Some .357 Magnum Loads...

[Patriot_1776]

Well, I just loaded 40 rds. of 357 Magnum this evening, and I hope to have a chance to test them out this weekend.  I'm using up the AA#7 powder I have leftover after testing it in my Sig P220.  All I can say is, the P220 didn't like it one bit.  All 10-shot groups over 4" @ 25yds.  I think the poor thing felt it was being poisoned or something, so I have some antidote loads with good ole' W231 waiting for it.  That is especially after using up the little Wolf ammo I have left.  Hopefully I'll get something better out of my 4" 686 in the mean time.  ** I have them set up thus: 125gr. Berry's Plated, with 10rds. ea. of 12gr. (starting load), 12.5gr., 13gr., and 13.5gr. (maximum load).

** Information used is borrowed from Speer manual #13.  Always consult your manuals before deciding on a particular load/bullet combination.

[PaulS]

Patriot,
I have heard that plated bullets are sensitive to fast pressure rises and it hurts accuracy. maybe if you load down you can find a charge of the AA7 that will work for you. The 686 has a reputation for being accurate so maybe you can play with loads for it and find a charge that works with the plated bullets.

[DWTim]

I will be loading up some .357s with #7 this week, as well. It will be pushing 158 grain lead and jacketed bullets. For comparison, I will also be loading up some fairly hot with Unique. Maybe some with VV N-110 if I have the time.

I'm interested to hear your results, so I will watch this thread.

[Swamp Yankee]

I have had good results with Blue Dot and use it with the Hornady XTP's. I do find a large variation in max powder charges looking between the different bullet manufactures so I won't quote any charges. I do like the fact that it pretty much fills the case so there is never any chance of a double charge. For lead bullets I use Bullseye and have had good results too. I do milk down the charges to keep the leading down. I hope this is of some use....Jim

[Patriot_1776]

Here's the news, I didn't have the chance to test out those loads this weekend.  I was busy performing other tests on some SD oriented ammo, which was fun and informative.  But once I get those AA #7 rounds put onto paper, I'll update this thread again.

[DWTim]

Well, I had a chance to test a whole mess of loads today. Unfortunately, I brought too much along, and I was rushed toward the end. I had two loads with AA #7 in .357. One was a 158 gr. KSWC over 10 grains, the other was a 158 gr. JHP over 10.3 grains, and with a magnum primer.

My ammo box shows 10 rounds fired of the lead SWCs, to be honest, I don't remember shooting a single one, and I didn't mark the targets, because we were about to leave. I see some sharp holes here and there, so judging from those, they weren't as accurate as with other powders. I could be that I was rushed, because those bullets have been accurate through my DW M12 from 4.3 gr. of Unique up to 6.6.

However, I did set aside the target which I shot with 158 gr. JHP (Speer #4211) over 10.3 grains of AA#7, and those loads were quite good. I strongly suggest NOT using a magnum primer as suggested in the Accurate online reloading guide 3.1. As Speer #13 claims, the pressure really spikes with magnum primers. I have severely flattened primers to show for it. I also had to whack the ejector to get out the empties. However, it made a big ol' boom and muzzle flash.

This powder is not sooty, but it does leave behind lots of little yellowish-green balls, so it's somewhat "dirty". You may want to blow down the chamber(s) to clear 'em out. They also tend to stick together, and made some interesting patterns of clusters on the inside of the spent cases. Yes, I'm easily amused. I had to dump these powder remnants from my gun cases and ammo baggies.

Overall, I like the powder, and I will load more of it. I also have a pound of AA#9, and I tried it, but only several rounds.

EDIT: These were just initial test loads, offhand at 10 yards or so. Next time I will be more "scientific" about it, and do 25 yards from a rested position.