Reloading the 357mag

[Skinny Shooter]

I'm going to finally start reloading a 357mag for groundhogs.
In what increments do you guys weigh out your powder charges?
The load I'm looking at is a whole 1 grain from min to max load.
2/10gr increments?

[wrenchman]

Sorry to hear u r reloading 357 I just gave about 200 peaces of brass away I would have sent them to u

[Skinny Shooter]

Thanx anyways, that would have been a nice gesture.

[Adam Helmer]

Skinny,

I have reloaded the .357 Magnum for far too many years. What bullet and powder are you loading? I have already established all my accuracy load powder charges, so I think one-half grain changes will get you to your accuracy load.

I only load my hard cast bullets in all my handguns. My cast bullets are more accurate than factory JSP bullets and FAR less expensive.

Adam

[Skinny Shooter]

Thanks Adam.
Half grain increments would only give me three different chargs to shoot with the combo I have so far.

I'm going to try:
125gr Hornady XTP
125gr Speer Gold Dot
I have a pound of H110 powder to use up.
Win and Fed magnum small pistol primers.

What kind of leading issues do you have with cast bullets?

I known I won't get centerfire 22 performance from those pistol bullets but want a hollowpoint that will do a number on a chuck.

[buckhunter]

Alan I used H110 with a 125 JHP. Pretty stout so be careful. I basicaly stick with Red Dot and Herco since I do not load anywhere near max. Did I say I was a recoil wimp.

[Jack]

Skinny, it's been many years since I hunted woodchucks with a handgun. I used 110 grain bullets in my 357. Seems to me I used IMR-4227 (probably a matter of what I had rather than what was best). 110 grain bullets would expand on a woodchuck. I never tried 125's.
2/10 th grain increments makes sense to me - 1/2 grain increments is too big a change, IMO.
3/10ths increments might work, too.

[Skinny Shooter]

I just discovered that I can get light golden saber bullets to reload.
If the other two brands aren't that great I'll give them a try.

[Adam Helmer]

Skinny,

I have no leading with my cast bullets. I use old wheelweights and a dash of tin per pot and drop the bullets from the mould into a bucket of water. I lube with Alox.

I have found half-grain increments worked for me when beginning with the Starting Load. NONE of my accuracy loads are Maximum, so half grains worked ok. I usually tweeked the load up or down a few tenths of a grain once I get nice groups and reliable functioning in the 1911s.

Adam

[Skinny Shooter]

Adam, how hard are those bullets?
Would they work on chucks?


Its 35 degrees and windy here.
Just got back from the pistol range making 45acp and 357 mangalum brass. :D

Here is my 686 shot with a camera phone at the range.

http://i596.photobucket.com/albums/tt44/furnacecreekforge/image_zps25a1cfed.jpg

[Adam Helmer]

Skinny,

My cast bullets are hard and they work on chucks.

Adam

[skeet]

Skinny..nothing wrong with cast bullets on Ghogs..but if it were me..I would try some 110 HPs or for a bit longer range 125HPs. They expand well from med to higher velocities..but try not to use powders like H110/296 or even 2400. Lot of muzzle blast with 296/H110. Look in the manuals and pick the higher velocities with powders like HS-6 etc. If you don't mind the muzzle blast..then use the 296..They shoot flatter than heavier cast bullets. I have shot 5 coyotes with the 125s..2 with my 6 in Highway Patrolman and one with the 4 incher..others were shot with the 4 5/8 in blackhawk I keep on the 4 wheeler. Most were shorter(15-20 yds) range but one was a bit more than 80 yds with the 6 inch gun. Kinda spectacular performance out of a handgun. One was a runniing shot at 10 yds or so..bullet went in the left side just behingd the ribs..exited taking almost the whole shoulder out on the right side. It was a REAL DRT kinda hit....and a kinda lucky hit..I must admit.

Not on subject but I shot a yote on the mountain from a rest at about 50 yds with my Blackhawk 41 mag..it is a short gun..but it REALLY did the job and was really surprised. It was a 210 gr jacketed soft point. I carry the 41 for grizz or a really short range elk LOL!

[Skinny Shooter]

Hey Skeet, I found a pound of Lil Gun and Red Dot in the Bunker.
How about either of those two with 125gr HP's?
Am a little short in the budget right now and don't want to buy any more powder at the moment if I don't need to.
I do wear ear protection when shooting so muzzle blast with H110 isnt an issue.

