reloading .357

[mjbgalt]

i have not reloaded for the .357 before this week...

i am using 17 grains of 2400 with a 125 grain winchester hollowpoint. is there another powder you guys find works most of the time in yours??

Also, I have not been crimping the cartridges. Do you notice much accuracy or velocity difference when you do?

-Matt

[stimpylu32]

Matt

I have found that Bullseye and H110 both work well in my 357 mags and as far as crimp i use the Lee factory crimp dies for all of my handguns more by habit than to improve vel , but it does make the rounds more consistent shot for shot , less bullet slip during recoil .

If you are shooting anything that holds more than 1 round this can be an issue .

stimpy

[Luckyducker]

I have loaded some 125's with 2400 and they are a handful, but my favorite load is 10 grains of BlueDot behind a 158 grain SWC.  The BlueDot gives me an accurate load that is more moderate yet not whimpy if I don't want a flat-out full power load. 

[Jerry Lester]

Personally, I like Unique better with 125g bullets. A 125g HP with 7.5g to about 8.5g with a CCI 550 primer makes a nice midrange load that'll thump a groundhog, coyote, coon, possum, or such like a hammer with very light recoil.

For maximum loads I prefer a good 158g bullet loaded with a maximum charge of Lil' Gun. You won't beat Lil' Gun for sheer velocity, and it's been very accurate for me too. It also meters like a dream. Other great powders with 140g+ bullets are H-110, 296, and AA-9.

[PaulS]

I have tried #9, 4227, 2400 and a host of others and the only powder that gives accuracy and the high velocities that are needed to take game with this cartridge is H110 and WW296 (which are the same powder by different names). You cannot load moderate loads with these powders. The listed loads should never be reduced more than 3%. Squib loads result from reductions beyond that level. Heavy crimps demonstrate better ignition and keep the bullets in place in revolvers. The powder performs best with heavy bullets, needs magnum primers and is not recommended for bullets lighter than 125.

Ok- that gets all the caveats out of the way. I load 19.5 grains behind a 140 grain JHP. The load is extremely accurate in my 4, 6, and 10 inch guns. It will hunt white-tail to 50yd and is accurate enough to get ground squirrels to 75 yds. This is my favorite "plinking" round.

[OLDHandgunner]

Over the past 35+ years my best all around load for my 357 Magnums has been 17.0gr of H-110 under a 140gr JHP. This load has taken many deer, coyotes, fox & hundreds of chucks. I also like 2400 power but it is very dirty powder. You have to use a heavy crimp on these loads.

[bobg]

OLDHandgunner uses the same load i use. Have never owned or seen a gun that this load did not shoot great in.
   bobg

[dubber123]

The only way I have gotten 2400 to burn clean is with heavier bullets at high pressures.  If you run it like this it can be very fast/powerful.  Run it at even moderate pressures, and you'll likely have plenty of "birdseed" in the barrel and action.