357 loads with 158

Park ranger · Jul 7, 2020

Just got dies for the 357 mag. What are some pet loads you all like? The 8.25" barrel should get me near 1500 fps I hope.

I have LilGun and H110.

I'm open to other bullet weights but I want this for deer hunting so I prefer heavy bullets.

Thanks

lazarus · Jul 7, 2020

Park ranger said:
Just got dies for the 357 mag. What are some pet loads you all like? The 8.25" barrel should get me near 1500 fps I hope.

I have LilGun and H110.

I'm open to other bullet weights but I want this for deer hunting so I prefer heavy bullets.

Thanks

If you prefer heavy bullets I’d consider a 180gr XTP.

Biggfoot44 · Jul 8, 2020

158gr is perfectly viable in .357 Mag . ( Ok , up to 173- ish for authentic Keith , but those and LBT are a matter of more lead outside the case rather than reducing the powder space .)

Your mileage will vary with individual gun, chamber dimensions, throats, b/c gap , yada, yada . But from the velocities I've seen with 170jhc from 8 3/8 M686 , that velocity range should be doable .

The OP didn't specify jacketed or cast ?

I double checked my memory with current Hogdon data . Using 158gr XTP :

H110 - Starting 15.0 , max 16.7gr @ 40K
Lil Gun - Starting 16.0, max 18.0 @ 24K

Velocities are within 14fps , so essentially equal .

Park ranger · Jul 8, 2020

Thanks, yes I should have said jacketed bullets. I'll shoot cast in my 45 colt, but want to start with a jhp or jsp. I saw the lilgun has much less pressure, always a plus.

Maybe I'll start with 16.5 of LG and see what the chromo says work up to 1500 fps. All I could find is speer JHP.

Park ranger · Jul 19, 2020

16 of H110 is only in the low 1300's. I'll try working my way up to 17 grains, but I dont think 1500 fps is going to happen

Magnumite · Jul 19, 2020

1500 fps with a 158 grain jacketed bullet is pushing it, even with the longer barrel. Let us know how it goes. I only got 1325 in a 6” Security Six using 16.x grains of H110. Realistically, you would be seeing mid 1400’s with the 8.25” barrel. Keep in mind pushing absolute maximum loads is harsh on the forcing cone and breech face of the barrel. You can get some cylinder breech face erosion as well.

Park ranger · Jul 26, 2020

Update more for myself than anything. 16.3, 16.6, and 16.9 of H110 still all landed velocity at 1330-1340 average with terrible SD. The high end loads were almost 100% case fill.

H110 isn't going to do it. Try 2400.

85MikeTPI · Jul 26, 2020

Park ranger said:
Update more for myself than anything. 16.3, 16.6, and 16.9 of H110 still all landed velocity at 1330-1340 average with terrible SD. The high end loads were almost 100% case fill.

H110 isn't going to do it. Try 2400.

Power Pro 300MP

I think I have a 1/2 lb sitting on the shelf if you wanna try it

John from MD · Jul 26, 2020

Did you use magnum primers with H110 and LilGun? Did you put a heavy crimp on the bullet? Normally, H110 and AA #9 will get you the highest velocities in the caliber but you need to use mag primers and a heavy crimp.

Park ranger · Jul 26, 2020

Yep, Winchester small pistol mag primers and a serious crimp. It just flat lined on the labradar chrono. I’m thinking cylinder gap could be an issue. My buddy who is a rocket scientist thinks the powder is “quenching” at the gap. I do see unburnt powder in the barrel. I could have a slow lot of H110 too. Regardless, this jug of powder isn’t the one for me.

Playing is part of the fun. BTW, 16.9 of H110 had no pressure signs. Cases fell right out. I think to hit 1450+ I’m going to feel sticky cases- no free lunch.

Edit: I didn’t try LG yet.

