Low powered 357 case with unique

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Wendyj

New member
I've looked all over my loading books and can't find a load I'm wanting for 357 and unique. I am going to load some 158 grain lrnsp for my 10 year old gk to shoot out of a snub nose at the range. Paper only. Looking for mild load that won't squib. Would do 38 but only have 357 brass.
 
+1 on SRH970's suggestion to use 38 Special, or +P data.
There is practically no chance to stick a 158 gr Lead bullet in a snub nose barrel with any reasonable charge of Unique. Heck, a primer only load would be just about the only thing that would stick a bullet in a snub nose revolver.
 
Any 38 special load will work unless your at the minimum charge. I use 4.0 unique as a light load for any reasonable lead bullet weight in 38 special. I'm sure 4.2 would work fine with a 158 cast bullet in a .357 case.
 
Speer #14 shows their 357 Mag lead 158 data with Unique running from 5.5 to 6.0 grains. The 6.0 grains is a velocity cap (due to leading issues), and is not max pressure for 357 Mag.
 
Any load of Unique that will burn evenly and a 158 gr bullet in a snubby will be more than I would let a 10 year old shoot.

How about some canning wax or rubber bullets over Primers.
 
Try 158 grain swaged swc's from Hornady. Very soft lead.
Use their 357 load manual data.
Hornady lists 3.3 grains min and 5.0 grains max

5 grains of Unique in 357 cases is a very, very light and accurate load combination great for 25 yards and no leading. There may be leading issues with minimum to medium loads.
I worked up from 4 grains.

If you buy some Hornady lead, give a yell, I'll post a picture of the crimp.
A taper crimp, or a slight roll over the top of the shoulder works great because the bullet does not have a crimp groove or canelure.

Nick, aren't the Speer lead bullets swaged, soft lead too? Not cast?
 
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A normal load for the .357mag using is Unique is 7gr. Anything below that is light: 6gr, 5gr; should all work. Too many people here overthink things.
 
Billglass, I am using the Hornady bullet just like that with exception of mine is round nose. I would like to see your crimp though. I'm leaving oal a little longer to crimp on fatter part of bullet. I started out with 5 grains and worked down to 4.2 and all is good. Each load weighed individually. GK is big for his age and can shoot mid range low range 357 loads. Just don't want to put him flinching while trying to learn accuracy. Need to get some 38 Starline brass from midway to load em up right. I'm loading single stage and using lee crimp die which I have to back off some or it crushes the lead.
 
this picture shows the bullet seated flush with the top of the case mouth and a slight roll crimp over the shoulder of the bullet



this other picture also shows the bullet seated flush with the top of the case mouth and a slight roll crimp over the shoulder of the bullet. the shoulder is basically even with the case mouth



the following pictures shows a taper crimp, with the bullet shoulder slightly above the case mouth - a finger nail's height



I just saw your post
it appears the illustrations in the hornady book for both SWC and RN could be seated and crimped the same.

you can definitely load them a little longer - just use a slight taper crimp so case just barely squeezes the bearing surface - I think the Lee Crimp die is a roll crimp - you could probably just apply a very light roll crimp that removes the flare

I've found seating them with shoulder flush with a slight roll crimp works best
 
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Wendy
I'm glad you are onto the right load data. Most of the 357 lead loads are based on cast bullets - not swaged.

As Nick_C_S mentions the Speer data, it is for their swaged bullets too. Like Hornady, Speer doesn't sell cast bullets.
 
I'm seating mine just like yours. About a fingernail high. If you go by Hornady manual oal they will fall into case. I'm giving it about a 1/4 turn on the Lee crimp die. I had pulled a few last year from a half crimp and lead was out of round and crushed some. The Hornady lead is really soft compared to the cast 45 colt bullets I load. They are hardened some from being cast with wheel weights though.
 
"Fall into case" as in too much flare?

At the bottom of the bullet shaft, with that part of the case left unexpanded, should give you some tension.

It's seems you're ready to go.
I hope your 10 year old gk has fun.
 
I have one of these in marine Corp addition. Shows pullin, flinching Ect. I used it a lot myself. Lol. Great handgun target.
 
4.2 sounds like a nice light load.
I use 5 grains Unique with the Hornady LSWC and a light taper crimp is plenty.

I used those swaged lead bullets from Hornady in IHMSA Field Pistol competition, very accurate, very consistent.
 
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