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.

Hawk,
I've had really good luck with lil-gun in the 357 mag. It's far better in below zero temps in the 357 mag, over 110/296. It also works better in short barrels.

Here's a recovered 180 grain swift a-frame using lil gun. It was a finishing shot on a downed bull. 1200 fps, that bullet made it clear to the offside hide of a massive, rut-swollen neck of a bull moose.

Dunno what you'd need anymore velocity than that? I don't appreciate stuck cases in ruger cylinders, like you get from hot-loaded 357 mag using 110/296.

In my Ruger GP100,6" I had two loads:

17.8g of IMR 4227 with a 125g Soft point

18.0g of H110

CCI mag primers, decent crimp

So you all know, H110 is Winchester 295

18gr LilGun under 158gr XTPs, CCI550

14.9gr 2400 under LC 158 SWC, standard primers.

Cost? I dunno, this stuff is all pre-crunch.

Following for info. Just picked up a Smith and Wesson 19-5 and 66-2 . 6" and 4" barrels, all my handgun loading experience has been 10mm and a bunch of 44 mags .

H-110/296 is not temperamental, but is a powder that should not be loaded below 90% load density.
H-110/296 is my go to powder for Magnum loads in 41 mag, 44 mag, 45 Colt +P, 454 and 475L.

Love the powder

I just shot someI loaded a couple weeks ago. 18.5 H110 wspm . 140xtp . 18.6 was Hornady max. listed as 1400fps 8" barrel .


Its a handful in a sp 101 3" so much I looked up data to make sure I didn't mess up. I didn't but Sierra has their 140s at like 20.5 or they're close listed at 1700 FPS out of a 4.5" barrel .... SOB ..

that's a lot of umph right there! Sounds like a handful.

Lil Gun gives top velocity at significantly less pressure than anything I’ve seen. It’s the magic fairy dust in the .357 and .22 Hornet. Data from Handloader goes to 19.0 grains, but I usually stick with 18.0, which is pretty lively as it is.

Congrats on the moose, and looks like perfect bullet performance to me. Nicely done.

Guy

Not at significantly less pressure at near equal performance the pressure isn't significantly different

Im another that prefers 2400 over h110 and 296, 2400 behind 158 gr XTP’s is one of the best loads in my 4” L frame,

started loading 2400 many years ago in my 44 mag and was a very forgiving and easy to use powder, so I just stuck with it, these days the H110 and 296 get used in my grandsons 410!

I’ve been using 296 in mine, I’m going to try 2400.

In my opinion and experience if you want top velocity in your 357 Magnum H-110/296 is the best choice over 2400. If you want to down load a bit then 2400

Again, if you can find it, SR 4756 produces some of the zippiest loads.

#1=2400. #2=4756. #Last=Lil Gun. I find it runs hot, temp wise. I'm fortunate to have lucked into an estate that had cans and cans of sealed, still, Unique, 2400, Unique and 4756.

I'm going to have to buy 357 factory ammo to get brass. Everywhere I looked they are out. I want to load up some 170 swc for this 28 I just got.

https://rimrockbullets.com/xcart/-357-keith-swc-fb-170-gr-per-500.html

79S, Starline is in stock today $99.50 for 500

Not any longer.......they be out!

Gun Broker..........4 pages of it, new & used.

back ordered now, but that means maybe a week delay. I jump if it says that, as it will be shipping soon. Buying Starline cases from Gun Broker instead of direct
will always cost more. Often double.

Watch those bullets in your N frame with 357 cases. If they’re the same dimensions as the Lyman 357429 “Keith” bullet, they’ll be too long for the shorter N frame cylinder when crimped in the groove in 357 cases. You can crimp them over the front driving band but case capacity will be reduced and you won’t have the front band centering everything in the cylinder throat. 38 cases will give you about the same capacity since you can use the crimp groove, plus they’re cheaper and easier to find.

The Kid hit it on the nail head. I really like the 358429 in k and l frames as well as old model ruger bh. In my N frames I use the 358156 swc gc both the solid and hp versions.the 358429 in the 38 case shoots well in my m60 Dao as well.

Brother Sam, I have been waiting over a year for "Backordered" 41 Special brass.....LOL

Any you have, send to me!

My 30 carbine is hungry!

Previously stated info on the 170 Keith and N frame S&W's is correct. I load the afore mentioned Rimrock version of this bullet in .38 +p cases (for ID purposes) over a stiff charge of 2400, for my N frame 627, duplicating a famous 38/44 load. It is accurate and effective.

I started out with 296/110 in my 357’s and 44 mags. I never went below 125’s in the 357 or below 220 in my 44’s. Never had an issue and always shot as well or better than I thought I could hold the guns. If I go to a light load it’s always been unique. The only issue I can ever recall was sticking a 125 HP in a barrel with too little unique…. I was young and dumb but learned a valuable lesson. Thankfully before I squeezed the trigger again.