Question on a 357 magnum load

[barrage]

Anyone here that could help me out on this, would be much appreciated.

I've got myself a box of 500 158 grain, round nose, lead, .358" bullets from Bear Creek that I bought a while back with the intention of reloading for my S&W 686.

I've also got a jug of IMR 4227 (loading with magnum primers) that I'd like to use for this job.

From what I understand so far, it sounds like that might be the wrong powder for that particular bullet as it would generate unusually high pressures.

I'm tempted to load this anyway and see what happens (it doesn't sound like it would be a particularly dangerous load), but what say you fella's here?

What should I expect from that recipe?

[Nickgt40]

Start at the bottom of the recommended powder charge and work your way up.

It's not a semi auto obviously so there is no bolt or slide to cycle so even starting a full grain below the start point won't hurt anything but accuracy.

I use 4227 for my 357 loads and have never considered it a hot powder compared to others I've tried.

[barrage]

Start at the bottom of the recommended powder charge and work your way up.

It's not a semi auto obviously so there is no bolt or slide to cycle so even starting a full grain below the start point won't hurt anything but accuracy.

I use 4227 for my 357 loads and have never considered it a hot powder compared to others I've tried.

That's actually my first red flag on the idea of using 4227, in that I can't seem to find a recommended load using a .358" unjacketed lead bullet. Plenty out there for .357" jacketed bullets though that I'm considering using as a starting point.

[rsrocket1]

Hodgdon lists 9-10g 4227 under a 158g LSWC for 38 special, 11g for 38+p with a j bullet and 14-16g for a 357 mag j-bullet. 4227 is a pretty slow powder and you'll probably be spitting out a lot of unburnt flakes, but 14g will put the powder just about to where you will seat the bullet and only send it out around 1000 fps, the same as 10g in a 38 special case. If that's all you have, it will work, but you can certainly do a lot better with other powders.