Looking for 357 revolver load

25 December 2002, 16:00

CTI1USNRET

Can you guys suggest a medium load for my Ruger SP-101 using:

158 LRN BB (Carrol 38158)
Unique or Clays
CCI 550 Small Pistol Magnum primers

and, suggest a load with same bullet and a more suitable powder?

25 December 2002, 20:40

CTI1USNRET,
This is not related to your ?,but more towards your handle.
You were a Communications Intelligence Specialist in the Navy? Krypto?
My rate also if that is the case.
Merry Christmas.
Later,
Z
Actually i can help on the question.
I use Unique,4.5 gr,with a 158 gr BB bullet and CCI or Winchester SP primer in my 2" Rossi for a pratice round.
The powder is dirty,i like 231 better,but i have several lb's of Unique to use up and the load is mild.Good enough to 50 ft.
These are loaded in .38 spec cases for pratice,keep full house .357 loads for carrying.
Using the .38's for pratice means i can shoot more and for cheaper$.
Have not used Clays,maybe some one else can chime in here.
Z

quote:
Originally posted by CTI1USNRET:
Can you guys suggest a medium load for my Ruger SP-101 using:

158 LRN BB (Carrol 38158)
Unique or Clays
CCI 550 Small Pistol Magnum primers

and, suggest a load with same bullet and a more suitable powder?

27 December 2002, 13:03

Calif Hunter

I've been using Hdgdon's Titegroup for most of my handgun reloading lately. It is great in the .45 ACP and works well for medium loads in magnum handguns. (It does not work for maximum loads - you can't come close to H-110, W-296 or Li'l Gun velcities.) You only use a little of the powder, and it is "position insensitive," so you don't need to worry about using that little dab of powder. As it says on the bottle, "A little goes a long way." A lot of cowboy action shooters are using Titegroup now. I'll check at home on the load I'm using for 158 gr bullets.

Oh, and it seems to burn a lot cleaner than Unique or some other powders.

[ 12-27-2002, 04:04: Message edited by: Calif Hunter ]

28 December 2002, 05:30

Calif Hunter

I am using 5.5 gr of Titegroup with 158 gr lead bullets. It seems to be pretty clean burning.

28 December 2002, 10:30

<.>

I like HS-6 for the .357 (also the 45 ACP). This powder fills the case and provides consistent performance.

Call me fussy, but I have a Ruger Security Six in 6" bbl chambered for .357 and a S&W Mod. 13, 4" bbl. chambered in 38 Spl. I won't shoot the short brass in the long .357 chamber. I think that saves wear/tear on the chamber.

I've found that max loads or near max loads burn cleaner. The pressures provide the conditions for igniting the powder. Light loads can burn dirty because the powder never gets fully ignited.

I had a Smith Mod. 66 short bbl. and it shot dirty until I increase the load to near max with HS-6.

HS-6 seems to be specifically designed for these calibers . . . 38/357 and 45 ACP. It also works well for 44 mag, although I prefer H-110 for that caliber.

28 December 2002, 15:59

CTI1USNRET

Z

I was a Cryptologic Technician Interpreter (Russian/Serbocroatian) in Direct Support. Based out of Misawa, Rota, and the Fort. 15 ships and VQ-2.

S novym godom!

=========

CTI1USNRET,
This is not related to your ?,but more towards your handle.
You were a Communications Intelligence Specialist in the Navy? Krypto?
My rate also if that is the case.
Merry Christmas.
Later,
Z

12 February 2003, 19:01

tasco 74

I USE 6.2 GRS BULLSEYE UNDER A HOME CAST 150 GR SWC WITH MAGNUM PRIMERS . SEEMS TO BE AN ACCURATE LOAD IN MY S&W MODEL 27 6 IN.

THE 2ND AMENDMENT PROTECTS US ALL...........

14 February 2003, 16:01

Lucky Shot

I like 2400 for cast loads with standard primers.

03 February 2009, 10:01

C.C.

Aaahhh, Yesss...the 357 Maggie:

My favorite handgun.

I have used 5.5gr. of Unique, standard primers in 357 brass and 150-165gr cast bullets with complete satisfaction for years. 860 fps. chronographed from a 4" barrel. 125 gr. JHP do just fine, too.

Some say Unique is "dirty", but I have never noticed a problem, or anything different from what other powders do.

In the True Spirit Of Never Leaving Well Enough Alone, and trying to match the velocity of the FBI-Dade County-RCMP load, 158gr LHP at about 1000fps, I am presently trying 5.9 gr under everything. (5.9 gr. is what my powder measure bushing throws, so I figure...close enough!)

I really liked Blue Dot with 125gr. JHPs, till the warning, but from what I have read, I will probably buy some, and go back to using about 10 gr.

In a moment of weakness,

I bought a can of Hodgdon's Universal, and have been trying to shoot it up in plinking loads of 5.2gr. (again, what my measure bushings will throw.) It does o.k., and I really don't know why I don't like it very much.

There are a lot of powders out there that do really fine in the good ol' 357. You're bound to find one that will do exactly what you would like. Woops! I just gotta start looking at the post dates!

23 February 2009, 21:46

rickt300

I use 5.5 grains of Universal Clays under all lead bullets in my 357. I switched from Unique because of the smoke and it's smoky residue and I have burned many pounds of Unique in various handguns. You don't have to use magnum primers but they wont hurt. Max load using 158 grain jacketed bullets is 7.5 grains of Universal Clays which gives just under 1300 fps in a 6 inch barrel. What it also gives is MUCH lower muzzle blast/noise compared to IMR 4227 and Alliant 2400. Way preferable to the extra 100 fps the slower powders give.