NEED A LOAD FOR A 357 2 3/4" SECURITY SIX

[45MAN]

I HAVE A MID 1970's VINTAGE SS 2 3/4" RUGER SECUITY SIX IN 357 MAG. CANNOT RECALL EVER HAVING A GOOD LOAD FOR IT. RECENTLY TOOK HER OUT OF LIMBO, PUT SOME BEAUTIFUL SAMBAR STAGS ON HER, AND NOW NEED A GOOD LOAD FOR HER. ITS PRIMARY PURPOSES WUD BE PLINKING AND LIGHT WEIGHT FIELD CARRY FOR SNAKES, SMALL CRITTERS AND FINISHERS. ANY SUGGESTIONS?

[wheelguns]

I use 2 different loads in my .357’s. Full house and 6.5gns of unique with a 158gn bullet. They are much more than a .38spl, yet very pleasant to shoot.

[Ken O'Neill]

13.5 gr. 2400, 140 XTP, CCI 550's

[oddshooter]

45 Man,

First, that hawgleg of yours, the Ruger Security Six, is one of my favorites.  I even prefer them over my GP100's.  

I really wish I knew what the question was concerning. I see a 357mag revolver with short barrel needing ammo. Is the question about powders for short barrel length? Is the goal fun, velocity, accuracy, or cost?

I don't see any issues with almost any 357mag recipe; that's why I love 357mag so much (mild to wild). I've used a dozen powders and bullet combinations with what I call success, under 2" at 25 yards hitting 1100fps is Fun.

I'm settled into cast 158g as a standard. I purchase everywhere including some private friends.
Without going into my logs; H110 for speed, 4227 for overall greatness, Bullseye for accuracy, Trail Boss for a hoot, and 231 for cheap. I'm always playing with VV N340 with every caliber I load; it's clean, stable, and accurate.  The old stand bys: 2400 and Unique, are standards for a reason.

We all know from Mr Bradshaw that the target is the ultimate arbiter on accuracy. And I except the axiom that every gun is a mystery unto itself.
I have a library of handloads that I pull out with every new revolver. After slugging the barrel and pin gauging the cylinders, I try to select lots from the library that I think will collaborate with the shooter's dimensions. Then the proof is in the pudding; I'm off to test with chronograph, 25 yard groups, and bench rested. Sometimes I guess right, sometimes not.

It's all fun. Is this a great country or what?

Prescut
R U looking for recipes?  I think 4 different loads for plinking, snakes, critters, finishers.

[45MAN]

ODDSHOOTER: I AM LOOKING FOR LOADS THAT SHOOT GOOD IN A 2 3/4 INCH RUGER SECURITY SIX. AS I RECALL, THIS GUN PREFERRED HEAVIER BULLETS (OVER 158grs). CRUISING THE INTERNET I SAW A POST FROM A SHOOTER THAN HAD THE SAME OPINION AND A POST ABOUT USING A 180gr WFN. MY PREFERENCE WOULD BE A GOOD CAST BULLET LOAD THAT SHOOTS GOOD IN SHORT BARRELED SS's.

[bradshaw]

45MAN.... my late shooting partner, Ed Verge, occasionally packed a Ruger double action .357 2-3/4-inch. One afternoon, with another sharpshooters in tow, I handed Verge a box of Federal .357 180 JHP, a load Federal concocted with the 180 JHP developed for the .357 Maximum. As I recall, the code for that round is “356G.” Were at a gravel pit, with plenty of stones in dirt and sandbanks at random distances. Verge rested over the gunnel of a pickup to score a first round hit on a stone the size of a cantaloupe at one and a half football fileds distant. Ed Verge was no one-shot wonder, sticking with his little Ruger for most of the afternoon, acquitting accuracy of both revolver and ammunition throughout.

Several decades ago, a shooter handed me his S&W M-66 2-1/2” .357 Mag, wanting an opinion. I handed him his shells, instead charging the cylinder with the old Hornady 125 JHP seated over 18.3/Hercules 2400, CCI 550 mag primer. As I had a steel sculpture----which is meant to receive bullets----at 125 yards from where we stood, proceed to make the object sing. Handed the gun back to its owner, These guns are supposed to shoot and this one does.” Whether that 125 JHP load from an old Hornady manual is apropos today, it certainly worked then. Providing chamber-to-bore alignment, forcing cone, and groove diameter is correct, I would expect a light bullet to shoot well from your Ruger Security-Six. I don’t see a proper light weight .357 bullet as having an accuracy problem from a short barrel revolver made with harmonious dimensions. A short wheelbase bullet should not be less accurate just for weighing less, but it is less tolerant of dimensional irregularity.
David Bradshaw

[bigbrowndog]

Jul 6, 2019 14:09:41 GMT -5 Ken O'Neill said:

13.5 gr. 2400, 140 XTP, CCI 550's

I like Kens bullet choice,....it is essentially my choice for my my general purpose 357’s.  A 140gr bullet at what should be a decent speed.
I figured a 140gr would be suitable for deer, 150# pigs, and general varmints in S. Texas.  I shoot them in 3” guns and 4 5/8 guns
however I went with 8.0gr of Unique .

