I've shot a bunch of powders and bullets in 38 Spec and 357 cases through my 686. Thought it would be nice to pick just one load for 90% of my shooting but that is proving about imposable. I don't want a full snort .357 but a little more than a 38 special. I've almost decided that this is like trying to eat just one Lays Potato chip. What do you fellows do?
Pick just one load
- Thread starter Rex
- Start date
Outpost75
Active Member
Full charge wadcutter in .38 Special case, 3.5 grains of Bullseye, 840 fps in 4-inch barrel - STANDARD PRESSURE
+P+ full charge wadcutter for .357 guns, 9 grs Alliant #2400 and 146 DEWC in .38 Special case, 920 fps in 2-inch SP101
Compare to .45 ACP 230-gr. "Hardball"
+P+ full charge wadcutter for .357 guns, 9 grs Alliant #2400 and 146 DEWC in .38 Special case, 920 fps in 2-inch SP101
Compare to .45 ACP 230-gr. "Hardball"
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Matt
Active Member
I find that full house .357 loads have to be loaded carefully in good brass to be worth the large charges of powder. They have limited use for me these days. If I need a big hammer it’s a lot more comfortable to load a .44,.45,.480 to 1,000 to 1,200 FPS than the ear splitting crack of a .357. My .44 Special at 1,000 FPS has no sonic crack and I’m deaf enough now it’s not uncomfortable to shoot at varmints of opportunity around the ranch without hearing protection. I’ve found you can load target loads and +P+ type .38 Special loads in .357 cases with HP38/231 very easily. I use bullet types in .38 Special to designate the load within. I do the same thing with .357 cases, because you can get surprising velocity with W231 in a .357 case. You can do the same thing with any “fast” pistol power but I trust W231 more than say Bullseye; I cannot shake the image of all the K-38 and Officer Model Colt revolvers that were blown up and then wired to the sheet of plywood at the gun club when I was a kid. All double and triple loads of Bullseye of course. I figured Bullseye was evil. Funny thing is I shoot a couple pounds of Bullseye each year in rifles....... I renewed my man card last week and loaded a couple hundred wadcutters in 38 Soecial.
But I’ll fire them in a M19 and M13 just to be sure.
But I’ll fire them in a M19 and M13 just to be sure.
JWFilips
Well-Known Member
When I got My S&W model 19 they guys I were shooting with were "hot rodders"...& had me loading 17 gr 2400 with a 125 Truncated cone CB
That got old quick! Yes is was very accurate but at 25 yds I did not need that especially in a pristine Model 19 Smith! I probably have 400 loads of that That I have not touched in 9 years! I got smart real fast and wanted to enjoy shooting So I learned what I wanted and needed real fast!
Now all my wheel guns shoot light enjoyable loads very accurately! I guess it is the same for my autos ( except maybe my CC loads)
That got old quick! Yes is was very accurate but at 25 yds I did not need that especially in a pristine Model 19 Smith! I probably have 400 loads of that That I have not touched in 9 years! I got smart real fast and wanted to enjoy shooting So I learned what I wanted and needed real fast!
Now all my wheel guns shoot light enjoyable loads very accurately! I guess it is the same for my autos ( except maybe my CC loads)
Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
Rex, this is a good topic and thank you for bringing it up.
I think a lot of reloaders eventually settle on some "standard" loads. Some of us may have a few more standard loads per caliber than others but I believe the overall trend for most is to reduce the number of different loads on hand, not increase.
It seems a little counterintuitive at first because reloading gives you lots of options for cartridges, but the reality that catches up with you is that you gravitate towards certain loads and leave others behind.
I'm a firm believer that if I need a magnum cartridge, I will select a magnum cartridge; consequently I do not hot rod non-magnums in an effort to make them into magnums.
After many, many years of reloading and shooting, I've settled on my "Standard" loads. In fact, I've printed the data for those loads and posted it on the wall beside my bench.
