357 and 2400

[Bearcat 74]

I started with my 357 today with some 2400 powder and WSP primers.  Looking at the Hornady Manual it maxes at 14.3 the Lee Manual says 15.2.  I loaded some 158gr XTP-FP's and found that 13grs shot good, chrono took a dump so I don't know the velocity.  13.5 was sort of sticky extraction and I went to 15 and it dang near welded itself to the cylinder.  What are you guys shooting with 2400 and the 357?  I have a H110 load that shoots good, a little slower than I would like, 16grs @1200fps. 

My set up:

S&W 686 6" and a 686 4"
Starline Brass
WSP Primer
158gr XTP-FP
Lee Factory Crimp 1 full turn

Should I reduce the force of the factory crimp, say 1/2 turn?  I tried it with the H110 and it shot the bext with 1 full turn.

Thanks

[Totenkopf]

 That doesn't sound very good. I use the lee crimp as well. I have it where it just grips the bullet, maybe 1/8-1/4 turn. Next thing would be the total length. I don't know the proper term for cylinders. If it were anything else it would be how far back off the rifling do you have the bullet? You should be able to measure the cylinder chamber easy with the gauge that comes out the bottom of the calliper. Your excessive pressure should be coming from one or the other. Here's a couple for reference after you get it straightened out.
Good Luck Be Safe.

357 Mag Hunting Load
Bullet Speer SP
Bullet Weight 158 grs
Powder Alliant 2400
Powder Weight 14.5 grs
Primer Federal 210
Brass Make Remington
Barrel Length 7.5 (inches)
C.O.L 1.57 (inches)
Velocity 1314 fps 
Energy 611 ft-lbs 
IPSC PF 170.13 
OGW 73 lbs 

357 Mag Target Load
Bullet Sierra JSP
Bullet Weight 158 grs
Powder Alliant 2400
Powder Weight 13.7 grs
Primer Federal 210
Brass Make Remington
Barrel Length 7.5 (inches)
C.O.L 1.57 (inches)
Velocity 1250 fps
Energy 538 ft-lbs 
IPSC PF 93.3 
OGW 62 lbs 

 

[buck460XVR]

I started with my 357 today with some 2400 powder and WSP primers.  Looking at the Hornady Manual it maxes at 14.3 the Lee Manual says 15.2.

Speer lists their max with a 158 as 14.8.  I used to shoot 14 grains outta my 6'' 686 with no extraction problems and good accuracy. I considered it a good target load,

[Graybeard]

I hate talking about loads from memory and don't have the time or inclination to go look them up in my loading logs but since I'm not giving it as a recommendation I'm gonna tell ya what I seem to recall.

My best recollection is that in the old days when the .357 Magnum REALLY WAS STILL A MAGNUM I loaded 13.5 and 14.5 grains but using lead not jacketed bullets. To me 15 grains with a jacketed bullets sounds too hot to handle. I want to say the 13.5 grain load was put into .38 special cases using the Lyman 358156 seated well out in the bottom cannelure and in the .357 that I used 14.5 with same bullet seated to upper cannelure. That might be wrong but it's what I "think" I remember.

In those days the factory load standard for the .357 magnum was a 158 grain at 1550 fps and I loaded to the same general standard as the factory did. Today they don't even push a 125 close to that in factory ammo nor in reloading manuals either. I think that 15 grain load should have been restricted to cast bullets even back in that day.

[John Traveler]

Bill, there is nothing wrong with yoru memory!

That 13.5 g 2400 load behind the Lyman 358156 gas checked bullet in .38 Spl cases was Skeeter Skelton's favorite load.

[wncchester]

"13.5 was sort of sticky extraction and I went to 15 and it dang near welded itself to the cylinder. "

Bear, if you're going to ignore such feedback from your loads then nothing we can say will be much help.  Making a step from 13.5 to 15 is a LOOONG step in that cartridge and you already had your warning!

I love my Smiths but they ain't Rugers.  Keep that up and the least you will get is a belled cylinder!

[Bearcat 74]

Stupid from 13.5 to 15........yep, big mistake.  Wasn't thinking, won't happen again.  I made the mistake of looking at the book instead of looking at the indicators.


I went back today with 13grs and lightened the crimp some and I am happy.  Cases easily extract, pretty much fall out with the barrel turnd up, open sight accuracy is good, for me anyways, running around 2" at 25yds arms rested on knees.  The H110 loads are a little more accurate but I keep reading about flame cutting and it seems to not be a problem with 2400?  The 6" gun is a good gun that I pack around some, the 4" gun is my ginseng packing gun, so it's not like I need heap'um energy from it just to smoke a booger off me. 


About the 15grs being for cast, I called a friend who has been loading for a long time, he said that is a cast load.  I told him it was in my Lee manual for jacketed bullets, I loaded it and it is way too hot.  His reply, are you stupid?"  My reply, "uhhh, yeah I was, won't be doing that again."

Thanks for the help

[OLDHandgunner]

Going from 13.5 to 15.0 of 2400 in one step was not a good move when you already had a warning sign of pressure with the 13.5. You don't need to have folks calling you lefty. 

Bill, there is nothing wrong with yoru memory!

That 13.5 g 2400 load behind the Lyman 358156 gas checked bullet in .38 Spl cases was Skeeter Skelton's favorite load.

I've been using this load for many years in my old Ruger .357 Blackhawk in 6 1/2" and my old Colt .357 in 4". I read Skeeters article back in the 70's in Gun Digest ( I think ) when he was Charles A. Skelton. Before he became the famous gun writer & author Skeeter Skelton. I still love reading his articles over & over.