I'm looking for a load for 357 mag,using a 158 JHP,small mag primer,and 296 win powder,anyone help me out here with what you found works well? thanks mike

The Winchester recommended load (check their website for on line manual)for 158gr using 296 has been the best load in several 357s I've tried.

For years I have been going up to 18 gr. of W296 with a CCI 550 with various 158 grainers and the Speer 160 half jacket. It is a touch above book maximums but shoots fantastic. Work up slowly.

I loaded up some @16.6 gr of 296 powder yesterday,using a 158 gr JHP bullet, that was the load I saw in the 15th edition of winchesters loading, last night while bouncing around I saw the 16th edition of winchester,and the max load was 14.6(if my memory is correct) shooting the ones @16.6 didnt seem to be a real hot load,according to winchesters load 16.6 is max and is moving at 1,610 fps,sure didnt feel like a hot load to me(but then again I was shooting some loads I loaded up for my srh 9 1/2" barrel 24 gr of 296,cci mag primer,240 gr hornady JHP),im shooting them out of a S&W 686 6" barrel,no signs of primers flattening either @16.6 gr w/ mag primer.guess I'll have to shoot them for abit to see how they shoot.

mike