need load for snub .357

[double tap]

i need a load for a S&W model 19 2.5". i got a bag of winchester 145 gr. silver tip hollow points. anybody ever load these in a .357 mag? the powders i have are titegroup, h-110, and accurate no.9, and bullseye. thanks for the help from the rookie reloader. 300 rounds and no bad news.

[Kirk]

Bullseye should be fine. Contact Alliant & ask them to recommend a load. http://www.alliantpowder.com/questions/default.aspx

[gwp]

Of the choices you listed No. 9 and H110 are probably too slow burning for a 2 ½" barrel unless you are looking for a lot of muzzle flash. Bullseye and Tightgroup are faster burning so they are a better choice for a short barreled revolver.

[Litt'le Lee]

I would go with the H110 about 15 gr. to start with

[Tuna]

The slower powders are the way to go even with a short barrel as they do produce the highest velocity. There was a story about 20 years ago in which a gun writer wanted to find out which powders worked the best in magnum handguns. He started with a 6" barrel and tested the velocity of many different powders. After testing the 6" he cut it down to 5" and tested again. Then down to 4" and finally 2". In each case the slower powders had the highest velocity. There is a trade off here with the slow powders in that as stated there is a lot of muzzle flash with them. A compromise powder here would be Unique. It will give a higher velocity then the fast pistol powders but not as high as the slower powders but the muzzle flash is nothing compared to the H-110. Out of the powders he listed I would suggest the Accurate #9 as it will produce a bit less flash then the H-110.

[Mr. X]

I have shot a goodly bit of .357 and much of it through a snub. I recommend the H110 (it is IDENTICAL to W296 if you check Hodgdon's website). Fast flake powders loaded to .357 velocities make for a much more vicious, snappy recoil than slow, ball powders, which provide more of a push and a big muzzle flash. You'll get more velocity -- and accuracy -- out of the H110 even with the snub, too.

I don't have a specific load for the 145 grain, but I have loaded 14 grains of H110 with a 158, and 18 grains with a 125, so Lee is probably right at 15 is a good starting place for the 145. if you want a really bitchin' load try 20 grains with a 110 grain bullet :)

[double tap]

first i want to thank everybody for some great info. i picked up another manual today. lyman 49th edition, and to my amasment it lists the 145gr. silver tip. for h110 it says 16.4 gr @ 1279 fps, to start and 17.0 gr @ 1352 fps max.

[da gimp]

Felt/perceived recoil of a very heavily/hot reloaded rounds in a snub nosed .357mag, exceded that of factory duty loads in a 4" S&W mod 57 .41 mag ,wearing Roper's. We took a snub nosed .357 mag, the model 57, a 1911A1 in .45ACP wearing Pachmyer Grippers & a Browning High Power 9mm , wearing pachmeyers, out shooting back in the early 80's, and by far, we all agreed that the snub nosed Colt trooper .357 mag with factory grips shooting hot handloads ( but not max handloads) had the sharpest recoil of any we shot that day.

All guns & loads were duty carry loads that 4 officers carried day to day.

Keep this in mind,and the muzzle flash was high on the Trooper too.

da gimp

[Sunray]

"...S&W model 19 2.5"..." Been kicking myself for years for not buying one of those. With Pachmayr grips it fits my hand perfectly. Told a Smith rep(absolutely fabulous guys. I've run into a couple of 'em at assorted matches. Top notch guys, for sales types.), at a shoot, long ago, to have 'em put a 4" barrel on the same grip frame. Seems I was ignored, again.
Anyway, Hodgdon gives 15.5(1512 fps) to 17.2(1691 fps) of H110 for a 146 grain jacketed bullet. One grain doesn't matter. Work up the load for your revolver.
No manual even thinks about any barrel length other than the length of the test barrel on the day of the testing. And rarely 2.5" barrels.

[deaddoc4444]

I used to do extensive loading with 357 with the Speer 146 JHPSWC my favorite load ( defense ) was 13 grains of Unique It SHOULD be fairly close to the 145 WST Id start a bit lower and work up And in loading for 357 I would go and get some Unique its the best I have found for 357, except in Long barreled hunting loads I have used H110 and keep a lot around for other handguns but its muzzle flash is Horrendous

[da gimp]

Passed up a Lew Horton's Ltd Edition S&W mod 60 in .357 mag snubbie with adj sights, for about $260.00 LEO price, been kicking myself ever since, another local officer dug up the money & got one, it's still his go to gun for everyday off duty use.

da gimp