real accurate 357 load data needed

[JohnnyRingo]

ive got a friend of mine who just got into reloading, and has a 357 5 1/2" blued vaquero ( not the new vaquero)....hes looking for a real accurate 357 load. i reload for alot of stuff, including 357 but i havent loaded 357 in quite some time and cant find my data right now....he has the following

bullets
hornady 125gr XTP
berrys flat nose 158gr


powder
universal
unique
titegroup
lilgun


any ideas i can swing over to him?

anyone have any loads that duplicate factory loads?

 

[Jimbo357mag]

The Hodgdon online site is easy to use.
http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

357 Magnum
125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Universal .357" 1.590" 7.1 1394 34,900 CUP 7.6 1453 39,600 CUP

125 GR. HDY XTP Hodgdon Titegroup .357" 1.590" 6.8 1425 36,500 CUP 7.5 1497 41,200 CUP

Use cast bullet data for plated bullets.
158 GR. CAST LSWC Hodgdon Universal .358" 1.610" 4.0 890 15,700 CUP 6.2 1247 33,400 CUP

158 GR. CAST LSWC Hodgdon Titegroup .358" 1.610" 4.5 1028 19,300 CUP 5.0 1108 24,900 CUP


Hope this helps.
...Jimbo

 

[contender]

You have to load test ammo to see what is accurate in HIS gun.

 

[COR]

You have to load test ammo to see what is accurate in HIS gun.

Amen...

 

[JohnnyRingo]

oh, believe me, i know that.......also ive already printed hogdons info out for him. im also a member of loaddata.com if you havent heard of it, check it out. for $29 bucks a year you get access to about every bit of reloading nfo and loads ever published. they have all the manuals all up to date,pet loads,ect....

what i was looking for for him was some tried and true loads that people have tried in the 5 1/2" vaquero. he doenst have but a couple hundred bullets, and i dont think hes got any dough to buy any more!>....

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

I've loaded 158 gr SWC plated bullets from another mfr over Unique. They're pretty accurate using a "starting load" (standard 10% reduction) from the lead SWC recipe you can get on the Alliant site (it's probably on the loaddata site, too?) I use a medium crimp--my plated bullets have sometimes been problem children if over crimped.

And it's not on your list of powders, but I've been happy w/ the results using 296 w/ the 125 gr XTP.

Of course, this is all YMMV stuff: my loads were shot thru a 7 1/2" Bisley.

Rick C

 

[JohnnyRingo]

im sure the infos on there. if you dont use loddata.com, i highly recommend a subscription. $29.00 a year for access to all the load data you could ever want. you can print it all out too, and they will send you a load data binder with subscription for the cost of shipping it ( a couple bucks i think)

the first day i got the subscription, i printed out every single piece of data for all of my calibers i reload for, and then some. its like having all of the printed reloading manuals at your fingertips all at the same time.

ill pass the info on to him.

 

[JohnnyRingo]

hooked him up with a rock chucker press today. i had two, and got a brand spankin new pro 2000 auto index today.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I'm not sure about "real accurate" but for me 5.0gr - 6.0gr of Universal in Federal 357mag brass with a Win SP primer works real well with Rainier plated 158gr bullets. With a handgun at 50 ft it shoots real nice groups and is easy to load. One of my favorite loads and good for a beginner but not for hunting or long range.

...Jimbo

 

[Hombre]

Howdy guys

Iknow that this recipe, one that I like best for my .357's, is not on the componet list of your friend. I like to take any good quality cases from the same lot, mag. primer, 16 grns. WW296 powder and top off with Spear 158 grn. JHP, with a firm roll-crimp. In this load there is no airspace nor is there any compression of the powder. This load will produce near match accuracy in just about anything I have shot with it, including Blackhawks, S&W 686 and Marlin 1894c Rifle. It is an old favorite of mine since about 1979, gleaned from my first Spear manual.

 

[maxpress]

i find hogdon h110 to be accurate for the 125s and use winchester brass and cci 350 primer. as far as the charge goes just start low and work up. say 20 bullets per charge mark em then move up.