Most used/useful load

[Scott Tschirhart]

The load that I tend to use more than any other is a 173 grain Keith sized .358 in a .38 Special case over 5 gr of Unique. I don't have a clue about how fast this load clocks, and I have never shot it on paper.

All of my .38s are .357s and this load gets used in everything from a Smith 340 PD to a 3.5 inch pre-27 in revolvers and I've been using it a great deal in Jim's old 92 Rossi (so it is a levergun load). It shoots exactly to the sights in an old 3 inch Smith 65. Its a warm .38 but if I had a Model 10 or something like that, I would not hesitate to use this load in a .38. I use the same charge under a 158 gr machine cast bullet.

Seems to shoot well in anything I try it in and it is a very useful round to use on targets of opportunity on the ranch. What is your most used or useful load?

[piller]

I don't use my .357 that much. For a pistol, it would be my scoped Super BlackHawk. 240 grain JSP and 23.5 grains of H110/W296 for around 1450 fps. It will take anything I hunt. Sure it is heavy and needs a holster. I only got my .357 GP100 less than 2 years ago.

[OldWin]

I don't know if its most used, but its handy.
I use a plated 158gr RN over 6.5gr. Unique in .357. This load is easy shooting but has enough to do something if need be. It clocks 950 from a 4" model 66, about 1k from a 5.5" 2nd Gen SAA, and 1350 from a 20" Rossi src.

[Blaine]

I don't load that much anymore, but when I was, I discovered that any bullet weight in 357 or 44 mag would be more than useful enough if I kept it between 1000 - 1100 fps. I always used Blue Dot.

[2ndovc]

Haven't settled in on a go to .357 load, I've had several but kept selling them off for a 1911 or .44 Mag. Favorite .44 load is 10.5 grains of Unique and a 240 gr LSWGC bullet. Not a barn burner but it's heavy enough and quite accurate out of most of my .44s.

jb

[Scott Tschirhart]

From a field rest at 100.

[Grizz]

i'd guess the one i used the most of for the longest time was a cast 44mag plain base bullet i bought from a friend. i shot it for years over 296 at a modest velocity, by feel, before internet etc. that was from my sbh with 10inch barrel. or there abouts.

my daughter took that revolver to alaska with a 300gr load on a caribou trip and stupified her native friends when she killed one. then she asked me for my gun and, well, i'm still thinking of high grading it back when she's at sea. but i won't. but i think about it.

and so it goes

[AJMD429]

For years it was 21 grains of 2400 for a 240 grain JSP in 44 Mag, but 2400 seems 'hotter' the past decade, so I go closer to 19 grains or 20 grains...

[Sixgun]

7 grains of 231 in the 38-40, 44-40, 44 Spl, 41 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Long Colt all with cast standard bullet weights for each caliber.

4.5 grains of 231 in 25-20, 32-20, 38 Spl. 357 Mag all with cast standard bullet weights for each caliber.

Of course, every caliber has different loads for different purposes, most all heavier. All bullets are cast from Lyman's, RCBS, Hensley & Gibbs, Lee, Cramer, and NEI.

Now, for rifle....varying weights of 5744 and H-4895. K.I.S.S.

I currently have about a hundred pounds of powder of probably 25 different kinds. I use it up a bit at a time.

[piller]

Honestl, most animals in the lower 48 are going to go down to a well placed shot from any of the loads Sixgun just listed.

[Sixgun]

Honestl, most animals in the lower 48 are going to go down to a well placed shot from any of the loads Sixgun just listed.

Your probably right Piller...although I have zero experience in dangerous game hunting and limited in elk.

The loads I posted in rifles are transonic......1075-1150

Handguns they run in the mid 800's

Plenty.....that's why some of my antiques have digested 3-8000 rds with no wear.....pleasant to shoot...enjoyable.....

Now, then there's that Tutt character who blasts 400 grain bullets 1800 fps...out of a 3" handgun..... I've done it and my knees were weak for an hour.

