Loads for BB 357

[gpraceman]

I got a new Henry BB 357 case hardened rifle for my birthday/Christmas. Hadn't yet shot it, which I hope to correct this next week. I have a bit of factory ammo for it (Federal 38 special 158gr LRN) but want to come up with some hand loads. I have only been reloading for about a year now had only done 9mm and 223 so far. What I would like to do is come up with some light recoil target rounds, so my wife will be comfortable shooting it.

What I have to work with is Titegroup, HP-38, and Win 231 for powders and some Federal and CCI small pistol primers. I bought some once fired 357 cases from Capital Cartridge and some 158gr coated RNFP bullets from Kimberlin Creek.

I was eyeing a HP-38/Win231 38 special load in 357 cases. I checked the Hodgdon load data and the 38 special load starts at 3.1gr, but that is for a 7.7" barrel. Will that be enough of a charge for a 20" barrel? I certainly don't want a squib.

[JEBar]

my own personal preference in loading for our Henry 357 is to use only 357 cases and only jacketed bullets .... all other choices can and do change from time to time, usually as a result of availability .... our Henry hasn't proven to be very picky about powder, primers, brands of cases or bullets

[CT_Shooter]

Reloads using data for pistols will shoot just fine in a rifle. However, starting charges from rifle data that is intended to be fired in a pistol should be avoided because of the cylinder gap in a revolver, which releases gasses and pressure and could cause a squib.

I posted a link in the reloading section of the forum a while back that contains several older, but useful complete reloading manuals.

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... ls#p105973

Here are links to a couple of 357 specific publications that you might find especially useful.

Complete Reloading Manual for the 357 Magnum:
http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals ... Magnum.pdf

MidwayUSA LoadMap 357 Magnum:
http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals ... Magnum.pdf

[BigAl52]

Ct has helped you out with some good links especially the link from Midway. I have used 231 in mine but personally like Unique and Universal better. I realize one must use what they have right now but its food for thought in the future

[runnin n gunnin]

Welcome to the forum! This is the place to pick the knowledge and experience from a wide range of reloaders / shooters. You can see from your first two responses how quickly folks jump in to support other members. I seek advice often from the OGs here on a regular basis and what I respect from my peers is that no one professes to be an "expert" but share their experience and advice.

CT is on target. Look at your reloading manual and look specifically for RIFLE loads for the .357. When I got my BB .357 I started with the low end recommended load, tried a couple of powders and worked up from there.

Although I shoot 180 Grain Missouri Bullets in my ..357, my son loads .38 158 grain for his wife to shoot from his.

[gpraceman]

Reloads using data for pistols will shoot just fine in a rifle. However, starting charges from rifle data that is intended to be fired in a pistol should be avoided because of the cylinder gap in a revolver, which releases gasses and pressure and could cause a squib.

That's good to know. I guess that I was thinking that with the longer barrel, more friction for the bullet, that there would need to be a higher powder charge. But I guess the converse could be true where the longer barrel gives the powder more time to build up pressures.

http://henryrifleforums.com/viewtopic.p ... ls#p105973

Here are links to a couple of 357 specific publications that you might find especially useful.

Complete Reloading Manual for the 357 Magnum:
http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals ... Magnum.pdf

MidwayUSA LoadMap 357 Magnum:
http://marvinstuart.com/firearm/Manuals ... Magnum.pdf

Thanks for those references. I'll look through them.

[gpraceman]

Ct has helped you out with some good links especially the link from Midway. I have used 231 in mine but personally like Unique and Universal better. I realize one must use what they have right now but its food for thought in the future

I had been looking for some Unique, but cannot find any locally or online. Then a few days ago my shooting buddy hands me a 4lb jug of Win 231, which I found out is the same as the HP-38 that I already had. I've got plenty of those powders to last me quite some time.

[Flinch]

If you are using .357 Magnum cases, use .357 Magnum pistol load data for HP-38. The Hodgdon Reloading website lists a minimum charge weight of 3.4g of HP-38 when loading a 158g lead bullet. That should be a good starting point.

My accurate load with a SNS 158g coated bullet and .357 Magnum case is close to Hodgdon's recommended minimum charge weight.

Always keep a close watch to make sure you are seeing new holes in your target when experimenting with light loads.

[fortyshooter]

Any +P loads in the .357 Mag brass will work well. I have a bunch of .38 Special brass so I load them for both revolver and rifle use using 158 gr. MB coated cast bullet with 5.5-5.8 Power Pistol. A very hard hitter is the MB 180 gr coated cast bullet loaded with 11.6 of Alliant 2400.

[gpraceman]

If you are using .357 Magnum cases, use .357 Magnum pistol load data for HP-38. The Hodgdon Reloading website lists a minimum charge weight of 3.4g of HP-38 when loading a 158g lead bullet. That should be a good starting point.

Unfortunately, I have not been able to get a hold of any magnum primers, so I had been looking at 38 special recipes. I assume with a regular SPP, that it will work fine, just not have quite the velocity listed.

[fortyshooter]

You will be fine using standard pistol primers with HP-38. Use of a Magnum primer is based on the type of powder. Mostly slow burning powders like H110 or 296 used for top end loads require a hotter magnum primer to get burning.
In my situation all I have now are Magnum pistol primers and so far in my tests powders like Unique have shown no difference with primer used.

[Vaquero]

Welcome gp, looks like the guys have already given you a lot of good info.
As to the standard primers, I've loaded no telling how many pistol rounds using only them with no problems. YMMV.
Several of us here like the load forty was speaking of, my rifle likes 11.4 though.
Let us know what yours likes.

RP

[BigAl52]

Ive shot alot of 231 at about 5.2 to 5.6 grains. Always used a regular sp primer

[gpraceman]

Seems like there is a good range of loads using HP-38/Win231. I did a bunch of digging online and many seem to like a 4.0gr load with 158gr bullets. So, my plan was to work up some loads in that neighborhood.

[Flinch]

If you are loading .357 Magnum cartridges with HP-38 at recommended charge weights, regular small pistol primers will work just fine.