H110 max load

[LeverLover]

I am looking for some reloading advice for 158gr .357 magnum. I haven't been able to find a reload recipe that comes anywhere close to the FPS of off-the-shelf ammo in my Henry.

Speer #14 shows Sierra 158gr JSP max 16.2gr charge of H110 producing 1800 fps in a rifle and Speer 158gr JSP max 15.5gr producing 1648 fps in a rifle.

Monarch 158gr SJHP chronographs at 1693,1740,1766,1725,1713 with an average of 1727 fps.
Aguila 158gr JSP chronographs at 1636,1700,1639,1683,1648 with an average of 1661 fps.

Since Unique with CCI 500 primers wasn't getting anywhere close I stepped up to H110 with CCI 550 primers using Everglades 158gr JSP. Each load was measured to +/- 0.1 grain and chronographed at the speeds listed below. This shows roughly 30 fps gain for each 0.5gr of H110.
13.5gr = err,1475,1430,1336,1341 (avg 1395 fps)
14.0gr = 1386,1362,1482,1433,1467 (avg 1426 fps)
14.5gr = 1387,1443,1558,1433,1480 (avg 1460 fps)
15.0gr = 1486,1466,1386,1488,1444 (avg 1454 fps)
15.5gr = 1532,1437,1624,1556,1565 (avg 1542 fps)
16.0gr = 1591,15981522,1563,1588 (avg 1572 fps)

Using this trend I would need 17.5gr of H110 to equal the Aguila and 18.5gr of H110 to equal the Monarch. Have any of you safely exceeded the Speer book loads and achieved speeds in the 1700 fps range with the Everglades bullets? Can these bullets be pushed to those speeds?

[Mistered]

Have any of you safely exceeded the Speer book loads and achieved speeds in the 1700 fps range with the Everglades bullets?

I am going to say this ONE TIME - If you need velocities higher than the .357 can give you with ESTABLISHED RELOADING MANUAL DATA then choose a rifle in a caliber that WILL give you the velocities you need.

The .357 is a great round but as a HANDGUN round it has it limitations and is not one that can be just continually 'pushed' to achieve what you want.

[JEBar]

one thing quickly becomes clear when checking load data from various reliable sources .... if there was truly a single max load, all sources would probably give the same number .... I haven't seen any for 357 rifles but know that Nosler recommends a max load for H110 pushing 158 g bullets of 15.9 g .... that load in an 8.3" barrel yields a muzzle velocity of 1490 fps .... it would seem logical to anticipate a somewhat higher muzzle velocity out of a rifle .... if your Speer manual says 16.2 g it wouldn't worry me because they don't all give the same numbers ....the key for me has long been to find a manual you trust (in my case, Nosler) and work within its recommendations .... for jacketed 158 g Nosler JHP's the load we use has long been 14.8 g of W296 .... that load in an 8.3" barrel yields a muzzle velocity of 1540 fps

[Mistered]

for jacketed 158 g Nosler JHP's the load we use has long been 14.8 g of W296

I too am a fan of WW 296 and have loaded 16.0 grains with 158 Gr. jacketed bullets and this is still below Speer manual max of 17.3 grains and is what I consider largely in part a 'Full House' load for a rifle and it shoots very well (and accurately) out of my BBB .357. It also was also a very accurate load in my formerly owned Winchester Trapper .357.

I might try this in an 'N' or 'L" frame Smith (if I had one) but would NEVER in my 'K' frame Mod 66.

FWIW Speer # 9 manual shows a MAX load of H110 at 17.5 grains with a 158 rain JSP bullet (listed MV of 1866 FPS in a rifle) but personally I would never load to this level - nor do I have a need to.

[LeverLover]

In response, i'm not trying to load the 357 hotter than it is capable of. All I am trying to do is make a load that is comparable to an existing OFF THE SHELF load. How is it that all manufacturers can make pistol loads this hot EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK and no published load comes close to that?

[Jdl447]

Try L’il gun powder.

[Mistered]

How is it that all manufacturers can make pistol loads this hot EVERY DAY OF THE WEEK and no published load comes close to that?