[Old Savage]

Pistol, mostly moderate loads of .44 Spl. and similar 800-900 fps loads of 45 ACP/45 Colt.

Rifle ... various 2700-3000 fps of calibers 243-30-06.

[Scott Tschirhart]

7 grains of 231 in the 38-40, 44-40, 44 Spl, 41 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Long Colt all with cast standard bullet weights for each caliber.

4.5 grains of 231 in 25-20, 32-20, 38 Spl. 357 Mag all with cast standard bullet weights for each caliber.

Now that is simplifying things significantly!

[FWiedner]

.

I don't (yet) load for the.357 because I've been using a commercial load that does everything I want it to and shoots well from every .357 I own.

For both target and hunting application I use Federal/American Eagle 158gr JSP. It shoots as accurate as I can, and I've taken a variety of small game, rabbits, skunks, coyotes, whitetail deer, hogs, and even a black bear using it.

I have zero doubt that it would work well for self-defense if needs be.

[Galloway]

For me its all about the convenience of using the lee dippers. I can make 50rds in 30 minutes in any caliber. You can probably guess my loads. I get 3g or 4.5gr bullseye, 8gr unique, 13gr or 20.7gr of 2400. I do pretty much everything with those 5 dippers and 3 powders except bottleneck rifle and black powder loads.

[Sixgun]

7 grains of 231 in the 38-40, 44-40, 44 Spl, 41 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Long Colt all with cast standard bullet weights for each caliber.

4.5 grains of 231 in 25-20, 32-20, 38 Spl. 357 Mag all with cast standard bullet weights for each caliber.

Now that is simplifying things significantly!

Scott,
For many many years I used 6 grains of Bullseye in the bigger handgun rounds and 3 grain in the smaller rounds but Bullseye has more of a nitro content and a half grain more could result in damming pressures in my antiques. 231 still burns fast but is more forgiving in exact amounts...therefore safer.....and......it burns cleaner....

Unique, another favorite of mine, is nothing more than Bullseye flaked out and with a coating.

There's a gun writer..(can't remember but is connected to the head honcho at Thunder Ranch...might even be him) who uses nothing but 10 grains of 231 in his 44 magnums.

For tiny cartridges like the 32 S&W, 32 auto, 25 auto, 380 and such, Bullseye is still hard to beat.

[6pt-sika]

7 grains of 231 in the 38-40, 44-40, 44 Spl, 41 Mag, 44 Mag, 45 Long Colt all with cast standard bullet weights for each caliber.

4.5 grains of 231 in 25-20, 32-20, 38 Spl. 357 Mag all with cast standard bullet weights for each caliber.

Of course, every caliber has different loads for different purposes, most all heavier. All bullets are cast from Lyman's, RCBS, Hensley & Gibbs, Lee, Cramer, and NEI.

Now, for rifle....varying weights of 5744 and H-4895. K.I.S.S.

I currently have about a hundred pounds of powder of probably 25 different kinds. I use it up a bit at a time.

We’re they still making W231 before the crud and Biden hit ? I’ve not bought any of that in twenty years I think .

[Scott Tschirhart]

I bought 8 pounds of 231 a few weeks ago. Who knows if you can find it now?

[Sixgun]

We’re they still making W231 before the crud and Biden hit ? I’ve not bought any of that in twenty years I think .

Sure....Scott bought some and as it's a popular powder there would be no reason to discontinue it.....it's a great powder and like Unique, can be made to work in any handgun cartridge......may not break any velocity records but it'll work.

Another great powder for a wide range of handguns and even cast in rifles is Herco....I've bought this stuff cheap many times because the average guy did not know the versatility of it......these guys read too many gun magazines when they should have the #1 book in the history of the world for loads...."Ken Waters Pet Loads".

-----006

[stretch]

I, too, like WW231. It meters very consistently.

