Powder recommendation cast 158

A bunch of Powders work for me for 158g SWC. Universal|Unique|20/28 (6.0g), Red Dot, True Blue, Long Shot, Blue Dot (8.5g), Green Dot, 4227, 2400.... Never use H110/296 as it is for the hot loads which I don't care for. I like my 158g SWC bullets to run between 1000fps and 1100fps out of 5 1/2" barrel. Seems about right for my use with the .357 . Need more than that I just move up in caliber. My goto load right now is 5.0g Red Dot under 158g SWC. I think the Rimrock bullets I use are around 15 BHN. What's this leading thing I hear about? ;) hah.... I did firelap one of my .357s because it had a barrel constriction, but my other ones don't exhibit that particular problem. By the way I have ran up 240g SWCs to 1300fps in .44Mag with little to no leading with 2400. Those bullets to were around 15 BHN.

Oh, I tested Titegroup but didn't like it evidently. No loads are marked as accurate in my load table even though the ES looks acceptable.
 
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I guess the question that was never asked due to the mention of H110 was whether you were soley interested in doing full power magnum loads or whether your interests included some light target loads as well.
 
OP said:
Normally I run XTP's and H110, but I don't think H110 is going to do well with
lead bullets and no gas checks. The powders I have on hand that would seem
compatible are Autocomp, Universal, Titegroup and Blue Dot.
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RTP
 
I guess the question that was never asked due to the mention of H110 was whether you were soley interested in doing full power magnum loads or whether your interests included some light target loads as well.
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I would prefer to run as full power as possible with that bullet with no leading. I tend to target shoot with the same load I would hunt with, especially with that gun.

I do load lighter target loads in 45ACP, but only because my main 45 that I shoot/carry the most is a lightweight and I want to avoid to battering it anymore than truly need be.

BTW - I forgot, I also have longshot on hand.............
 
I use 3.4 grains of Titegroup under a 160 grain lead bullet and gives me a power factor of 120,000-125,000 which is around 750 fps.
 
For hot loads in 158 gr cast in 380, 9mm Luger, and 9x23mm, I like Power Pistol.
For hot loads in 158 gr cast in 38 special and 357 mag, I like LIL'GUN, although H110/W296 smells better when burning and is almost as good.

I have not been doing hot loading the 158 gr cast bullet for 38 S&W nor 357 Max.
I will drive off those bridges when I come to them.
 
I would prefer to run as full power as possible with that bullet with no leading. I tend to target shoot with the same load I would hunt with, especially with that gun.
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Same as me, with same gun, so I'd expect similar results that I get. I use SWC over the same load just because those XTPs are too expensive to punch paper with.
 
I also have Longshot on hand
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Well, with Longshot I liked 7.0g under 158g SWC for around 1100fps (that would be my goto load with this powder). 8.0g will give you 1248fps and I marked it as accurate as well.
 
So TimSr likes H110 and rclark likes Longshot. Those are the two powders I would have stayed away from with lead bullets, but I may reconsider and try those first.
 
So, today I had a little time after a family holiday function and loaded up 12 357's with the 158 MBC "Ranger" (listed at 18BNH) and 15.5 gr. of H110 for my 6" GP100.

It was raining so the only thing I did was stepped outside the shop, put 12 in the berm, and went back in and started examining the bore. Not a smear of lead.

Once I have more time and the weather cooperates, I am going to load 50 and do accuracy testing and run some over a chronograph.

Once I do that, I may move up a few grains and start again.

Thanks for the input. I would have never tried H110 with lead. I really like this powder for the 357, and I'm a fan of the Missouri Bullet Company's stuff too. I use 2 of their bullets in .38/.357, one in .45ACP, and one in .45/70.
 
I've made it to 16.4 grains of H110 behind the Missouri Bullet Co Ranger 158 cast (18BNH) with no leading in the 6" GP100.

I have yet to chrono, but accuracy from a rest at 50 yards is right at 3". Will update further when the weather is good enough to speed test the load.
 
I would keep the velocity under 1000 fps with commercially cast bullets. I shoot some cast bullets made of pure linotype that work fine, no gas check required.
 
Don't mean to be a "backseat reloader", but 16.4/H110/158 sounds awfully close to max. Please DO proceed with all due caution.
 
I can appreciate your concern. 16.7 is listed at max for jacketed. I won't be going any higher. As far as the speed, as long as there is no leading, I don't mind going above 1k fps
 
357 cast bullets

Rule #1 slug your bore to see if you are using the right diameter bullet.Of the powders you have on hand I would say Blue Dot by far.Others I would recommend would be 2400,IMR-4227,ACC #9,or N-110 by Vihtavuori.
 
I wouldn't use Blue Dot with lead. Every gun I tried it with leaded up badly with bullets that did not do it with other powders. Same goes for TiteGroup, and HiSkor 800x.
 
I am loading that bullet weight/type/hardness according to the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, using their winner of HS-6 and my choice of 10.0 gr.

They also show clearly that H110 can be associated with lead bullets that have no gas check (15.9 gr max). Their context is "Linotype", which I think I understand is akin to BR18 hardness.

I have some but have never used H110. If I do, it will be with some gas check bullets I bought or created. I stay close to the consensus among the books and powder company sites.

On the subject of velocity, Lyman shows 1200s and higher to be typical fps for their "Linotype" alloy, so I would guess the posted concern for staying below 1000 is for soft lead...not a good bullet for anything but 357 Cowboy, I would say.
 
I have a GP100 too and it's probably my favorite handgun. I load mostly cast ammo for economical reasons. I personally like Unique Powder as my favorite handgun powder for all rounds and calibers. It is just a very universal powder with several different options for about every caliber and bullet weight.

I also like Unique because it is more coarse making it take up more room in the case. Therefore it is almost impossible for those accidental double charges and/or overcharges we have probably all done at one point or another. I know replacing a barrel and frame of my XDm 9mm cost me $200 when I double charged a round a few years back. Not my most proud moment but we all make mistakes.
 
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