Heavy Loads for Blackhawk 357 mag.

[29aholic]

I am looking for heavy loads for the Keith 170gr LSWC. I have a bunch of 2400 I need to use up. I am thinking I can get away with 14gr. which is not quite max. for a T/C

Thoughts?

 

[WIL TERRY]

What does the LYMAN RELOADING MANUAL have to say about this ?

And so it goes...

 

[Jimbo357mag]

This might help you. The Alliant website shows 14.5gr of 2400 with a 170gr GoldDot (GDSP) bullet.

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=170&shellid=28&bulletid=39

 

[29aholic]

I have already looked at the manuals, that's where I got the idea I could get away with 14.0grs.

I was looking for real world experience with the Keith cast bullets.

 

[wwb]

That load should be okay..... with one caveat; I would STRONGLY recommend a gas check with that stout a load. When I get into that territory, all I shoot is jacketed bullets, and save the lead for the milder loads.

 

[29aholic]

That load should be okay..... with one caveat; I would STRONGLY recommend a gas check with that stout a load. When I get into that territory, all I shoot is jacketed bullets, and save the lead for the milder loads.

That thought had crossed my mind as well, but these are cast pretty hard. I have run them with 12.0gr without problem.

The basic truth is I don't like 2400 and just trying to burn it up. I am loading 14.0 in 44spl. with a 200gr bullet and I figured if I could get lazy and use 14.0 in the 357 I wouldn't have to reset my powder thrower :roll:

 

[jsh]

When you get into over book loads, each gun will have a different like and dislike. Just wanting to burn it up, you don't mention how much, but 1lb or less and your not wanting to revisit 2400, load medium range loads and be happy. Why load something that doesn't or may not shoot well, with the added negative of more recoil and no gain.
2400 is not my pick for 357 either.
Also a hard cast bullet is NO guarantee of no leading. As always, fit is king. I run some plain base loads through several guns that I was told would never work. It is not a myth, but a good rule of thumb.
I would load up a dozen or two of your "heavy" loads before I turned out a large amount and find they lead like crazy.
Jeff

 

[sixshot]

I agree totally on the bullet fit but disagree on the need for gas checks & also about using 2400. That powder goes together in the 357 like a duck goes to water. I've used it for over 50 years, mostly 13.5 grs. with the Keith bullet & never had a problem with accuracy, leading or pressure. Others may have different results but it's one of my favorite powders in several different revolvers & always will be. If you like GC's I'd say use them, I don't.

Dick

 

[Chuck 100 yd]

I buy 2400 by thr 8 lb. jug. One of my favorites.

 

[jsh]

I did not mean to imply 2400 had any issues in the 357. The OP mentioned "heavy loads" and when I crowd it, my results were not to my satisfaction. I consider a heavy load, 170 grain bullet or heavier and stepping on it pretty hard.

I should probably be ashamed of myself, but I have no Ruger SA 357 in the stable. Got a pile of DA Ruger 357's and they tend to like upper end loads.

As to 2400, I have used it in for about everything short of coffee creamer. 22 hornet though large bottle neck rifle cartridges. I have only seen 8 lb jugs in the past few months. I did happen on a bunch of new old stock for old price to the tune of 20+ lbs.

Ok all go ahead and scold me for no DA Ruger.
But in defense I do have an FA that has spoils me something fierce.

 

[dougader]

I have the Lyman 49th manual and Max with 2400 and the Keith bullet is 13.5 for both revolvers and the T/C Contender. I'm curious as to why you feel the need to go past book maximum in the first place. To what end?

IMO, being too lazy to change the powder measure is a pretty poor excuse to overload a revolver. If your last load was 12 grains 2400, I personally don't recommend a 2 grain jump as your next step up, especially if that includes an over book load in the equation.

 

[pruger45]

13.5 grains Of 2400 with Elmer's bullet is one of my favorite loads!

 

[29aholic]

Thanks for the responses. I loaded up 15 to try. I should be able to tell in that many if the load is going to work.

To be quite honest (again) I really don't care for 357...never have. I have had a few BH's and a dozen or so N-frame S&W's in the caliber and just cant my head around it. Of course my first foray into handgunning was a Model 29 S&W I bought when I was 18 (I am 51 now) and still have that gun. The round count is in the 10's of thousands (mostly warm 44spl loads) and I have killed a semi load of game with it. Every now and again though, I find a deal on a 357 and buy it to give it another try. I paid $157.50 for this RBH due to finish issues and figure I am into it cheap enough that I don't have to worry about using it as a truck gun. I do not like SBH's and I have yet to find a suitable beater FTBH in 44spl. to do truck duty. I don't abuse my truck guns, but they do rough duty on the ranch.

 

[gunzo]

I don't know how much 2400 it would take to hurt a big frame NMBH. But I have grit my teeth & used enough with 173 SWC's to only get rewarded with ruined brass. That starts at about 14 grains & up.
13 is plenty for me, it gets me 1260 fps out of a 4" barrel, & my brass lives to be used again.

 

[rob-c]

I loaded with 14 grains of 2400 under a 180 grain hardcast gas check bullet and I was getting sticky case extraction, backed it down to 13.5 and I was getting high 1290 to low 1300 fps over my chronograph. Can't quite figure your reasoning out , you don't care for 2400 or 357 so your going to overlaod the ammmo ? Why ?

 

[sixshot]

Good question rob-c. I'm all for moving up to a bigger caliber rather than stressing a smaller one, just doesn't make sense to shorten the life of the brass or the gun for a few fps, just me. A good 357 with proper loads has been a dear friend for many years. Are there better calibers out there, perhaps but they work just fine 90% of the the time & do it quite well. My longest ever revolver kill was with that same bullet & an 8 3/8" 357 on a fork horn muley & yes it was 13.5 grs of 2400.

Dick

 

[29aholic]

Based on the consensus I'll probably back it down.

However, I have seen 14.5gr published so I don't think 14.0 is really over loading it

 

[eric conrad]

29aholic. Take a look here. Lots of good stuff.
www.lasc.us/
Eric

 

[29aholic]

Thanks Eric, that is some good reading

 

[29aholic]

So I was tired and had numerous issues all weekend so I didn't get to shoot much.

I shot 5 rounds of the 14.0 2400 and the 170 Keith bullets. Recoil was easily manageable, I did not have any extraction issues, but it was definitely loud. I have just a trace of leading with the 5. I'll shoot the other 10 I have loaded and see where I am at. I will probably back it down about .5gr.

 

[terryjulie]

As far as top end loads, you might look at loadswap.com.