158 gr SJHP .357 powder?

45Marlin carbine · April 15, 2009, 07:47 AM

for a good general load - not a 'big boomer' load.
4" barrel S&W. clean burning over FPS.
Power Pistol maybe?

dwhite · April 15, 2009, 04:11 PM

BlueDot, AA#7, 2400. These wil give you some flexibilty in loading from mid-range to full power loads. Personally I like BlueDot.

All the Best,
D. White

tiberius10721 · April 15, 2009, 06:32 PM

Im using alliant 2400 14grains behind a 158 grain jacketed bullet.starting load in my lee manual.awesome load!

abber · April 15, 2009, 10:35 PM

+1 on Blue Dot.

joneb · April 15, 2009, 11:06 PM

For my Ruger Sec Six w/a 2.75 barrel I use AA#9 with 158-180gr jacketed bullets, it's clean and accurate.

Teuthis · April 15, 2009, 11:06 PM

I agree on Blue Dot. It is a flexible powder for .357 jacketed rounds, and provides exellent velocities at reasonable pressures. I tried every bullet weight there was for the .357 and settled on the 158 grain bullets. I think they are ideal for the caliber.

amamnn · April 16, 2009, 07:00 PM

HS-6 is a good versatile mid-range powder. I like Lil Gun in my magnum loads, but as a slower powder it produces more felt recoil as does W296, which I like when I can't get LG. I've loaded a few rounds for my .357 with the HS-6 when I could not get LG or 296, and it was not a bad load. I don't mind a bit more recoil than most other folks, though.

I don't like faster powders in magnum loads for various reasons, not the least of which is that they are more conducive to double charging. If you don't mind a bit heavier recoil, go with the slower powders. If you're not loading at the max, but above half max with a 158 grain bullet in the .357, the slower powders will burn cleaner, too.

WESHOOT2 · April 17, 2009, 08:38 AM

Power Pistol will do so; HS6 is another good choice, and Vihtavuori N350 (cleanest).

**Mike Irwin** · April 17, 2009, 10:28 AM

For up to moderate, mid-magnum loads, WW 231 will do a fine job.

I've used a lot of it like that over the years.

**Unclenick** · April 17, 2009, 11:01 AM

Yup! Depending on the bullet shape and seating depth, about 5.5 to 6.0 grains of 231 makes for safe .357 mag pressures and just over 1000 fps with 158's form a 4" revolver.

FM12 · April 17, 2009, 11:26 AM

Blue Dot = large fireball at night also!

AlaskaMike · April 17, 2009, 01:50 PM

I'm surprised at all the recommendations for Blue Dot. 10 grains under a 158 grain cast SWC isn't bad in my S&W model 28, but I sure wouldn't call it clean burning.

I can definitely recommend Power Pistol or 231 for midrange loads. 231 would be a little more economical.

Mike

April 15, 2009, 07:47 AM	#1
45Marlin carbine Junior member Join Date: January 26, 2007 Location: South-Western North Carolina Posts: 1,124	158 gr SJHP .357 powder? for a good general load - not a 'big boomer' load. 4" barrel S&W. clean burning over FPS. Power Pistol maybe?

April 15, 2009, 10:35 PM	#4
abber Senior Member Join Date: January 15, 2008 Location: PRK Posts: 735	+1 on Blue Dot. __________________ I ain't got no safe queens. I shoots em all...

April 15, 2009, 11:06 PM	#6
Teuthis Senior Member Join Date: April 9, 2008 Location: Southern Arizona Posts: 537	I agree on Blue Dot. It is a flexible powder for .357 jacketed rounds, and provides exellent velocities at reasonable pressures. I tried every bullet weight there was for the .357 and settled on the 158 grain bullets. I think they are ideal for the caliber. __________________ Oderint dum Metuant

April 17, 2009, 08:38 AM	#8
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	clean, and accurate, too Power Pistol will do so; HS6 is another good choice, and Vihtavuori N350 (cleanest). __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

April 17, 2009, 11:01 AM	#10
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Yup! Depending on the bullet shape and seating depth, about 5.5 to 6.0 grains of 231 makes for safe .357 mag pressures and just over 1000 fps with 158's form a 4" revolver. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

April 15, 2009, 04:11 PM	#2
dwhite Senior Member Join Date: September 2, 2007 Location: Wake County, N. Carolina Posts: 379	BlueDot, AA#7, 2400. These wil give you some flexibilty in loading from mid-range to full power loads. Personally I like BlueDot. All the Best, D. White

April 15, 2009, 06:32 PM	#3
tiberius10721 Junior member Join Date: December 22, 2008 Posts: 228	Im using alliant 2400 14grains behind a 158 grain jacketed bullet.starting load in my lee manual.awesome load!

April 15, 2009, 11:06 PM	#5
joneb Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2005 Location: Central , OR Posts: 1,888	For my Ruger Sec Six w/a 2.75 barrel I use AA#9 with 158-180gr jacketed bullets, it's clean and accurate.

April 16, 2009, 07:00 PM	#7
amamnn Senior Member Join Date: May 13, 2006 Location: WA, the left armpit of the USA Posts: 1,323	HS-6 is a good versatile mid-range powder. I like Lil Gun in my magnum loads, but as a slower powder it produces more felt recoil as does W296, which I like when I can't get LG. I've loaded a few rounds for my .357 with the HS-6 when I could not get LG or 296, and it was not a bad load. I don't mind a bit more recoil than most other folks, though. I don't like faster powders in magnum loads for various reasons, not the least of which is that they are more conducive to double charging. If you don't mind a bit heavier recoil, go with the slower powders. If you're not loading at the max, but above half max with a 158 grain bullet in the .357, the slower powders will burn cleaner, too. __________________ "If the enemy is in range, so are you." - Infantry Journal

April 17, 2009, 10:28 AM	#9
Mike Irwin Staff Join Date: April 13, 2000 Location: Northern Virginia Posts: 41,390	For up to moderate, mid-magnum loads, WW 231 will do a fine job. I've used a lot of it like that over the years. __________________ "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.

April 17, 2009, 11:26 AM	#11
FM12 Senior Member Join Date: February 5, 2007 Location: Monroeville, Alabama Posts: 1,683	Blue Dot = large fireball at night also!

April 17, 2009, 01:50 PM	#12
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	I'm surprised at all the recommendations for Blue Dot. 10 grains under a 158 grain cast SWC isn't bad in my S&W model 28, but I sure wouldn't call it clean burning. I can definitely recommend Power Pistol or 231 for midrange loads. 231 would be a little more economical. Mike