November 7, 2019, 07:21 AM | #1 |
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Starting to Load 357 Mag
Going to load 357 mag on my 650. I was given a lot of brass and 125gr plated bullets. What is a good powder to start with?
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November 7, 2019, 07:23 AM | #2 |
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What do you want to do? Max loads? Plinking? Something else?
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November 7, 2019, 08:18 AM | #3 |
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I pay attention to which powder is mentioned in the load book as the most accurate during the tests. If I want target loads or am loading for a smaller gun that would be a beast with full power, I look for a powder that is common to both 38+p and .357 minimum data and try something in between. Lighter loads of Unique then work nicely, but serious magnum loads have too sharp an impulse with faster powders, including Unique. I look to IMR4227 as the most shooter-friendly of the magnum powders. When loading hotter stuff, I will be using 158 gr bullets except for the smaller guns.
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November 7, 2019, 10:11 AM | #4 |
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I like Accurate branded powder. #7 or #9 are good choices. With plated you don't want to exceed their recommended velocity limit so be mindful of that.
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November 7, 2019, 11:10 AM | #5 | |
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.357 is a very easy and very forgiving cartridge to reload as long as one sticks to published load recipes(and there are a ton of them out there). The OP should be able to use starting to mid range loads for jacketed bullets for his plated projectiles. Not knowing what brand they are and not knowing whether they have a cannelure to crimp into, I suggest he keep velocities below 1200 fps. |
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November 7, 2019, 11:18 AM | #6 | |
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I load/shoot a lot of 357 Magnum. Been doing so for decades.
It would be helpful if you told us the purpose of the ammo you intend to load. Since you have a 125gn plated bullet, I'm going to assume you are looking for basic range shooter ammo. Plated bullets are not nearly as sturdy as jacketed bullets and are not a substitute for jacketed bullets. They are an alternative for straight lead bullets. In the case of 357 Magnum, a plated bullet can easily be over-driven, leaving the inside of your barrel with a nice bright shiny orange (copper) coating. I know. I've done it. Quote:
I don't load 125 plated bullets for 357, but I do load a 158 plated SWC. My current recipe is 7.0gn Unique. It yields 994 f/s 3"bbl; 1058 f/s 4"bbl; 1087 f/s 8"bbl; & 1251 f/s 16"bbl (carbine rifle). I believe this loading is at the edge of a plated bullet's capability - regardless of the printed velocity limit on the box. Although I'm not a fan of Unique, it's nice and fluffy, so the fill level is good. And it's not so spunky-fast, so the pressure curve is gentle enough for plated slugs. Both of these characteristics are good for what you're doing and manifest even more so when moving to your lighter 125's. I'm out of Unique (intentionally), so subsequent loadings will likely be with AA#5 - I still need to do the workup. AA#7 and AA#9 were mentioned. AA#7 would be a good choice; as the pressure curve will be soft. AA#9 might be too slow - depends on how much unspent powder you want to deal with while shooting/cleaning. Loading up AA#9 to the point where it runs clean, will likely bring pressures/velocities up to the point where plating breakdown becomes an issue. Point is, with plated/357, you'd want to stay away from fast powders like Bullseye, W231, TiteGroup, etc. They will develop a sharp pressure curve that doesn't bode well for plated bullets. Move to an intermediate burn rate propellant like Unique, AA#5, AA#7, BE-86, Power Pistol (turned down a bit), etc. -- propellants in that range. Using slower powders would be ill-advised because it would be hard to get them to run consistently before pressure AND velocity becomes an issue. They should be reserved for jacketed bullets (IMO).
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November 7, 2019, 11:23 AM | #7 |
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If you have a D650, surely you have some sort of pistol powder on hand.
There is probably .357 data for it. |
November 7, 2019, 11:30 AM | #8 |
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Try Herco. It's like Unique with longer legs. It works great with 158 grain casts bullets, I think it should do about as well with plated 125's. WSF would be good if there was any load data for it.
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November 7, 2019, 11:48 AM | #9 | ||
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November 7, 2019, 12:14 PM | #10 |
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A starting charge of Alliant Power Pistol has worked well for me with 125 gr plated bullets. The down side is generally greater muzzle blast that often accompanies use of that powder. Another possibility would be Hodgdon HS-6, which has worked well for me with 158 gr plated bullets.
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November 7, 2019, 12:53 PM | #11 | |
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November 7, 2019, 01:10 PM | #12 |
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I will be using these loads for the range. I have 40 plus years reloadind under my belt but am new to 357. Thanks
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November 7, 2019, 02:02 PM | #13 |
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"...poor choice small cases..." Works like hot dam in .30 Carbine though.
I've always found using the powder given for the accuracy load in my Lyman manual(not all manuals give one.) is a good place to start. Usually where I stop too. With a plated bullet you need to use cast bullet data as plating is not a jacket.
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November 7, 2019, 02:03 PM | #14 | |
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It is the most accurate load they got, with what they tested, so you can use that as the starting point to search for what is most accurate in your gun, nothing more. My old Lyman book lists 8 different "Accuracy loads" for bullets ranging from 121gr to 195gr. Four of those accuracy loads use Unique, two use Bullseye, one is 2400 and the other is SR 7625 powder. IMR 4227 may be what gave them best accuracy in their latest round of testing, but all that really means is it gave THEM the best accuracy in their latest round of testing. Plated 125gr slugs are what I would consider light plinkers, suitable for light or midrange loads and so, use a fast or medium burn rate powder. Unique is almost never a bad choice. Slower powders like 2400, H110, W296 and IMR 4227 are a poor choice, and a waste of those powders for less than top end loads, using hard cast or jacketed bullets.
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November 7, 2019, 04:55 PM | #15 |
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Unique
Accurate #5 Accurate #7 Accurate #9 Several good powders for the 357 magnum . My old standby is Unique , 7.5 grs. with 125 gr. plated or cast bullet . Gary |
November 7, 2019, 05:34 PM | #16 | |
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I use Alliant Green Dot.
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November 7, 2019, 05:44 PM | #17 | |||
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November 7, 2019, 06:06 PM | #18 |
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Have used some BE-86 in a few calibers as well, but haven't found a place where I like it so far. I recently loaded some 125 gr coated bullets in the 357 but haven't fired any of them yet. Also loaded up some 260 gr jacketed "practice" loads for the 454 I've yet to try.
Wasn't real happy with BE-86 in mild 200 gr coated 44 Mag or 200 gr plated in 45 Auto. A few quick loads in 45 Colt 250 gr coated suggested it might be good for that, and I'll be loading more of those soon. |
November 7, 2019, 07:27 PM | #19 | |
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November 7, 2019, 07:46 PM | #20 | |
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November 7, 2019, 07:47 PM | #21 |
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For 40 years I've used 2400, 17.0 gr with a 125gr JHP in a Ruger GP 100. With the same bullet, in the same gun, for 38 Special, 6.5gr of Unique. Great accuracy, no problems.
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November 7, 2019, 08:25 PM | #22 |
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November 7, 2019, 08:48 PM | #23 | |
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November 7, 2019, 09:35 PM | #24 |
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First things first: WHO plated bullets? Not all plated bullets are the same; some have a mere whiff of plating and some substantial plating. Speer Unicore and Gold Dots are plated bullets. They are purpose made so bullets made for non magnum applications work as designed and those made for fire breathing cartridges work as designed. So you have to know WHO made them and what that manufacturer calls out as limitations so you have an understanding of a starting point for the conversation.
Some say use lead data, some will say use up to mid level jacketed data, and some like Speer say see their manual which has data based on the least able bullet in the line up. FWIW: I have been using Accura / West Coat / Xtreme since the early 90's and their standard plated handled close to full house well but when I tried Rainier I was What The????? IIRC it was later in the 90's that the OG Accurate Arms Powders teamed up with Rainier and developed full on tested data for THEIR bullets. That data can still be found in Lee #2. If you compare and contrast THAT DATA with Speer data you will find marked differences. I've very successfully used fast powders with plated but used them within limitations that I personally understand. As stated earlier the "speed limit" is not a hard lid. It is based on a number of factors. |
November 7, 2019, 09:37 PM | #25 | |
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