.357 using Unique...

Leadbelcher · October 21, 2008, 09:29 PM

Quick question-

Alliant says for a 158 LSWC use 6 gr Unique--My Lee powder measure will go 6.1, or down inthe 5's. Will 6.1 be okay?
I'm kinda new at this...

Thanks all!
LB

DMZX · October 21, 2008, 09:50 PM

Speer 13 list 6.0 grains of Unique as the max load with a LSWC. I would not use that load as It would probably result in some lead fouling.

I would drop down to 5.5 grains or less.

Leadbelcher · October 21, 2008, 10:33 PM

Hey

Thanks, DMZX. The load I went with was 5.4 gr. It shot pretty well,

LB

Stick_man · October 22, 2008, 12:42 AM

A lot depends on the hardness of your lead. If you have a soft lead, 6.0 grains will leave a lot in the barrel. If you have some pretty hard lead, 6.1 or even 6.2 will still give pretty good results in most guns. Most lead loads try to stay below 1000fps to keep leading the barrel to a minimum. I used to load 5.8gr Unique with pretty good results and virtually no noticeable leading. Then I decided to load only jacketed bullets for the .357 and relegated all my lead SWCs to the .38spcl rounds.

joneb · October 24, 2008, 12:29 PM

Alliant's data recently changed, before for .357 mag. their data with a LSWC ? showed 6.8gr of Unique as max, less 10% would be a start charge of 6.1gr. So as Stick_man said it depends on the bullet.

AlaskaMike · October 24, 2008, 01:55 PM

I guess my experience differs significantly from everyone else. Most (all?) commercially cast bullets (and I do not include the soft Speer LSWCs because they're swaged, not cast) are perfectly hard enough for full jacketed velocity in most revolvers. Even my soft air-cooled wheelweight alloy bullets don't lead my revolvers, even at 1350 fps in my 4" model 28.

With Unique, I'm happy with 7.0 grains, but I've actually gone as high as 8.0. Obviously these are above the max in some current manuals, so don't start with those loads! If I want velocity there are much better powders to use instead of Unique. From my notes, 7.0 grains gave about 1100 and 8.0 gave about 1180 fps. The particular bullet I used was a Lyman 356477, which is a 158 grain SWC, cast from plain wheel weight alloy. I've also used Lasercast 158 SWCs with the same charges, although I didn't chronograph them. As I recall they were nicely accurate and didn't lead the barrel either.

Mike

October 21, 2008, 09:29 PM	#1
Leadbelcher Member Join Date: May 8, 2008 Posts: 41	.357 using Unique... Quick question- Alliant says for a 158 LSWC use 6 gr Unique--My Lee powder measure will go 6.1, or down inthe 5's. Will 6.1 be okay? I'm kinda new at this... Thanks all! LB

October 21, 2008, 09:50 PM	#2
DMZX Senior Member Join Date: June 6, 2007 Location: E. Oregon Posts: 563	Speer 13 list 6.0 grains of Unique as the max load with a LSWC. I would not use that load as It would probably result in some lead fouling. I would drop down to 5.5 grains or less.

October 21, 2008, 10:33 PM	#3
Leadbelcher Member Join Date: May 8, 2008 Posts: 41	Hey Thanks, DMZX. The load I went with was 5.4 gr. It shot pretty well, LB

October 22, 2008, 12:42 AM	#4
Stick_man Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2008 Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Posts: 241	A lot depends on the hardness of your lead. If you have a soft lead, 6.0 grains will leave a lot in the barrel. If you have some pretty hard lead, 6.1 or even 6.2 will still give pretty good results in most guns. Most lead loads try to stay below 1000fps to keep leading the barrel to a minimum. I used to load 5.8gr Unique with pretty good results and virtually no noticeable leading. Then I decided to load only jacketed bullets for the .357 and relegated all my lead SWCs to the .38spcl rounds.

October 24, 2008, 12:29 PM	#5
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	Alliant's data recently changed, before for .357 mag. their data with a LSWC ? showed 6.8gr of Unique as max, less 10% would be a start charge of 6.1gr. So as Stick_man said it depends on the bullet.

October 24, 2008, 01:55 PM	#6
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	I guess my experience differs significantly from everyone else. Most (all?) commercially cast bullets (and I do not include the soft Speer LSWCs because they're swaged, not cast) are perfectly hard enough for full jacketed velocity in most revolvers. Even my soft air-cooled wheelweight alloy bullets don't lead my revolvers, even at 1350 fps in my 4" model 28. With Unique, I'm happy with 7.0 grains, but I've actually gone as high as 8.0. Obviously these are above the max in some current manuals, so don't start with those loads! If I want velocity there are much better powders to use instead of Unique. From my notes, 7.0 grains gave about 1100 and 8.0 gave about 1180 fps. The particular bullet I used was a Lyman 356477, which is a 158 grain SWC, cast from plain wheel weight alloy. I've also used Lasercast 158 SWCs with the same charges, although I didn't chronograph them. As I recall they were nicely accurate and didn't lead the barrel either. Mike