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Loading .357 Mag. questions.

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BobC View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BobC Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Topic: Loading .357 Mag. questions.
    Posted: May/31/2017 at 09:49
I've been loading rifle ammo, for years but this will be my first go at reloading handgun ammo. I have Starline .357 brass and Hunters Supply 158 grain semi wad cutter hard cast bullets. I need a recommendation for powder and primers. These will be fired mainly out of a 6" Ruger GP100 and maybe once or twice out of a 21/4" SP101. I'm looking for best accuracy. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Longhunter Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/31/2017 at 10:01
For target loads, I've had good luck with Trail Boss and Winchester primers in Starline .357 brass.

The nice thing about Trail Boss is that it's designed to be bulky.  
This makes it nearly impossible to double-charge a case (unlike Bullseye, for example).

I'm sure some of the other forum members can advise you on hunting and defense loads.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lockjaw Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2017 at 12:32
I used regular winchester primers, I think small rifle, and bullseye powder also. I like it because you don't use much per cartridge, and it would be obvious if you double charged it. 

I think 38 special +p was only 4.5 grains. 357 perhaps a grain more. I'd have to go hunt to find out. I used hornady 125 XTP bullets. 

I have never shot any of it, this was my "I'm fixing to move, Obama is President, and I need to load every single piece of brass I have" ammo. 

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supertool73 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote supertool73 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/20/2017 at 12:41
I like heavy loads of h110 and 158 grain or 140 grain lever evolution. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote BeltFed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2017 at 09:31
I liked Winchester 296, Winchester brass, and Winchester small pistol magnum primers for my jacketed bullet loads. Other than 19.2 grains for Speer, and Sierra 125 grain bullets I can't remember the exact charge. I used 2400 (try finding that today) for my cast bullets, but it would tend to lead the barrel if you got your loads a little hot.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 3_tens Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/21/2017 at 15:43
I still have a little over 4 lbs of Hercules 2400. Can you guess its age? Alliant bought out Hercules and kept the powers. I have always used their powder in 357 and 38's Try the BE-86. It is similar to the 2400 but without as much flash.


Edited by 3_tens - September/21/2017 at 18:17
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Urimaginaryfrnd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: September/23/2017 at 19:52
I have always used Unique for .38 and often for .357 sometimes 2400 for .357 particularly with a long barrel.  Powder charge recomendations vary greatly by which reloading manual you use so look at a couple of them or buy one of the reloading manuals that is caliber specific.  The brand of brass does not really matter as much as the brand of bullet.  I starrted with a Speer and a Sierra manual and now have Barnes and Horniday also.  How you measure the powder charge makes a difference too because if you are weighing each charge to exact specs you can get close to max but if you use a progressive press you need to allow for some variatin in charge and not be too close to max. 

"Always do the right thing, just because it is the right thing to do".
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