reloading 357, favorite primers and powders

[FredGarvin]

Thanks to the generosity of a member of this forum and good advice from him and others, I'm now awaiting the Lyman reloading manual and I'm soon to be studying for a new hobby. Thank you all.

I'm sure that this has been asked and answered more than once, but I'd like to get opinions on what powder & primer combinations produce good clean burning 357 magnum loads out of S&W 686 4" and Rossi 1892. I was able to find some 357 bullets (supplies are somewhat rare near me), and picked up some Hornady 140 grain XTP.

I am starting to understand how many variables are involved in reloading, so all advice is more than welcome.

Thanks

[Steve Collins]

2400 works well for my .357 heavy loads, I also use a lot of Unique. Power Pistol is supposed to be really good, haven't gotten a chance to try it yet. I'll usually use CCI primers, but I"ve been finding a lot more Federal lately, and I've had really good luck with them.

I use 14.5grs of 2400, CCI Large Pistol primer and Winchester cases with the Hornady 158gr XTP. Accurate out of my S&W 4" Model 19 and my 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk.

[J Miller]

Fred,

I'm partial to Winchester primers and 2400 powder in the .357.
I'm fairly conservative on my loads and my most used load is 13.5 grs of 2400 under most any 158 to 173gr cast bullet. For the 158gr jacketed I'll go up to 14.5grs if the pistol will allow it.

You are correct there is a lot of variables in reloading. But it can be simplified. Try to stick with one brand of primers, that is a big variable. Until you are really experienced keep your powders to a minimum.
And create a system, a routine that you do not vary from when you load. That will keep you from getting into trouble when you experiment.

Joe

[2X22]

W296 and Winchesters Small Pistol primers.

2x22

[Hobie]

For those 140 gr. bullets I'd like H110/W296, 2400, IMR 4227, and about any make of primer. One can't be as picky at the moment as one might have been. Load for the revolver and use that load in the rifle. Should work just fine.

[salvo]

I like H110 or W296 and Federal #200 primers. 158 & 180 XTP's

[Doc Hudson]

The only primers I have ever used for metallic cartridges ar CCI primers. Allegedly they are a little harder and a little hotter than other brands, but i do not know if that is true. I just know they've worked well for me.

My two favorite powders are Unique and Winchester 296,

I use Unique for cast bullets and the heavie jacketed bullets, on the rare occasions I use jacketed bullets. Some folks complain that Unique is dirty. i do not find that to be the case. It is my opinion that use of a heavy roll crimp holds the bullet long enough for a more complete burn of the powder. i have noted that with a lighter crimp I do get more powder fouling.

For 125 gr. JHP's I use Win 296. With 19.2 grains of Win 296, a CCI Magnum Small Pistol Primer and a Sierra 125 gr. JHP, my 4" M-686 will make one hole groups at 25 yards.

i've tried other powders but i always go back to Unique and Win 296. FWIW 19.2 grains of Win 296 is substantially below a maximum loads in my manuals. Even so, work up to it if you wish to try it.

My M-686 won't shoot 140 gr. bullets worth cussing and I've never tried them in my Rossi M-92, S&W M-640 or M-19.

[buckeyeshooter]

I use whatever primers are handy. I like unique for mid power and 2400 for full power loads.

[COSteve]

I only load 357mag for my Rossi M92s so my light loads are sorta stout as well. That said for 158grn Zero JSP bullets I used H110 and Win/CCI SPM primers until I ran out and now I use and Wolf SRM primers. My chrono doesn't show any difference in velocity but does show a bit tighter SD.

[gundownunder]

I'm having a problem understanding SteveCollins recipe as I believe the .357 takes small primers not large ones.
I started with CCI small pistol but now use CCI small rifle because they are a fair bit cheaper here, and i haven't seen a problem with the change. For powder I use BlueDot, 2400, or 2205 as mine really doesn't seem to like lite loads at all. All cases are WW.

[TedH]

Vihtivuori N110 is the king with 158 gr. bullets as far as I'm concerned, though not widely available. If I couldn't get that I'd use 2400. For heavyweights (180s) I like LilGun.

[WyrTwister]

Thanks to the generosity of a member of this forum and good advice from him and others, I'm now awaiting the Lyman reloading manual and I'm soon to be studying for a new hobby. Thank you all.

I'm sure that this has been asked and answered more than once, but I'd like to get opinions on what powder & primer combinations produce good clean burning 357 magnum loads out of S&W 686 4" and Rossi 1892. I was able to find some 357 bullets (supplies are somewhat rare near me), and picked up some Hornady 140 grain XTP.

I am starting to understand how many variables are involved in reloading, so all advice is more than welcome.

Thanks

For mild loads , Unique , for 100% loads , 2400 , H110 , AA # 9 ans surplus WC820 ( which I am running out of ) .

Primers , cheapest I can get my hands on .

God bless
Wyr

[WyrTwister]

Thanks to the generosity of a member of this forum and good advice from him and others, I'm now awaiting the Lyman reloading manual and I'm soon to be studying for a new hobby. Thank you all.

I'm sure that this has been asked and answered more than once, but I'd like to get opinions on what powder & primer combinations produce good clean burning 357 magnum loads out of S&W 686 4" and Rossi 1892. I was able to find some 357 bullets (supplies are somewhat rare near me), and picked up some Hornady 140 grain XTP.

I am starting to understand how many variables are involved in reloading, so all advice is more than welcome.

Thanks

For mild loads , Unique , for 100% loads , 2400 , H110 , AA # 9 and surplus WC820 ( which I am running out of ) .

Primers , cheapest I can get my hands on .

Home cast plain base ( not GC ) bullets ~ 150 grain .

God bless
Wyr

[Blaine]

Check out BlueDot.....good Magnum powder. Good heavy loads, but with less powder than H110. No better, no worse than 2400.

[txpete]

in my red hawk.
lyman 358429 sq lube groove and 2400 doesn't get any better than that.

[Modoc ED]

For .38 Special and .357 Magnum, I use Unique, Bullseye, or Universal (Clays) along with Winchester small pistol primers and various brands of brass -- mostly MAGTECH, some Winchester and Remington.

[PaulB]

For everything but the heaviest loads, use TiteGroup. Burns very clean, uses little powder, and is very "powder position insensitive". The only drawback I know of, is that it is easy to double-charge cases, so you have to have your procedure down right.

I like Blue Dot for some applications (9mm) but it has a reputation for working poorly in cold temperatures.

For the heaviest loads, I've migrated from H110 and 296 over to Lil'Gun although someone around here recently was casting aspersions on it (so I may have to re-evaluate that).

[m.wun]

For my pistol and rifle I load 7.5gr Unique and a 158gr xtp.I just loaded some 180wfngc
cast performance on top of 15gr of LiL Gun for my Marlin.

[Old Ironsights]

I've kinda got down to 3 powders for .357:

N340
2400
LilGun

I have pounds & pounds of 2400, but IIRC N340 got me similar velocities with less powder (my loadbooks are still packed).

LilGun for whompumstompers.

I DO use some Titegroup for subsonics, but that's not a big loadout for me.

[Steve Collins]

[quote="gundownunder"]I'm having a problem understanding SteveCollins recipe as I believe the .357 takes small primers not large ones.quote]

Yep, I meant Small Primers; turned 40 y/o last month, and CRS starts kicking in...

[RIHMFIRE]

winny primers....but nowadays anything you can get!
and I am partial to unique....

[Machado]

in my red hawk.
lyman 358429 sq lube groove and 2400 doesn't get any better than that.

+ 1

[Birdman]

Win primers, but I see no difference with federal. Win 296 powder, and I mostly shoot lead.