Reloading 357 Magnum

[afret]

I bought a few S&W 357 revolvers and a 357 Henry rifle and will be starting to reload for them. This is the first time I'm reloading handgun ammo. I got a couple pounds of Accurate #9 and some Hornady 158 grain XTP bullets. The Hornady book gives a starting load of 9.7 grains for rifle and 9.8 grains for handgun. Max for both is listed as 11.5 grains. Hodgdon gives a starting load of 12.4 grains with the 158 XTP. Sierra gives a starting load of 13.0 for rifle and 12.1 grains for handgun with 158 grain bullets.
Has anyone here tried a 9.7 grain load of #9 with 158 grain bullets in a rifle. I'm kind of concerned about maybe getting a stuck bullet in the barrel with a too light load. Thanks!

 

[280ai]

I love #9 for straight walled cases. The Accurate loading manual says 13.5 start to 15 gr top for hornady 158 xtp. If you wish to start lower the Hodgden info always works good to start for me. My concern with powders in straight walled cases isn't too slow BUT does the charge I am using fill the case 1/2 full or more so I can't double charge it! In over 40 years of reloading and competing in various shooting games I have seen a few kabooms all except one were because of double charge! Always remember you are charging sticks of dynamite.

 

[DGP4]

You can avoid double charges and no charges with an RCBS Powder Checker if you use a progressive press

Powder Checker

shop.rcbs.com

 

[afret]

Thanks for the good tip but I'm not using a progressive. I'm just trying to make some light 357 loads without going too far with a squib load.

 

[ebb]

Make them both 10 grains you will have no worries about a stuck bullet, it's still a light load and you probably wouldn't notice the difference recoil wise with .3 of a grain difference. And 10 grains is easy to remember, if you are prone to senior moments like me.

 

[MikeT124]

You are using a very versatile powder with No.9 I'm using it to build SD practice loads that match the muzzle energy of the Federal Hydra-Shok 158 gr in a 3 inch revolver. I use 10.7gr of No.9 behind a coated 158gr lead bullet. It gives me an avg MV of 1080.4fps with that coated 158gr bullet. The 158Gr Hydra-shoks fired out of the same revolver deliver an avg MV of 1072.4fps. This gives me a very slightly stronger load for practice than my self defense Hydra-shok loads are.

Mike

 

[Kracken McGraw]

If Hornady has it listed as safe, I’m sure you’re ok.
I’m shooting some 158 coated bullets in 38 Special out of my rifle at 908 fps with no squibs.

 

[afret]

Thanks everyone! I'll just start with 10 grains.

 

[SeabeeKen]

My Henry shoots great with 2400 with 158 gr grouping .4"
Shoots the same with N-110 and a Barnes 125 gr

 

[K22]

If you are following published data from the bullet manufacturer you should be fine. However, 9.7 is well below the starting load published by Speer and Accurate Arms for 158 grain jacket bullets. That is troubling.

One needs to be caution when loading jacketed pistol bullets below published (lab tested) data since some jacketed bullets can shed their jackets if loaded too low. I would suspect that this could be aggravated with a longer barrel of a rifle.

If lower recoil is the goal, try a lighter bullet or 38 Special loads. I use the 125 XTP's in both my 38's and 357's, albeit pistols only, and it produces significantly less recoil than the 158 jacket bullets.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

Start at 10.0 but work up to 11.0 ish, find where the load shoots best. A bit tricky to find an all around load for several(different barrel length) firearms, but do able with good bullets.

 

[Bill K]

If you are following published data from the bullet manufacturer you should be fine. However, 9.7 is well below the starting load published by Speer and Accurate Arms for 158 grain jacket bullets. That is troubling.

One needs to be caution when loading jacketed pistol bullets below published (lab tested) data since some jacketed bullets can shed their jackets if loaded too low. I would suspect that this could be aggravated with a longer barrel of a rifle.

If lower recoil is the goal, try a lighter bullet or 38 Special loads. I use the 125 XTP's in both my 38's and 357's, albeit pistols only, and it produces significantly less recoil than the 158 jacket bullets.

If you are following published data from the bullet manufacturer you should be fine. However, 9.7 is well below the starting load published by Speer and Accurate Arms for 158 grain jacket bullets. That is troubling.

