.357 Loads

[DR296]

I made a batch of .357 rounds using
Win pistol mag primers
Federal cases
158 gr xtreme plated bullets
IMR 4227 at 13.6 grains
Col. 1.56
Shooting out of Ruger GP 100 4 inch barrel which is very accurate with factory loads
Accuracy with these sucked At 10 yards and beyond.
I also got a bit of back splash in my face.
During my last set I could not close the cylinder once I got it on the cleaning bench I found unburnt powder granules under the shell extractor. Once I cleaned that up it functions properly
Any thoughts or suggestions??

[Dutch Henry]

Magnum loads usually require a tight crimp, and unburned powder in the gun usually means you didn't use enough crimp. I've always used standard primers with 4227 when loading .357 and .44 Magnum and they always performed well for me.

[Carcassonne]

I made a batch of .357 rounds using
Win pistol mag primers
Federal cases
158 gr xtreme plated bullets
IMR 4227 at 13.6 grains
Col. 1.56
Shooting out of Ruger GP 100 4 inch barrel which is very accurate with factory loads
Accuracy with these sucked At 10 yards and beyond.
I also got a bit of back splash in my face.
During my last set I could not close the cylinder once I got it on the cleaning bench I found unburnt powder granules under the shell extractor. Once I cleaned that up it functions properly
Any thoughts or suggestions??

4227 is very slow powder for a pistol cartridge. I think it is useless for short barreled guns. It should only be used in rifles.

I checked with Quickloads, and that load with a 4" barrel only gets you 50% burn. The other half of the powder is not being used. That is a waste. It also says you only got about 1000fps from your gun.




.

[pacrat]

2400 is another inefficient powder for 357 mag even though classed as Magnum Pistol Powder. Both 2400 and 4227 leave a lot of unburned granules unless pressures are at or near max to initiate full burn.

I prefer slower powders in bigger 41-44 mag cases.

JM2c

[brettkeating]

H110 and W296 (same powder, really) is made for .357, you should consider it.

[boomer135]

I am using H110 for all my magnum pistol rounds. I also shoot these out of a ruger Gp100 4", a ruger blackhawk, and a Connan Model B. Accuracy is better than factory with the same felt recoil. H110 does produce more muzzle flash.

I have also used the berry 158gn bullet with good results. I have since swapped bullets. I did some comparison between the Hornady 158gn XTP & Nosler Sporting handgun 158 JHP the Nosler slightly edged the accuracy of the XTP, and its cheaper.

Below is my data and work up for the Nosler 158gn JHP
H-110 work up 14.0- 16.5 CCI magnum primer

Best accuracy was 16.0 H110 @ 1.585 OAL crimped med to heavy
same as factory 158gn federal recoil, but better accuracy
I now prefer to pay an additional .05 per round vs the berrys and go with the Nosler. At times I'll find them on sale and it's only a .03 difference in price.

[357magnum]

Two good powders I use for .357 mag and .44 mag, H110 and HS-6.

[Kappy]

I'd been planning to post about getting unburned powder stuck in my skin from .357mag but never got around to it. Makes sense. I'd been using 2400. I have a bit left but will switch to another powder (Noble).

I've also not been crimping much. That explains a bit.

[Cowboy T]

2400 is another inefficient powder for 357 mag even though classed as Magnum Pistol Powder. Both 2400 and 4227 leave a lot of unburned granules unless pressures are at or near max to initiate full burn.

I prefer slower powders in bigger 41-44 mag cases.

JM2c

Hmm...I use 2400 in my own .357M loads, shot out of my Security-Six (4" bbl) and Rossi 92 (16" bbl). I get maybe two or three unburned granules, but that's about it. It's been a pretty efficient powder for me. I also use it in .44M and Ruger-style .45LC with equally good results.

Haven't tried 4227 yet, so I can't speak to that powder. But for full-house rounds, H110/W296 have also given me good results.

Is that 4227 load of 13.6gr a full-tilt load? I don't have access to my books at the moment.

[Pablo5959]

I have been using 9.5gn of Blue Dot only because it was available. It works good for me.
I can get 1.5" at 25 yds if I do my part.

I only get a very small amount of unburned powder.

[DR296]

By reading these replies I gather I need to scratch using the 4227 although that is what I have. I do have 700x, power pistol, bullseye and longshot.
I thought .38 and .357 loads would be easy compared to the other calibers but not so much.

[Enfield47]

Go with the 700x. It's a good powder that can be used in many pistol calibers. I use it in my pistol loads and it has worked well for me.

[stilly]

I'd been planning to post about getting unburned powder stuck in my skin from .357mag but never got around to it. Makes sense. I'd been using 2400. I have a bit left but will switch to another powder (Noble).

I've also not been crimping much. That explains a bit.

I get a lot of 700-x and h-110 leftover on my arms too... This is coming out of a .45 acp and a 44 mag respectively.

By reading these replies I gather I need to scratch using the 4227 although that is what I have. I do have 700x, power pistol, bullseye and longshot.
I thought .38 and .357 loads would be easy compared to the other calibers but not so much.

Save that Longshot for 10mm. Power pistol for .45 Bullseye is good for .38 spl, 700x whatever anyone else says, I use 5.0gr for a 230gr 45 acp and 5.3-5.6gr for a 160gr .45 acp. Bullseye is also good for .38

[Cowboy T]

.38, definitely Bullseye as an option. Matter of fact, one of the most common loadings of .38 is with the 148gr full wadcutter with 2.8gr of this powder.

And .38/357 are pretty easy. I find them probably the easiest cartridges to reload. It's just a matter of the optimum load, including powder choice. That's all. You'll be fine.

[volosong]

For us noobs, who makes H110 and Bullseye? There's a gun show this weekend near where I live and if I can recognize these, I'll pick up some.