Powder for .357 AND .41 Mags?

[awp101]

Is there one powder that's good for both light to midrange level loads in the .357 and .41 Mags?

I have a feeling I'm going to have to actually make time to get my reloading gear set up and learn to use it...

Thanks!

[benny123]

I think you had a typo in there. You mentioned "Special to midrange"

My suggestion is a powder that I feels gets overlooked but meets the midrange criteria for both calibers, Accurate Arms No. 7. It was also a good choice for hot loads in my Ruger 32-20

[cmillard]

I would add hodgdon longshot

[awp101]

Thanks for the suggestions. I've reloaded 12ga and 20ga in the past but not handgun or rifle so I've got a steep learning curve ahead.

Nov 2, 2016 21:51:27 GMT -5 benny123 said:

I think you had a typo in there. You mentioned "Special to midrange"

Changed horses midstream in my head but kept typing...

[bulasteve]

A number of the newer powders came into being for the shotgun sports but have found their way over to the short guns. Longshot being one of them. I've not tried it yet, but AL20/28 is very near to Unique for charge weights and burn rate. Luck.

[bulasteve]

Guess I should take the last thought a bit further. Which powders do you already have on hand for the shotgun reloading ?

[awp101]

Nov 3, 2016 7:19:21 GMT -5 bulasteve said:

Which powders do you already have on hand for the shotgun reloading ?

I don't think I have any shotgun powders because I haven't loaded anything in 15 years but now that I think about it, I may have some other powders in the closet that I picked up 6-8 years ago "just because". IIRC a shop was closing out their reloading stuff and I got them on sale. I should probably check...

[awp101]

Holy cow, I went senile and forgot about the powders I bought. Turns out there's 3# of Green Dot, 2# 2400, 2# VV N110, and 1# each of Blue Dot, Red Dot and Reloader 19.

Looks like I need to hit the books now and compare what I've got to what I can use and what I need.

[BigBore44]

I don't load either 357 or 41 But me thinks you'll be using up some of your 2400...

Best
BigBore44

[bradshaw]

awp101.... to answer one-quarter of your question, hand loading ancestor Hercules 2400 and its immediate offspring Alliant 2400 cover midrange .357 Magnum with amazing accuracy from the the old Hornady 158 JHP and new Hornady 158 XTP seated over 12 grains/2400. Also with great temperament from gun to target a swaged half-jacket 158 HP DEEP SEATED over 12/2400. These permutations of 12/2400 keep a Model 19 going forever. For honing marksmanship both single and double action, stretching sensible distance and trying your talent on silhouettes double action, this recipe speaks for itself.

2400 is a magnum powder without pretention to light loads. It settles smoothly into medium-upper medium loads.

Three-tier charging of magnum class revolvers verily predates the concept as adopted for “Ruger only” and “5-shot" .45 Colt loads. My approach with powder is to specify. Or, to put it country simple:
* fast powder=light load.
* medium powder=medium load.
* slow powder=magnum and full house.
David Bradshaw

[awp101]

Meat to chew on, thanks Mr Bradshaw!

The only .357 at the moment is a NMBH and I suspect it won't even break a sweat with that 2400 load.

[sixshot]

It will certainly break a sweat, depending on what bullet weight you run ahead of it. 2400 is a fine powder in both guns & the Green Dot will work great also but at reduced velocities. I believe it's one of Lee Martin's favorite powders in some calibers.
There are many new powders that will work fine in your two shooters along with the old standby, Unique. There's 231, WST, Titegroup, Longshot, HS6 to name a few. If you want top end velocity (think Fermin here) then H110/296. Many powder & bullet combinations will make both calibers sing like Sinatra with good eyes behind the sights.

Dick

[awp101]

Nov 3, 2016 4:12:55 GMT -5 cmillard said:

I would add hodgdon longshot

Did that yesterday! 1# of Longshot and 1K CCI 550 SPM primers.