bullseye and 357 mag

[searlock]

i have a ruger gp 100 6 inch barrel and bullseye powder, 158 grain hornady xtp bullets. i want to load as light a charge of this powder as is safe. does any one know how low a powder charge i can go in 357 mag? primers are cci 500. i have a lot of 357 brass and no 38 spl brass. i just want this load for plinking. thanks     searlock

[cwlongshot]

Not the best idea.... Why are you so set on using this powder?

PM me your address and I'll send you some 38's!!

CW

[shot1]

The Speer # 10 manual list 4.3 grs Bullseye as a start load 848 fps and 4.8 grs as a Max load 939 with 158 gr lead bullets for the 357 mag. They used a 6" Ruger Security Six and Speer cases and CCI 500 primers. The reason for the light max load is to keep the bullet below 1000 fps to keep leading of the bore down.

Lyman 48th list for a 160 gr lead bullet start 4.9 grs 821 fps and max 6.9 for 1119 fps from a 4" barrel.

The Speer start load would be as low as I would go.

[Dill45]

If you an pick up some IMR Trail Boss, that would probably be the safest way to go.

Loading up real light loads of quick burning powder is usually not the best way to get light loads.  The threads about detonation and possible double or even triple charging are quite numerous.

[woodchukhntr]

cwlongshot is right about using Bullseye with jacketed bullets.  I could find zero information in my manuals.  Bullseye is listed with lead bullets, but not jacketed because of their higher friction in the barrel.  Accept cw's offer of free .38 cases and get yourself some lead SWC bullets, 500 are not too expensive.  Dill45 is also correct about Trail Boss, it is the safest way to go for light loads because of the possibility of double-charging with Bullseye.

[GH1]

I've had good luck with Alliant's customer service department in developing loads for my .357 using cast bullets with Bullseye,  I'm sure they'll help you with your needs as well.  I've been dealing with a guy named Ben Amonette, his contact info is below.
Ben.Amonette@ATK.com
GH1

[45-70.gov]

use  38  reloading  data

SEAT  THE  BULLET  TO  38 SPECKS  FOR  ''OVER ALL LENGTH"

the  shells  will never  know they  are  not  38s

i  use  3 grains  of bullseye  because  i  have so much  of it for free

do not use  gas checks on light loads  or jackets

i  line all  my  charged cases  up  and  look  inside with a flashlight
looking for  double  or  missing powder

[searlock]

thanks for all your help and offer of 38spl brass. i want to use the powder and bullet setup because it is what i have. my sierra manual shows bullseye 6.2 grains and my old speer manual #11 shows bullseye 6.6 grains with jacketed bullets 158 grain. i no longer shoot 38 spl bullets in my ruger and never plan to again, anyway thanks again for all your help.   searlock

[45-70.gov]

i  ''deep seat''  my reduced  load
normal length  is normal charge
38 length  is a light load
deep seated 38  is  super light


also  for  identification  reasons  too

357 brass  may  be  thicker  but 

having  1/8 inch more brass  over the  slug
all other things the  same

you  have a 38  that  fits  your 357 chamber

lets  us know  how it goes
while  others  are  hot rodding
i  am into reducing  for  various reasons

[sbhg]

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/default.aspx

Keep these 2 links in your favorites manu or shortcuts on your desktop, then you'll always have some referance material. 

[Graybeard]

Bullseye is one of my two favorite powders for the .357 and yes with jacketed bullets as well. The very first .357 mag I ever bought a 6" S&W model 19 was used by me to win my first ever trophy in competition.

We shot chickens and pigs that might have been the full size rifle targets or maybe were just basterdized sizes someone had put together I'm not really sure. Distances were much further than NRA Hunter Pistol that came along much later around here at least.

I used Browning branded made by Norma 158 JSPs at 1550 fps for the pigs and reloads with 6.5 grains of Bullseye with Hornady 125 JHPs. That was long long before XTPs were even thought of. That load with most any 125 JHP is still one of my all time favorite .357 mag loads. I don't think I've ever found a revolver that didn't shoot it well.

[Dee]

Be very very careful with bullseye powder. I have seen NUMEROUS revolvers with only half a cylinder left due to double charging with bullseye. A little goes a long way, and an accidental (and it ain't that hard with Bullseye) double goes in every direction.

[searlock]

45-70gov i took your advise and deep seated a 158gr bullet and it bulged the brass case, so i then loaded a 125gr speer bullet @4.6gr of bullseye deep seated to the 38spl  coal  no bulging. i fired the round,  beautiful just what i was looking for. i understand about the doublecharging of a case and will do my best not to. again thanks for your help one and all.    searlock   

[45-70.gov]

the  158  will  work  too
just  adjust  so its  not  too  deep  and  bulging

the  reason for deep seating  reduced  charges is
.....to  get  more uniform  combustion
.....also  in a reduced  load  you have  too much  air space that can  cause detonation

loading  the bullet  longer  than  a 38  shouldn't hurt