357 mag with H-110 and 158gr semi JHP. (Update post #41)

bertn

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
297   0   0
Location
SW Ontario
Just looking up data for my first ever .357 mag reloads and am surprised by the difference in suggested start loads and listed velocities in a few different books.

I have a lot of .357 158 gr. bullets and a giant 8 lb keg of h110 that I got at a very good price so that is what I'd like to use :)

I read that h110 might not be the ideal powder due to the small range between min and max load and danger of kabooms when using too little.

So I have a few (older) books and they listed the following loads;
Lyman pistol and revolver handbook 3rd edition:
158gr jacketed sp
Start 16.3 gr @ 1522 fps
Max 16.7 gr @ 1540 fps

Hodgdon no.24
158-160 gr bullets
Start 15.0 @ 1539 fps
Max 16.0 @ 1618 fps

Hornady 3rd edition
158gr hollow point #3575
Lists from 12.1 gr @1000 fps up to
16.5 gr max @ 1250 fps.

My lyman 47th handbook does not list h110 with jacketed bullets, only for cast bullets.

Looking at this hornady seems so far off with their data compared to the others that I feel like I should start with 15.0 gr as start load (hodgdon data)

Anyone with h-110 in 357Mag experience care to share their $0.02 ??

By the way these are the bullets:
https://postimages.org/
 
Last edited:
Lyman 50th start is 16.3 to 17max. For one of my rifles I had to take it to 17 for the tightest group.
I have the Hornady manual too and the starting seems very low.
Question. What is the the Lyman 47th listing for h110 and 158gr (or 160) in cast?
 
Make sure you use magnum primers.....found out the hard way

Clint

Wait...that might have been 296
 
I have never heard a credible account of an over-pressure event being caused by reduced loads of pistol powder in a straight wall rifle or pistol cartridge; I doubt it can happen. Be sure the data you follow is for jacketed bullets, cast bullets of equal weight produces less pressure with any given load. I think its reasonable to assume 16.0 grs is a prudent maximum, but your ejector rod will let you know when your powder charge is too hot. Sticky ejection is nature's way of saying back off.
 
This is also current data too, never hurts to compare sources

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

Thanks for the link, never thought about this.

Data from the hodgdon website:

BULLET WEIGHT158 GR. HDY XTP
ManufacturerHodgdon
PowderH110
Bullet Diameter.357"
C.O.L.1.580"
Starting Load
Grains15.0
Velocity (ft/s)1,418
Pressure28,600 CUP
Maximum Load
Grains16.7
Velocity (ft/s)1,591
Pressure40,700 CUP

Regarding the primer comments: yes, I primed them with magnum primers last night, Cci 550.

Haven't fired a magnum pistol round in about 25 years so looking forward to it haha.
 
H110 + Win 296 are more volatile with a reduced load so run them near MAX.................................. I use 13gr of Win 296 in a Tokarev T33 behind either a 86grSP or 90gr HP
 
Thanks for the link, never thought about this.

Data from the hodgdon website:

BULLET WEIGHT158 GR. HDY XTP
ManufacturerHodgdon
PowderH110
Bullet Diameter.357"
C.O.L.1.580"
Starting Load
Grains15.0
Velocity (ft/s)1,418
Pressure28,600 CUP
Maximum Load
Grains16.7
Velocity (ft/s)1,591
Pressure40,700 CUP

Regarding the primer comments: yes, I primed them with magnum primers last night, Cci 550.

Haven't fired a magnum pistol round in about 25 years so looking forward to it haha.

No problem,
So the difference I notice between Lyman and Hodgdons website is the COAL.
Lyman at 1.590” (max charge of 17 grains)
Hodgdon at 1.580” (max charge at 16.7)

I’ll have to keep my eyes open for an 8lb’er of H110, I’d be shooting full house loads all the time

Either way, have fun your new loads. I made some starting loads for my friends 686 6” a few months ago. Man did we have a blast
Cheers,
 
Thanks, mine will be used in a 6 inch 686.

I have a gp100 6'', which is almost the same revolver as a 686.

My load is 16.3grn of h110/win296, cci550, campro 158grm tc fcp.

I have tried from 15 to 16.8 in .2 grn increment. There was no overpressure anywhere in these loads, I settled on 16.3 because it happens to be the most accurate in my particular gun. I suspect the most accurate load for yours will also be on the upper side.

It makes a loud and impressive fireball, but the recoil is very tame because the powder is slow burning compared to other handgun powders.
 
I have a gp100 6'', which is almost the same revolver as a 686.

My load is 16.3grn of h110/win296, cci550, campro 158grm tc fcp.

I have tried from 15 to 16.8 in .2 grn increment. There was no overpressure anywhere in these loads, I settled on 16.3 because it happens to be the most accurate in my particular gun. I suspect the most accurate load for yours will also be on the upper side.

It makes a loud and impressive fireball, but the recoil is very tame because the powder is slow burning compared to other handgun powders.

Sounds like a lot of fun!
Not something I would be shooting all the time lol,
Although with the crazy deals I had for the components I can reload them for the price of a 22lr cci mini mag :)

What's not to like about reloading.
 
I haven't used H110, but I have used W296 for the last 30 years. 16.6gr. behind a 158gr. XTP with a magnum primer, heavy roll crimp was giving me 1595fps out of my 8-3/8 586.

Auggie D.
 
Thanks for the link, never thought about this.

Data from the hodgdon website:

BULLET WEIGHT158 GR. HDY XTP
ManufacturerHodgdon
PowderH110
Bullet Diameter.357"
C.O.L.1.580"
Starting Load
Grains15.0
Velocity (ft/s)1,418
Pressure28,600 CUP
Maximum Load
Grains16.7
Velocity (ft/s)1,591
Pressure40,700 CUP

Regarding the primer comments: yes, I primed them with magnum primers last night, Cci 550.

Haven't fired a magnum pistol round in about 25 years so looking forward to it haha.

Thanks, mine will be used in a 6 inch 686.

A quick look in the Hodgdon 2017 Annual, it's appears to be the data they got while using a 10" barrel.

My load is 16.3grn of h110/win296, cci550, campro 158grm tc fcp.

ATM I'm using the same load in my Marlin 1894 357 Mag. I'm getting about 1680 fps from the 18.5" barrel. I bought a box of 1000 158 grain Campro's, so I'll be shoot them for a while. I use the load data available on Campro's site.

I found the Campro's can behave just like a 22lr bullet as they slow down through the sound barrier. Starting load of 15.0 grains of H110, freehand, I was nailing the gong @ 50 yds. no problem, nice easy shot, good groups, low recoil/barrel lift. It was fun but it was all I could do to keep same load on the gong @ 100 yds shooting from the bench? I punched the numbers into a ballistic calculator and found my estimated velocity would be slowing through the sound barrier around 90 or so yards. I have since worked my loads up to 16.3 grains of H110 and now actually hit the gong @ 100 yds free hand on a regular basis :redface:.
 
Back
Top Bottom