Advice for .357

[lfinsr]

I just acquired a GP100 from one of the board members and this is my first revolver. Now I have the dilemma of loading .38SP, .357mag, or both. Given the current state of the ammo supply I'm leaning towards .357 only. My Lee book calls for a SPP where some of the others specify a magnum primer. If I go with the standard SPP I think I can get by with the primers and powder I have until the supply gets better. Is there any compelling reason I should look at loading .38SP instead of just loading .357 on the light side?

Larry

BTW, it's very nice not to have to chase down your empty cases.

[LTUME1978]

Larry,

What powder are you using and what type of load are you after? If you want a light load for plinking/target practice (with 357 brass), a small pistol primer will work well assuming you are using a low volume powder like titegroup, bulls eye, or unique. If you want magnum loads and are using a powder like 2400, you would be better served with a small pistol magnum primer. Please tell us more.

You should enjoy your revolver. I have shot Ruger 357 double action revolvers since 1974 and have liked them very much.

John

[Don2]

I also have a GP100 along with a few other 357 revolvers ( Have an older S&W Highway Patrolman that I really love.)
I actually love 357's ....You can make plinking ammo to shot shells all the way to hot SD loads if you want to.
I load spp's with low to moderate loads.
Usually with Unique, but I also use other powders too.
Nothing hot. Mostly target and plinking loads.


Don2

[lfinsr]

A target/plinking load is exactly what I'm after. I have 450 rounds of self defense loads. Aside from that, while this is fully capable of serving in a self defense role, I have others that I would choose above this revolver mostly for reasons of personal preference.

While none are my first choice, I have Accurate #5, #7, True Blue and 700X. All of these I acquired because that was what I could get. I've heard Unique recommended over and over but I've never been able to find any. I feel certain I can find a recipe somewhere in the book suitable for plinking.

Thanks,
Larry

[mr surveyor]

I use standard Small Pistol Primers for all my .357 loads using Unique, 2400, AA#7 and AA#9 (and Trail Boss). If I were using 110/296 I would consider magnum primers, but that would be the only popular powders I would think of needing magnum primers for. I use the same above powders in .44 mag, and use nothing but standard Large Pistol Primers.

[rotor]

Just got a S&W 19 and today loaded a bunch of 38 sp using montana gold 158 gr hp, win 231 4.1-4.3 gr, win sp primer. Just for plinking. Sure easy to pick up the spent brass. I like shooting revolvers. If I were loading 357 I would probably use w231 and a sp magnum primer. I think that for 2400 you can use sp primer but need magnum primer for most other powders. Why win 231, I have it. Don't have any 2400.

[rotor]

For large pistol if you buy Winchester primers (WLP#7) they are for regular and magnum loads so don't need different primers.

[Don2]

A target/plinking load is exactly what I'm after. I have 450 rounds of self defense loads. Aside from that, while this is fully capable of serving in a self defense role, I have others that I would choose above this revolver mostly for reasons of personal preference.

While none are my first choice, I have Accurate #5, #7, True Blue and 700X. All of these I acquired because that was what I could get. I've heard Unique recommended over and over but I've never been able to find any. I feel certain I can find a recipe somewhere in the book suitable for plinking.

Thanks,
Larry

There are MANY different load data for 357's. They have been around so long, same with 38 spl.
Pick one that is listed in your reloading manual and stick to the components it lists.
Each revolver may act different with same loads, so you'll have to work up a load that works best in your revolver.

Thats part of the fun in reloading.
Pick the range of load you want and make several (maybe 12) up with incremental powder charge weights in each batch and see which ones work best in your gun.

When you get it tuned in, save that info...BUT also save info on each load you made to get to the one that works best. That way you can compare notes later.
Keep good records of all loads.

What may work good for me may not work well for you.

Don2

[Don2]

I too only use regular small pistol primers in 357's.
I have not seen the need for magnums.

I have a brick of mspp's but don't use them, I'd have to work up a load for some if I wanted to use them.

But mostly, I use Winchester primers.

Don2

[lfinsr]

OK, I didn't look very hard but all I could find today was some Berry's 125g flat nose plated bullets. Looking in my Lee manual I don't see a perfect match but they call for 7.0g of True Blue using a SPP. Does that sound right?

Larry

[rotor]

From Berry's site

Currently published load data is limited to some calibers by Accurate, Western Powders and Hodgdon. We are working with these companies to get data published for all of our bullets.
We recommend using hard cast load data or start with mid-range jacketed data. Make sure data is below 1250fps unless you are using a Thick-Plated bullet that we list a higher max velocity for like the 9mm 124gr HBRN-TP that can be shot to 1500fps in open class guns like a .38 Super. Keep in mind that since our plated bullet has the same pressure curve as a hard cast bullet, the published cast data will be very close to what you will get with our plated bullets. If you use Jacketed data with our plated bullets you can get from 5% - 8% increase in velocity using that data.
Other than the data from Western and Accurate for the 9mm, .40S&W and Hodgdon .40S&W there is no printed data available.

I don't see any data specifically for this bullet. Use their recommendations and see with caution.

[Jumping Frog]

OK, I didn't look very hard but all I could find today was some Berry's 125g flat nose plated bullets. Looking in my Lee manual I don't see a perfect match but they call for 7.0g of True Blue using a SPP. Does that sound right?

Larry

Go to the Ramshot.com and download their load data. I would use Ramshot's data before I'd use Lee's.

True Blue is a nice powder. Burns cleanly, meters like water. I've used it in .45 ACP with good results. Never tried it in .357 Mag.

[HankB]

For large pistol if you buy Winchester primers (WLP#7) they are for regular and magnum loads so don't need different primers.

But .357 uses small pistol primers.

I load most of my .357s with SR4756 powder - they're not "maximum effort" loads but they work fine with standard small pistol primers. Light plinking loads with 700X also will work well with standard primers, as will most slow to medium burning flake powders.

2400 is sort of a break point between standard and magnum primers - some sources say use standard, others, magnum. I happen to be in the latter category, as the loads seem to burn just a little cleaner. YMMV.

Ball powders like 296/H110 (same stuff, different package) and slow stick powders like 4227 benefit from the use of magnum primers and strong bullet pull, meaning both minimal expansion of the case and a firm crimp.

[lfinsr]

I've checked Ramshot, Berry's and every manual I've got. The best I can come up with is what I mentioned above. The load data is for 1150fps, well under the 1250 recommended by Berry's. As long as it doesn't blow up in my hand I'm good. I just want to become more familiar with the gun since this is my first revolver.

Glad I only bought 250 of these. Couple of trips to the range and I'll no longer need to worry about plated bullets...

Larry

[rotor]

For large pistol if you buy Winchester primers (WLP#7) they are for regular and magnum loads so don't need different primers.

But .357 uses small pistol primers.



HankB, my post above that related that .357 uses small pistol primers and for most powders I would use a magnum primer. I was only pointing out that Winchester large pistol primers can be used either magnum or regular so you don't need to purchase two types of primers for large pistol, especially since they are so hard to find. For small pistol you need to buy regular and magnum primers, depending on what powder you use.

I wrote
Just got a S&W 19 and today loaded a bunch of 38 sp using montana gold 158 gr hp, win 231 4.1-4.3 gr, win sp primer. Just for plinking. Sure easy to pick up the spent brass. I like shooting revolvers. If I were loading 357 I would probably use w231 and a sp magnum primer. I think that for 2400 you can use sp primer but need magnum primer for most other powders. Why win 231, I have it. Don't have any 2400.
Shot these today and were really great.I didn't have my chrono but were very accurate. Like Montana Gold bullets but not cheap.