This is a new caliber for me. I'll be using plated and lead cast bullets only. I'm starting out with 158 grain plated but 125 grain also looks good on paper.
Right now, 125 grain is much harder to find, however. There is a lot a variability in prices and shipping costs between vendors, so shopping around is worth the effort.
For years, I cast and loaded a 150 grain Keith type bullet for both .38 and .357 magnum. When I found Berry's bullets a few years ago, I started loading their 125 grain and that is about all I load. BTW, they seem to have plenty of .357 bullets in stock, to include 125s: http://www.berrysmfg.com/products-c135-38357_Cal_357.aspx
For cast/plated bullets, my preferred bullet is the good ole 158gr SWC. But I will use other weights and styles too pending availability...been using just as many 125gr cast SWC lately in the .38/.357. All depends on what's in stock.
Getting into jacketed bullets...
125gr and 158gr for general use (small-game, varmints, etc).
170-180gr JHP for deer.
Another vote for the 158 grain bullet. I cast my own, so I don't have to worry about bullet weight. In todays market finding a certain bullet weight is a real job, so I know that if I had to load 125 grain bullets, because that was all I could find, then I would load them too. I like the bigger heaver bullets. I am not one of those speed junkies, that believe speed is king. I want a deep, large hole in what ever I shoot at!
I would be interested in what recipe anyone uses for 125 gr XTP bullets in .357 rounds. I just bought 200 bullets and some H110 powder. I'm now looking locally for small pistol magnum primers.
I use both Hodgdon Universal and H110. I don't like to list load weights on the forum due to my poor typing and spelling but I will say, you'll do fine with 110.
Thank you regarding the H110. It is a new powder to me. There are slim pickings on the shelves today locally. H110 was about my only choice. Guns will be a 4"model 66 and a 2.25" SP101. Looking for a medium load but not a maximum.
My favorite for the .357 is, 8.5 grs. of Unique and a Remington 125 gr. HP, lit by a CCI standard small pistol primer. It's hotter that a .38 SPL +P, but not as hot as a factory .357/125 load.
I have an excellent Lachmiller mold that drops a 160 gr, plain based swmi-wadcutter. I cast a bunch with wheel weight alloy and use them in my .357 Mag. (4") and my .38 Specials (2" and 4"). Mostly with charges of Unique...
P.S. don't down load any W296/H110! Don't go lower than the starting load in your reloading manual...
Yes I understand to NOT down load the charge for H110. I believe the starting and never exceed are only ONE grain apart in the Hodgdon manual for a 125 grain XTP bullet.
Absolutely do not load down with H110. I spoke with one of the technicians at Hodgdon one day about H110 about using it in the .44SPL. When I told him about the caliber selection, he almost hung up on me. He said that there is NO credible information for using this powder in this cartridge. He also said that H110 was engineered/designed to operate at maximum pressure only, and to be ignited by magnum primers. Data listed in most loading manuals with this powder only show a 1.0 to a 1.5 grain difference between minimum and maximum loads.
Kinda depends on what you want to do with it. For indoor range shooting I like 148grain HBWC's with 3 grains of Unique. Tac driver accurate and you can get over 2300 rounds out of a pound of powder.
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