Bullet recommendation for gp100

[Kho]

I'm relatively new to reloading and have the good fortune to have embarked on this new hobby with the help of a friend, who has the gear and lots of handgun reloading experience. To date I have done 9mm and .45, both with good results.

I want to start doing loads for my 4" gp100, one of my favorite guns. Unfortunately my buddy has never reloaded this caliber so I have ordered the necessary dies and components from Dillon.

For the near term my intent is to do .38 loads, not .357 (maybe later) and they will be used for target practice. I have brass, primers and powder (AA#5 and AA#7) but no bullets yet. My experience so far has been with Zero FMJ and Berry plated round nose and I have no complaints about either of them.

Should I stick with what I've used and try something like a 125gr JHP from Zero or a FP from Berry's? I'm willing to try other sources (e.g. Montana). Any pointers on bullets or bullet/powder combinations for accuracy would be appreciated.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

The 38 special / 357 magnum is very easy to load for when compared to other cartridges. There are literally hundreds of components to choose from. AA#5 is a good powder for 38 specials and both AA#5 and AA#7 are good for medium loads in the 357 magnum. Standard weight for caliber is 158gr. I would start with those. Any jacketed bullet from a major manufacturer ( Winchester, Remington, etc.) will work good and so will copper plated bullets when loaded correctly. The following online sites have tons of loads for those cartridges. 8) 8)

http://www.accuratepowder.com/load-data/

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

http://www.alliantpowder.com/default.aspx

...Jimbo

 

[Rick Courtright]

so will copper plated bullets when loaded correctly.

Hi,

Those copper plated bullets are generally soft swaged cores w/ a VERY thin copper plate, nowhere near as heavy as the jacket of a jacketed bullet.

So when Jimbo says "loaded correctly" he's telling you they're generally treated like lead bullets...

The .38 Spl can be loaded w/ lots of different weights and styles of bullet. My favorites over the years have been a 148 gr wadcutter (lead) and 158 gr semi-wadcutters (lead or copper plated.) Light loads w/ faster powders work well for punching paper and killing stray cans...

Rick C

 

[eric conrad]

When you get a chance try some cast 148gr. HBWC and 231 powder. My GP loves them @25yds.
Also Welcome to the forum. Eric

 

[WESHOOT2]

For fun I load a 158g LRN or LSWC from someone out of business.
If I were to buy them now I would buy them from Penn Bullets.
Also for fun (USPSA competition) I load Rainier plaated bullets; I use the 151g TCJ-RN intended for the 38 Super, and 158g TCJ-FP.
I crimp plated bullets using the superior Redding Profile Crimp die.

For social use I load both the Remington conventional 125g JHP and the Hornady 140g XTP-HP.

For hunting / woods-walking I load the Hornady 158g XTP-HP and the Remington conventional 180g JHP.


(I also make fun loads using LSWCs weighing 144g, 152g, and 155g.)

 

[Kho]

Thanks for all the responses. You've given me a good starting point and inspired me to do a little experimenting to see what works for me.

I'll update this thread in a couple of weeks with how I made out. Thanks again.

 

[surveyor47]

I would start with 357 Magnum cases loaded to 38 Special data. Reason: To give you, the new reloader a safety margin. Once you get your feet grounded, I would then switch to 38 Special cases for 38 Special loadings.

Any good hard cast 358 diameter lead semi wadcutter or lead round nose bullet will work fine. Once you get your feet wet, you can start loading jacketed bullets, but thats for later. You want to start with the most forgiving components you can find.

Winchester Small Pistol Primers for Standard or Magnum Loads or Remington Small Pistol Primers are fine. No need to fool with Magnum primers.

I would start with Unique. This is an extremely versitile powder, which works well for 38 Special and 357 Magnum loads, jacketed or cast. Be sure you dont double charge the load!

Buy a Lyman Pistol & Revolver Handbook. I have never had a bad load from this manual.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Winchester Small Pistol Primers for Standard or Magnum Loads

....the Large version is for both; the standard small is for standard loads, and the Winchester Small Pistol MAGNUM primer is for use only in specified data, and is not (normally) interchangeable.

 

[Pal Val]

Loading .357 Mag cases light will avoid the ".38 Spec ring" in your revolver's chambers. This becomes more of a factor when you get into reloading because you'll end up shooting a lot more ammo.

 

[LittleBigOz]

Kho,

I've had success using Blue Dot in 357 Mag cases with a 158 gr SWC from Magnus Bullets. Unique has also worked well in place of the Blue Dot.

 

[surveyor47]

Alliant issued a warning about Blue Dot and 125 grain JHP bullets in 357, about 20 years too late for my S&W 19, which it ruined. Blue Dot is great in a shotgun, but it tops my "Powders to Avoid List".

I would go with something tamer and more predictable than Blue Dot.

For a beginner, I think Unique is best. I still use it extensively after 36 years reloading.

