[Handgun Guy]

Any of you guys have a favorite load for self defence in a 357 Magnum and what is it. Im referring to loads using Hornady,Nosler,Speer ect no Wadcutters or lead..
I was thinking about 158 Grn Nosler HP with 12-14 grns of Winchester 296..
If it matters I will be using it in a 6inch S&W 686...

 

[shocktroop]

I loaded up a 158gr JHP over 21gr of H110, it was a compressed load and packed a good wallop, but I'll use it more for a woods gun as opposed to carry, and that was out of a 4in GP100. I'm sure it was 21gr, it was a compressed load, but don't quote me on the exact weight of charge, I'm to lazy to run downstairs to my bench and look, but pretty sure thats what it was.........

 

[TheGerk]

I loaded up a 158gr JHP over 21gr of H110, it was a compressed load and packed a good wallop, but I'll use it more for a woods gun as opposed to carry, and that was out of a 4in GP100. I'm sure it was 21gr, it was a compressed load, but don't quote me on the exact weight of charge, I'm to lazy to run downstairs to my bench and look, but pretty sure thats what it was.........

Thanx for posting your “recollection”

Handloaders can’t get enough of this quality information

The SAAMI (MAP) for the .357 magnum is 35,000 P.S.I. or 45,000 C.U.P.

For a 158 grain XTP the Hodgdon manual lists a maximum load of 16.7 grains of H110 generating 40,700 C.U.P.

I sincerely hope that you don’t use your “recollection” the next time you load .357
Good Luck

 

[TheGerk]

Any of you guys have a favorite load for self defence in a 357 Magnum and what is it. Im referring to loads using Hornady,Nosler,Speer ect no Wadcutters or lead..
I was thinking about 158 Grn Nosler HP with 12-14 grns of Winchester 296..
If it matters I will be using it in a 6inch S&W 686...

I have a 6 inch 586 like your 686

My accuracy load with 296 and 158 grain XTP is 16.2 grains.
WSPM or Federal SPM primer and a firm roll crimp. (Lots of bullet pull)
This load just by chance happens to be 3% less of the maximum recommended charge.
My gun is not more accurate faster with these components.
Winchester (Hodgdon now) list a maximum load of 16.7 grains operating at 40,700 C.U.P.

Use caution under loading 296 and H110
I have had squib loads in cartridges using low-density charges of 296 and H110
H110 is the worse of the two in this respect but both can “fool” you real good.
Good Luck

 

[RetiredRod]

Although 296 & H-110 are excellent magnum powders, my personal preference is Alliant 2400. And the most accurate bullet I've found is the Remington 140gr JHP.

 

[imashooter2]

I like 18.0 grains of Lil' Gun under a 158 grain Hornady FP-XTP in Remington brass with CCI SPM primers. Runs great in both a 4" 686 and an 18.5 inch Marlin.

 

[Handgun Guy]

Thanks guys I will probaly try of few of your suggestions..:rock:

 

[MQ1FX2]

I use 19.0 grains of H110 under a 140 grain Hornady HP/XTP.

 

[BigDog9]

My S&W 686 and my model 27's( all 6 inch) - all like the 158gr Hornady XTP bullet with 5.6 grains of TiteGroup.

I've also loaded a lot of Montana Gold bullets in 158 gr CMJ bullets with the same 5.6gr of TiteGroup - just for punching holes in paper - its a good bullet as well. I don't have any evidence - but it would probably be a good defensive round as well with the brass coating on the bullets.

 

[WESHOOT2]

recoil?

Hornady lists 15.8g H110 under their 158g XTP.....

In my own guns I prefer my 140g XTP / 19.0g H110 / CCI550 / Redding Profile Crimp Die load. (Hornady says 18.1g)

But frankly, I don't much care what's in my guns; I care about its point of delivery.

 

[Georgiadave]

I like a mid range load

Try 13 grains of 2400 and a 158 gr cast bullet. This is about 1150fps.

 

[AlaskaMike]

17.3 grains of 296 under a 158 grain Speer Gold Dot gives about 1350 fps out of my 4" S&W Model 28 and is very accurate. For anything slower I've used 2400 with very good results. I used CCI 550 primers with the 296 load, and CCI 500's with loads using 2400.

Mike

 

[Pete Zaria]

I don't have reloading equipment anymore but used to have access to reloading equipment when I lived with my parents.

My dad worked up a load that we shot a lot of...

IIRC, it was right about 10gr of Unique under a 110gr JHP with an OAL of 1.56", and chrono'ed at over 1,700 FPS from a 4" Ruger, for just over 700 ft-lb of energy. I don't remember what brand exactly of bullets or primers we used - whatever was cheap I'd expect, heh. I definitely would not want to be on the wrong end of one of those. Some people will knock a bullet as light as a 110gr, but I'd have no problem trusting my life to that load. It'll blow up a watermelon like 12g slug.

We'd also put a charge of about 6.5-6.8gr of Unqiue under a 158gr for plinking.

I miss reloading

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

 

[Agent6-3/8]

Only time I carry reloads is in the woods, but...

180g XTP over 13.5g H110. Thats enough to give anything in WV a real bad day.

 

[Pete Zaria]

Only time I carry reloads is in the woods, but...

180g XTP over 13.5g H110. Thats enough to give anything in WV a real bad day.

Just curious, do you know roughly how fast that load would move out of a 4-6" barrel? The only recipe for .357 180gr using H110 I could find listed 12.5gr @ 1175 fps, so I figure with 13.5gr you might be pushing 1250 or so. At 1250fps that's 624 ft/lb, and I'm sure the penetration would be insane

Damnit, I miss reloading. Gotta get a bigger place, and a reloading bench.

Peace,
Pete Zaria.

 

[WESHOOT2]

Av = anywhere, based on specific launch platform, from 980fps up to 1300fps.

We can demonstrate.....

 

[MAG-63]

My favorite from about 20 years ago:

16.0 grains of Blue Dot
125gr jsp or jhp
CCI #550 small pistol magnum primer
Winchester brass
Heavy roll crimp

Don't look for this one in any of the current manuals because it isn't there. Speer had a load with a max of 16.3gr of Blue Dot in their #11 manual.

An awesome varmint load in an 8 3/8'' N frame or 6" Redhawk. Nasty in any Smith K frame! :biglaugh:

 

[WESHOOT2]

minor correction

...An awesome varmint load in an 8 3/8'' N frame or 6" Redhawk. Nasty in any Smith K frame! :biglaugh:

There is a 5.5" Redhawk.
And a 7.5" Redhawk.
In 357 Magnum.
Stainless steel.
Both in my safe.....

But no 6".

 

[MSgt Dotson]

I use 7.3 grains of Unique (7.8 gr max per Alliant) under a 158 grain JFP for a plinking/practice load....recoil is still only a pleasant 'push' even with 4" K-frames.

 

[MAG-63]

There is a 5.5" Redhawk.
And a 7.5" Redhawk.
In 357 Magnum.
Stainless steel.
Both in my safe.....

But no 6".

Yep, you're right. A friend had the Redhawk and I wasn't sure but thought it was a 6''. Thanks for the correction. :rock: