Home Forums Reloading Handgun Reloading Loading .357 today

Hornady XTP 158 grain JHP, SR 4756 powder, new Starline brass, CCI SPM primers. At today's component prices, these are running $.58 each. My chrony shows 1150 FPS from a 4 inch S&W Model 19. Zippy enough for me. Midway USA is asking $1.72 a round for factory equivalent.

Cool, my normal 357 is AA9 and 158 XTP or a 158 HCSWC @ 1250 from a 4” GP100. It’s quite snappy. HC are 8.5 cents per today unlike the price of XTP.

Swifty, the next batch I'll do, probably tomorrow, will be with AA9. I really need to get some HCSWC bullets.

#2400 gives my 158 gr. XTP's something between 1250 - 1300 fps from a 4" barrel. The load is very accurate and about as powerful as I want my .357 Magnum. If I need more horsepower I get a bigger gun.

I have loaded thousands with 2400. Still have a pound and a half left, but saving it for .44 Mag loads now. 2400 is has been very hard to find lately

I lucked into a jug when ordering something else I needed badly at the time.

2400 is just as versatile as Unique, and does great in middling cast bullet loads for shouldered cases, along with all its uses in handguns.

I like #2400 better than H110/W296 for heavy loads. It is less fussy about pressure levels and seems softer shooting.

I agree. H110/W296 does seem a little bad to create bad pressure sometimes. I've been loading 2400 for over 30 years.

2400 for me as well.

What are some things to watch out for if I'm loading with 296?

First thing that comes to mind is to not reduce the load below the listed minimum charge. Same with H110

Gift me some 296/H110 and my grass will be thankful. Have zero use for either.

Personally I gave up on 296, too damn temperamental. Also, Winchester never did suggest starting loads. Max was all they gave with this note.

"Note: 296 powder is considered to be one of the best powders for use in magnum revoiver cartridges. Recommended for these Loads are the use of a Winchester or magnum primer and a very heavy crimp (high bullet pull). failure to follow this procedure could result in poor ignition and/or squib loads under extreme circumstances, particularly in loads where less than 90% of the available powder space is being used (low loading density).
Do not reduce powder charges with 296 powder. These loads must be used exactly as show. A reduction in powder charge or change in components can cause dangerous pressures.

While I favor 2400 and it is more flexible and forgiving, for heavy for caliber bullets and max loads, it is hard to beat 296/H110. It must be driven hard, don’t reduce the loads, definitely use magnum primers.

296 and h110 are the same . just diff. in name

Also gave up on 296 for .357. 2400 is way more forgiving with mid range loads.

Great info, thanks.

There isn't a thing a 357 does that can't be done with a 38, providing the arm and brass is up to the task. Of course having the longer chamber of a 357, I would prefer to use that brass in a Ruger or 19 or 86.

2400 is as good for the 357 as it was at inception. Some have severe trepidation loading any wheelie with Lil'Gun, but it ignites about as well as 2400 and if you really need bullets to open up, it will do "more" than H110/296 in the 357 case with less pressure.
That's about all I had ran in a Python and King Cobra for a number of years with 180 LBT's.

296/H-110 is a great powder for full power loads, I've been loading it for decades. If I want a reduced load I'll use a different powder

In 357 cases, the only problems I've seen with 110/296 involves lighter bullets(110-125 grains). When loading 158s and up to 235s, there's a fairly linear pressure curve near the top end.