 

[gramps]

I have never used unique. Started with 2400 and Red dot. I have unopened 296 and h-4227. I use 13.5 grs of 2400 over 158gr LSWC for my woods carry in .357 for the lower 48.
good luck

 

[DGW1949]

My favorite 38 Spl load is a soft-cast, Alox-lubed 158 SWC, Unique powder and a Federal primer.
About 4.7 grns of Unique will duplicate the old 38SPL "service load".
If you can't find a soft-cast bullet, almost any brand of swaged-lead bullet will do....and yeah, them can be coated with Alox too.

I can't help with the copper plated thing...never used them.

DGW

 

[mattsbox99]

I like Red Dot in my target loads with the .357 GP100, with a 125 grain Montana Gold jacketed bullet. Titegroup works well too.

I use quite a few Montana Gold bullets with various different cartridges.

 

[Bucks Owin]

Loading .357 Mag cases light will avoid the ".38 Spec ring" in your revolver's chambers. This becomes more of a factor when you get into reloading because you'll end up shooting a lot more ammo.

10X... :wink: I reload very few .38 Spl cases, (except occasionally Skeeter's old favorite load "just because" :oops: :wink: )

.357s are plentiful and cheap...

 

[Rclark]

Target practice? 125g lead will work great. Stuff 5.0g of Trail Boss (either .357 or .38 case) under it and you have an excellent target load. I use a standard CCI primer.

Example:

http://www.rimrockbullets.net/catalog/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=1&products_id=5

 

[Bucks Owin]

I use quite a few Montana Gold bullets with various different cartridges.

A local powder burnin' emporium used to have open bulk cartons of them and I could buy as many or few as I wanted. Sadly, they quit the practice...Same with new individual cartridge cases. Was kinda handy... :cry:

 

[Kho]

I wanted to post an update to my original post. I ended up ordering some 125gr TCBB and 148gr DBBWC bullets from Penn. While waiting for them to arrive, I picked up some Missouri 125gr TCFP (Cowboy #2) bullets from my local gun store.

Not sure of the correct loads using Accurate #2, I emailed Penn and Accurate. For the 125gr Penn bullets, Accurate recommended 4.0-5.2gr while Penn recommended 3.5gr (for .38). Using that information for reference, I loaded a small number of the Missouri bullets with 4.0 and 4.2 grains. I felt that would be safe compromise for a starting point. I shot both with my GP100. While I didn't put a chrono on them (yet), the results were positive. Very little recoil and accurate, with the 4.2 being slightly more accurate.

Since that time I've received my Penn bullets so I have plenty of bullets with which to experiment. For the 125gr TCBB I'll start with 3.5gr and work upwards. Looking forward to the fun!!

 

[WESHOOT2]

As you acquire more powders, might I suggest adding W231 for mild?
And Universal for mild/medium?
And HS6 and Power Pistol for medium/medium +?
And 3N37 and N350 for heavy-bullet vigorous?
And H110 and AA9 for MAXIMUM?

 

[Kho]

As you acquire more powders, might I suggest adding W231 for mild?
And Universal for mild/medium?
And HS6 and Power Pistol for medium/medium +?
And 3N37 and N350 for heavy-bullet vigorous?
And H110 and AA9 for MAXIMUM?

Point taken. I reload with a friend and between us we shoot 9mm, 10mm, .45 and .38/.357. He suggested we start with Accurate powders - currently AA2, AA5 and AA7 - since he has a lot of experience with them and the three cover our caliber range. At some point I expect we'll branch out and try others to find more optimal loads.

What advantages do some of these powders offer over Accurate powders? I've found that all the Accurate powders burn cleanly and meter well.

 

[WESHOOT2]

-W231 makes superbly accurate ammo.
-Universal offers similar accuracy with more velocity, meters well, and burns cleanly.
-HS6 and Power Pistol offer even more velocity and great accuracy.
-3N37 and N350 offer superior performance characteristics at higher velocities, and are suitable for certain defense loads.
-H110 and AA9 offer the highest velocities, high accuracy potential, and AA9 has sufficient flash suppressant for defense ammo; it has less blast and flash.

I have on my shelves these listed powders (among others), and AA2, AA2 Imp, and AA5.

 

[WESHOOT2]

All the powders listed above offer economy, ease of use, and high performance potential.
All have published data.
All are readily available.

All make my list for good reasons.

 

[pps]

Loading .357 Mag cases light will avoid the ".38 Spec ring" in your revolver's chambers. This becomes more of a factor when you get into reloading because you'll end up shooting a lot more ammo.

10X... :wink: I reload very few .38 Spl cases, (except occasionally Skeeter's old favorite load "just because" :oops: :wink: )

.357s are plentiful and cheap...

Oh yeah! I have about 300 Skeeter loads in 38 special cases. 358156 on the lower crimp groove...atop 13 grains of 2400 gets me 1300fps out of a 5" barrel. NOT a 38 load... :shock:

 

[AZshooter]

I load the Berry's 158 gr. FP for both .38 & .357 - 3.8 gr. Titegroup for.38 & 5.0 in .357.

Both loads are insufferably accurate.