7gr. in 41 Magnum pushing a 215 gr. SWC is a great load.
Easy on the guns and shooter, more accurate than I can shoot,
and plenty of power for social work. This load is close to the LE load
that the 41 Magnum was designed for, methinks.

Anything from 3.4 to 4.5 gr. of 231 in 38 Special driving a
158gr SWC or SWCHP is fine. 3.4 or so is a nice indoor target load.

14 gr. of 2400 with a 158 gr. JHP works well in the 357 Mag, and isn't
too hard on the guns or shooter. You'll need a grip that fits your hand
on a 2" barreled revolver, though. A poorly fitting grip will HURT!

-Stretch

[piller]

Setting velocity records is not typically the path to best accuracy. Unfortunately, there are too many uninformed shooters who think velocity and range are the only things that matter.

[6pt-sika]

We’re they still making W231 before the crud and Biden hit ? I’ve not bought any of that in twenty years I think .

Sure....Scott bought some and as it's a popular powder there would be no reason to discontinue it.....it's a great powder and like Unique, can be made to work in any handgun cartridge......may not break any velocity records but it'll work.

Another great powder for a wide range of handguns and even cast in rifles is Herco....I've bought this stuff cheap many times because the average guy did not know the versatility of it......these guys read too many gun magazines when they should have the #1 book in the history of the world for loads...."Ken Waters Pet Loads".

-----006

I’ve got 3-5 pounds of Herco I bought for shotgun applications . First time I bought 231 it was for the 45 ACP I believe ,Think I still have a couple pounds . Now Unique I’m flush I’ve got close to 24 pounds . I wouldn’t mind finding a three pounder of the no longer made W571 .

[Griff]

6 grains of RedDot behind a 200 grain RFN in the 45 Colt. Closely followed by 28 grains of Goex "Cartridge" behind a 225 grain TC in the 45 Colt.

[Bronco]

5.3 grs of WST behind a 185 gr TC 45 ACP. 5.5 grs of WST behind a 300 gr hard cast LBT 44 mag

[marlinman93]

I don't even own a .357 anymore, and when I did my loads were almost always at .38 Special velocities. I still own multiple .38 Special handguns in S&W or SAA and love shooting them. My favorite loads are with 158 gr. SWC, and either 4.0 grs. of Red Dot, or 5.0 grs. of Unique. About 800 fps for either, and an enjoyable, accurate load.

[piller]

I don't even own a .357 anymore, and when I did my loads were almost always at .38 Special velocities. I still own multiple .38 Special handguns in S&W or SAA and love shooting them. My favorite loads are with 158 gr. SWC, and either 4.0 grs. of Red Dot, or 5.0 grs. of Unique. About 800 fps for either, and an enjoyable, accurate load.

Most older .357 Magnums did not stand up well to a steady diet of Magnum loads. There is not a lot of need in my opinion for full house .357 loads beyond hunting and self . defense. My opinion.

[Blaine]

I've been giving some thought to "Most used/Useful" and conclude that it just might be a .22LR.
My EDC is either a small 380 or small 9mm, but I surely hope and pray that I never find them to be Used.

[Grizz]

with you. imagine if somehow i got dumped out in the desert (van breaks), alone and not enough water, i pick up the canteen and either the Ruger 22 Automatic or the 50 Beo, and start walking. i think one will get you the other, but not the other around . . .

[marlinman93]

I don't even own a .357 anymore, and when I did my loads were almost always at .38 Special velocities. I still own multiple .38 Special handguns in S&W or SAA and love shooting them. My favorite loads are with 158 gr. SWC, and either 4.0 grs. of Red Dot, or 5.0 grs. of Unique. About 800 fps for either, and an enjoyable, accurate load.

Most older .357 Magnums did not stand up well to a steady diet of Magnum loads. There is not a lot of need in my opinion for full house .357 loads beyond hunting and self . defense. My opinion.

Couldn't agree more!