Looking for a good powder for .357 magnum

[BigAl52]

6.2 grs of 231 and a 200gr swc in 45 acp was always a great load for me. I now use 4.5 grs of 231 and a berrys 158gr round nose in 38 special. It shoots great in both my 357 pistols and the Henry Big Boy. Never used H110 in 357 I have always gone with Herc 2400 and been happy. Al

[Bugs]

Yup I use 231 for a few loads. I now use VVN310 4.2 gn with a 158 gn FMJ round nose. Better accuracy and cleaner burning. You can get simliar results with Clays but the VVN is better. So much better I stocked up 8 lbs.

[bradf]

2400 is very good in getting heavier jacketed bullets moving, especially in a longer barrel pistols. In an 18-20" rifle, 17 grains 2400 gets 125 grain FMJ 1950-1980 fps.
H110 is another 357 rifle powder to consider.

[Bugs]

I've spent a little time looking at each of the powders in this thread. If i can locate some I think I'm going to give Alliant 2400 a whirl. I like the data I've looked over and also like the fact that I can light it up with standard small pistol primers which I have a pile of in my reloading room. Now I just have to find a can.

[445sm]

I use lil gun 15gr 158xtp this is not a max load this load took 5 deer
In 6 days 3 different hunters same rifle 147yds longest "laser" shot
None over 40yds tracking I've run this bullet to 2058 fps with a a lot more
Lil gun but the 15grs will all was be my deer load

[Bugs]

Located and picked up a few pounds of Alliant 2400 to work up. Had a tough time finding it. All my usual suppliers were out of stock. As luck would have it Alliant Powder has a dealer locator on their website. It was a win-win as I found a new supply locally (an hours ride) with good prices and avoided the usual HazMat fees. Nice people who will be getting a lot of my business in the future; they also sell Henry Rifles. I've got them obtaining the new Ruger GP100 44 special for me too as they gave me a price close to what I do on the interweb. I'd rather support local business when I can but i ain't paying 200 hundred bucks more for a gun.

[BigAl52]

Lil gun is an okay powder but I will not use it in a pistol because Freedom Arms doesnt reccomend it. It will cut the forcing cone with extended use and it burns very hot. Al

[Steve51]

Alliant 2400 is my favorite powder for .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum but it has not been available at my LGS for over a year. They carry a lot of Alliant powders but have not been able to get 2400. I use IMR4227 and AA#9 as backup for the 2400 and have had good results with both. Once or twice a year I visit a gun shop in Indiana and one in Kentucky that have good supplies of Alliant powder but neither had 2400 on my last two visits.

[Capt steve]

hp38 and win231 are the same. I have loaded the 158 gr hard cast and plated with 6.7 gr of hp38 and it shoots well.

[dmsbandit]

15 grs of 2400 under a 158gr XTP has always worked well in my 4" barreled GP100. IIRC, they leave the barrel at just over 1300fps???