One needs to be caution when loading jacketed pistol bullets below published (lab tested) data since some jacketed bullets can shed their jackets if loaded too low. I would suspect that this could be aggravated with a longer barrel of a rifle.

If lower recoil is the goal, try a lighter bullet or 38 Special loads. I use the 125 XTP's in both my 38's and 357's, albeit pistols only, and it produces significantly less recoil than the 158 jacket bullets.

Never heard of the jackets being shed with light loads. But has occured or reported a few times with heavy loads after leaving the bore.

 

[CaptJim]

If you are following published data from the bullet manufacturer you should be fine. However, 9.7 is well below the starting load published by Speer and Accurate Arms for 158 grain jacket bullets. That is troubling.

One needs to be caution when loading jacketed pistol bullets below published (lab tested) data since some jacketed bullets can shed their jackets if loaded too low. I would suspect that this could be aggravated with a longer barrel of a rifle.

If lower recoil is the goal, try a lighter bullet or 38 Special loads. I use the 125 XTP's in both my 38's and 357's, albeit pistols only, and it produces significantly less recoil than the 158 jacket bullets.

This seems like good advice. The 125 JHP is very versatile. It will cover you from practice to very effective SD rounds using H110, 2400, HS6 WSF or #9.
For me,the best target ammo is made using 38 spl brass. here it is easier to fill a high percentage of the case volume. HS6 is good for filling more of the case in .45, 9mm and 38/357 and is a little faster than your #9.
Good shooting,
CJ

 

[K22]

Never heard of the jackets being shed with light loads. But has occured or reported a few times with heavy loads after leaving the bore.

It has never happened to me, but Speer's Manual has a do not reduce (DNR) load warning for 38 Special jacketed bullet reloads. Actually, I miss quoted Speer, their warning is stated as the "bullet sticking in the bore". Years ago, however when they sold the 146-grain half jacket bullet, this was a concern for reduced loads in the 38 Special.

 

[tommeboy]

Shedding the jacket was with the SWC half jacket bullets if shot to slow. Don't shoot them under 1000fps and you would never have any problems.

I still have 3 boxes of 44cal. 240gr swc Speer half jackets. They are very accurate. If you want to shoot slower rounds then use unique. #9 needs to run full power to burn clean.

 

[divingin]

It has never happened to me, but Speer's Manual has a do not reduce (DNR) load warning for 38 Special jacketed bullet reloads. Actually, I miss quoted Speer, their warning is stated as the "bullet sticking in the bore". Years ago, however when they sold the 146-grain half jacket bullet, this was a concern for reduced loads in the 38 Special.

Never heard of that. I have heard of leaving the skirt of lead wadcutters in the bore if pushed too hard.

38/357 (and perhaps 44Spl/Mag) are kind of weird as they tend to be cases with a huge volume compared to the charge they usually hold. The extra case capacity can lead to problems if appropriate care is not taken.

 

[K22]

Never heard of that. I have heard of leaving the skirt of lead wadcutters in the bore if pushed too hard.

38/357 (and perhaps 44Spl/Mag) are kind of weird as they tend to be cases with a huge volume compared to the charge they usually hold. The extra case capacity can lead to problems if appropriate care is not taken.

As I said, I never experienced this however I've always loaded using published data. The 13th edition of the Speer Manual contains the "DNR" warning for the 38 Special for jacketed bullets. Also, they do not even have published load data for jacketed bullets over 125 grains.

This issue with the 146 grain half-jacket was reported in an article I read a long time ago in a magazine. I did shoot this bullet a lot back in the 70's but only in the 357 magnum with full powder 2400 loads. Never had a problem but then again, I never used "reduced" loads with this bullet.

If one follows published data from the bullet manufacturer, I would think one would be on solid ground since their tests are based on their bullets.

 

[jds holler]

Unless I'm loading cast bullets, I'll probably never use anything but 125,s -- jacketed HP's or plated . Standard powder charge for me is 7 gr. Bullseye. Trajectory is good from 25 to 100 yards, and it's pleasant to shoot. Still room to step it up. I'm actually gonna find the sweet spot for HP38 for the future, because I think it measures a little better.

I guess if I was deer hunting with 357, I'd go heavier and hotter, but I've never done that. jd