Because I can load down my .357 to .38Special power levels. The beauty of reloading. So no need for keeping .38 Special cases around. Also, as others have pointed out, you don't get that crud ring in your chambers that need to be removed before shooting the longer .357s. The ring makes the longer cases harder to eject. Simple as that. Nothing says you shouldn't ... I just choose not too.
Not quite true. It is great for a reference but not for what is the best load. Nice to hear from folks what 'they' use as it makes for a good starting point rather than fumble around 'looking' for a 'good' load :) . Why we have loads like the Skeeter load and the Keith Load and so on. Experiences from others can help jump start our quest for the 'perfect' load :D . Manuals are good to make sure you aren't given a bum steer.... Like if I said, load up 200g of Red dot under your 158g bullet.... And for working up loads of course.... But not the 'best' source of good loads .... just raw data....
The only trustworthy (IMO) loads on-line are powder manufacturer's and some bullet manufacturer's sites. I will not use any load from any "forum expert", Range Rat, or Gunshop Guru. The only reason anyone should use a "Celebrity load" is if they got it from a person they trust with their life and is currently using that load (did you hear about Randal Waggoner's load of 12.9 gr of Bullseye for his .32 Long? It says so on the internet so it's gotta be true, right?). The best load is the one you worked up for your paticular gun, and new reloaders certainly do not need to be jump started as far as load data. The best starting point for any load isn't what Bubba's uncle uses, but what you find listed as "starting loads" in a published reloading manual. I'm not a "chicken Little", fearful kinda guy, but I've found too many mistakes, typos, and downright BS loads on-line and in forums. For me and my guns I'll use a reloading manual(s) for my load data. Besides, there are enough combinations of brass/bullets/powder to last a lifetime of reloading, and it's worked for me for nearly 30 years...Rclark said:
Maybe, but nobody can try all the powder and bullet combinations and it certainly helps to get an idea what works before you start buying components and making cartridges. Perhaps you would approve of a load if it was suggested to you and then you were able to check and verify that it was a safe and appropriate load to use? :D :Dmikld said:
I trust them even less :) . Sites can be hacked and mistyped. So while I use them as a 'reference' they aren't ever considered gospel. I back them up with other sources like slew of reloading manuals on my shelf, articles that I have saved, forum data, other sites ... you know 'basic' research before you start using/working a load. NEVER EVER use a single source (word of mouth/post/manufacturer/manual/etc.) for your first test load... understand what you are working with and in what revolvers.... simple as that. Knowledge is power!!! Even goes for Waters/Taffin/Pearce/Seyfried/Linebaugh etc... whom I trust know what they are doing. Quite simple, and you don't have to be a chicken little :) . Just some basic research gets you there and I feel it is quite safe to do so. YMMV, but works for me.
My comments are directed mostly at new reloaders (who else would ask for loads on a forum?), as seasoned/experienced reloaders will normally know how to find quality/known/safe load data and have an idea what will work in their gun (if someone said they used 13 gr. of Bullseye in their .44 Magnum, would the alarm bells go off?). I can (and did) double check forum and magazine load data, but found if I'm gonna look in a manual anyway, I prolly won't need outside info. Lots of experienced reloaders can find load data from studying chacteristics/specifications of powders and along with bullet types and weights and pressures generated, can determine a safe load for their gun. Information can also be found with some programs like Quickload. I also rcommend to new reloaders that they find a load in a manual before they buy components so as to have the necessary info first. I suggest, in order, determine what you want your load to do (hunting? S.D? target?). Find a bullet to do that. Find a load for that bullet, and use the data from a published reloading manual. The only reloader I would suggest ignore "cyber load data" is the new relloader. Wait until you have the experience...Jimbo357mag said:
Sorry I disagree BIG TIME
Well, that is certainly your choice :) . Of course the gun will tell you what the best load is! But, I've found a lot of good loads (with powders I may not ever have thought to try) from other folks experiences who already did what you are about to do (go from min to max via references and find the 'sweet' spot if there is one)! Sometimes that load works very well in my gun(s), sometimes not ...as some guns are just picky. I will test 'around' the given load in 0.5g increments to see if something works a bit better and also see what the chronograph has to say. If 'said' load is 7.0g, I might start at 6.0g and work up to 7.5g or beyond depending on what the 'gun' and chronograph are telling me.... BTW, even working up a load, I rarely start and minimum (waste of powder). I usually start in the middle and work up. It's all fun in the search! Don't know what your 'few' is, but my minimum is 15 for believable chronograph results and to check accuracy potential from rest.
Tommyhof said:
