357 mag help

[crappyplayer]

hey guys.

im gonna start reloading 357 magnum ammo with 158 grain plated bullets using winchester 296. the problem is that ive looked in both of my reloading manuals and there is no data for this combination. ive looked online to help with a good starting load but cant seem to find any, all i find is max loads. anyone know of a good minimum load for my combination? OAL?

i see that 14.5 grains of winchester 296 using 158 grain lead bullets is max load...

[Chief-7700]

http://www.handloads.com/loaddata/default.asp?Caliber=357%20Magnum&Weight=All&type=Handgun&Order=Powder&Source=

[crappyplayer]

doesnt give me an OAL....

does 1.58 OAL sound good?

i just want to be as specific as i can so i dont blow myself up!

[stand125]

Is there a crimp groove? I would use lead AOL for a bullet with a crimp groove.

[AJD]

OAL is usually dependent on the cannelure location, which on most plated bullets is almost non-existent. I'd be careful loading those plated bullets with 296 as it usually needs a firm roll crimp to prevent bullet jump under recoil. You can only crimp so much into the plated bullets without damaging the plating. Do these plated bullets have much of a cannelure for crimping?

[Bill Steele]

hey guys.

im gonna start reloading 357 magnum ammo with 158 grain plated bullets using winchester 296. the problem is that ive looked in both of my reloading manuals and there is no data for this combination. ive looked online to help with a good starting load but cant seem to find any, all i find is max loads. anyone know of a good minimum load for my combination? OAL?

i see that 14.5 grains of winchester 296 using 158 grain lead bullets is max load...

The only load I have run in my 357 Magnum using W296 and 158gr (LSWC's) was 14.5grs. This was with magnum small pistol primers and an OAL of 1.580 (basically crimping at the cannelure). This is a 1400+ fps load, which presents a potential problem for a plated bullet.

Some plated bullets have relatively soft outer plating which can separate when pushed too hard. Berry's for instance recommends keeping velocities down below 1200fps with their bullets. W296 is not the powder to do this as to reduce the load enough to drop into the 1200fps range, you will likely start getting poor ignition results (W296/H110 likes the pressure that comes with a full case). Perhaps if the plated bullets you are using are hard enough this won't be a problem, maybe check with the manufacturer to see if 1400+fps is a problem.

If your bullets are Berry's, I would get a different powder, W231 would be right in your wheel house.

Also, if you are shooting any of these out of a snubby, J frame S&W, etc., W296 is not the powder for you.

Good luck, have fun.

[HKMadness]

I used h110 and lead swc in 158. Iirc, w296=h110. I used 13.1 grains of h110 and a heavy crimp. Seat to the groove, but I sure hope you got the bullets w a good cannelure. Use a magnum primer too, and you can't downgrade it beyond that. It was coming out of a 2.75" medium frame ruger, nice light - medium magnum load.

[crappyplayer]

ok...just to make sure...

14.5 grains of winchester 296 on a 158 grain plated bullet with an OAL of 1.58 and a heavy crimp...

by the way, im using xtreme plated bullets...

[Dark Mod]

the best thing you can do is work up your own load, most data you will find will be for either lead or jacketed bullets. Plated bullets should lie somewhere in between.

Plated bullets shouldnt be loaded for high velocities and that load looks like its good for 1500 fps or more, which is iffy. Ive never pushed a plated bullet that fast but if your working up your own loads it wont matter. I would start at lke 13.5 grn and work up from there

[crappyplayer]

cool! thanks!

[ireload]

Crappy do be careful with heavy crimp on plated bullets as others have stated or the bullet will look like this:



Any more crimp then the case mouth would cut into the plating. I would try with a medium crimp first.

[HKMadness]

What size frame and barrel are these gonna come out of?

For my 2.75" police service six, it is more comfortable around the starting loads, while still with magnum power. If you're using a 4-6" barrel, then the limitation would come mostly from the plated bullets.

[AJD]

ok...just to make sure...

14.5 grains of winchester 296 on a 158 grain plated bullet with an OAL of 1.58 and a heavy crimp...

by the way, im using xtreme plated bullets...

I've used those bullets before and they basically don't have much if any cannelure. You're not going to be able to get a firm roll crimp on them without damaging the plating or deforming the bullet. Even though those plated bullets have a copper plating on the outside they have a very soft lead core that can result in the bullet being easily deformed. (See ireload's pic) Your accuracy will suffer as a result.