Help with .357 magnum

id64

id64

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I am getting conflicting info about this load. So, I need your help.
I have:

1. 158 gr copper plated flat nose 357 magnum bullets from Target Sports
2. Titegroup
3. Regular small pistol primers (Federal)
4. Clean 357 brass
5. Dillon 550b press

I am looking at loading data centre for 158 GR


158 GR. CAST LSWC Hodgdon Titegroup .358" 1.610" 4.5 1028 19,300 CUP 5.0 1108 24,900 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Titegroup .357" 1.580" 5.4 1135 32,600 CUP 6.1 1229 41,900 CUP

I think that I should follow HDY XTP for this bullet since it jacketed and load it with 6.0 of Titegroup.

Am I correct?
 
sounds good to me, though i may opt for 5.5 grs first, just to be "safe".

i run 15 grns of win 296 with hard cast wolf 158grn swc's big bang lots of fun. though i do get hit every other third shot with powder.
 
You have to decide what it is you want to achieve.

Are you after true magnum velocities at reasonable pressure?

Or do you want to load .357 magnum brass with Titegroup just because that's what you have in your powder cabinet, and see how fast you can push plated bullets?

Titegroup is a fast powder that is not suitable for full on magnum loads. For such, you need a slow pistol powder like winchester 296 or alliant 2400. Said powders will deliver magnum velocities at 35K psi which is safe for any magnum revolver.

IMO, I will agree with Spawn with 5.5 grains Titegroup, but that will be the highest I will go with Titegroup. As well manufacturers rate their plated bullets up to 1200 fps only, higher and they can shed their plated-on jackets.

My regular .357 load is 14 grains of 2400 under 158 grain Speer JHP. Haven't chrono'd this load but I'm hoping its around 1,300 fps out of my GP100 6 incher. Maximum charge based on online reloading info is 14.5 grains 2400.
 
Titegroup it's all I got right now. I was using it for 9mm, 40 and 45 with good results. I guess, I have to get a slow burning powder as you suggesting for 357.
 
Don't settle for any other full-load powder in your 357 Magnum until you try Hodgdon's Lil'Gun.
Gives top velocity at lower pressures than either 2400 or H110/W296
Regards, Eagleye.
 
You can use Titegroup for bottom end loads for 357 magnum. I've used 4.5-5 grains and it feels like 38 Special +P or a touch more for recoil, so you can load some up with no worries until you get a slower powder.
 
Eagleye said:
Don't settle for any other full-load powder in your 357 Magnum until you try Hodgdon's Lil'Gun.
Gives top velocity at lower pressures than either 2400 or H110/W296
Regards, Eagleye.
Click to expand...

I will have to try it someday. I use 2400 and H110 in 357 and 44 mag but now need another mag powder ARGH! :)
 
id64 said:
I am getting conflicting info about this load. So, I need your help.
I have:

1. 158 gr copper plated flat nose 357 magnum bullets from Target Sports
2. Titegroup
3. Regular small pistol primers (Federal)
4. Clean 357 brass
5. Dillon 550b press

I am looking at loading data centre for 158 GR


158 GR. CAST LSWC Hodgdon Titegroup .358" 1.610" 4.5 1028 19,300 CUP 5.0 1108 24,900 CUP
158 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Titegroup .357" 1.580" 5.4 1135 32,600 CUP 6.1 1229 41,900 CUP

I think that I should follow HDY XTP for this bullet since it jacketed and load it with 6.0 of Titegroup.

Am I correct?
Click to expand...

I noticed that you are using regular primers (Federal) Shouldn't you be using Magnum primers??? Federal 200's
 
The jacketed bullet data will be conservative if you use plated bullets; more so with cast bullets. You can use it safely.

Magnum primers are not necessary.
 
I use longshot with 158 grain plated bullets, although I'm not loading for magnum velocities. 6.5 grains is below the listed minimum for 357, but above the listed max for 38 Spl +p. Sort of a +p+ load, I guess, should be in the mid 1100's velocity-wise, which is snappy enough, but still economical to load. HS-6 should make a good +P+ powder, too. I avoid using faster powders like Titegroup and Clays at max loads - there's just not much margin for error with fast powders (if you throw 0.1 grains too much H110 into a 16.5 grain load, that's going to be far less worrysome than 0.1 grains too much into a 4 grain load)

When I want magnum thump I use jacketed bullets over H110/296, or lil-gun. The bullets are slightly more expensive, and the powder costs are almost triple, but they're just so much more fun to shoot!
 
FWIW, chrongraphing big loads of H110 is a little difficult. So much muzzle blast the chrony needs to be at the 30 foot mark to not get errors.

Next batch I'll try Vihta Vuori N340.
 
xtremacanuck said:
FWIW, chrongraphing big loads of H110 is a little difficult. So much muzzle blast the chrony needs to be at the 30 foot mark to not get errors.

Next batch I'll try Vihta Vuori N340.
Click to expand...

i suggest i different chrony i havent had any problems with chrony and hot h110 loads around 10 feet. that being said to op h110 is my preferred 357 powder
 
Got a hold of Lil Gun. OMG... Dumping 17 gr of it after 6 of Titegroup is scary :) The good thing about it it's impossible to double charge it. I am very pleased with the result. 17.2 gr of LilGun and Federal magnum primers.

[youtube]vT_fS5pLENI[/youtube]
 
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