What 357 H starting load would you recomend?

[Ray Cover]

My daughter an I are going down to my dads house this weekend to work up loads for a few guns (dad  has a 50 & 100  yard range).

I am looking for two good accurate loads for my 357 herrett:

1. For use with Linotype cast bullets for paper punching and blowing up tin cans. This does not need to be a hot load just something comfortable  to plink with out to 100 yds.
I have two 38/357 bullet molds. A 158 gr round nose and a 160 gr Keith style semi-wadcutter.

2. One for deer hunting this fall.  In previous years I have used my Smith L Frame 357 Mag with 8 3/8" barrel. I have had good luck with 125 gr Hornady XTPs with 19 grains of H110.  I get close to 1900 fps out of that.  I am thinking that I should be able to push those XTPs up to around 2,400-2,500 fps with the Herret in the 14" barrel and still have a load that is comfortable to shoot.

If any of you have a good suggestion as a starting point for either of these loads I am interested in hearing them.

Thanks in advance,

Ray

[blpenn66502]

Ray,

Standard advice for the 357 herrett is that near max loads and heavier bullets are the key to accuracy.

I assume you've already fireformed the cases?

My old Hornady book (1991) shows H110 in the 125 XTP ranging from 18.3g @ 1900 fps to MAX load of 23.7 @ 2200 fps out of a 12" barrel.  Sierra data shows velocities of 2550 fps possible with their 125 gr and H110.

For cast, I'd use and use Unique (primarily for fireforming).  Lyman data with a 155gr SWC starts with 9.0 gr @ 1386 fps and 12.8 gr @ 1728(14") and RCBS shows 3.8 gr @ 716 fps to 4.3 @ 803 fps using their 158 gr RN in a 10" barrel. (Source old 1991 Loadbook USA)

Best,
Brian

[Ray Cover]

Hey thanks for the tip Brian.  I am used to loading for my revolvers but this is my first experience with the 357 Herret or a contender.  We will probably load a bunch of cast tomorrow and fireform a bunch of cases. They have already been die formed from 30/30 cases.

Ray

[Lone Star]

If you are deer hunting with the long Herrett, DO NOT use 125-grain bullets!  These are designed for much lower velocity and you will get poor penetration and gastly surface wounds at 2400+ fps.  The designers of the cartridge used the old 140 Speer, which gave good performance.  But, that bullet weight/design is no longer made.  For deer Speer recommends no bullets lighter than 158 in the .357 Maximum - which is not a potent as the Herrett.  I'd prefer the 170-180-grain bullets in the big .357 myself.  Cut back on the powder to reduce recoil, not bullet weight, IMHO.


.