Need advice on first pistol loads (357)

[edrex]

I have been reloading 223 pretty successfully for a while and now I am going to try my hand at 357 magnum, but need a little advice first.
I have 50 pieces of brass sized, tumbled, trimmed, and primed. I want to make test loads. With my 223, I made 5 round batches and increased the powder charge by .3 grains each time, staying within the limits of the starting and max load data. Then I would shoot them and find what works best.
Is the process the same for pistol rounds?
Should I change the increment for the charges, like .2 grains?
And what distance should I shoot at to test? The standard for rifle seems to be 100 yards, is there an equivalent for pistol?
Thanks,
ed.

[CSACANNONEER]

You're over thinking it. Just load a few of each in whatever increments you want to as long as you stay below published maximums.

['ol shooter]

What he said. Start low, load a few mids, and if that ain't shakin' your tree enough, try out a few maxies. Make sure your piece is up to the task.

[bigdawg86]

IMO if you are going to reload, get a chrono... It's very difficult to tell much difference between all your loads on feel alone. I reload everything I own, but I don't load for match accuracy or mouse farts per se. I load for the safe yet most flame throwing nuke rounds I can get with 357 or any other round for that matter. All real world ammo is loaded to max safe tolerances, so I load mine to the same. There is no such thing as plinking rounds if your loading 357 especially , you load to have a round that was designed for the gun. Get a chrono, otherwise your just guess.

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[chknlyps2]

Also no need to trim your straight walled pistol brass unless they are all over the place and you are looking for a perfect uniform crimp.

What powder and bullets are you using?

[edrex]

Haha, thanks guys. I had a feeling I might be over thinking it...
I think I'll just work up some mid and near max loads and go from there.

Chknlyps, I have 110gr Sierras and 125gr XTP's for bullets, and Bullseye, 2400, and H110 for powder.

[Divernhunter]

When using the H-110 use a mag primer and a good crimp. Also do not download them below the starting charge. It should only be used for full power loads
You can use either primer and download 2400.
Be carefull about a double charge with bullseye. It is easy to blow up a gun with it. I prefer Unique or since I have a bunch of it Hi-Skor 700-X for my light to mid range loads.

[bigdawg86]

Accurate No#9 is beast status!

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[at_liberty]

Haha, thanks guys. I had a feeling I might be over thinking it...
I think I'll just work up some mid and near max loads and go from there.

Chknlyps, I have 110gr Sierras and 125gr XTP's for bullets, and Bullseye, 2400, and H110 for powder.

I saved my 110grainers for .38 Spl.

The Bullseye is your best bet for starters. 6-7 grains I find just fine for practice, certainly for getting your bearings with this caliber. The 2400 and 110 will recoil like seriously magnum ammo, which is okay, if your gun is heavy enough, preferably with a 4-6" barrel or even longer. Sp101 or J-K frame are too light for full up ammo in my estimation.

[mark501w]

You've got some good projectiles & powder for building some fast .357 loads put a nice roll crimp on & have fun.

[kurac]

it depends on the powder, for something fast burning like bullseye, .1gr increments will show a difference, for something slow like H110, .5gr changes are more realistic.

[edrex]

When using the H-110 use a mag primer and a good crimp. Also do not download them below the starting charge. It should only be used for full power loads
You can use either primer and download 2400.
Be carefull about a double charge with bullseye. It is easy to blow up a gun with it. I prefer Unique or since I have a bunch of it Hi-Skor 700-X for my light to mid range loads.

Great info, thanks

I saved my 110grainers for .38 Spl.

The Bullseye is your best bet for starters. 6-7 grains I find just fine for practice, certainly for getting your bearings with this caliber. The 2400 and 110 will recoil like seriously magnum ammo, which is okay, if your gun is heavy enough, preferably with a 4-6" barrel or even longer. Sp101 or J-K frame are too light for full up ammo in my estimation.

Just picked up my S&W 686 5" Pro Series on Monday. Shot it yesterday and love it! The below target was all at 10yds, the left and right were all single action and the middle target is one double action shot (and a heavy dose of luck!).