38 load in 357 mag case ?

rebs · February 3, 2015, 05:51 PM

I am loading 148 lhbwc's with 2.7 gr of bullseye and standard primer in 357 mag cases.
I ran out of standard primers but have some magnum primers. Would it be ok to use the mag primers with this load ?

hartcreek · February 3, 2015, 05:56 PM

There was a post on this less then two weeks ago about the possibility of hangfires because of the lack of volume in the cases.

It would be much better to bump your powder charge up to 3.0-3.3 grains.

Hammerhead · February 4, 2015, 03:36 AM

It should be fine to use magnum primers with such a light charge.

mikejonestkd · February 4, 2015, 06:43 AM

Magnum primers are OK, but you should bump up the powder by .2 or more grains.
For me- I find 3.3 grains of bullseye under a 148 gr wadcutter in 357 to be very mild and accurate. YMMV

TimSr · February 4, 2015, 08:29 AM

It's not going to be a problem, nor is case volume. You're using Bullseye, and a wadcutter.

WIL TERRY · February 4, 2015, 01:02 PM

EXTENSIVE testing of WC loads in 357MAG brass showed that using Bullseye required a four [ 4.0gr] grain charge for the series of pistols I used to do their best. That load was right at 850--900fps in all the pistols depending on BBL length and all of 'em shot to beat the band wirg one-groups quite common, even from the 2" guns.
The pressure of that load was all but identical to pressures from 38SPL full charge WC or SWC loads.
ALSO...an old lot of the ORIGINAL Herters 357MAG brass shot the best groups as it was ever so slightly on the thin side and I used a 38S&W/38SUPER FL sizing die to keep in that way. some of the bullets could be seated by hand, TC crimped, and shot into little itty bitty tiny you're-frickin'-kiddin'-me groups.
And let me note that a 38 WC bullet at 850-900fps knockes the everlovin' stew outta small game.
And so it goes...

T. O'Heir · February 4, 2015, 03:23 PM

"...EXTENSIVE testing of WC loads in 357MAG brass showed that using Bullseye required a four [4.0gr] grain charge..." Does not. Shot bullseye for eons using .357 brass and 2.5 of Bullseye.
"...38S&W/38SUPER FL..." A what?
Magnum primers will up the pressures a bit, but not anywhere near dangerous.

WIL TERRY · February 4, 2015, 04:33 PM

YES...but I do not like those popgun WC loads. YOU did not understand the sentence ! ALL THE GUNS SHOT THE BEST WITH THOSE TYPE LOADS !
A LYMAN FL carbide sizing die for the 38S&W cartridge, which is also the same I.D. as the 38SUPER die and was so made to size both AND IS SO MARKED.
READ GUN/HANDLOADING HISTORY.
....and so it goes...

February 3, 2015, 05:51 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	38 load in 357 mag case ? I am loading 148 lhbwc's with 2.7 gr of bullseye and standard primer in 357 mag cases. I ran out of standard primers but have some magnum primers. Would it be ok to use the mag primers with this load ?

February 3, 2015, 05:56 PM	#2
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	There was a post on this less then two weeks ago about the possibility of hangfires because of the lack of volume in the cases. It would be much better to bump your powder charge up to 3.0-3.3 grains. Last edited by hartcreek; February 4, 2015 at 04:18 AM.

February 4, 2015, 06:43 AM	#4
mikejonestkd Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2006 Location: Brockport, NY Posts: 3,717	Magnum primers are OK, but you should bump up the powder by .2 or more grains. For me- I find 3.3 grains of bullseye under a 148 gr wadcutter in 357 to be very mild and accurate. YMMV __________________ You are the bows from which your children as living arrows are sent forth.

February 4, 2015, 03:23 PM	#7
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...EXTENSIVE testing of WC loads in 357MAG brass showed that using Bullseye required a four [4.0gr] grain charge..." Does not. Shot bullseye for eons using .357 brass and 2.5 of Bullseye. "...38S&W/38SUPER FL..." A what? Magnum primers will up the pressures a bit, but not anywhere near dangerous. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

February 4, 2015, 03:36 AM	#3
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	It should be fine to use magnum primers with such a light charge.

February 4, 2015, 08:29 AM	#5
TimSr Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Rittman, Ohio Posts: 2,074	It's not going to be a problem, nor is case volume. You're using Bullseye, and a wadcutter.

February 4, 2015, 01:02 PM	#6
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	EXTENSIVE testing of WC loads in 357MAG brass showed that using Bullseye required a four [ 4.0gr] grain charge for the series of pistols I used to do their best. That load was right at 850--900fps in all the pistols depending on BBL length and all of 'em shot to beat the band wirg one-groups quite common, even from the 2" guns. The pressure of that load was all but identical to pressures from 38SPL full charge WC or SWC loads. ALSO...an old lot of the ORIGINAL Herters 357MAG brass shot the best groups as it was ever so slightly on the thin side and I used a 38S&W/38SUPER FL sizing die to keep in that way. some of the bullets could be seated by hand, TC crimped, and shot into little itty bitty tiny you're-frickin'-kiddin'-me groups. And let me note that a 38 WC bullet at 850-900fps knockes the everlovin' stew outta small game. And so it goes...

February 4, 2015, 04:33 PM	#8
WIL TERRY Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2000 Location: BLACK HILLS Posts: 1,322	YES...but I do not like those popgun WC loads. YOU did not understand the sentence ! ALL THE GUNS SHOT THE BEST WITH THOSE TYPE LOADS ! A LYMAN FL carbide sizing die for the 38S&W cartridge, which is also the same I.D. as the 38SUPER die and was so made to size both AND IS SO MARKED. READ GUN/HANDLOADING HISTORY. ....and so it goes...