.357 reloading

[cherokee1]

What are some good primers and powders for loading .357.  I have reloaded in the past but need some ideas on new stuff.  I have used 2400 and wspm primers but 2400 is dirty and I cant find wspm primers.

[bulasteve]

AA9 seems to do particularly well in the 357. An upper end load kinda powder.. You are not telling us what firearm or uses intended. There are a slew of newer powders suitable, that mostly claim to be cleaner burning than our old favorites.

[cherokee1]

I will be loading for a gp100 and want fairly hot loads. I would like to load some 180 grain loads if I can find them. Deer hunting and hogs is my main goal, but just want a heavy load.

[bulasteve]

Well WFN's can be had in 180 or 187 grs..I have some 180gr Hornady XTP's that I seat out, but use in a SS BH.. Stout gun, but I hesitate to give charge, and it's a 2400 loading anyways. Look at H110/WW296 also for top loads. Alliant has a newer powder called Power Pro 300 MP. I've no experience with it but it out performs their older offerings by a good bit. I tend to use CCI primers, no real reason, just always been easy enough for me to find. There are others here with WAY more 357 experience than I. Luck.

[sixshot]

Magnum primers are seldom recommended when using 2400 powder even in 44 magnum. If you are getting good accuracy with 2400 but your gun is dirty is that a bad thing, not to hard to give it a good cleaning if the accuracy is there. Or, as mentioned you can use H110 or 296 which is the same powder. Here you will want a magnum primer though. If you are using cast bullet perhaps the "dirty" you mention is coming from your lubed bullets & not so much the 2400, also you might need a bit more crimp.
If you can get your hands on some powder coated bullets & compare them to what you are already shooting that might help, or maybe you just want to use jacketed, don't think you mentioned what bullet you're wanting to use. Horandy XTP's are always a good choice if using jacketed.
Your GP100 is a dandy sixgun, it should serve you well, good luck.

Dick

[Quick Draw McGraw]

I've only reloaded .357 twice for my dad's Marlin 1895C. I used W231 and W296. The 231 chronied a low 1,400 fps buy was very accurate. The 296 was blisteringly hoy at just over 2,000 fps but was shooting a little high with looser groups.

[nicholst55]

I've found that H110/W296 gives excellent performance for full power loads. Not recommended for mid-range stuff, though. I still use a lot of 'flaming-dirt' loads with Unique and Bullseye though, coz I'm old school.

[rleprechaun]

17.0gr. Power Pro 300-MP with a 158gr. bullet will work. It MUST be used with a Mag. primer.

[Deleted]

I use WC820 for top end loads, it's a surplus military powder that's really hard to get ahold of right now. 296/H110 will give you similar performance, but the cautions about using full power loads and magnum powders are good advice. 296/H110 doesn't work well reduced. For even heavier levels, you can use Lil Gun. Some people love it, some hate it. I really like it, but have wandered away from shooting "train stopper" loads. I never really found 2400 to be dirty, but it's another powder that doesn't appreciate lower end loads. 2400 like to run hard, and best accuracy for me has always been at the top with it. AA #9 is a ball powder that you can reduce if need be, but it's top end in some calibers isn't always getting the highest performance available. Regardless, it is a very accurate & reliable powder for .357. I generally cast my own bullets, and use a variety of them as the mood strikes me. I am a rather devoted Elmer Keith disciple, and tend to follow his teachings, and the 357 is no exception. Some of Elmers techniques are outdated now, but they all still seem to work as well now as they did in the early days. BTW, for top end loads, unplated brass is your friend. It will live longer. As for primers, the powder manufacturers will tell you which primer type they recommend with their powders, and their loading data is free online.