Powder for .357 Mag

[Big Dog]

Hi guys. Although I reload for my rifles I have never reloaded for pistol. I have ordered the dies for my .357 Mag.

What powder would you guys recommend??

I like 125g heads and I use Lee "Modern Reloasing manual 2nd addition"

[Sevens]

For warmer "magnum" type loads, I like to use Alliant 2400 powder. I would imagine you can get a little more performance out of something like H110 or Accurate #9, but 2400 gives me the few key things that mean the most for my purposes. Notably:

--this powder is widely available and easy to find
--meters quite well and gives me consistent drops
--decent charge weight isn't a tiny dose (like Bullseye) or a stupid small-rifle like charge
--don't need to use magnum primers get to good performance
--gives me decent accuracy from my 686
--has a LONG history of use by the grandfathers of modern handloading

I love to have a great selection of powders at my bench for experimenting, but when I find one that does what I like in a particular caliber, I tend to stick with it. 2400 is a good one for .357 Mag.

[GP100man]

2400 , H110 & ww296 will be your go to powder for higher end performance loads , work up accordingly!!!!

If utimate FPS is`nt the goal & accuracy is I would start with IMR 4227 , it`ll be the powder for heavier bullets .

Good Luck ,Have Fun & BE SAFE !!

Just reread your thread Big Dog , what powders are avaible to ya in Ireland???

[dahermit]

I like 125g heads

"heads", are called: "bullets".

[spacecoast]

I had very good results just yesterday at the range using 7.2 grains of Accurate #2 with a 125 gr. plated bullet. Not a 1650 fps screamer like Fiocchi 357Cs, but a very nice target load, and you can work up from there.

[Slamfire]

I recommend 2400. Based on my testing, it is not sensitive to primer type, you can vary the powder charge up and down without problems.

H110/W296 (the same powder), you have to load maximum loads. It is either full charges or nothing. H110 shoots well and gives excellent velocities, might be worth considering in a lever action.

AA#9 shot well. I don't have any issues, but you really can't cut the loads like you can with 2400.

I would avoid Blue Dot. The stuff leaded. Only worked well with Jacketed.

Smith & Wesson M27-2 6.5” Barrel			
					
					
158 LSWC  13.5grs 2400 R-P cases Fed 100 		
4-Sep-05	T = 80 °F				
Ave Vel =	1245				
Std Dev =	22.49				 
ES  =	97.26				 
High  =	1285				 
Low  =	1187				 
N =	32				 
					
158 LSWC 13.5grs 2400 R-P cases CCI primers		
9-Oct-05	T = 64 °F				
Ave Vel =	1273				
Std Dev =	44.03				 
ES  =	176.7				 
High  =	1372				 
Low  =	1195				 
N =	30				 
					
					
158 JHP 13.0 grs AA#9 R-P cases WSP			
9-Oct-05	T = 64 °F				
Ave Vel =	1156				
Std Dev =	35.63		 		 
ES  =	160.6				 
High  =	1230				 
Low  =	1069				 
N =	20				 
Very accurate					
					
			
					
158 JHP (W/W) 14.0 grs AA#9 R-P cases WSP		
9-Oct-05	T = 64 °F				
Ave Vel =	1208				
Std Dev =	27.65			 
ES  =	89				 
High  =	1255				 
Low  =	1166				 
N =	24				 
Very accurate					
		
158 JHP (W/W) 13.5 grains 2400 R-P cases WSP	 	
5-Aug-06	T = 102 °F				
Ave Vel =	1222		 		
Std Dev =	26.45		 		 
ES  =	72.12		 		 
High  =	1262				 
Low  =	1190				
 N =	5				 
					
			
158 LRN Valiant 12.0 grs AA#9 CCI500 Mixed cases 	 	
5-Aug-06	T = 104 °F				
Ave Vel =	1278		 		
Std Dev =	34.98				 
ES  =	117.4		 	 
High  =	1344			 
Low  =	1226				
 N =	27				 
Accurate					
					
158 LRN Valiant 12.5 grs AA#9 CCI500 3-D  cases 		
5-Aug-06	T = 104 ° F				
Ave Vel =	1348		 		
Std Dev =	34.16		 	 
ES  =	134.7			 
High  =	1386				 
Low  =	1251				
 N =	25				 
Very Accurate	no leading				
		
