Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns W296 in .357 mag/158gr JHP?

My small pistol primer inventory is mostly magnum primers at this point and I do have W296 on the shelf. I plan to load Hornady 158gr XTPs with this powder and was wondering if a "medium" magnum load could be produced using this powder. The data that I have researched has been inconsistant and since I'm loading for a S&W M19, I would like to avoid max loads. Thanks

I have used H-110 (similar powder) in the .357. My understanding is that neither W296 or H110 should be loaded below the listed starting loads in the manuals. Pressure excursions and poor ignition can result, according to those I have read who have direct knowledge of this phenomenon. I have followed their advice. These powders are meant to run at a narrow (and reasonably high for revolvers) pressure range. I've never tried a "medium" load with H110 nor would I recommend it for W296.

I've never tried W296/H110 in a .357 (lots in the .44mag and .45Colt though), but it really is a max load powder. For a middle of the road, K frame load I'd try something like Blue Dot or a smaller charge of Unique.

This past summer I loaded 2400 in the .357 with 158 grain CAST swc. I used a medium load here for a little over 1200 fps in a 4 5/8 barrel. I was quite impressed with it. Very consistent velocity wise, and shot well. A little dirty, but nothing I couldn't live with.

Load it for 125 XTP's in my GP-100. Shoots real good, plenty of muzzle blast though.

Just checked all the loads loaddata.com has for 158 grain bullets with 296.

Hornady lists pressure data - 16.7 grains, their max load, shows 40,700 CUP while their starting load of 15.0 grains shows 28,600 CUP so that 15 grains is definitely a middle level load.

Lowest loads shown are from Speer who lists 13.2 grains but they don't list pressure. Several other sources list loads in the 14 point something range.

I think something between 14 and 15 grains would be a fine medium load in your Model 19. You'd obviously have to shoot it for accuracy.

I've loaded up to 17 grains with a Hornady 158 XTP but settled on 16.0 as a standard "full power" load for that bullet as it showed a bit more accuracy.

As you note in your original post the magnum small pistol primers work best with 296. FWIW, 296 is the only reason I get magnum primers, using the regular kind with all other .357 powders.

Thanks fellas. I believe I'll load up some at 15gr and try them out.

I did really well with aa number 7 with 158's.

Good plan. It's never a good idea to mix load specs from one book to another. Bullet weight is only one factor in a bullet manufacturer's design. If you're using Hornady bullets stick with Hornady data, likewise for Speer and everyone else.

Kinda off topic, but I love the stuff. The vast majority of my reloading is large batches of practice fodder. I use AA-7 for 9mm, .357 Mag, .40 S&W, .45 ACP, and .44 Mag. AA-7 keeps the clutter down on the powder shelf.