM

Titegroup for target loads, H110 for flamethrowers to blow away those around you at the range (but still accurate).

Clay · January 21, 2011, 01:34 PM

As has been mentioned, for the powerhouse loads... H110. I love it as it's the best for full power in all my magnum guns ... 357, 44 and 460.

700cdl · January 21, 2011, 02:14 PM

I'm a fan of H110 and 296 of course. But Mike Irwin mentioned AA#7. I noticed it provides a little bit more velocity, but is the accurcay still in tact as is with H110/296?

**Mike Irwin** · January 21, 2011, 02:17 PM

I've never benched any rounds I've loaded with AA 7, but they don't seem to be any more or less accurate when I've been shooting them out of my Smith & Wessons.

I originally got the AA 7 for use in my 10mm, but when I got rid of that I decided to try it in .41 Mag and .357. It's good for both cartridges.

PawPaw · January 21, 2011, 06:47 PM

If you haven't tried L'il Gun in the .357, you're missing a bet. I've gone to it almost exclusively for my .357 work and save the 2400 for the .44 magnum.

castnblast · January 23, 2011, 05:47 PM

Hy hunting round is a 125 hornady XTP and 21.5 gr of H110. Recoil is suprisingly light, and very, very accurate. Doesn't matter how fast it gets there if you miss

zxcvbob · January 23, 2011, 06:00 PM

AA#7. It is just like Blue Dot, but without the drama, and it meters better.

Herco is great with 158 grain cast bullets. Probably good with jacketed too, I dunno. It's like a slower burning version of Unique.

2400 is probably the best .357 Magnum powder for full "magnum" loads. It gives you almost the performance of 296, it's a little more economical because you use less (not much less), and you don't have to worry about magnum primers or too-low load density like you do with 296.

But I mostly just used Herco until I bought a bunch of surplus AA#7 cheap.

BTW, 296 and H110 are the same powder now. They may or may not have been the same back when St. Mark's was making them for Hodgdon and Winchester. But now Hodgdon owns and distributes Winchester powder and they consolidated a few popular powders and kept both names.

January 21, 2011, 01:18 AM	#1
rbf420 Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2009 Posts: 166	good powder for .357 mag whats a good accurate powder for .357 loads with a bullet of 158 grains? im using 700x at the moment. __________________ My Calibers- 9mm, .38spl, .357 mag, .45 acp, 30/06, 303 brit, 7.7 jap, 7.5 french.

January 21, 2011, 07:44 AM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	speed limit How fast? __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

January 21, 2011, 09:42 AM	#5
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	Alliant 2400 powder __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

January 21, 2011, 12:58 PM	#11
DiscoRacing Senior Member Join Date: December 19, 2008 Location: milton, wv Posts: 3,640	Thats what IM talking bout BigJimP __________________ Desert Eagle Alliance Group Launcher Extraordinaire ______ ----Get Busy Live'n.....Or....Get Busy Die'n......Red -------They call me Dr. Bob,,,, I have a PhD in S&W

January 21, 2011, 02:17 PM	#16
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	I've never benched any rounds I've loaded with AA 7, but they don't seem to be any more or less accurate when I've been shooting them out of my Smith & Wessons. I originally got the AA 7 for use in my 10mm, but when I got rid of that I decided to try it in .41 Mag and .357. It's good for both cartridges. __________________ "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.

January 21, 2011, 01:24 AM	#2
mc223 Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2007 Location: n/w Wisconsin Posts: 365	Unique, 2400

January 21, 2011, 09:17 AM	#4
jmortimer Junior member Join Date: January 24, 2010 Location: South West Riverside County California Posts: 2,763	+1 Unique and 2400 - Unique for moderate and 2400 for near max. If you want more 296 or 110. Alliant has new powder 300M which might be worth checking out. I have not seen load data for it but I'm sure it's on their site.

