View Full Version : .38 Special / .357 Magnum Reloads
ExtremeX
01-28-2013, 5:18 PM
I’m just curious what powders are considered the popular choices for .38 Special and .357 Magnum loads?
I only load 9mm and .45 ACP right now, and it feels like I picked a bad time to add another caliber to reload but I have some questions in regards to primer powder…
Winchester 231, Bullseye, and Unique are the only 3 pistol powders I have on hand right now...
My Speer manual shows the use of some of these powders but they don’t seem like the popular choice, and W231 doesn’t make it into a lot of the loads. W231 also seems to give lower velocity figures across the board for .357 Mag. Unique shows up more often, but unfortunately my 1# jug is almost gone...
Are magnum primers always required or can I get away with SPP depending on my powder selection?
There is nothing wrong with Unique for 357. Magnum primers hmm, yeah I have loaded just small pistol primers in them before and they are not the most reliable. I actually run small rifle tula in mine and they have no issue setting off the charge. I would suggest the magnum primers personally.
I load 9 grains of Unique or 21 grains of h110 with a 125 gr platted bullet and a tula SR primer for my 357 loads.
G-Man WC
01-28-2013, 5:37 PM
I started out and still using 2400 with 158 gr RNFP.
Middle of the road loads for my 4" S&W 686 and Marlin 1894 357mag.
Works good in both. I have trace amounts of unburnt powder when fired from the pistol, and all clean in the longer rifle barrel. -g
Bill Steele
01-28-2013, 6:01 PM
You can use SPP for any of your .357/.38 loads except maybe W296/H110.
Those three powders will work fine in those calibers, the Bullseye will be running at .38spl velocities as it is too fast for anything stout. The W231 and the Unique can deliver reasonable .357 velocities in your 4 inch barrel.
Alliant and Hodgdon have loads for all of them in you calibers.
The all time go to powder for .357 Magnum in my mind is 2400, great powder for that caliber, again, SPP will be fine.
357shooter
01-28-2013, 6:03 PM
I use all three of those powders in my 38spl and 357mag with spp 158fmj or
158 lswc both work very nice I also use 2400 but not as much.
Lots of good suggestions. You should really start to reload for 38spl/357mag.
They are some of the most rewarding calibers to reload for. They are easy to handle because they are so long. And almost any pistol powder works for them.
My personal favorite powder for 38spl is Trail Boss. I can't recall my specific load right now but I can look it up if you want. I use LWC's of hardness 10 and send them down range at a speed of no more than 650fps. They literally feel like a 22 out of a full size revolver. And accurate to boot.
When I want to impress my friends I use 2400 with 158gr LSWC's. That'll wake you up! You can also push Unique pretty hard if you want to. The problem with Unique is that it doesn't meter well. It doesn't really have to because its so forgiving, but still annoying.
Remember, back in the day there was BE, Unique, and 2400. A decent hand loader could load any pistol round with one (or a combination) of the three.
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