[skeet]

Well Allen the Red Dot is a little too fast for really good velicity with the jacketed bullets.. But Lil Gun should be a good powder. Check the newer data.. Good high velocities with Lil Gun in mag pistols It is my go too powder in the 44 and 41 ..with Jacketed bullets. I think you would have to go to 158s to get load data for lil Gun. But with that powder If I remember right..I think you can get the same velocities with it as with 296/H110 at about 12000 PSI lower pressures....more or less but 296 isn't too expensive. and velocity is up close to 2000 fps. I just don't think the 125 gr bullet and lil gun are compatible. If it were I think I would have used it as a I have a few lbs. Just a recollection. I also have quite a few lbs of HS-6/Win 540

[Skinny Shooter]

I'll try a pound of HS-6.
That powder could also work in the 45acp and 44mag.
Are you always using magnum primers for your 357 loads?

[skeet]

Good choice.. I use quite a bit of that myself. I have about 800 rounds of 357 mag once fired..think I'll get it all loaded up myself.. Then it won't be cluttering up the shelves..as useless brass

[Skinny Shooter]

I'm finally a handgun reloader... :D

Minimum starting charge of HS-6 is 9.8 grains.
That is a small charge of powder in a 357 mag case and is that really the correct amount?
Seems like such a small volume of powder when compared to case size.

[skeet]

Starting charge is 9.8 with a 125?? Sounds bout right...max is probaly under 11 grains or so.. Have fun..be careful.. You can also use HS 6 with heavier bullets...and with cast bullets too. I have a bunch or 158 gr cast that I load..

[Skinny Shooter]

Yep, max is 10.9.
I worked up in 2/10 grain increments from 9.8 and stopped at 10.8.
What's the be careful part for? LOL

[Jack]

You'll find lots of loads in the 357 that leave a lot of powder space unfilled. That's OK, just inspect carefully - there is enough room to get a double charge in there.

[Skinny Shooter]

Thanks
I'm using a rockchucker so it's slow going with deliberation.

[skeet]

What Jack said..double charges. One of the reasons I don't use Bullseye. and slower powders for mags are my choices. But I don't usually need the max speeds for most of my shooting. My ol Highway Patrolmans shoot most of the heavier stuff extremely well. But they are N frames anyway..

[Skinny Shooter]

Got to the range today with the reloads.
Due to a few factors I couldn't benchrest the pistol so I shot offhand.
Not ideal but its what I had to work with.

Ended up being very pleased with the results.
The minimum load wasn't a bad group. The next two loads got bigger and then the 2nd from last load was the tightest.
10.6 grains of HS-6, WSPM primers and the 125gr XTP are what I'm going with for now.
I plan to eventually shoot off the bench to check everything.

HS-6 is cleaner than the American Eagle and Winchester white box that I was shooting.
Recoil was mild for all loads.

This is gonna be a bonafide groundhog slayer come Spring... :D

[skeet]

I thunk you'd like that 125 gr bullet. It shoots flat but has a bit of oomph when it gets there.. Much flatter than most cast loads. The 110s are screamers but lose energy fast too. You can get more velocity with 296/H110 but at pretty high pressures....and a lot more muzzle blast. Also..a little lower velocities are USUALLY more accurate . darn it..but not always..LOL My ol 5 screw Highway Patrolman 357 shoots the 125's very well. it is a 6 inch one. I like to carry the 4 inch gun though

[Skinny Shooter]

I forgot to ask earlier.
With rifle reloads, whenever a component change is made, you back off a bit and work back up to make sure everything is safe.

If I change the brand of brass in a revolver, do I need to work up a new load all over again?
I have some Federal brass and am currently using Winchester.

[Jack]

Hodgdon shows 9.8 as a start load for 125's in the 357, and 10.9 as max. Since you're within 3/10's of max, I think I'd back off a bit and work up with any component changes - including brand of brass.
Maybe not necessary, but, it can't hurt, and it's lots cheaper to work up a load again than to buy a new gun, hand or eye. :)

[skeet]

Allen..With Commercial brass i doubt it would make a big difference. With Rifle ammo many rounds were based with military brass which was usually heavier..but as Jack said.. it surely can't hurt and you only have to try a few 10ths less. I also would drop back. with the pressures you are looking at..may make a big difference. When loading 45 auto 38 spec and other rounds I load 'em mid range so mixed brass is not a real big deal...with magnum stuff I weigh every powder charge when loading at the max. with a RCBS Chargemaster electronic powder measure scale combo. Same with rifle loads.. I am a chicken in my older years

[Skinny Shooter]

I had loaded Winchester brass with no issues.
Picked up Remington brass cause that's all I could find.
Loaded up a new batch of loads with Win primers and HS-6 and Remmy brass.

After shooting the first set of loads this afternoon and looking at the primers they seemed to be seated deep.
Every load after that had one or two rounds that failed to fire and showed a light primer strike. They eventually did fire once I cycled them through again.

For some reason these primers were seated too deep.
I use the RCBS hand priming tool and don't think I seated them too heavily.
Anyone else have this problem?