Trapr

[45MAN]

I WOULD RATHER STAY AWAY FROM JACKETED HP's, TOO MUCH THAT CAN GO WRONG WITH THEM, ESPECIALLY IN A SHORT BARREL, THAT IS WHY I AM THINKING ABOUT A WFN. SWIFTS MIGHT WORK BUT THEY ARE TOO EXPENSIVE FOR WHAT I WANT TO DO WITH THIS GUN.

[bula]

Well, if you want to limit suggestions to heavy for cal lead, look to Matt's Bullets. He has a bunch. Among them the Keith at 178grs and a 165gr FWC. I've some of his Keiths here but the gun went away before many were tried. He doesn't have WFN's, have to look to Beartooth or CP or Missouri Bullet has a heavy. Your choice of lubed or PC'd. 

[sheriff]

Rey, I don't normally shoot that heavy a bullet in .38/.357's, but I do have some loaded for a little Martini Cadet carbine and I usually carry my L-framed Mt Gun when I pack the carbine. Since the Smith cylinders are a might short, I put these loads up in .38 'special' cases. 190cast/12.6grs Lil Gun/Win sp. They shoot well in both the carbine and the L frame. The use of special cases allows me to seat the bullet in the bottom groove for more powder capacity.

[bula]

And when it seriously counts, a cylinder of empty spec cases falls free just a bit sooner and more decisively . 

[paul105]

I don't typically carry a .357 except when I stop to walk the dog on the way to the range. I do have several .357s. My current favorite is the new 2 3/4" M66-8 (K Frame). My range load is 13.0gr of 2400 under a 165gr SWCGC. Recently got a LabRadar chrono and got curious regarding velocity with the 2 3/4" M66. Here are the results (may have posted this before but don't remember).

For Information Only, Use at Your Own Risk
Labradar Muzzle Velocity (familiarization run)
60 Deg F
S&W M66-8 2.75" .357 Mag

130gr Fed Hydra-Shok JHP "Personal Defense" PD357HS2 H …….. 1,416 fps avg (84 fps ES) -- two rounds
140gr Underwood Xtreme Penetrator (Philips head mono metal).. 1,422 fps avg ( 5 fps ES) -- two rounds
158gr Horn Xtp - 15.0gr A2400 Std small pistol, new Starline...… 1,316 fps avg (49 fps ES) -- six rounds
165gr CSWCGC (358156) - 13.0gr A2400 New Starline ...… 1,070 fps avg (49 fps ES) -- six rounds
180gr Buff Bore …………………………………………………………………………….. 1,312 fps avg ( 6 fps ES) -- two rounds
185gr LFNGC (Beartooth), 15.0gr Lil'Gun, CCI 400 New Starline.. 1,228 fps avg (14 fps ES) – two rounds
200gr WLNGC (leadheads), 13.4gr H110, Fed 205, New Starline.. 1,102 fps avg ( 4 fps ES) – two rounds
200gr WLNGC (leadheads), 14.4gr H110, Fed 205, New Starline.. 1,155 fps avg ( 2 fps ES) – two rounds
(purported to be the “Doubletap” load info)
200gr WLNGC (leadheads) handload with Lil Gun ………………………. 1,266 fps avg ( 2 fps ES) -- two rounds
Load data not given -- maybe too much of a good thing. Spent cases fell from chambers, and no obvious signs of over pressure. Recoil was heavy. Don't even know if this stabilizes.

If even needed, I would limit useage of the 180, 185, and 200gr loads in J & K Frame guns

Also ran two Buff Bore 180s thru 16" Rossi M92 carbine ……………. 1,894 fps avg ( 6 fps ES) -- two rounds

Larger sample would change results but probably not a great deal.

Originally bought the 200gr LFNGC Leadheads to load in my Ruger Maximum. Got curious, so loaded some in the .357 mag. Haven’t put any on paper, but no problem hitting various shaped steel plates at 28 yds offhand with the 2 ¾”.

Was surprised at velocities from the 2 ¾” bbl.

FWIW,

Paul