Your criteria of one load for 90% of your needs with a magnum revolver (a S&W 686 in your case) may be a little too restrictive. Instead of trying to find one load in the middle, you may find two loads to be more useful. A magnum load of whatever power level you feel suits you needs and 38 Special load that fills the role of Special. There seems to be a perception that a 38 Special load is somehow weak; it is not weak. The 38 Special doesn't need to be loaded "hot" to be effective. It's a fantastic and very capable cartridge. Because the .357 magnum overshadowed it so much, people started thinking it is inferior. The 38 Special was THE cartridge for decades and it's very capable.
I don't always shoot magnum cartridges but when I do .....I choose Dos Equis - NO.....JUST KIDDING !
When I shoot magnums, I go full power. Some max load of H-110 in 357 or 44 mag. The rest of the time, one of my Standard 38 Specials will get the job done.
I understand your desire to have 1 load but with a magnum revolver, you can really have: One 38 Special load and One 357 magnum load.
I think a lot of reloaders eventually settle on some "standard" loads. Some of us may have a few more standard loads per caliber than others but I believe the overall trend for most is to reduce the number of different loads on hand, not increase.
It seems a little counterintuitive at first because reloading gives you lots of options for cartridges, but the reality that catches up with you is that you gravitate towards certain loads and leave others behind.
I'm a firm believer that if I need a magnum cartridge, I will select a magnum cartridge; consequently I do not hot rod non-magnums in an effort to make them into magnums.
After many, many years of reloading and shooting, I've settled on my "Standard" loads. In fact, I've printed the data for those loads and posted it on the wall beside my bench.
Your criteria of one load for 90% of your needs with a magnum revolver (a S&W 686 in your case) may be a little too restrictive. Instead of trying to find one load in the middle, you may find two loads to be more useful. A magnum load of whatever power level you feel suits you needs and 38 Special load that fills the role of Special. There seems to be a perception that a 38 Special load is somehow weak; it is not weak. The 38 Special doesn't need to be loaded "hot" to be effective. It's a fantastic and very capable cartridge. Because the .357 magnum overshadowed it so much, people started thinking it is inferior. The 38 Special was THE cartridge for decades and it's very capable.
I don't always shoot magnum cartridges but when I do .....I choose Dos Equis - NO.....JUST KIDDING !
When I shoot magnums, I go full power. Some max load of H-110 in 357 or 44 mag. The rest of the time, one of my Standard 38 Specials will get the job done.
I understand your desire to have 1 load but with a magnum revolver, you can really have: One 38 Special load and One 357 magnum load.
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Petrol & Powder
Well-Known Member
I think everyone that's been in the game for any length of time has a favorite combination.
A 38 Special with a 158gr LSWC pushed at standard or +P velocities is an AMAZING cartridge.
A 38 Special with a 158gr LSWC pushed at standard or +P velocities is an AMAZING cartridge.
RBHarter
West Central AR
One load for 38/357 ....... Not really .
.357-158 RNFP Lee
5.5/6.5 Unique .
M10 38 , Sec 6 , Old Model RBH 357s , and Marlin 38/357 .
Pleasent to shoot all day and enough throttle to do about 90% of whatever you might carry a PCC and sidearm to do .
I have 45 Colts for the other 10% .
.357-158 RNFP Lee
5.5/6.5 Unique .
M10 38 , Sec 6 , Old Model RBH 357s , and Marlin 38/357 .
Pleasent to shoot all day and enough throttle to do about 90% of whatever you might carry a PCC and sidearm to do .
I have 45 Colts for the other 10% .
RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
I only have two 357 loads: a custom 200 grain RNFP with 4.0 grains of Bullseye and Lyman 358156 HP with 14.5 grains of 2400. I have data for lots of loads I have developed over the years, but don't keep cases loaded with them. Pistol and rifle over 5 years I still have half a box of the '156 HP's left. Only have three, S&W Model 60-10, Colt three fifty seven and BSA Martini.
