180 gr. LFN in .357

[kean57]

Hello,

I'm looking for reloading information for a 180 gr. LFN in .357 Magnum; I want a safe load, or range of loads, using either:

Universal Clays
Titegroup
W231

Somewhere, I found a loading with this bullet and 6.0 gr. Universal...but I can't find the information I used to determine this was a safe load anywhere. Any help you can offer would be greatly appreciated,

Jim (kean57)

 

[pps]

That's a heavy bullet for fast burning powders. 2400, Lil-gun and H110/296 might be better suited than tightgroup or 231.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

That's a heavy bullet for fast burning powders. 2400, Lil-gun and H110/296 might be better suited than tightgroup or 231.

+1 on that PPS. I shoot 12.0gr of Accurate #9 with 180gr XTP bullets. 8) 8)

If you look at the Hodgdon website http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp you will see listings for 158gr bullets with Universal of 6.2gr - 6.3gr max.

In the 180gr bullets (Nos Part) there is a Tightgroup listing of 5.5gr Max.

Not exactly what you are looking for but perhaps it will help. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[gramps]

Might look at handloads.com for more info. gramps

 

[WESHOOT2]

You can go to the Penn Bullets site and poke around.
You can safely use 6.0g Universal in a proper gun.
You can work up to get there.

If your cylinder is long, and your bullet made correctly, you can use a start load of 12.5g 2400 / H110 / W296 / N110 / AA9.
Figure a MAX (please, don't start there) of 14.0g.

 

[GP100man]

Start with 12.5grs. of H-110 & should give ya 900+ fps

I cast a NOE 360-180 that drops at 187 dressed & ready to ride .

While working with this boolit in the 6" GPs , I approched 14 grs but settled on 13.5 because it worked better than a stronger load

 

[WESHOOT2]

I, too, have found proper loads with these powders at 13.5g.

Of course, my 357 Redhawk has found a couple 'proper' loads past 15.0g, too. I mean, "theoretically".

To folks reading this, please understand I develop loads; I use numerous tools to help me judge 'max'; I am not afraid to destroy a gun doing so.
Of course, I prefer not to....of course.

 

[WESHOOT2]

I use a pair of KGP-141s for confirming sane levels.

 

[M'BOGO]

Off the cuff, for the 180 .357 loads the fastest powder in the manual in front of me says Bluedot, and that is a very limited range of charge wight (these are for jacketed slugs), 6.5-7.2 gr, and that is with a 35,000 psi ceiling.

It looks like Accurate #9, 2400, 110, 4227 is a better burn range to work in. 110/296 of coarse taking the lead for velocity.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

...But on the other hand there is no reason a load with Universal couldn't throw that bullet at the target. Thud!! Start with 5.0gr or 5.5gr and work up.

...Jimbo

 

[WESHOOT2]

6.0g Universal and a firm crimp throws the 180s with sufficient authority.


I'll say :shock:

 

[BIgMuddy]

I have used:

13.0 gr. 2400 velocity avg. is 1179 from a 4 5/8" BH.

8.2 gr. Power Pistol velocity avg. is 1247 from a 6" mod. 27 S&W

4.7 gr WW 231. Good light load and have not chronographed yet.

As always work up to these. All have been safe in my guns. All were with CCI non-mag primers.

Dan

 

[WESHOOT2]

I found wide velocity deviations when using small pistol magnum primers in certain cartridges with Universal (but single-digit ES with CCI350 in certain cartridges).

Go figure; I experiment and test.