2400 in 357

[kielbasavw]

So I did some load testing for my 357. Used 125gr zero jsp with standard primers. The best point of aim load was 16.3gr of 2400, tighter group, but a couple inches high was 16.6gr. Unsure what to do about that. Maybe make a few more and do some bench rest shooting?


When I got the gun home, I did find some unburnt powder, and gun was fairly dirty. Is this common with 2400?

[Dutch Henry]

It happens. Sometimes a less than satisfactory crimp can cause unburned powder to deposit in the gun.

In my experience, the 125 grain bullets are a great defense load. However, it has been reported by some that firing hot loaded 125 grain bullets can cause flame cutting of the top strap. I've limited my use of them and so I can't say for sure if it's true or not.

I've always favored the 158 grain bullets with 2400 or AA#9.

[kielbasavw]

I would think I have a pretty decent crimp going on

[kielbasavw]

Never heard of thr flame cutting. But I did shoot loads all the way up to max loads (17.8gr) with no signs other then primers starting to show a hair of flatness, and bulging down by the rim

[CGT80]

Flame cutting is commonly talked about with lilgun and the 460 mag or 500 mag. Some people say that the top strap will only cut so far and then the gas will have room to escape without further cutting. Win 296/h110 isn't supposed to flame cut in the big guns.

I don't reload for 357. My plinking bullet for 38 spl has always been a 158 grain.

I have had a similar question for test loads in rifles- go for the better chrono standard deviation numbers or for the best test group. Numbers don't mean squat if the group is worse. If you can't point at your target and hit it, an accurate load isn't much good. If you can't change your sights, you will always have to use Kentucky windage. I have this problem in the 30 m1 carbine with 2400 powder and my own cast lead boolits. It has a 100/300 yard flip peep sight. Either way I have to hold off the target a bit at 165 yards. It is a pain in the butt and I think I would have more hits if I always was able to hold to the center of the target. Most of my guns have adjustable sights and I set them to hit with a center hold.

My buddy has a 38 spl revolver that is a CCW type pistol. He has to use Kentucky windage to make the fixed sights work with factory or reloads. I would not want to rely on defending my life with that and I also wouldn't want to use it for an action shooting competitions. I have used it for plinking and it sucks. Those groups look similar, I would take the point of aim because it is easily repeatable and may actually be more accurate than a tight group where you always have to guess with the point of aim.

Some powders run dirty or leave behind unburned powder. I have only used 2400 in my rifle and it burns clean. I use 5744 in my 460 and it leaves unburned powder and is known for that, even though it is very accurate for some people in some guns. Other people don't have that problem with 5744. The guys on castboolits forum love 2400. It is a very versatile powder, especially for castboolits, but it works for jwords too.

I would do a bit more testing with both those loads and see if better groups is really better than a point of aim/impact that lines up. It depends on what your goals are. I shoot a lot of steel plates at varying distances. Others like to make little tiny groups in paper at one known distance. Others just want to ventilate a bad guy.

Bench shooting takes some variables out of the picture or lets you be a little more precise. Some times it can add a variable. Some people say they have seen firearms do differently from a sand bad or rest than when held freehand. I work up loads for the way I will use the gun. I shot my lever gun from a sand bag to test my loads, but I then shot offhand just like a competition would require, so I would be sure it worked for that type of shooting. I didn't notice much difference. In the past I couldn't rest my XD pistol against a barricade when shooting a competition. It threw my point of impact off. Shooting from laying down was a challenge as well. I was able to rest it on a sandbag and hit a 12" plate at 100 yards with a center hold and with the target a bit downhill from me. I don't know if I am just getting better, or if the conditions are making that much difference, or if it is both. I test and practice the same as how I will shoot when it matters for that firearm. When I find a load that fits my needs, I will also try other shooting positions or conditions to try and get better with shooting in general, hence shooting the competition built XD (setup for fast shooting at 1-20 yards and sometimes to 50 yards) at 100 yards even though I thought I would never hit the plate with a zero hold, or even more than once out of a few mags. It was surprising that I hit the plate a number of times. The ammo was a light 40 S&W load that is just strong enough to cycle my action at 1000 fps for a 155 grain bullet. It wasn't a hot load by any means.

[1steuroride]

I have two loads that I really like for that 125gr with 2400. 16.3gr & 18.3gr but you have to use a magnum primer, most likely why your seeing the powder. It burns clean for me

[hermosabeach]

2400 is a good powder for 357&44
It is smoky/ dirty

That is a large charge as the .38 uses a lot less powder

So in the same length barrel a 38 will be more efficient in burning powder.

What lenght barrel are you shooting?? Some un burnt powder is normal.

[mark501w]

I push it more with mag primers good powder. You won't see bulging but, the case will start dragging in the cylinders.

[kielbasavw]

Old books say to use mag primers. New data says standard. I read up a lot about it, what I got was, mag primers made velocities inconsistent and caused fliers. Contacted alliant and they, agreed that standard primers were the ideal choice.

I could load up some mag loads and compare. But I was fairly happy with what I got out of 16.3 /16.6.

I could always adjust the sights so I am closer . Point of aim.

Using. Colt trooper mkiii 6inch

[XDRoX]

I only use 2400 with 158gr bullets. I've never had unburnt powder.
I also have only used standard primers.
Of course a 158gr bullet is going to create more pressure insuring complete powder burn, so I'm not surprised that with the lighter bullets you are seeing some.

Normally a larger charge can fix the unburnt powder problem but also presents other risks.

Then again a little unburnt powder never hurt anything, so I wouldn't worry about it personally. I have a Unique load that I sometimes shoot through a snub nose that leaves a little unburnt powder.

[Cowboy T]

I use 2400 in my .357M loads with 158gr LRNFP's that I cast. The load is not quite full-house, but it's reasonably close. There may be two or three little grains of powder left after firing, but nothing like powder strewn all over the inside of the gun. It operates reasonably cleanly for me.

Also, with 2400 (the more recent stuff), I use standard SPP's. Matter of fact, I've tried several brands (CCI, Federal, Magtech, Remington, Winchester, Wolf, Tulammo), and every time, I get a correct-sounding, and quite satisfying, BANG upon pulling the trigger.

2400 is great stuff. You can download it a great deal and still get pretty good ignition. At full-house loads, it sure does the job, too.

[ireload]

I use to use 2400 when I first started loading for .357 mag. 2400 loves heavier bullets. A minimum of 140 grains and up. Since your using 125 grainers then use a mag pistol primer to alleviate the unburned powder your experiencing. Also a longer barrel helps. Longer than a 4".