I was looking for some powders for my 357 mag,i am shooting a 158gr bullet. I was reading Speer Manual number 13 page 526. It said that if you use Vihta Vuori N110 and Alliant 2400 using standard primers.My question is has any body used standard primer with the powder i mentioned before and what was the results.

I would follow the instructions in the manual without deviation. They were written by people with a lot more scientific experience than most of us. Just start low and work upwards. Do not start with the maximum loads. Trust me.

Get a good reloading book, in fact get a couple of them. Most contain good instructions with some pictures, and all have valuable advice the novice should follow.

If VV is a ball powder, I would use mag primers. For 2400, I use std & they shoot fine.

Mag for ball powders alway IMO. But then i use a mag primer for Alliant 2400 @ 13 gr with 158gr cast lswc in the 357 mag. also.

I'm not trying to get anything started here, but I'm partial to Blue Dot in .357.

My standard, favorite load is a 158 grain anything, 13.5 grains 2400, any case any primer.

WSP primers used to be considered a magnum level primer, I don't know if that is true anymore.

2400 can be loaded up and down and it still shoots well.

I have tested other powders, AA#9 is an excellent powder. I do not recommend Blue Dot, it leaded severely with lead bullets.

If you are only going to be loading magnum, full power loads, give W296/H110 a try. They are the same powder, buy by price.

W296 shot very well. You just can’t download it. It is pedal to the medal or nothing.

Smith & Wesson M27-2 6.5” barrel

158 LSWC 13.5grs 2400 R-P cases CCI primers
9-Oct-05 T = 64 °F
Ave Vel = 1273
Std Dev = 44.03
ES = 176.7
High = 1372
Low = 1195
N = 30

Very accurate.



158 gr LSWC Lyman Alloy #2 15.5 W296 Zero Cases CCI500

21 June 2008 T = 85 °F

Ave Vel = 1282
Std Dev = 35
ES = 128.1
High = 1325
Low = 1197
N =12
No leading, no extraction issues, heavier recoil than AA#9 load


158 JHP (W/W) 13.5 grains 2400 R-P cases WSP
5-Aug-06 T = 103 °F
Ave Vel = 1196
Std Dev = 26.58
ES = 87.17
High = 1244
Low = 1157
N = 10