I haven't been able to find a reload recipe that comes anywhere close to the FPS of off-the-shelf ammo in my Henry.

What 'off the shelf' loads are you referring to that are 'this hot' ?
WW 296 was one of the original powders developed specifically for the .357 Mag and is still essentially the 'optimal' choice for the highest velocity loads for .357 Magnum and load data is widely available for it.
There is no 'mystery' powder being used to load hypervelocity .357 ammo anymore.
Back in 'the day' (early 70's) there was a brand of ammo called 'Super Vel' which was incredibly hot. Reported tests of some new old stock of it have recorded pressures of over 37,800 CUP which is over the line for the .357's SAAMI pressure of 35,000.
More than likely it was over loaded with 296 and 110 grain HP bullets.
FWIW it is well known most common Mfgs. of .357 ammo have really backed off on their velocities over the last several years due to the fact a lot of .357 guns are getting old and the well known 'K' frame .357 issues - most of which are no longer a problem due to the the reduction of velocities of 'off the shelf' .357 ammo to about 1250 FPS.

[LeverLover]

Ahh... It appears then that the ammo I bought today and shot today and chronographed today is a figment of my imagination because it is impossible for a 158gr bullet to travel 1700 fps.

[Mistered]

Ahh... It appears then that the ammo I bought today and shot today and chronographed today is a figment of my imagination because it is impossible for a 158gr bullet to travel 1700 fps.

So what brand of ammo is it? My original question:

What 'off the shelf' loads are you referring to that are 'this hot' ?

[Ojaileveraction]

Ahh... It appears then that the ammo I bought today and shot today and chronographed today is a figment of my imagination because it is impossible for a 158gr bullet to travel 1700 fps.

So what brand of ammo is it? My original question:

What 'off the shelf' loads are you referring to that are 'this hot' ?

Read the origanal post for the information you seek.

[LeverLover]

Problem solved!
I loaded four 158gr generic JSP batches with 2 brands of magnum pistol primers. All had identical shells and the powder was trickled in to +/- 0.0gr accuracy. Surprisingly the velocity jump from 15.5gr to 16.0gr was about 30 fps but the jump from 16.0gr to 16.5gr was over 130 fps! The Federal primers performed worse than the CCI primers and actually showed a slower velocity at the higher load. Any of these four loads meet or exceed the Aguila 158gr JSP (1661 fps) and the Monarch 158gr JHP (1727 fps).
H110 16.5gr with CCI 550 primers = avg 1709 fps
H110 16.5gr with Fed 200 primers = avg 1686 fps
H110 16.7gr (max load) with CCI 550 primers = avg 1712 fps
H110 16.7gr (max load) with Fed 200 primers = avg 1677 fps
Who knew there would be such a huge jump in velocity when the sweet spot was located. Now I can batch reload.

[Ojaileveraction]

How is the accuracy?

[LeverLover]

I only had five of each and shot 25 feet across the chronograph and looked for overpressure signs. At that distance the result was a 1" hole. The next step is to load a batch to try out. It is a two hour round trip to the range so it will be another weekend. Thanks for asking, have you tried this kind of load?

[Ojaileveraction]

Shooting PC Silhouette last year,I tried 16 grains of H110 under 158 soft points. It was ok.
This year tried 2400 lowest published load of 9.3 under plated 158s. 1140 MV. I like it much more. Like shooting a 158g 22lr.

I only had five of each and shot 25 feet across the chronograph and looked for overpressure signs. At that distance the result was a 1" hole. The next step is to load a batch to try out. It is a two hour round trip to the range so it will be another weekend. Thanks for asking, have you tried this kind of load?

[BigAl52]

Never have had much luck with H-110 or 296 until I loaded some 300 BO it works good in that case for me but has not ever worked in any other round. 2400 is my friend.

[LeverLover]

I wanted to try 2400 because the numbers look good in the book. I had to get H110 because it was one of the few powders on the shelf that produced decent velocity for 158gr bullets. W296 and 2400 are not available, even Unique could not be found for a while in the mega stores so I had to find an alternate for other calibers. Magnum primers are nearly impossible to find too. Hazmat fees online increase the price point.