.357 SWCHP

Bluebuck56 · July 16, 2010, 01:55 PM

I was browsing a online catolog and found some Speer 357(358dia) lead semi-wadcutter hollow points for sell at a reasonable price. I'm pretty new at reloading,so that brought up a few questions. I've cast lead round nose bullets 158gr(Lee mold). and they worked pretty well with the Unique powder I got.I don't remember the powder charge off-hand,but I wrote it down somewhere.I mostly punch paper,but have recently bought a Marlin 1894C in 357mag. for deer hunting. I'd like to have a hollow point for that. I'm wondering what the max powder charge would be and wither the SWCHP's would be good for deer hunting? Killing two birds with one stone kinda thing.I love to hear some comments or suggestings on this before I buy.Also I well be loading some 38spl.s too. Know what a good +P powder charge would be or wither I should even try it with Unique powder.I've heard Unique is only good for light loads. Another question,I noticed that the Unique and Varget powders I bought tend to spew out more smoke then the commercial bullets I've shot.Is this normal?

zxcvbob · July 16, 2010, 02:04 PM

I'm not a hunter, but I think for deer you want a regular (hard lead) SWC or a JSP bullet -- in the 158 to 180 grains range. Those hollow-points are soft lead and are great for stout .38 Special defense loads (about 4.5 to 5 grains of Unique.)

AlaskaMike · July 16, 2010, 05:03 PM

I'd tend to agree with zxcvbob.

On the powder smokiness issue, I haven't played much with Varget, but I know with Unique if I use it at relatively low pressures it'll burn pretty dirty, but it'll clean up a bit with higher charge weights (within the safe range, of course), or deeper bullet seating, or heavier crimp, etc.

Smoke with cast bullets usually is more related to the bullet lube, especially if you have any on the bullet bases.

Mike

BillCA · July 16, 2010, 06:44 PM

If those are Speer's plain lead LSWC bullets and not the semi-jacketed kind, then you can use Unique to push them to about 1100 fps out of a six-inch revolver. Using them in a Marlin 1894C might push them too fast (up to 1400 fps) and cause excessive leading.

In the lever rifle, a slower burning magnum powder (e.g. H110 or 2400) might work better.

If you're loading them in .38 Special cases to 900 fps then you're probably okay in the Marlin, though I'd take a brush/bore snake to the barrel every 8-10 rounds to minimize leading.

Bluebuck56 · July 17, 2010, 08:22 AM

I think the lube is probably the reason for all the smoke. I pretty much dabbed it on as I didn't really know how else to put it on.
I noticed on another thread that they were saying that hollow points don't chamber well in lever actions.So I think that I need to think about a different kind of bullet. I haven't used hollow points in it yet,so I never noticed.Sounds like a semi-jacketed soft point would be the ticket.180 grain might work well as I well be hunting in a brushy holler,but I think I'd like to stick to 158gr.The farthist I've had to shoot was 75 yards,and I well be hunting does for meat.My data on Unique says 8.9 gr of powder should be the max,but I've seen others go up to 9.1 grains.What charge did you use to get 1400fps? Thanks for the advice.

July 16, 2010, 01:55 PM	#1
Bluebuck56 Member Join Date: May 17, 2007 Posts: 17	.357 SWCHP I was browsing a online catolog and found some Speer 357(358dia) lead semi-wadcutter hollow points for sell at a reasonable price. I'm pretty new at reloading,so that brought up a few questions. I've cast lead round nose bullets 158gr(Lee mold). and they worked pretty well with the Unique powder I got.I don't remember the powder charge off-hand,but I wrote it down somewhere.I mostly punch paper,but have recently bought a Marlin 1894C in 357mag. for deer hunting. I'd like to have a hollow point for that. I'm wondering what the max powder charge would be and wither the SWCHP's would be good for deer hunting? Killing two birds with one stone kinda thing.I love to hear some comments or suggestings on this before I buy.Also I well be loading some 38spl.s too. Know what a good +P powder charge would be or wither I should even try it with Unique powder.I've heard Unique is only good for light loads. Another question,I noticed that the Unique and Varget powders I bought tend to spew out more smoke then the commercial bullets I've shot.Is this normal?

July 16, 2010, 02:04 PM	#2
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	I'm not a hunter, but I think for deer you want a regular (hard lead) SWC or a JSP bullet -- in the 158 to 180 grains range. Those hollow-points are soft lead and are great for stout .38 Special defense loads (about 4.5 to 5 grains of Unique.) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

July 16, 2010, 05:03 PM	#3
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 947	I'd tend to agree with zxcvbob. On the powder smokiness issue, I haven't played much with Varget, but I know with Unique if I use it at relatively low pressures it'll burn pretty dirty, but it'll clean up a bit with higher charge weights (within the safe range, of course), or deeper bullet seating, or heavier crimp, etc. Smoke with cast bullets usually is more related to the bullet lube, especially if you have any on the bullet bases. Mike

July 16, 2010, 06:44 PM	#4
BillCA Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, Ca Posts: 7,116	If those are Speer's plain lead LSWC bullets and not the semi-jacketed kind, then you can use Unique to push them to about 1100 fps out of a six-inch revolver. Using them in a Marlin 1894C might push them too fast (up to 1400 fps) and cause excessive leading. In the lever rifle, a slower burning magnum powder (e.g. H110 or 2400) might work better. If you're loading them in .38 Special cases to 900 fps then you're probably okay in the Marlin, though I'd take a brush/bore snake to the barrel every 8-10 rounds to minimize leading.

July 17, 2010, 08:22 AM	#5
Bluebuck56 Member Join Date: May 17, 2007 Posts: 17	I think the lube is probably the reason for all the smoke. I pretty much dabbed it on as I didn't really know how else to put it on. I noticed on another thread that they were saying that hollow points don't chamber well in lever actions.So I think that I need to think about a different kind of bullet. I haven't used hollow points in it yet,so I never noticed.Sounds like a semi-jacketed soft point would be the ticket.180 grain might work well as I well be hunting in a brushy holler,but I think I'd like to stick to 158gr.The farthist I've had to shoot was 75 yards,and I well be hunting does for meat.My data on Unique says 8.9 gr of powder should be the max,but I've seen others go up to 9.1 grains.What charge did you use to get 1400fps? Thanks for the advice.