Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 357 Magnum with 158 gr Cast SWC

I'm trying to keep my vel around 1000 fps or a little less in my 4 inch Smith 686 . I guess i will have to run a couple over the chronograph and see just what I'm getting with 6 gr of Unique

You'll be in there like swimwear.



Travis

I remember years ago as a youngster, loading 2400 in my K-38, using a hot load with 150 gr. cast bullets. There was so much burnt powder residue that some got under the star ejector, enough that the gun wouldn't close. I had to brush burnt powder granules from under the ejector so that it would fully seat and allow the cylinder to slide back into battery.

Do you ever see that with 2400 in your M-19?

DF

regarding that Lilgun, if you look at the hodgden online website it seems like it creates higher velocities at lower pressure than just about anything else. google search it, and you can see references to flamecutting etc cause it burns hot. I have loaded some of it, but hesitant to use it as a steady diet.

I don't remember if any granuels were found under the ejector but it does leave some burnt and unburnt powder in the cylinders.

16.0 H-110, 15.o for jacketed bullets.

Thanks for the info.

The .357 I'm currently working with is a FA 97 with a really thick top strap. It would take a LOT of shooting to mess it up, compared to a S&W, etc. But, that would be something to be aware of and to watch for.

DF

2400 requires a heavy crimp to burn well .

My Dillon 550B is set up for a max crimp on W/W 158 gr. JHP's.

I think I'll try some 2400 next.

DF

For a older 4" GP100, I loaded 17.5 grains of 296 under a 160 grain SWC.

Later, for a Blackhawk, I loaded 17.5 grains of 296 under a 158 grain XTP. Lighter loads were horribly inaccurate. I miked the cylinder throats and bore. It all adds up to a gun well out of spec which only shot accurately when I was kicking the bullets in the ass hard enough they'd slug up enough to seal. I sold the gun after a couple years. Those same loads did very well in a Marlin 1894 and still do well in a 10" Contender.

I tried faster powders line 2400 in the GP100 but got into SCARY pressures before I got accuracy. I don't like having the blast slap my pants legs, gives me a baaad feeling.

Tom

That was my bulk load when I was shooting 357s. I didn't have a chrony then, but QL predicts you should be around 1070 fps, 22K psi.

Don't know what your load was but 10.0 grains of 2400 in the .38 Special has been a very, very accurate load for me in three different Model 15's. Had an older one from the 50's that just wouldn't shoot with anything. Best groups were only mediocre, just not what I thought a good S&W was capable of. Then I tried 10/2400 under a 158 cast SWC and voila - one raggedy hole. It produced the same kind of accuracy in my next two Model 15's as well.

You don't see 2400 listed under .38 Special loads very much and I probably wouldn't try this with a jacketed bullet or even a cast bullet in older J-frames, but all indications are that it was perfectly safe in the K-frame Smiths. IIRC it gave a little over 1000 fps out of the 4" barrel. Like any load with 2400, a strong bullet pull is crucial.

It's been so long ago I don't remember the load. It shot good, just too much residue, IMHO, for a DA like my K-38.

DF

I don't see how you could get a better trail load than the 6 gr of Unique with the Missouri 158 gr SWC cast . It is extremely accurate out of my Smith 4 inch 686. I loaded them in new Winchester Brass.

Three Stooges...

Classic.

Moe Harry, Larry Barry, Curly John...

DF

Love The 4" 686, That's What My One And Only revolver Is.