Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Handguns 357 mag loads

I don't really have any plinking loads suggestions. I'd generally throw some amount of Win 231 under bulk WW 125 grain JSPs in the 1000-1100 fps range, typically in .357 cases but not always.

For hunting loads I had a couple. All used WW brass, Fed 200 primers, and Win 296. I'll tell you up front they are HOT. At the time I worked up to them, they were book-max in manuals from Sierra, Hornady, Hodgon's, or Speer. They are several grains above what is listed as max. I am damned careful to use them only in Blackhawk, GP-100, or Contender. I think they'd be fine in a S&W L or N frame as well. Quite possibly ok in an SP-101. I keep them very far away from my J-frame .357. My guess is introduction of the J frame .357s contributed substantially to the reduction in max loads in the past couple decades.

So, with that into, here are my 3 loads:

1) 19.5 grains of Win 296 under a 140 grain Hornady XTP or Speer JHP
2) 17.5 grains of Win 296 under a 158 grain Hornady XTP SP/HP or Speer JHP/JSP
3) 16.0 grains of Win 296 under a 170 grain Sierra JHC

Those Speer bullets were the older type with some exposed lead. They've changed to a full profile jacket. I would be real careful to work back up, don't assume the cannelure is in the same place, don't assume the seat to the same depth. And obviously the 170 Sierra JHC was discontinued long ago.

I also played with 110 and 125 grain bullets and heavy charges of both 296 and 2400. The 2400 loads, though "book", were scary. The pressure way would slap the front of my pants legs from the knees down most disconcertingly. I didn't feel what I was doing was safe so I backed away from it.

One hunting load which I would not be afraid of in the J-frame uses the 180 grain Nosler Partition. Yes, discontinued. I would not hesitate to swap in the 180 grain XTP HP and hunt with it in a pinch though. Same brass, same primers, 13.5 grains of 296. In the handguns and rifles I've test fired it in, there was noticeably more drop and more "soft" boom instead of the crack-of-doom the other loads above produced.

At risk of rambling a bit more, though I haven't pulled the trigger myself, I've seen a couple deer shot with 125 grain JHPs from a .357 handgun and based on that, I would pass on it if at all possible. The bullet holes, multiple per deer, seemed to be "splashes" on the surface that didn't penetrate very well. I bet they hurt like hell and bled, but it was surface-ish bleeding, not deep organ bleeding. At the same time, I'd want to test the 180s a bit to see if they expand at all. Just throwing something together and going hunting, I'd probably go with 140s slightly reduced or 158s full throttle. I'd really prefer to test-drive them into a coyote or two to see what happens before I shot deer with them.

Tom

Tom, I loaded the 180 XTP and at 14gr of H110 it put 5 shots in less than an inch at 20 yds with 1 shot out. I'm pretty sure it's a one hole load and the dispersion is purely the shooter. I looked for the 180 partition but couldn't find any now I know why.

The 158 Speer SP I loaded behind 16-17 gr of H110 was 2 1/2" groups. From what I've read about H110 I don't want to try reducing that load so going to try a light to mid range load with unique powder for that bullet today






Trystan

I’d be looking for a good supply of coated semi wadcutters to put on top of a mid range Unique load for your general use load. Probably be a good bit cheaper than any jacketed bullet for plinking and what not. Plus at middling speed there’s really no gain by shooting jacketed IMO.

Of course take my opinion for what it’s worth to you as I’m not really a big fan of hot 357 loads for anything. I feed all mine a 38+P type load that I also use in all my 38s. A 150-175gr bullet going 950-1100fps depending on barrel length is an easy to shoot and useful all around load. YMMV

4227
Lil Gun
2400

Hunting loads -125gr JHP or 158gr LSWC PC


Clays
Trail Boss
Unique

Plinking loads - 98gr LRN PC or 115gr PC

I think I have about 1200 rnds of 38 spcl with 148gr cast, great for my 357 mag, just a bit more cleaning on the cylinders afterwards, not a big deal.

I like 180gr cast or 158gr xtp's with 2400 for hunting.

Blammer, I've always used 180 hard cast for bear protection and settled on the 180 XTP to try first for a hunting load. I would be very inclined to try the 158 XTP also just for the sake of comparing. Have you by chance compared the 158 and 180?


Trystan