Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #1
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    Default Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    I've been reloading for years, but just started on this cartridge. It looks like the most usable powder is Win 296, but in both Hornady and Hodgdon resources the charges are pretty stiff, Blue Dot seems to yield the same performance with lower powder charge weights. Is anyone using either of these powders? For 296 Hodgdon starts at 17.1 grs. and max out at 19.0. Hornady data starts considerably lower and tops out at 19.1 grs. So what are your favorite loads and what suggestions can you offer? I'm using a Dillion RL 550B and notice a fair sprinkling of powder on top of the ram head as loading progresses, is that common? I'm looking to use either Hornady's or Sierra's 140 gr JHP/XTP bullet instead of the heavy weights possible, just to save some wear and tear on my hands. Loads will be used in both my S&W 627 Pro and Winchester Mod 1892 carbine.


    "Those who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities".

  2. #2
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    Hate using 296 or 110 in 357 mag. All bang and flash. I use Titegroup. 7 grain behind a 125 pill at 1400 FPS.

    I also have a Alliant 2400 load on my website. It was my old favorite.
    www.Steelvalleycasting.com is your new home for coated bullets and custom ammo.

  3. #3
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    I've reloaded for a while too but limited experience with .357. Just a couple boxes so far. I have 296 and magnum primers.
    I cast Lee's 158 grain SWC and that's the only bullet I've used in them. I have loaded regular lubed and also some that I powder coated which is supposed to stand up to the velocities that will be produced by the rifle.

    I just looked in my notes and I used 14.0 grns of 296 and loaded that bullet to 1.585.

    They shot nice out of my SP101 4", my 5" Vaquero, and my Marlin 1894. I don't have velocities as I shot them before I picked up my chronograph. I'm hoping for 158-160 grain (they drop a little big and heavy) at 1800 fps (from the rifle) or more with good accuracy.

  4. #4
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    I personally use HS-6 or longshot if i want higher velocities. Otherwise i use titegroup

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    Plinking .357 load (easy on hands):
    158gr PC LSWC (you may need a round nose for your lever action)
    6.0 gr Unique
    CCI 500 SP primer
    OAL: 1.585
    CRIMP: .377

    Hammer load:
    125 gr Hornady XTP
    18.4 gr H110
    CCI 500 SPM primer
    OAL: 1.58
    CRIMP: .375

    My experience with 296 and 110 powders is that they are so fine that they always leave a sprinkling behind somewhere - on the scale, inside bearings, or on the Dillon. If you're using an electronic powder scale to throw powder (with powder reservoir), be sure to pull out the tube guides and brush off every bit that you can see and then use compressed air to take care of what you can't before you change to a different powder or caliber. The fine powders eventually jam up the bearings and need to be thoroughly detailed/cleaned out.

    If you're throwing the powder directly from your press, consider lightly sanding the inside of the powder drop tube with 800 - 1000 grit sandpaper (wrap it around a chopstick) for a minute or two. Then clean the drop tube with a dry patch or two, then run a small piece of dryer sheet through it to remove any static electricity that may have built up.

    Just like Kroil, those two powders (296 and 110) seem to have an affinity for migrating around and through nearly anything...
    - bamboomaster

  6. #6
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    H110 / W296 should only be used for top Max loads. Seems like a big spread with the reloading manuals today. The original data for H110 / W296 cautioned against going under 3% max and the loads back them were MUCH higher. These powders need to reach a high pressure to burn efficiently so no wonder there is a lot of powder residue with modern loads.

    I don't go much beyond .38 +P loads with cast bullets. Anything over leads the barrel badly and even the outsides of the cylinders.

    For top loads I only use 158 jacketed with max H-110 or almost max HS-6.

  7. #7
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    I load a lot of .357 for a couple of revolvers and a Henry .357 rifle. Light, medium, and heavy loads use different powders, and some loads perform better in the longer barrel of the rifle.

    W296 is the same powder as H110 and is great for full power loads. It is a very fine powder that has a tendency to leak from the powder charge bar. Contact Dillon to get a charge bar spacer that helps that.

    Accurate #9 and 2400 are also very good powders for medium to full power loads, and are less finicky than H110.

    For light loads, I use everything including Titegroup, HP-38, Accurate #5, SR 4756, Unique, Power Pistol, in no particular order.

    Online powder guides like Western powders and Hodgsons have a lot of loads.

  8. #8
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    I'll be loading it soon. Aiming at the beginning to load some Berry's 158g bullets with Unique as plinkers and some 158 Hornady XTP I plan using up some H110 I have left over from 300 Blackout.

  9. #9
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    Quote Originally Posted by Delkal View Post
    H110 / W296 should only be used for top Max loads. Seems like a big spread with the reloading manuals today. The original data for H110 / W296 cautioned against going under 3% max and the loads back them were MUCH higher. These powders need to reach a high pressure to burn efficiently so no wonder there is a lot of powder residue with modern loads.

    I don't go much beyond .38 +P loads with cast bullets. Anything over leads the barrel badly and even the outsides of the cylinders.

    For top loads I only use 158 jacketed with max H-110 or almost max HS-6.

    This agrees with my reading.


    For those of us who use short barrelled 357 the H110 and 296 are a bit slow. I'd prefer not to light up the great outdoors.

  10. #10
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    Default Re: Who's reloading .357 Magnum?

    Always used 2400 myself. I use it for 44mag too, so I always have it on hand.

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