January 21, 2011, 10:19 AM	#6
cerberus65 Senior Member Join Date: April 30, 2008 Posts: 384	I use BlueDot and 2400 for full power loads. I've tried but haven't settled on TrailBoss for lighter loads. TrailBoss shot great (a bit smelly) but I'm just not done experimenting.

January 21, 2011, 10:22 AM	#7
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,389	For moderate loads, WW 231. For heavy loads, up to full power, WW 296 or AA 7. __________________ "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.

January 21, 2011, 10:34 AM	#8
FlyFish Senior Member Join Date: January 20, 2009 Location: Overlooking the Baker River Valley Posts: 1,723	For full-house loads, I started using W296/H110 (same powder, different brands) nearly 40 years ago and never found a need to look further.

January 21, 2011, 11:43 AM	#9
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	I came back to 2400 for my full power .357 mag loads where I was previously using 296, both with 158 grain cast SWCs. For midrange I use either 231 or Power Pistol, depending on where in that midrange I want velocity to be--231 on the light side, and PP on the fast side. I played around a lot with Blue Dot early on with the .357 and have come to dislike it tremendously. I had settled on a load of 10.2 grains with a 158 grain cast bullet, and it was mostly adequate. What I didn't like was that just going up two-tenths of a grain to 10.4 gave a significant jump in velocity and sticky extraction in my S&W model 28. Blue Dot seems to work better in short, fat cartridges where you get a bigger expansion ratio as the bullet starts heading out of the chamber. Brian Pearce did a nice article in a recent issue of Handloader about AA#9. He cited a number of factors why he preferred it in .357 magnum, including far less blast and flash while still providing similar velocities as other popular magnum handgun powders.

January 21, 2011, 12:55 PM	#10
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I like Hodgdon TiteGroup ... Its been a good powder for me...meters very well, shoots pretty clean...

January 21, 2011, 01:00 PM	#12
Quantrill Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 1999 Location: Arizona, USA Posts: 725	Light loads, I stick with 700X, heavy loads, 4759.

January 21, 2011, 01:27 PM	#13
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Titegroup for target loads, H110 for flamethrowers to blow away those around you at the range (but still accurate).

January 21, 2011, 01:34 PM	#14
Clay Senior Member Join Date: November 11, 2009 Posts: 166	As has been mentioned, for the powerhouse loads... H110. I love it as it's the best for full power in all my magnum guns ... 357, 44 and 460.

January 21, 2011, 02:14 PM	#15
700cdl Senior Member Join Date: December 6, 2010 Posts: 216	I'm a fan of H110 and 296 of course. But Mike Irwin mentioned AA#7. I noticed it provides a little bit more velocity, but is the accurcay still in tact as is with H110/296?

January 21, 2011, 06:47 PM	#17
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	If you haven't tried L'il Gun in the .357, you're missing a bet. I've gone to it almost exclusively for my .357 work and save the 2400 for the .44 magnum. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

January 23, 2011, 05:47 PM	#18
castnblast Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 2006 Location: Corpus Christi TX Posts: 1,148	Hy hunting round is a 125 hornady XTP and 21.5 gr of H110. Recoil is suprisingly light, and very, very accurate. Doesn't matter how fast it gets there if you miss __________________ VEGETARIAN...old indian word for bad hunter

January 23, 2011, 06:00 PM	#19
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	AA#7. It is just like Blue Dot, but without the drama, and it meters better. Herco is great with 158 grain cast bullets. Probably good with jacketed too, I dunno. It's like a slower burning version of Unique. 2400 is probably the best .357 Magnum powder for full "magnum" loads. It gives you almost the performance of 296, it's a little more economical because you use less (not much less), and you don't have to worry about magnum primers or too-low load density like you do with 296. But I mostly just used Herco until I bought a bunch of surplus AA#7 cheap. BTW, 296 and H110 are the same powder now. They may or may not have been the same back when St. Mark's was making them for Hodgdon and Winchester. But now Hodgdon owns and distributes Winchester powder and they consolidated a few popular powders and kept both names. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth