RE: Reloading the .357 Mag
 

No problem SCbowhntr. You will probably still get the info before I get my reloading area cleaned up! I am using a RCBS Rockchucker single stage press for now. I know it will be slow going but it will have to do for now. Thanks for the supplier info, I'll be looking for your future post.

RE: Reloading the .357 Mag
 

OK! Sorry this took so long! Anyways, here's what I have:

++ 158 gr Hornady XTP...16 grains of Win 296 with Win magnum small pistol primer...velocity @ 1380fps out of my Ruger Balckhawk -4 5/8" bbl
This is an all around good load.

++ 145 gr Winchester Silvertip...17.5 gr Win 296...velocity @ 1540 fps out of my Ruger Bisley-7 1/2" bbl. This load is pretty hot and I would start out at 16 gr and work up. This is a very accurate load out of my Bisley. My cousin also shoots this load out of his .357 Marlin lever action and took 2 deer last season with it.

++ 180 gr XTP...15.2 gr Win 296...velocity @ 1350 fps out of my Bisley. Recoil is moderately heavy for .357 load. This should be an excellent and heavy hitting hunting load. I plan to hunt with it this coming season.

As far as plinking, you can always scale back some of these loads or use another powder...I just prefer Winchester:)

Good luck with this data. Especially the 180 gr XTP should be shot only in a Ruger Blackhawk or equivalent pretty stout revolver. I don't know about your GP-100, but it should be fine. Also make sure you can hunt with a .357 in your state as some don't allow it.

RE: Reloading the .357 Mag
 

SCBOWHNTR, Thanks alot for the info, thats exactly the kind of info I've been looking for. What do you think about hunting with the 158gr XTP load you have listed? I would like to come up with an "all purpose load" and was thinking of hunting with this size bullet for now. I know in NH the .357 is the smallest caliber allowed for deer hunting. I will pick up some 180's and play with them but I'm not sure it will happen before the season starts this year. I also don't want to mame an animal and have it get away like that. What are your thoughts?

RE: Reloading the .357 Mag
 

06,
I wouldn't hestitate to hunt with the 158 gr load. My cousin has killed at least 8 deer that I know of shooting an old Colt trooper 6"bbl with a similar load. The main thing I would stress, however, is shot placement and effective range. Shooting the above load out of a 6"bbl should produce around 650 ft-lbs of energy at the muzzle and around 550 @ 50 yards so I would definitely keep shots under 50. Most of us (myself included) wouldn't feel comfortable stretching it out past that anyway with iron sights;). Anyways, good luck and keep us posted this fall...I'll be out there with my .44 and .357 also.

RE: Reloading the .357 Mag
 

Well, not having any experience with handguns, I've figured out that I have all I can do to hit a sheet of computer paper every time at 50 yards off a bench! 2" groups at 25yds and way off at 50 yds. The 4 inch barrel may be a handicap for 50 yd shots. Anyways I will continue to experiment. Thanks for the reply.

RE: Reloading the .357 Mag
 

You're right.................

50yds on a 4" barrel is DEFINITELY a hit or miss proposition. Shoot, 2" groups at 25yds is EXCELLENT shooting! :D

I tend to do my .357 load workups at 10 or 15 yds max................since most are for defense & target purposes anyway. At that distance, if the holes are REAL close...................I KNOW they'll suck out at distances.

RE: Reloading the .357 Mag
 

My favorite .357 magnum load uses the Lyman-Keith 173-grain semiwadcutter and a stiff load of Alliant 2400 powder. I started with 10 grains of 2400 and worked up to a max of 13 grains in my Colt .357. This bullet is a real killer of game up to the size of small whitetail deer.

RE: Reloading the .357 Mag
 

great choice for a bullet the powder is questionable and the primers are a very bad choice for the ruger GP100. My GP100 misfires to much with cci primers, I recommend federal primers.
The load I use is a great whitetail load according to the load data it pushes that 158 g. XTP at 1427 fps out of a 6 inch barrel packs a great wallop on a whitetail ive knocked a whitetail down out to 50 yards a few times with it. Heres the exact load data,

Bullet: 158 grain sierra JHC, shell: Norma, primer:CCI 500, Powder: 16.19 grains of Vectan SP3. Note: is a compressed load

Here are my revisions of the same load to suite my needs which is still a safe load I know because it is exactly what I shoot and I still have 10 fingers but I will caution you Treat vectan SP-3 like you would winchester 296 their burn characteristics are almost Identical.

Bullet: 158 grain Hornady XTP/HP, Shell: winchester or federal, Primer: federal 200 small magnum, Powder: 16 grains of Vectan SP3. Note: is a compressed load.

I've chronographed this load it pushes a average of 1403 fps. you don't really want to push the XTP/HP any faster unless you use magnum XTP/HP but they don't expand (mushroom) aswell.