Looking for a good powder for .357 magnum

[Bugs]

My go to powder for 9mm, 38 special has been WIN231. I also use WIN231 for .45ACP along with VVN310. I will be pushing 158gn JHP ZERO Bullet and Montana Gold 158gn JHP for use in my soon to arrive Henry .357/38 Big Boy Steel rifle. Watcha using and like?

[JEBar]

W296 pushing 158 gr Nosler JHP bullets has served us well for decades .... when we can't get it, we fall back on H110 and to be perfectly honest, can't tell any difference in performance

[CT_Shooter]

I use that same ZERO 158 JHP bullet with H110 and it's a great combination. W296 and H110 are often described as being the same powder with different labels.

[DWD445]

What MV are you after, target or hunting??

[Bugs]

What MV are you after, target or hunting??

Actually both. Looking for a good range plinking round and also a good hunting round for pigs and whitetail.

[clovishound]

I found the most accurate load was 4227 with a jacketed 158 grain bullet. I would probably go with H110 at this point, as it is very similar to 4227, perhaps even a little better for accuracy and speed. The only issue I had was the case was running out of room before I got to max load. I was trying to develop a hunting load, but found a commercial load that gave me everything I wanted.

I use my .357 mostly for target shooting and have standardized on a 158 grain heavy plated bullet over Universal. This is much cheaper for me to load, and gives me nearly as good accuracy.

[BigAl52]

Dont under estimate 2400 it has always performed well for me in 357 with jacketed bullets. Got my best groups with it out of all the leverguns I have tried it in. Al

[ditto1958]

I've been using Accurate #9, and it works well. I've also used BE-86, which is relatively new. It works good also.

[mab4121]

I don't load .357 anymore, but loaded 1000's when I was young. Not sure if some of the newer powders are better, but back then WW231 was the ticket. I still use 231 for .45 acp and it is a great powder to work with. I love Unique as well, but it is so messy that I have mostly swapped over to 231 completely for all my handgun loads.

[Bugs]

Saw a load for WIN231 with a 158gn jacketed bullet for 357 magnum. See here: http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol
They have a start load of 6.2 gn up to 6.9gn. Anyone ever use this load? Currently have 8lbs of W231 that is use for 9mm and 38 special. I occasionaly use it for 45 acp but lately use VVN310 for 45; nice clean load. Anyway I see most have chimed in about H110 and other powders. Already have the WIN231 may give it a whirl first.

[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???