357 mag loads

[JASON50CAL]

I just got my first Ruger Blackhawk in 357 mag and would like to know what some of you're favorite loads for a 357 are so that i will have a good idea of what bullet and powder combo's seem to work best. I'm looking mostly for accuracy, and may decide to deer hunt with it too. What is a good 38 special load also for plinking? Thanks.

[dpe.ahoy]

Hodgdon LilGun and 158gr or heavier bullets are made for each other.  DP

[wncchester]

'...what bullet and powder combo's seem to work best."

On average, virtually any combo your loading manual indicates gives good performance will work as well as any other.

[mbopp]

I've always been a fan of W296 / H110 for heavy loads.
For a plinker I've tried Red Dot, Bullseye, Unique, and W231. Against all reason, my old K-frame prefers Unique topped by a cast 148gr BB wadcutter. I load them in 357 cases and seat them to the first lube groove.

[bobg]

   Red Dot for a light load and W296 with 140Gr. Bullets. The W296 load shot great in all three 357 mags i had.
              bobg

[shot1]

The "Hunting load" given in the Sierra manual with 158 gr JHP or JSP 16.3 grs H110 with a Mag primer, I use CCI, has always been a very accurate and powerful load with most any make of bullet in most every 357 mag revolver I have ever tried it in. My personal defense 2" barrel 357 mag is loaded with this load and 158 gr  Speer Gold Dots as we speak. 

[securitysix]

I don't shoot .38 Special ammo through my .357 Magnum revolvers.  Instead, I use a .357 Magnum case loaded with 6 grains of Unique or 6.5 to 6.7 grains of Zip to push a 158 grain lead bullet (usually SWC, but I've started using RNFPs so I can shoot the same ammo through my Marlin lever-action).

For full power type loads, I have used different powders but have found that I like 2400 best and use 14 grains of it to push a 158 grain JHP (mostly Winchesters, but I've also used Hornady XTPs, and a 158 grain JSP would work fine, too).

[buck460XVR]

I was told the .357 was designed to shoot 158s, so that's what I generally shoot. They also seem to be what prints the best outta my 686s. I load them over either H110/W296 for full house loads or over Unique for plinkers. At one time I used a lot of Lil' Gun, but because of reports of it leading to premature forcing cone erosion, I have quit using it in revolvers altogether. IMHO,  No need to take a chance when they are good options out theere.

[bronco73401]

I use 16gr. of w296 over hornady 158 gr xtps in my sw 66. Good acurate load for me. And I use 4.5 grs. of unique over 158gr lswc in my 38 special loads. Ive also loaded 6.3 grs of autocomp over 125 gr hornady xtps in a 38 spec +p.


                                                                                      Lance

[HAMMERHEAD]

I don't hunt with the .357, but my plinking loads are usually fueled by Titegroup. Even with the low load density, I get great accuracy out to 100 yards in revolvers and single shot pistols (IHMSA Field Pistol).
In Magnum revolvers I get better accuracy with magnum brass for light loads, but my single shot pistols and Handi rifle do better with special brass, go figure.
Lead flat points in the 125-140 grain range shoot very well in a wide variety of magnum and special guns, including the Hornady .358" swaged 140 and Meister's .357" 130 grain LRN FP's.
158 grain XTP's and Lil' Gun do go well together, but I have read the warning about erosion as well. It's a great carbine load though.
Lately I've been using up some old Trail Boss that's been taking up space and results have been excellent.

[dpe.ahoy]

The only place I have seen warnings about LilGun causing throat erosion is here.  I have used several pounds of it and have seen nothing on my revolver forcing cones.   Maybe because my Rugers are built hell-for-stout?   It works so well in my 357's and 45's, I'm gonna keep using it and try it in my 44's when I have to load more.  I only hope I get to shoot enough to actually wear out my guns!   DP

[Ak.Hiker]

One of my very favorite loads for the 357 Magnum is a 180 grain hardcast LBT bullet loaded with a top end charge of H-110. Hits hard and penetrates real good. The Speer 158 grain Unicore bullet is another one I really like. They run good with LilGun, H-110 or 2400. I like to get my loads from loading manuels. However the LilGun load with the 158 grain JSP came from a deer hunting post by Jerry Lester. He was loading the bulk Remington 158 grain JSP. I guess if you really wanted to you could come up with a good 158 grain load and run JHP's or JSP depending on the use.

[OLDHandgunner]

My favorite load in my old 3 screw Blackhawk has been 140 JHP with H-110. I've always liked the lighter bullets. This load has taken loads of game along with a few deer over the past 40+ years.
My 158gr cast bullets with GC over a heavy load of 2400 powder also shoot excellent in the Blackhawk.

[Scibaer]

i dont like H110, too volume sensitive for my tastes.
i do like 158 semi wad cutters over Titegroup or Unique
i did some load development with H-38, but that powder burns a little to dirty, after 50 rounds my guns were filthy
so i started working with Unique, its easy to meter, burns clean and you can run from really lite to heavy charges and it still performs well

right now, i'm fine tuning a load for my nm vaquero, 6 grains of Titegroup topped by a 158 grain uni-core jacketed bullet by speer
but for hunting, i think i run 170 grain bullet

[Land_Owner]

I found that Unique in my guns is often a partially burning powder, which leaves a lot of residue in my pistol and Handi-rifle, and in that instance does not deliver the anticipated charge to the bullet. 

I switched to Hodgden Clays and IMR 700X as two similar and fast burning powders that do not foul up either gun.  I am still working on "favorite" 357 Mag. charge and bullet weight combinations.  More testing is in order.  No clear favorite has emerged.

 I am tending toward 158 SWC's and 180 grain WC's as favorite bullet weights and types.  I have not shot jacketed bullets at all so that jury is still out.