.357 mag 158gr SWC question

[Clickjack]

Picked up some .357 Action Grooveless (coated 158gr SWC) from Missouri Bullet Company.

Looked up 158gr lead in my manuals. And I found that Hornady data for Unique max powder load is lower than Lee’s starting point… I feel like I ran into this before and the the answer was Hornady is always on the low / safe side of things?

Does the coating matter? 158gr lead would be the correct data right? Just making sure I’m not missing something

[pennstater]

Coating doesn't matter. Yes, lead loading data is correct. Are you set on using Unique? It will work fine, but, there are better powders: Universal, 2400. Have any of these?

MLC

[Clickjack]

Coating doesn't matter. Yes, lead loading data is correct. Are you set on using Unique? It will work fine, but, there are better powders: Universal, 2400. Have any of these?

MLC

[Sandspider500]

The Hornady and Lee data is for a swaged lead. You can load higher with that cast swc. Load to the crimp groove.

[pennstater]

I load my 158's[Missouri coated cast] to 1.585". Your 1.590" should be fine. Short? Never loaded less than 1.580" that I can recall.

MLC

[pennstater]

Also, I've not gone over 6.0gr Unique/158gr cast in my .357's. What is your intended load?

MLC

[sigstroker]

No crimping groove?

[Clickjack]

Also, I've not gone over 6.0gr Unique/158gr cast in my .357's. What is your intended load?

MLC

5.7gr, sorta the middle of the load data for unique. Seems that’s where I get the most accuracy from it

[Caligula36]

Ive loaded 158gr RN with the max of 7.8 of Unique, and even a few at 8.0. It's tons of fun! I found the most accurate loads for my 6in 586 were in the 6.6-6.8 range.

I have a Sierra loading manual from 1971 that puts the max load with Unique and a FMJ at 8.8gn! Everything was more fun in the 70s.

[sigstroker]

Also, I've not gone over 6.0gr Unique/158gr cast in my .357's. What is your intended load?

MLC

That was my standard load for many years. My book said it was supposed to give 1100 fps, but I never clocked it. If you go much faster, I think you'd get a lot of leading. This load was pretty clean and left not much lead in the barrel.

[divingin]

Everything was more fun in the 70s.

Fewer people sued in the 70's...

[Cheep]

I believe the data in the Lee manual comes straight from the powder company, the Hornady is their own testing.

[Sailormilan2]

Max load for a 158 gr CAST bullet is 8.0 gr of Unique. Per the Lyman Reloading handbook #43.

[Bastard]

you are correct that the coating doesn't matter and you should load with cast data & for anyone that is loading cast/coated the 2 things that I always recommend is the Lyman Cast Manual and the Lyman M expander die or the Redding equivalent

[hermosabeach]

Coating comes into play with velocity

If you leave a lead skid mark from the cylinders forcing cone to the muzzle, it's a paint to clean and remove the lead.

For "hot" loads, some opts to use-
Powder coated lead bullets
Gas check bullets
Copper jacketed bullets.
Really hard lead alloys