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CWLONGSHOT
Well-Known Member
I defineately search for a load for a given bullet in every caliber I own. Generally when that is found Ill load a supply and move to another and start all over. SOMETIMES a new bullet comes along for a "old" caliber and I start all over. 
For example:
30/30 = 748 Jacketed.
2400 Cast
45 Colt = Unique Cast
296 =Jacketed
357 Max = 4227 Cast
1680 Jacketed
357 Mag BlueDot Cast
296 Jacketed
10mm BlueDot Cast
358 Win USED TO 4320... Switched to TAC Jacketed
4895 Cast
For example:
30/30 = 748 Jacketed.
2400 Cast
45 Colt = Unique Cast
296 =Jacketed
357 Max = 4227 Cast
1680 Jacketed
357 Mag BlueDot Cast
296 Jacketed
10mm BlueDot Cast
358 Win USED TO 4320... Switched to TAC Jacketed
4895 Cast
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
One load per cartridge/caliber/firearm............... 
What would be the fun in that? Have too many moulds, as well as powder choices. The combinations are endless. Experimentation relieves boredom.
For 357 Magnum, I tend to gravitate to 2400. However, I try other powders, as well. Just yesterday, I shot ladder loads of SR-4759 in my Rossi carbine. The results surprised me. Four different loads, 12.5 to 14.0 grains (1/2 grain apart) with a Accurate 158 RNFP. Data from Lyman's third edition of The Cast Bullet Handbook. There wasn't a bad load............only difference was a slight change of POI. Groups ranged from 3/4" C-C to 1 3/8" C-C. Shot from 60 yards, seated, tripod supporting forearm.
What would be the fun in that? Have too many moulds, as well as powder choices. The combinations are endless. Experimentation relieves boredom.
For 357 Magnum, I tend to gravitate to 2400. However, I try other powders, as well. Just yesterday, I shot ladder loads of SR-4759 in my Rossi carbine. The results surprised me. Four different loads, 12.5 to 14.0 grains (1/2 grain apart) with a Accurate 158 RNFP. Data from Lyman's third edition of The Cast Bullet Handbook. There wasn't a bad load............only difference was a slight change of POI. Groups ranged from 3/4" C-C to 1 3/8" C-C. Shot from 60 yards, seated, tripod supporting forearm.
Took several loads out this morning all centered around the 150 grain 358477. By far the best shooting was done with 5 grains Unique in a 38 Special case. The 357 cases may get reserved for 13.5 grains 2400 and a 358156 GC. Unique is position sensitive.
By doing the powder up, powder down thing I got a difference of 80-90 fps but the damn thing just kept putting the bullet on the plate. FPS variation overrated?
By doing the powder up, powder down thing I got a difference of 80-90 fps but the damn thing just kept putting the bullet on the plate. FPS variation overrated?
Winelover
North Central Arkansas
5.0 grains of Unique is one of my 38 Special (158 SWC) go loads.
3.5 grains of Bullseye is the alternate, with the same bullet.
I shoot more snubbies, than longer barrels. I don't fret about extreme accuracy. Mostly, practice for CC. Only concern is POI at relatively short ranges. For the same reason, I don't load wimpy, either.
Shot many jugs of 2400 with 158 grain bullets, in my 6" Python.............13.5 grains, sounds about right.
3.5 grains of Bullseye is the alternate, with the same bullet.
I shoot more snubbies, than longer barrels. I don't fret about extreme accuracy. Mostly, practice for CC. Only concern is POI at relatively short ranges. For the same reason, I don't load wimpy, either.
Shot many jugs of 2400 with 158 grain bullets, in my 6" Python.............13.5 grains, sounds about right.
Cherokee
Medina, Ohio
Mostly light loads in all my revolvers, some medium level, reduced loads in auto pistols that cycle the actions. I do have full power loads for all them when needed (rarely). Working toward one bullet for each cartridge for all guns shooting that cartridge. Lots of WST and 231.