.357 magnum powder ?

[rhodesengr]

I'm gonna start reloading.357 mag ammo and was looking for some advice on powders and primers. What do you guys use and like? Thanks

You might mention what your goals are and what gun you have. Bullet choice is important. I have a 6" 686 Competitor which is nice and heavy and can soak up higher power loads.

I have a number of 357Magnum loads. For medium speed 1000-1100fps with 158gr bullet. I use AA#5. I can make that a target load with pretty much any lead medium hard bullet. I use LSWC mostly but that same load can be built as a 357 version of the so-called FBI load but using the lean hollow point gas-check bullet from Rim Rock. 8gr of AA5 with a regular sp primer. Toy can load AA5 in 38sp also. I tend to run about 5gr.

I recently compared three powers for "full power" loads: Enforcer, Longshot, and H110. All using 124gr XTP bullets. You need a jacketed bullet for the faster loads. Zero makes a less expensive, similar bullet. In terms of speed and "wow factor" H110 was the clear winner. All were speed tested with a LabRadar Chrono. H110 gave me 1500fps while the other two were just below 1300fps.

I have heard a lot of folks say they don't enjoy shooting high power loads from smaller, shot barrel models. Actual performance will depend a lot of your gun. Slower burning powders may not perform well in short barreled guns.

[Imageview]

I go with titegroup, 2400, or 110/296 for similar reasons as cowboy t, although my bullet weights vary. Even the 110/296 is pretty infrequent, if I need more oomph than 2400 in 357 mag I go to a different cartridge. Bullseye is probably the better choice than titegroup, but I have like 5 pounds of titegroup left and with the tiny charge weights it?ll take me about 2 lifetimes to use that up.

[Abenaki]

I use Unique, 2400, and H110

It all depends on what I am loading for.

I have use all three powders for cast boolets.
For bullets with a copper jacket I only use 2400 or H110. but mostly H110.

Take care
Abenaki

[Ned Ryerson]

I use 2400 for revolver loads and H110 for lever action rifle loads.

[JOLLYROGER]

Forgot to mention, probably makes a difference, will be for lever gun

[JOLLYROGER]

Thanks for all the replies

[Dooder]

Need to know barrel length

[alpha_romeo_XV]

I use 2400 for revolver loads and H110 for lever action rifle loads.

I've been using 15g of Win296 to push a 125g FMJ out of a Marlin 1894 18" barrel and they chrono'd at 1725 fps +/- 25 fps. Do not use this load in a revolver.

[rhodesengr]

I've been using 15g of Win296 to push a 125g FMJ out of a Marlin 1894 18" barrel and they chrono'd at 1725 fps +/- 25 fps. Do not use this load in a revolver.

Because it is too much or too little powder? Which exact bullet? There are two listed loads for 296/110 on Hodgdon:
21 to 22gr with the 125gr Hornady XTP
13-15.5gr with the Barnes XPB lead free bullet

Not sure why there is such a big difference between the load ranges for two bullets of the same weight.

I shoot 21.5gr of H110 with the XTP bullet in my 686 Comp. Loads of fun.

[jwb28]

The barnes bullet is much longer than a jacketed lead bullet.

[rhodesengr]

It makes sense that it needs to be longer if made from a lower density material but doesn't really explain why the charge is less. Probably that bullet can't handle the higher speed. That said, I ok only get 1500fps with 21.5gr H110 out of my 686. The listed load was tested in a 10 inch barrel with no cylinder gap.

[JOLLYROGER]

It's a 17.5" barrel

[Cowboy T]

It's a 17.5" barrel

Ah, a rifle. Yep, I do that, too, in my case, in leverguns.

In that case, you're going to want to use 2400, H110/W296, or possibly Accurate 11FS. All three of these powders will take proper advantage of that barrel and give you plenty of oomph out of the business end of your gun. I've been using Accurate 11FS in a ".45 Colt Magnum" loading that is about as powerful as standard, full-house .44 Magnum rounds, and 11FS has proved to be a good performer.

The Bullseye/Titegroup/W231 style loads also will perform, just not with the same level of in-flight velocity as the ones in the previous paragraph. These will be about like 9mm Luger out of a Ruger PC Carbine. That also means they'll be fun to shoot, with relatively lower recoil.

[newbie1234]

It's a 17.5" barrel

Slow burn powder.

[JOLLYROGER]

Thanks