Favorite powders for 357 Mag????

[GRW26]

New to reloading the 357, just bought a GP100. I have molds for 158gr plain base and gas check. What is your most accurate powder? Any advise would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

[versifier]

I have had good luck with Unique. Have you measured the cylinder throats and slugged the barrel?

[Tom W.]

Blue Dot, 2400 and H110 work well in mine...

[Hunter]

Another vote for Unique.

[jimkim]

Unique, AAC-#5,AAC-#7, HP-38,W-231
I was going to include Blue Dot but the recent warnings from Alliant have spooked me a little.
Here is one of my fav sites. I have used several of the loads listed on here.

************************************************** *******************************
>>>>>>Don't forget to reduce the data by ten percent and work up slowly.<<<<<<<<<
To do this multiply the given weight by 0.90.
I would also compare it against Data from the POWDER MANUFACTURERS.
They are more likely to keep up with changes in the burn characteristics of their product.

************************************************** *******************************
http://www.reloadammo.com/357loads.htm

158 grain LSWC or LRN (Semi-Wad Cutter or Round Nose)
(I don't recommend lead at over 900 FPS)
(unless at least using a Gas Check or copper plated)
Bullseye-----6.5 gr.-------1,320 FPS
Unique-------6.8 gr.-------1,295
Universal----6.7 gr.-------1,297
HP38---------3.9 gr.---------846
No. 2---------5.8 gr.-------1,074
No. 5---------8.2 gr.-------1,239
No. 7--------10.5 gr.------1,239
231-----------6.7 gr.-------1,275
231-----------6.1 gr.-------1,075 (plated, actual in 7" bbl revolver)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
296*--------14.5 gr.-------1,560 (Never reduce 296 or H110 data by more than 3%)

[GRW26]

Thank you for the information. Tried some of the loads, the gun is a lot more accurate than i expected. .75" groups at 25 yards. I was hitting cans at 50 yards free hand, love those red dot sights!

Thanks again.
http://reloaders.gunloads.com/images...on_biggrin.gif

Grw

[kodiak1]

2400 is my favorite, but any of the above have been used and proven.
Ken.

[versifier]

Unique, AAC-#5,AAC-#7, HP-38,W-231
I was going to include Blue Dot but the recent warnings from Alliant have spooked me a little.
Here is one of my fav sites. I have used several of the loads listed on here.
Dont forget to reduce the data by ten percent and work up slowly.
http://www.reloadammo.com/357loads.htm

158 grain LSWC or LRN (Semi-Wad Cutter or Round Nose)
(I don't recommend lead at over 900 FPS)
(unless at least using a Gas Check or copper plated)
Bullseye-----6.5 gr.-------1,320 FPS
Unique-------6.8 gr.-------1,295
Universal----6.7 gr.-------1,297
HP38---------3.9 gr.---------846
No. 2---------5.8 gr.-------1,074
No. 5---------8.2 gr.-------1,239
No. 7--------10.5 gr.------1,239
231-----------6.7 gr.-------1,275
231-----------6.1 gr.-------1,075 (plated, actual in 7" bbl revolver)
296*--------14.5 gr.-------1,560

Here's some food for thought:
158gr loads for .357Mag, min/max
Lee Manual
BEYE Lead 5.9/6.5 Jacketed 6.3/6.8
UNQ Lead 6.2/6.8 Jacketed 7.2/7.8
UNV Lead 4.0/6.2 Jacketed Not Listed
HP38 Lead 3.4/5.0 Jacketed Not Listed
AA#2 Lead 5.2/5.8 Jacketed Not Listed
AA#5 Lead 8.1/9.0 Jacketed Not Listed
AA#7Lead 9.9/11.0 Jacketed Not Listed
231 Lead 6.2/6.7 Jacketed 6.5/6.9
296 Lead NA/14.5 Jacketed NA/16.6c

Sierra Manual - Jacketed
BEYE 6.2/7.2
UNQ 7.7/8.2
UNV not listed
HP38 not listed
AA#2 6.6/7.5
AA#5 8.9/9.9
AA#7 10.2/12.0
231 7.0/7.7
296 15.9/17.3

Please note the discrepancies between these two reputable data sources, then, keeping that in mind, notice also how many of the loads posted on your website fall outside the safe working range of the listed powders. Having "used several" does not make them safe, tested data. I believe it to be at best unwise to be posting them in this form on a public forum. While I realize you were just wanting to help out a fellow shooter, you must realize that there are many new and inexperienced loaders browsing this site, many without the knowledge (or even the manuals at hand) to be able to evaluate the safety of loads from a questionable source. While I am not the moderator over here, if you had posted them over on Gunloads next door, I would have deleted the numbers in your post, (and respectfully suggest that you do the same yourself here), and hope that you will please stick to cited reputable published sources with the working ranges for the powders noted if you are going to post actual loads. I do not want to see some newby harm himself or others with data found on this site.

Willy, if this is a problem, please delete my post.

[runfiverun]

this is exactly the reason for not taking data from any source, sept the books.
i have a few guns that would work fine with that data.
and one that would probably be launched, if i tried to get anywhere close to those loads.
the best advice is powder and maybe some boolit weights.
or a where to start data.
but those loads are all at max or over.
and handguns are really hard to check pressures in. [ for me anyway]

and 900 with cast boolits as a maximum velocity, idf'n think so 2000+ is easily obtainable with cast boolits in rifle or pistol, if they are properly set up.

[jimkim]

Well bless your heart. Can you read? It is in your quote plain as day.
>>>>>"Dont forget to reduce the data by ten percent and work up slowly."<<<<<

So out of all of those loads ONE is not close to YOUR minimums(but it is within the min and max range) if reduced by 10% and the other is the only listed load for that powder.(never reduce W-296 loads by more than 3% I forgot to put that in)

>>>>>"158 grain LSWC or LRN (Semi-Wad Cutter or Round Nose)"<<<<<
I cant believe I'm having to explain this to a moderator.
LSWC stands for LeadSemiWadCutter and LRN stands for LeadRoundNose.
Your Sierra Jacketed Data while pretty is also pretty useless in this application.
I believe the data I listed comes from at least as reputable a source as Gun Loads.
I never take any data at face value. I always check it against other sources, and wouldn't recommend it if I hadn't.

The 6.7gr Universal load is safe according to my manual. 6.7gr =34,800cup
357 mag,
158gr LSWC,
Hodgdon Universal,
starting load 5.5 gr,>>>Maximum load 6.7gr<<<
Is the Hodgdon manual "reputable" enough for you?

Folks(and Willy) to actually see what is going on here read this. http://forum.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=697
I have a feeling the mod is going to find fault no matter what I post.
If you want more Data PM me and I will give you some and also site it's legitimacy.