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Old April 11, 2012, 08:48 PM   #26
zxcvbob
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I like American Select in .38 Special, and Herco in .357.

For light target loads, it's pretty hard to beat Promo.
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Old April 12, 2012, 07:13 AM   #27
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I've had good luck with Bullseye, Green Dot and Clays in 38spl and I like 2400 in medium 357 loads.

If I had to pick one powder for both, I would probly say another vote for 2400.

12gr is nice to shoot in 357 and puts 6 shots in 1" groups from my pistol.
I aint tried it in 38spl, but looking in Lyman and Lee it looks good for 38spl too.
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Old April 13, 2012, 05:41 PM   #28
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Anyone ever try Power Pistol in both ? Data looks good, I think I will test it.
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Old April 13, 2012, 07:48 PM   #29
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Shootest, I am using Power Pistol in both right now, and that is what is so dirty. Other than that, it's a hoot. I've worked up to, and feel happy with these loads:

For .357, I use 8.0 gn PP for medium loads, and 7.6 gn for a light 357. My lady likes this one the most out of them all.

For .38 Special, I'm loading 4.7 gn (sugar puff) for REALLY light loads, and 5.1 gn for the heavier loading.


The bullet is a 158gn LSWC.

I hope this helps.
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Old April 13, 2012, 09:22 PM   #30
zxcvbob
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It's so dirty because you're loading it too light. Try a faster powder, like Unique or Universal. (you can't quite get to the 8.0 PP performance level using Universal without overloading it, but you can get there with Unique)
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Old April 13, 2012, 09:39 PM   #31
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2400 will give you some serious loads in .357, but if you want a lot of bang for the buck and a great paper-puncher in both .38 and .357 then I'd say go with Red Dot.

158gr LSWC

.38 Special=3gr Red Dot
.357 Mag=5gr. Red Dot

Lots of shooting on a single pound of powder. For paper punching I feed that exact load combo to both my Black Hawk and my dad's GP100. Very accurate.
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Old April 13, 2012, 10:04 PM   #32
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I'll have to give them a shot! Thank you all!
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Old April 14, 2012, 02:24 AM   #33
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I like Unique.
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Old April 14, 2012, 08:47 PM   #34
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powders

+1 on Unique. I've used them quite a bit on both .357 and .38 Spl.

Blue dot is dirty as all heck but makes purdy fireballs for a .357 load.

Lil' Gun is pretty clean and it is hot stuff for a .357 load.

Again though, for an all-around powder, I really like Unique.

U.L.
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Old April 14, 2012, 09:16 PM   #35
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Titegroup gets my vote. Clean and fast
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Old April 14, 2012, 09:56 PM   #36
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Titegroup is OK with jacketed bullets, but have you tried it with cast? Also it tends to disappear in the darkness at the bottom of .38 and .357 brass, and you can't see if it's in there.
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Old April 14, 2012, 10:08 PM   #37
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Quote:
Titegroup is OK with jacketed bullets, but have you tried it with cast?
All I shoot is lead in 38 spl, 357 mag, 9 mm, 40S&W and 45 acp
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Old April 15, 2012, 12:58 AM   #38
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Another one for Unique!
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Old April 17, 2012, 09:20 AM   #39
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cleanliness

3N37
or
Universal

These work in both chamberings, and will be 'clean' AND allow easy metering/measuring.
3N37 is really pricey.
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Old April 17, 2012, 10:32 AM   #40
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Universal or Unique. Good all around powders that will work well from light to medium warm loads. I don't care about 'clean' as if it shoots well, it's a keeper. Universal 'may' be a bit cleaner than Unique, but hard to tell. All I shoot is lead. I don't shoot hot stuff in .357. If I need more power I just move up to .44. Need more? move up again to .45. For my dad, I load 5.0g of Trail Boss under a 125g bullet as his guns are only range guns and his hands can't stand much recoil. For poppers, Trail Boss is a wonderful case filling powder.
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Old April 17, 2012, 10:57 PM   #41
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in 38 special I like Trail boss cause I mostly use 38s for plinking.

For 357 magnums I use H110 because I use the 357 magnum for hunting. H110 does very well in the 357 magnum.
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