Park ranger · Jul 26, 2020

85MikeTPI said:
Power Pro 300MP

I think I have a 1/2 lb sitting on the shelf if you wanna try it

Thanks, I’ve read good things about it. I’ll add that to the list if I can’t reach my goal. I’m 4 hours west of you, but thanks anyways for the offer.

John from MD · Jul 26, 2020

One thing about Lil Gun I should mention. I have not used enough to see this for myself but there is a lot of talk on the net about it being a throat burner. Most of the comments I read were related to 300 BO and 7.62x39.

85MikeTPI · Jul 26, 2020

Park ranger said:
Thanks, I’ve read good things about it. I’ll add that to the list if I can’t reach my goal. I’m 4 hours west of you, but thanks anyways for the offer.

I drive up through Hancock/Breezwood once a month, so always willing to help if I can.

Biggfoot44 · Jul 26, 2020

* IF * you are not hung up over 35Kpsi , and are willing to tread in the land of 42Kcup , 296/ 110 starts behaving differently when Compressed .

*******************

I just glanced back thru the thread and didn't see it, What bullet exactly are you using ?

Park ranger · Jul 26, 2020

Biggfoot44 said:
* IF * you are not hung up over 35Kpsi , and are willing to tread in the land of 42Kcup , 296/ 110 starts behaving differently when Compressed .

*******************

I just glanced back thru the thread and didn't see it, What bullet exactly are you using ?

I'm using the 158 speer jhp, but I just got a few hundred 158 jhp Sierra that I will play with once I get into the world of hyper velocity

Biggfoot44 · Jul 26, 2020

If velocity is your primary parameter , cast bullets will give higher velocities at the same pressures .

Within the universe of .358 dia cast bullets , the LBT 160gr is designed on purpose to maximize powder space in the case .

Magnumite · Jul 27, 2020

Park ranger said:
Yep, Winchester small pistol mag primers and a serious crimp. It just flat lined on the labradar chrono. I’m thinking cylinder gap could be an issue. My buddy who is a rocket scientist thinks the powder is “quenching” at the gap. I do see unburnt powder in the barrel. I could have a slow lot of H110 too. Regardless, this jug of powder isn’t the one for me.
cc
Playing is part of the fun. BTW, 16.9 of H110 had no pressure signs. Cases fell right out. I think to hit 1450+ I’m going to feel sticky cases- no free lunch.

Edit: I didn’t try LG yet.

I shot lots of heavy hsndloads in 44 and 357 Magnums. I have yet to see a load that didn’t leave at least a few unburned granules of powder.

Check for bullet creep, too. That will really mess with consistency.

John from MD · Jul 27, 2020

Pretty much my experience as well. As long as the numbers and group size are acceptable, I don't worry about it.

alucard0822 · Jul 27, 2020

Biggfoot44 said:
* IF * you are not hung up over 35Kpsi , and are willing to tread in the land of 42Kcup , 296/ 110 starts behaving differently when Compressed .

*******************

I just glanced back thru the thread and didn't see it, What bullet exactly are you using ?

Can push near 30-30 power from a lever action. A buddy's daughter took a couple deer with ease using my Win 92 clone and 180gr XTPs over a nuclear H110 load. I've hit 2400FPS with 125gr bullets from the 18" barrel, then load up light 38 loads and plink steel on the handgun range.

Park ranger · Aug 2, 2020

Todays test was 13.5, 14,& 14.5 of 2400 with the Sierra 158 jhp. Same results, high SD (40), and maxed out at 1300 fps more or less. The SD is so bad, it's really hard to see a difference in velocity in the averages.

However, with the 44 mag using 2400, starting at 19 and working up in half grain increments the powder was predictable. 21 grains got me 1391 fps average. Using a different lot of powder (friends), 21 grains was 1450. So in that gun, with my lot, I'm going to try 22 grains.

I might try 15.5 in the 357 mag, but I noticed today the cylinder has a good bit of back and forth play. I really think im venting too much gas because of cylinder gap and I'm just going to be at this 1300 to 1350 fps limit.

357 loads with 158

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