158 LRN Valiant 13.0 grs AA#9 CCI500 3-D cases 		
5-Aug-06	T = 104 °F				
Ave Vel =	1360		 		
Std Dev =	33.19		 	 
ES  =	109.8			 
High  =	1393				 
Low  =	1284				
 N =	26				 
Very Accurate					
		
158 JHP (W/W) 13.5 grains 2400 R-P cases WSP		
5-Aug-06	T = 103 °F				
Ave Vel =	1196		 		
Std Dev =	26.58				 
ES  =	87.17				 
High  =	1244				 
Low  =	1157				
 N =	10				 
accurate					
					
158 LSWC Linotype 12.0 AA#9 Mixed cases CCI500 	
	 				
21 June 2008 T =  85 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	1166				
Std Dev =	99				
ES =	251.8				
High =	1245				
Low =	993.3				
N =	6				
					
No leading					
					
158 LSWC Linotype 15.5 W296  Zero Cases CCI500 	
	 				
21 June 2008 T =  85 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	1282				
Std Dev =	35				
ES =	128.1				
High =	1325				
Low =	1197				
N =	12				
					
No leading, no extraction issues, heavier recoil than AA#9 load		
					
					
158 LSWC Linotype  15.5 W296  3D Cases CCI500 	
	 				
14 Oct 2008 T =  80 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	1260				
Std Dev =	34				
ES =	160.5				
High =	1315				
Low =	1154				
N =	18				
					
					
158 LRN Valiant 9.0 grains Blue Dot CCI500 Midway cases 	 	
5-Aug-06	T = 102 °F				
Ave Vel =	1203		 		
Std Dev =	29.22		 		 
ES  =	120.8			 
High  =	1261				 
Low  =	1141				
 N =	22				 
leading					
		
158 LRN Valiant 10.0 grains Blue Dot CCI500 Midway cases 	 	
5-Aug-06	T = 102 °F				
Ave Vel =	1290		 		
Std Dev =	24.91		 		 
ES  =	88.15			 
High  =	1324				 
Low  =	1235				
 N =	20				 
heavy leading

[res45]

I've used H110/IMR-4227 and 2400 for most of my shooting life in the 357 pretty much covers everything I have even had a need to shoot out of my Ruger BH. Nobody around here sells any of the AA powders.

[crimsondave]

I just started loading my .357 and I went with H110 and love it. My loads are HOT and they are not even max loads.

However, if you use H110 or ww296 do not load them lighter than what is in your manual.

[CowTowner]

H110 is all I use for the 357 Mag as well as the 41 Mag.

[Ksmoker]

I've used some hp38 in the 38's & 357's, has worked OK for me.
Sometimes I've had to use what was available in this area.

[rdmallory]

96 or 110 in a 2" snuby will make a BIG flash and bang.

Doug

[Mtn Biker]

I'm loading 125gr HP's with 20gr Win296 with SP mag primers. Chrono showed around 1400 fps and a nice "Bark"!

VL

[fourdollarbill]

357mag is my only caliber. Here are my long time choices.
Lite loads - Bullseye or Unique
Med Magnum loads - 2400
Heavy Mag loads - H110

[80viking]

2400 is an excellent choice for all the reasons stated above, the only problem with it is that the unburned kernels of powder [it resembles sand] will fowl a revolvers action without a heck of a lot of shooting, it would be my 1st choice for hunting, but for bowling pins or a lot of target shooting I use Blue Dot

[DiscoRacing]

Unique

try that with a nicely polished stainless gun:barf:
way too dirty for me
I use titegroup

[Blue Grass]

I use AA#5 for .357s. Very clean, accurate, meters well.

[FM12]

Another vote for AA#5 and bullseye.

[Big Dog]

Some good experience coming over here and that is just great. I think I may have to order powder over here to get what I want. Its not as easy as in the States where most good dealers will have a range of powders.

I really appreciate all your comments and I will hopefully make a good decision on the powder to buy. Once I get some I will post my findings.

Enjoy the rest of Christmas