Montana Waddy
Inactive
Has anyone used 250 grain 357 mag bullets and if so do you have any reload data. 
250 grain .357
- Thread starter Montana Waddy
- Start date
Lee Martin
New member
Heavy .357s
The highest I've ever gone is a 205 grain hard cast slug....in strong .357s (ie, Blackhawks, FA 353s, etc), 6.0 grains of Unique works well as does 14.0 of H110.
Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com
The highest I've ever gone is a 205 grain hard cast slug....in strong .357s (ie, Blackhawks, FA 353s, etc), 6.0 grains of Unique works well as does 14.0 of H110.
Lee Martin
www.singleactions.com
I've personally never heard of anyone loading that heavy of a bullet in a .357 Magnum. I have heard of 220 gr. loads in the .357 Maximum, but thats a different proposition all together.
The heaviest bullet I could find any loads for in my many reloading texts was for a 200 gr. bullet. 14.5 grs. H-110= 1392 fps, 12.0 grs. 2400=1336 fps, 13.2 grs. IMR 4227=1222 fps. These are all max loads, so if you try them start a couple grs. lighter.
The 250 gr. bullets are all made for .358 rifle cartridges, ie. .35 Whelen, .358 Win. etc., as far as I know. Personally, I wouldn't use anything heavier than 180 grs. in a .357. If you need more power than that, something like a .41 or .44 Mag would probably better serve you.
Hope this helps.
The heaviest bullet I could find any loads for in my many reloading texts was for a 200 gr. bullet. 14.5 grs. H-110= 1392 fps, 12.0 grs. 2400=1336 fps, 13.2 grs. IMR 4227=1222 fps. These are all max loads, so if you try them start a couple grs. lighter.
The 250 gr. bullets are all made for .358 rifle cartridges, ie. .35 Whelen, .358 Win. etc., as far as I know. Personally, I wouldn't use anything heavier than 180 grs. in a .357. If you need more power than that, something like a .41 or .44 Mag would probably better serve you.
Hope this helps.
Danindetroit
New member
For info purposes only
I looked at Hornady, and Sierra books, and have the .357 MAG, at 180gr bullets as the heaviest. Even in single shot pistols, the loads went up to only 200 grains in .357 caliber counting the MAG, MAX, and .35 remington, which has a 180gr .357 bullet, and a .358 200gr.
The bullets for the loads look very different, and built for the velocities of the cartridge, so it expands. I would get some info from Hodgdon they have loading data, that is in line with what has been posted so far. The 180 gr, nosler: LIL'GUN 15.0grs 1422fps 34,500 CUP 10" barrel seems like a good load. It may do well in a rifle.
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/357mag.php
www.reloadersnest.com
Speer, and nosler make heavy .35 rem bullets, up to 250 grains. They could possibly be the right caliber. The velocity is low for these rounds, but to get close to the velocity needed for expansion in a pistol, or even a SSP, might be unattainable.
Loads not available, and rifle bullets leads me to believe this is not done for a reason.
I looked at Hornady, and Sierra books, and have the .357 MAG, at 180gr bullets as the heaviest. Even in single shot pistols, the loads went up to only 200 grains in .357 caliber counting the MAG, MAX, and .35 remington, which has a 180gr .357 bullet, and a .358 200gr.
The bullets for the loads look very different, and built for the velocities of the cartridge, so it expands. I would get some info from Hodgdon they have loading data, that is in line with what has been posted so far. The 180 gr, nosler: LIL'GUN 15.0grs 1422fps 34,500 CUP 10" barrel seems like a good load. It may do well in a rifle.
http://www.hodgdon.com/data/pistol/357mag.php
www.reloadersnest.com
Speer, and nosler make heavy .35 rem bullets, up to 250 grains. They could possibly be the right caliber. The velocity is low for these rounds, but to get close to the velocity needed for expansion in a pistol, or even a SSP, might be unattainable.
Loads not available, and rifle bullets leads me to believe this is not done for a reason.
Danindetroit
New member
I am not saying it is a project I am interested in but,
The .45/70 is used in 1000 yard matches I thought? I wouldn't call it a flat shooter. I am betting that at 50 yards it could work. A .45acp throws a 230gr at 850 fps, and is used at many ranges. I do not know about the latest sighting devices, but on a 10" revolver, or a SSP, they probably have alternatives to iron sights.
The .45/70 is used in 1000 yard matches I thought? I wouldn't call it a flat shooter. I am betting that at 50 yards it could work. A .45acp throws a 230gr at 850 fps, and is used at many ranges. I do not know about the latest sighting devices, but on a 10" revolver, or a SSP, they probably have alternatives to iron sights.
I shot IHMSA for years and "our experience was" that out of a 357 Mag, the 180 Gr bullets was about the heaviest you can go and still have a fair powder charge (velocity). And these loads were really only ment for a very strong revolver (with a extended length cylinder of at least 1.690) or single shot pistol, like the TC. And even then, with the TC you had to make sure the bullet did not engage the lands at loaded length.
Out of the 357 MAX we would load 200 GR 35 cal RN rifle bullets, but then we were shooting steel and expansion was of no concern. Finally Speer and others started making 200 & 220 gr 357 cal bullets just for silhouettes.
Best advice, follow the manual (of your choice), for the style gun you shoot. If it isn't listed, there is probably a very good reason, so don't do it.
Out of the 357 MAX we would load 200 GR 35 cal RN rifle bullets, but then we were shooting steel and expansion was of no concern. Finally Speer and others started making 200 & 220 gr 357 cal bullets just for silhouettes.
Best advice, follow the manual (of your choice), for the style gun you shoot. If it isn't listed, there is probably a very good reason, so don't do it.
Back in the early 80's there were some people making 230 gr. full wadcutters for the pin shooting crowd. I still have a couple of boxes stashed away in case pin shooting rises again.!
Anyway it was necessary to load them in .38 special cases and then shoot them in .357 revolvers for both overall length reasons and pressure reasons.
I wonder from time to time if anyone still makes them when I see my horded away stash tucked away on the back of my bullet shelf.
The hot tip at the time was to use Blue Dot powder. Since there was never any data on them I don't know who came up with Blue Dot, or how the charge weight was determined. That being the case I am a bit hesitant to to repeat the load even though none of us ever had any signs of exessive pressure.
They sure did move bowling pins off the table though!
Anyway it was necessary to load them in .38 special cases and then shoot them in .357 revolvers for both overall length reasons and pressure reasons.
I wonder from time to time if anyone still makes them when I see my horded away stash tucked away on the back of my bullet shelf.
The hot tip at the time was to use Blue Dot powder. Since there was never any data on them I don't know who came up with Blue Dot, or how the charge weight was determined. That being the case I am a bit hesitant to to repeat the load even though none of us ever had any signs of exessive pressure.
They sure did move bowling pins off the table though!
200 grain leadhead is too long for some .357 chambers, load them in .38s over stiff charge of 2400 for about 1100 fps and excellent to incredible accuracy. give it a shot. heavier than two hundred grains in the .357 would require a single shot handgun or perhaps a rebated boat tail bullet.
Pappy John
New member
250 grains? You need to look around and get yerself a nice .44.
Would you haul 8 bags of concrete in a sedan or would you use a truck?
Would you haul 8 bags of concrete in a sedan or would you use a truck?
Danindetroit
New member
I vote .35 rem in a ssp.