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Loading .357 Mag. questions. |
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BobC
Optics Apprentice Joined: January/14/2010 Location: Maine Status: Offline Points: 200 |
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Posted: May/31/2017 at 09:49 |
I've been loading rifle ammo, for years but this will be my first go at reloading handgun ammo. I have Starline .357 brass and Hunters Supply 158 grain semi wad cutter hard cast bullets. I need a recommendation for powder and primers. These will be fired mainly out of a 6" Ruger GP100 and maybe once or twice out of a 21/4" SP101. I'm looking for best accuracy.
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Longhunter
Optics Journeyman Joined: February/02/2006 Status: Offline Points: 466 |
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For target loads, I've had good luck with Trail Boss and Winchester primers in Starline .357 brass.
The nice thing about Trail Boss is that it's designed to be bulky. This makes it nearly impossible to double-charge a case (unlike Bullseye, for example). I'm sure some of the other forum members can advise you on hunting and defense loads.
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Lockjaw
Optics Journeyman Joined: May/17/2016 Location: Chelsea Status: Offline Points: 434 |
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I used regular winchester primers, I think small rifle, and bullseye powder also. I like it because you don't use much per cartridge, and it would be obvious if you double charged it.
I think 38 special +p was only 4.5 grains. 357 perhaps a grain more. I'd have to go hunt to find out. I used hornady 125 XTP bullets. I have never shot any of it, this was my "I'm fixing to move, Obama is President, and I need to load every single piece of brass I have" ammo. |
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supertool73
Optics God Superstool Joined: January/03/2008 Status: Offline Points: 11814 |
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I like heavy loads of h110 and 158 grain or 140 grain lever evolution.
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BeltFed
Optics Retard Joined: February/12/2008 Location: Ky Status: Offline Points: 22284 |
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I liked Winchester 296, Winchester brass, and Winchester small pistol magnum primers for my jacketed bullet loads. Other than 19.2 grains for Speer, and Sierra 125 grain bullets I can't remember the exact charge. I used 2400 (try finding that today) for my cast bullets, but it would tend to lead the barrel if you got your loads a little hot.
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3_tens
Optics Jedi Master Joined: January/08/2007 Location: Oklahoma Status: Offline Points: 7853 |
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I still have a little over 4 lbs of Hercules 2400. Can you guess its age? Alliant bought out Hercules and kept the powers. I have always used their powder in 357 and 38's Try the BE-86. It is similar to the 2400 but without as much flash.
Edited by 3_tens - September/21/2017 at 18:17 |
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Urimaginaryfrnd
MODERATOR Resident Redneck Joined: June/20/2005 Location: Iowa Status: Offline Points: 14964 |
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I have always used Unique for .38 and often for .357 sometimes 2400 for .357 particularly with a long barrel. Powder charge recomendations vary greatly by which reloading manual you use so look at a couple of them or buy one of the reloading manuals that is caliber specific. The brand of brass does not really matter as much as the brand of bullet. I starrted with a Speer and a Sierra manual and now have Barnes and Horniday also. How you measure the powder charge makes a difference too because if you are weighing each charge to exact specs you can get close to max but if you use a progressive press you need to allow for some variatin in charge and not be too close to max.
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