Low Pressure 357 Load

[tactical870]

So I have a nice little Colt 1889 Navy converted to 357 mag. There's no way I'd ever fire a factory 357 load out of this little gem but I'd like to shoot something close to or lower than standard 38 spl pressure. Ideally, due to the forcing cone, I'd like to shoot jacketed bullets only. I have some 110 XTP's and 158's as well. I have shot it with light trailboss loads and it will not penetrate a half rotten burning barrel. I am thinking 158's with about 3.5 gr of 231 should be a nice load and produce about 11500 cup.... That or 125's with about 4 gr of 231. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

 

[VICIOUS]

Look at cowboy action loads for lite loads . Hogden on the net list some.

 

[easyrider604]

So I have a nice little Colt 1889 Navy converted to 357 mag. There's no way I'd ever fire a factory 357 load out of this little gem but I'd like to shoot something close to or lower than standard 38 spl pressure. Ideally, due to the forcing cone, I'd like to shoot jacketed bullets only. I have some 110 XTP's and 158's as well. I have shot it with light trailboss loads and it will not penetrate a half rotten burning barrel. I am thinking 158's with about 3.5 gr of 231 should be a nice load and produce about 11500 cup.... That or 125's with about 4 gr of 231. Anyone have any thoughts on this?

Looks like these will be very light loads. IMO, you're wasting your jacketed bullets.

Please explain what the forcing cone has to do with having to shoot only jacketed bullets.

 

[Ganderite]

You can use 357 or 38 Spl brass and use 38 loading data. Use the data lsted as Start and half way to full 38 power. That should keep you at mild pressures.

231 would be good for that.

 

[Brutus]

Beware of light loads and jacketed bullets. Your load data is below published referance books
for 38 Special with copper jacketed bullets.
I was 'experimenting' once with electroplated Frontier bullets and using lower powered lead bullet data.
Yeah they were super accurate and everything went well until I had a bullet stuck half way out of the muzzle of my nice 624.
Got it out with no damage other than my ego. I was very very lucky!
Lesson learned.
Do yourself a tremendous favor and get some cast lead bullets for this task IMO.

 

[tactical870]

You can use 357 or 38 Spl brass and use 38 loading data. Use the data lsted as Start and half way to full 38 power. That should keep you at mild pressures.

231 would be good for that.

I actually loaded a bunch of 38 spl with 158gr and 3.5gr or 231 last night. Tomorrow night is 357 night so I'll load up a bunch then.