Something off the shelf would be nice until I collect enough Brass.
I’m going to reload .357 and I will be shooting it out of an old N Frame with a four Inch Barrel for Defence and one for training loads if you have one.
Depends how much blast & recoil you’re willing to endure.
A 140 gr or 158 gr XTP with a max (35k) load or Enforcer or H110 is good.
For less recoil & blast a 125 gr XTP with a max load of CFE-P.
Or a 158 gr LHP @1100 fps (firmer lead) isn’t bad.
Practice loads the world is your oyster.
Off the shelf? Hornady Critical Duty 135 gr or Federal 357G 180 gr SJHP are two of the best I’ve found.
Golden Saber 125 gr JHP if you’re into 9mm +p performance.
Ron3, you spoke my mind.
Seems like blast and recoil are so seldom taken into consideration. I’m not a .38 / .357 guy at all but one thing I do know is that .357 mag (and .357 SIG, and 9X23, et all) can be all well and good at the range but touching one off without any protection– worst yet, inside– maybe I’m wimpy but to me any of them would be devastating. I know the old saw about adrenaline pumping, auditory exclusion etc., but hearing damage happens independent of perception. And I can’t help but think “I would hear that and I would not like it.” Coming from a wimp who prefers 147’s in 9mm because they are “that much less noisy.”
What about a .357 load that is subsonic, but making up for the lower FPS with more bullet weight, like 180 or 200’s? Could such a load be concocted to take advantage of the .357’s muzzle energy potential while, so some degree at least, minimizing the blast and flash?
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I think so. My informal testing of the Federal 180 gr sjhp was positive from 2 in to 4 in barrels. Low blast & flash, about 950-1025 fps IIRC. Always expanded in my water, mud, and sand tests. Every time. Leaving a @.6" or.65" dia bullet with a long shank. And why not? Soft, exposed fairly wide hollow point with a skivved partial jacket.
It’s expensive now, though.
The heaviest XTP one can get to 1050 fps bare minimum and much preferably faster will penetrate well with .45-.55" expansion. The 158 gr will barely get there and id prefer the 140 gr for the extra velocity.
Fast to medium powders preffered, not “magnum” powders.
Like you said, there are all loud enough to damage hearing but magnum powder loads from .357 and .327 mag loads are just ridiculous unless fired from a rifle.
I remember running a timer during an IDPA match with a guy using .357 loads and the stage where there was a plywood car silhouette to use as cover was jarring and that would be nothing versus shooting in a room.
If I remember an Outdoor Life article on hearing damage correctly, .357 magnum was louder than other common centerfire pistol cartridges and was equivalent to standard centerfire rifle loadings like .30/06.
I was on Tanks in the Army for 21 years and came back as a Tech Rep for the Abrams for another 14 years, my hearing left the Building a very long time ago.
I’m Dandy at reading Lips as long asd your accent isnt too crazy.
I’ve owned a Security Six with a four inch barrel, it was a dandy, my Super Blackhawk, not so much.
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John linebaugh influenced my thoughts on revolver loads. With my 357 magnum and 41 magnum, I stopped at 1200 ft./s. He was under the opinion that anything more than 1200 ft./s is unnecessary with excessive recoil and muzzle. blast. After several years of shooting, these revolvers with my own hand loads achieving 1200 ft./s, I agree with better follow up shots.
For the 357 magnum, I use Hornady 158 grain XTP, H110 powder with a small pistol magnum primer. This is from a Smith & Wesson K frame 4 inch barrel 357 magnum.
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Have you chronographed that load?
I’ve have some time to start reloading (kiddos out of house), so based on this thread, I want to load 1200 or less FPS in 357 Magnum to avoid the 38 special ring in my S&W 66-1 4”.
Planning to use CFE powder assuming I can get it, is the a second recommendation for clean burning easy to meter powder?
Planning Berry’s plated 158gr FP, range use and revolver classes and small pistol primers.
How many do you make up with each charge for testing? 5, 10?
Thank you for any information in advance. Finally hitting revolver fest this year so trying to get prepared.
FWIW I’m going to use a Lee Breech Lock Handloader and do maybe 50 rounds for testing, settle on my pick and crank out 1000, 500 for weekly range practice for the next month or so.
So much for my fabulous memory.
I found 1100 fps to be the best by group size at 50 yards. Measured with oheler 35p
Yup. You need that 16 gr load at least to keep the Low rounds right at the threshold of expansion at whatever range your chronograph was.
This even appears easier than 5.56.
Fyi CFE-P does best at near max loads and high pistol pressures.
Mid-range loads are poor with high velocity deviations. It wants 25k pressure minimum just to work tolerably well. Load it towards the top. It’s happy there and not prone to unpredictable spikes.