Alternate ( NOT H110) powder for 357 Rem Maximum

renaissance7697 · May 25, 2007, 03:46 PM

Alternate ( NOT H110) powder for 357 Rem Maximum

Have been playing with two new barrels for my TC Contender (in carbine configuration).

Hand Loading for:
357 Rem Maximum (180 and 158 grain Jacketed)
and
45 Winchester Magnum (230 grain Jacketed)

Working with the 45 Win Magnum........
The usual powder recommended was H110 and it called for >20 grains.
Found this to be a "punishing" load recoil wise
Then I found a published load using HP-38 (10 grains).
Found this to be much more plesant, and gave me all the accuracy I wanted.
( I am shooting targets at 25 yards - not trying to "kill")

Now working with the 357 Rem Maximum, again I find published loads using ( almost exclusively) H110.

Can anyone recommened a load using something like HP-38.

If the 45 Win Mag can be tamed with a faster powder resulting in less recoil and still yeilding safe accurate rounds - seems there must be a way to do the same with the 357 Rem Maximum.

I would like to stick to some of the more common (easier to find) powders like the common Hodgdon line or ????????

Scorch · May 25, 2007, 05:40 PM

I haven't loaded 357 Maximum, but I would guess that Blue Dot would work well. I use it in 357 Mag and 44 Mag loads. Very accurate, burns clean, less muzzle flash than H110/WW296.

Trapper L · May 25, 2007, 08:25 PM

The H-110 is about the fastest powder you want to use in the Maximum. Slower powders work much better. The best I've found for my TC is AA1680. Depending on the barrel you can get 2000'ps with the 180 gr pills. I know this is not the direction you want to go with your loads but you are shooting a Maximum, not a Special. Using faster powders like HP 38 will most likely result in erratic and possibly dangerous pressures. Loading density will be far less than the optimum 80% and probably less than 25%. I wouldn't try it. Might want to consider buying a 357 Mag barrel for the reduced loads.

lonniemike · May 25, 2007, 09:42 PM

renaissance, have you tried looking at stevespages.com, as he has quite a bit of info on most loadings? best-o-luck

WESHOOT2 · May 26, 2007, 06:59 AM

For medium-power 357 MAX suggest HS6 and Universal Clays.

Test primers.

Desert Dog · May 27, 2007, 11:16 AM

Lil Gun

Reloader 7

AA1680

**Unclenick** · May 27, 2007, 05:26 PM

If you are looking for a target load, try Trail Boss. Very clean.

May 25, 2007, 03:46 PM	#1
renaissance7697 Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2001 Location: Alexandria, VA Posts: 203	Alternate ( NOT H110) powder for 357 Rem Maximum Alternate ( NOT H110) powder for 357 Rem Maximum Have been playing with two new barrels for my TC Contender (in carbine configuration). Hand Loading for: 357 Rem Maximum (180 and 158 grain Jacketed) and 45 Winchester Magnum (230 grain Jacketed) Working with the 45 Win Magnum........ The usual powder recommended was H110 and it called for >20 grains. Found this to be a "punishing" load recoil wise Then I found a published load using HP-38 (10 grains). Found this to be much more plesant, and gave me all the accuracy I wanted. ( I am shooting targets at 25 yards - not trying to "kill") Now working with the 357 Rem Maximum, again I find published loads using ( almost exclusively) H110. Can anyone recommened a load using something like HP-38. If the 45 Win Mag can be tamed with a faster powder resulting in less recoil and still yeilding safe accurate rounds - seems there must be a way to do the same with the 357 Rem Maximum. I would like to stick to some of the more common (easier to find) powders like the common Hodgdon line or ???????? __________________ An Armed Society, Is a Polite Society.

May 25, 2007, 05:40 PM	#2
Scorch Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2006 Location: Washington state Posts: 15,248	I haven't loaded 357 Maximum, but I would guess that Blue Dot would work well. I use it in 357 Mag and 44 Mag loads. Very accurate, burns clean, less muzzle flash than H110/WW296. __________________ Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs. But what do I know? Summit Arms Services

May 26, 2007, 06:59 AM	#5
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	choices For medium-power 357 MAX suggest HS6 and Universal Clays. Test primers. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo" Last edited by WESHOOT2; May 26, 2007 at 06:59 AM. Reason: and call the Sierra techs

May 27, 2007, 11:16 AM	#6
Desert Dog Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 1999 Location: Deep East Texas Posts: 474	Lil Gun Reloader 7 AA1680 __________________ Yes, in fact I do have a 454... in more ways than one. "No provision in our Constitution ought to be dearer to man than that which protects the rights of conscience against the enterprises of the civil authority" - Thomas Jefferson

May 27, 2007, 05:26 PM	#7
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,061	If you are looking for a target load, try Trail Boss. Very clean. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

May 25, 2007, 08:25 PM	#3
Trapper L Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 804	The H-110 is about the fastest powder you want to use in the Maximum. Slower powders work much better. The best I've found for my TC is AA1680. Depending on the barrel you can get 2000'ps with the 180 gr pills. I know this is not the direction you want to go with your loads but you are shooting a Maximum, not a Special. Using faster powders like HP 38 will most likely result in erratic and possibly dangerous pressures. Loading density will be far less than the optimum 80% and probably less than 25%. I wouldn't try it. Might want to consider buying a 357 Mag barrel for the reduced loads.

May 25, 2007, 09:42 PM	#4
lonniemike Senior Member Join Date: March 16, 2005 Posts: 138	renaissance, have you tried looking at stevespages.com, as he has quite a bit of info on most loadings? best-o-luck