Moderate .357 target/plinking load?

[ditto1958]

I'm looking for suggestions. I have a box of 500 cast bullets. They're 158 grain lead round nose. I will be shooting them with my Blackhawk flattop convertible. What would be a good moderate load for target shooting and plinking. I'd like something stronger than .38 special, but comfortable to shoot.

 

[Biggfoot44]

We don't know your powders on hand or locally available, or your exact perception of desired rcoil. Are those 158gr RN swaged or cast ?

To throw out a classic load, 13-13.5gr of 2400 with std primer, or 13.5-14.0 of 4227.

For a broad outline : Of your available powders, cross reference loading manuals for those with data for both .38+P and .357 . start with the top load for .38+P ( all using .357 cases) , and work up for desired vel( aka recoil) , and decent accuracy. You will probably find what you seek just under or just over start load for .357 .

 

[Cholo]

6.5 grs. of Unique and a std. primer.

 

[okie44]

I'm not sure what powder you have available. 5 gr Titegroup makes a great plinking load.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

158gr hard cast bullet + 6.0gr of Universal or 6.0gr of HP-38/W231 or 9.6gr of Blue Dot or 13.0gr of Accurate #9. These are all about 10% lower than a Max. charge.

 

[tookalisten]

My new favorite is 5 grains Bullseye with 158 gr LSWC

 

[holmegaard]

Worked on getting something similar to what you want this weekend, hoping for something that would shoot well from both my 3" SP101 & 77/357. Found it with this:

- 158 gr coated lrn from Monmouth Reloading
- Winchester small pistol primers
- 4.0 grains Titegroup

Felt like I hit the reloading jackpot, shot nice groups & to point of aim with the revolver, & the best groups I've gotten yet with the rifle.
4.5 grains shot well enough from the revolver, but opened up some with the rifle. 5 grains ok with the revolver (extraction a little sticky though) but really wild from the rifle.
Didn't have a chronograph, & haven't shot anything but magnums from the SP101 until this weekend, so can't tell you if it's closer to standard .38 Special or +P. Definitely not magnum!

 

[Thumbcocker]

4.5 of Red dot.

 

[gramps]

As biggfoot44 stated, I use 13.5 grs of 2400 with158 gr lswc. I can shoot it all day in my 3 inch SP-101.
gramps

 

[sandman228]

I like 6 gr of unique with a 158 gr lead bullet for a plinker . 4.5 gr of titegroup is a nice plinker load too .

 

[Mtneer]

I like 6 gr of unique with a 158 gr lead bullet for a plinker . 4.5 gr of titegroup is a nice plinker load too .

I too use 4.5 grs of Titegroup behind a 158 gr lead bullet in a .357 mag as a nice plinker load. However, for a medium load I put 6.8 grs of Unique behind those same 158 gr lead bullets. The lead bullets I'm using are gas checked, 158 gr SWC-HPs from Rim Rock Bullets, up in Montana (I think).
I recently picked up a pound of Hodgdon's new CFE (Copper Fouling Eliminator) pistol powder. I'm going to try 5.7 grs of it behind those Rim Rock cast lead bullets for .357 Magnum, light-medium loads. I already have the loads built, I just haven't had the time to get down to the gravel pit and try them out. Maybe I should quit spending my time on these internet message forums and just go shooting. :lol:

 

[forty5]

My favorite plinking load for 357 mag is 6.6 grs of Alliant BE-86 under a 158 gr SNS coated LSWC in a 357 Mag Case. It chronographs at 1041.5 FPS out of a 4 inch barrel. It is very accurate and soft shooting.