38 & 357 loads
 

Just picked up a S&W 6" mod-19 and was wondering if anyones got some pet loads for 38 or 357 Thanks

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

You're gonna LOVE that gun, BP. I've had and shot the devil out of almost every type 38/357 on the market since I just love um all. First of all, there ain't no bad loads. Just open your loading manual and dive in.

Best powders for the hotter stuff are 2400 and Blue Dot. I accidentally discovered that Herco makes a dandy powder in 38 stuff.

I tend to load pretty hot 38 ammo with heavy bullets and my .357 loads I like to load 110/125 gr bullets. But I throttle back just a bit on the .357 ammo because .357 brass doesn't have great life if you push it. Also no since shaking the gun apart just trying to get a few extra fps.

Also know that you can get a pretty wide point of impact spread when you load fast light bullets compared to heavy bullets. The hot heavy stuff will impact a lot higher due to recoil.

Have fun!

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

I like to shoot heavy bullets inmy 38 as well as my 357. Here's a coupleloads that i use that are accurate in my pistols.

38
Hornady 158gr HP/XTP
3.6 grsRed Dot
CCI 500

357 Mag
Hornady 180gr HP/XTP
9.0 grs Blue Dot
CCI 500

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

I use H110 for 357mag, but alsos use HS-6 for every pistol I got. Its pretty awesome powder, top perfromer in 40S&W, 9mm, 45ACP, 357Sig, 38spl, and medium loads for 44mag, and 357mag.

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

My Ruger GP100 loved Bullseye powder...Just be careful of a double charge..

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

357Mag-158 Hdy XTP / 10grs. Bluedot

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

bigpappa, Great gun. The day I turned 21, I went out and bought the S&W M19 Combat. I loved that gun. Just remember that it is built ona medium frame and not the heavy frame. I cannot even begin to recall the number of rounds I put through that gun and non of them were light. I'd have to look up my reloading notes from back then, early eighties, but I seem to recall 17.5 grns. of H110 behind speer 140 grn. jacketed flat points. Big fire ball. Some people at the rangethought Iwas shooting a44mag. Anyway I kept shaking the gun apart with the huge volume of those big bangers. I eventually had to retire it and replaced it with a Colt King Cobra .357.

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

A friend of mine turned me on to a great plinking load for 38 that in the guns we've tried it in gives good accuracy for very little money. I have the Lee mould for the 105gr SWC (358-105-SWC) and mould them with wheel weights that I get for free. I load them over 3.5gr of Bullseye. I figure I get about 1800 to 2000 rounds out of a pound of powder and I can mould up a 1000 bullets and size them in less than a day. The primers are the most expensive part at around 2 to 2.5 cents each. I figure I have 4 to 5 cents per round in them.

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

Have the same gun also. Love it. Load with Winchester 231. At 4.5 gr. Has always worked and never a problem.

RE: 38 & 357 loads
 

Sorry should have also stated using 125 gr. cast bullets. Buy them in bulk for they are inexpensive for I shoot lots at the range.