357 "Plinker" Load?

[Mistered]

110 grain Jacketed Bullet using Unique, starting at 8.5 (1291 fps)

I like this - I might even shave it to 8 grains just because I like 'even' numbers for powder charges.

FWIW, the Lyman manual shows 2400 as the most accurate, @ 20.3 gr for 2,291 fps!

I would never load anything like this for .357 rifle. If a person needs this type of velocity for whatever used then a cartridge/rifle combination that will be a better suited for velocitys in this range (or higher) should be chosen. While a person could hunt some typical varmints with a .357 rifle a higher velocity smallbore is a more practical and effective choice. And if a person is just target/field shooting a load like this is hardly necessary.
These hyper velocity .357 rounds would be hard on the rifle and cause premature wear and potential rapid throat erosion.

[BigAl52]

Im not going to say it doesn't ever happen but I have rarely seen accuracy at the max end of powder charge tables listed for bullets of most of the calibers I have loaded for.

[Mistered]

Im not going to say it doesn't ever happen but I have rarely seen accuracy at the max end of powder charge tables listed for bullets of most of the calibers I have loaded for.

This is a big 10-4! And typically the poorest accuracy will be with the lighter bullets of a larger caliber when loaded to high velocities.
Bottom line is the .357 ain't a 300 yard varmint rifle and no attempt should be made to turn it into one.

[Jdl447]

Just use 38 spl. loads in .357 mag cases. I do it all the time with Unique powder. Just be careful of a double charge.

[Mistered]

UCHP" (?) and a 125 gr Speer "GDHP"

Uni - Core Hollow Point
And
Gold Dot Hollow Point
Both fancy abbreviations for plated bullets.

From a site that describes the process:

How do they do it? Speer uses electrochemical plating, but does things a little differently than other bullet makers. Most of the time, the bullet maker plates the lead core, drills a hole in it and calls it good. Speer puts the bullet through a series of dies to create the cavity rather than merely tapping it.. Continue reading at: http://gunbelts.com/blog/how-good-is-sp ... ief-guide/

Load those 110s with 8 grains of Unique and go shooting!

[Ojaileveraction]

Offering another opinion,
I've reloaded and shot a few hundred 110 grain xtp in my BBB.
Used them in Pistol Caliber Silhouette for the first two stages. 40 and 50 meters.
The fact that Hornady did not offer Rifle Data did throw a caution... but I used start charges from Hodgdon, Sierra and Speer data for H110.
They worked well for me.
As far a damage to the rifle, they are slower than 30-30 starter charges for 110 gr. 2200 fps is not hyperspeed.
And using H110, pressure is lower than using Titegroup to get 1600.
Adds to case life.

Edit
Ok so doing some back ground reading last night I saw (I can't remember who) someone said, regarding light weight pistol bullets in 357 rifles, "make sure the bullets can stand up to the "relative hypervelosity" of the load."

[clovishound]

So far, I've not been able to find a current mfr site or handbook listing that shows both Unique and this specific Horandy 110 gr HP boolit.

Alliant's site shows a recipe with a Speer 110 gr "UCHP" (?) and a 125 gr Speer "GDHP" (again - ?). Must dig deeper, grasshopper...

http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/ ... rtridge=28

Universal is very similar to Unique and Hodgdon has data on their website for it. In fact, they have data for it in the rifle section as well. Same start and max loads, as well as pressures, but MVs are different.

As a plus, Universal meters well.

I've had poor luck with lighter bullets in .38 and .357, but I understand wanting to use some "free" bullets.

[BigAl52]

I will agree with Clovishound here. I like Universal it burns cleaner than Unique also. It works well in the 45-70 with a 350gr Copper plated bullet. The metering of it is also a plus. Al

[Mistered]

but I understand wanting to use some "free" bullets.

Oh yea -free is a very good price - and loaded moderately they might be pretty accurate. Heck the 100 grain Plinkers in my Winchesters are incredibly accurate but not a real 'fair' comparison.

[Rifletom]

Just use 38 spl. loads in .357 mag cases. I do it all the time with Unique powder. Just be careful of a double charge.

^^^This^^^. Unique or Universal. 158gr plated or coated. But, I understand wanting to do something with those 110's. Hmm, maybe look for some kind of trade? BTW, Jdl447 has THE best avatar out there. Great!

[ESquared]

Offering another opinion,
I've reloaded and shot a few hundred 110 grain xtp in my BBB.
Used them in Pistol Caliber Silhouette for the first two stages. 40 and 50 meters.
The fact that Hornady did not offer Rifle Data did throw a caution... but I used start charges from Hodgdon, Sierra and Speer data for H110.
They worked well for me.
As far a damage to the rifle, they are slower than 30-30 starter charges for 110 gr. 2200 fps is not hyperspeed.
And using H110, pressure is lower than using Titegroup to get 1600.
Adds to case life.

Edit
Ok so doing some back ground reading last night I saw (I can't remember who) someone said, regarding light weight pistol bullets in 357 rifles, "make sure the bullets can stand up to the "relative hypervelosity" of the load."

Just going back through this thread as I gear up with some load options for these 110 gr XTPs that Hornady is sending me, and I've got the options covered with Unique.

HOWEVER, I also have some H110 on hand, and Hodgdon has a 357 Rifle load for 110 gr XTP, but within a very narrow range: min of 22 grains, max of 23. Is this even worth wasting the powder on, or should I just stick with the Unique?

[CT_Shooter]

HOWEVER, I also have some H110 on hand, and Hodgdon has a 357 Rifle load for 110 gr XTP, but within a very narrow range: min of 22 grains, max of 23. Is this even worth wasting the powder on, or should I just stick with the Unique?

That amount of H110 would fill a .357 case and would get compressed under the seated bullet. It is a recommended charge, but I'd stick with Unique, which I also use (along with HP38 and Universal) for 125 grain Jacketed bullets that also require compressed loads of H110. It may be OK, but I don't like the idea at all, so I don't use it. Just my opinion.

[ESquared]

HOWEVER, I also have some H110 on hand, and Hodgdon has a 357 Rifle load for 110 gr XTP, but within a very narrow range: min of 22 grains, max of 23. Is this even worth wasting the powder on, or should I just stick with the Unique?

That amount of H110 would fill a .357 case and would get compressed under the seated bullet. It is a recommended charge, but I'd stick with Unique, which I also use (along with HP38 and Universal) for 125 grain Jacketed bullets that also require compressed loads of H110. It may be OK, but I don't like the idea at all, so I don't use it. Just my opinion.

Yep, was just reading elsewhere about "compressed loads" and that doesn't sound like a good idea at all. Will just use the Unique. Thanks much, CT!

[BigAl52]

Agree with CT. I as well have all of those powders on hand. My HP-38 is Winchester 231. Not exactly the same but real close. I would use H-110 for 158 grain bullets you are wanting to hunt with and even then Im not fond of that powder as its wide open or nothing at all with it. Another reason I like the 2400 better. Just my .02 worth.

[Bugs]

I started using Alliant 2400 for my .357 loads with a 158gn bullet per Al's recommendation and have not looked back. 14.5 gn's 2400 is accurate and the recoil from the Big Boy is nothing with this load.

[Rifletom]

Yes, 2400 is a superb powder for the .357/158 XTP combo. Speaking of 2400, I scored on 2-1lb cans of some Hercules 2400!
Square, metal cans with a metal sealed cap. These things are so neat looking. Guy said he's had them stored for a while in his house. They look new. If anyone wants to see 'em, I can e-mail a picture. I'm not too clever at posting pics.