load for 357 mag

[colorado kid]

I am shooting a thompson contender 357mag with a ten inch barrel. I am shooting 180gr lead cast bullets, i am having trouble finding any reloading info. does any body have any info on some loads. I have some imr 4227 and some h110.

[Scibaer]

kid,
 using some one else's load receipt can be dangerous, what works for them may not work safetly for you. the safest way to go it to get a reloading manual and work up loads from there. the lymans manual is a great place to start. and you can pick up the "one book, one caliber" manual at Gander Mountain for under $10. also, the hodgdon's site at http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp is really handy too, if you pick up some hodgdons powder.
 the IMR 4227 and hodgdons 4227 are not safely interchangeable.

[gypsyman]

CK, years back, picked up a lb. each of the H4227, and the IMR4227, just to see what would give me better accuracy. Turned out it was the H4227, so picked up an 8lb. keg. Different lot number. Accuracy wasn't nearly as good, so, of all things, ended up using W296. Anyway, point is, if you find one your happy with, get enough to last awhile. I can tell you that the H110 seems to burn alot cleaner than either of the 4227 powders. And if you contact the powder company's, they'll send you one of their small reloading manuals. Isn't quite as complete as one of the bigf one's, but will give you enough info on all the standard calibers. gypsyman

[Jacko]

 http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=319834 ADI manufacture H4227 for Hodgdon http://www.adi-limited.com/handloaders-guide/

regards Jacko

[Catfish]

No data for the 180 gr bullets, but the older Layman manuals, 45 edition, has data for 121, 141, 146, 150 158, 160, 168, and 195 gr. bullets.

[ButlerFord45]

I am shooting a thompson contender 357mag with a ten inch barrel. I am shooting 180gr lead cast bullets, i am having trouble finding any reloading info. does any body have any info on some loads. I have some imr 4227 and some h110.

170 gr  H-110  start 14.4    max 15.0
204 gr  H-110  start 15.8    max 16.5

Makes no sense to me that the starting load for the heavier bullet is higher than the max load for the lighter* but it is a 3x checked listing from the TC section of the Lyman Pistol & Revolver Manual.


* other thans supporting a long held belief of mine about loading manuals.

[Graybeard]

I don't believe that 204 grain load is safe. That has to be a misprint likely on an errata sheet at some point. DO NOT USE IT.

[gypsyman]

I'll have to agree with Bill on that load. H110 and W296 are vertually the same powder. And the top load I ever used for my 210gr LBT bullet was 12.5gr.of the 296. And that was out of the Winchester manual. I sure wouldn't use it, even in a gun as strong as the T/C. gypsyman

[41 mag]

Personally I would contact Hodgdon either by phone or e-mail. They will give you correct data for your bullet, and the powders you have, but will also throw in some other powders which might be better suited.

One powder which possibly might work out better for you and that particular bullet is LilGun. Reason being, you will get just as good of velocity but with less pressure, which might give you better groups, and less leading.

Worth a call either way.

Hodgdon
PH - 913-362-9455
E - help@hodgdon.com

[darkroomdan]

Those loadings are listed in the Contender section of the last two Lyman manuals as well as the Contender "Load Book" for .30 and up (part two).

It is only for that bullet, the 204 grain Lyman #358315 that was originally for the .35 Remington and has a very long round nose and a small amount of bullet, maybe a third of its length, in the case when crimped into the groove. That means there is more room in the case and OAL is way too long to chamber in a revolver. I have used the load for 2400 with that bullet, started with 12.5 grains and worked up to the listed 14.5 max load - it did fine, no signs of pressure and very accurate as well. It would NOT be safe to use a regular 200 grain SWC or similar because there would be too much bullet in the case which would raise pressure and it might be short enough to chamber in a revolver which could really be bad.

drd

[Hooker]

I don't like suggesting loads , but here goes with very stiff warning. Use all reloading safety practices I have not seen this load in any reloading manual. It shows no pressure signs in my 6'' GP 100 it is also very accurate and is a show stopper on big hogs. I have fired almost 600 rds with this load, with out a hitch. 11.4 gr AA#9 CCI small pistol magnum primer My home roll hardcast  come out of the sizer at 182 gr. They clock out at around 1200 fps. There should also be some old 38 spl data for the 180 hc with Unique that should make a good starting point to work up a load.

Pat