357 light loads for target shooting?

jmccracken1214

jmccracken1214

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 12, 2017
Messages
5,751
Location
Thomasville, North Carolina
Rating - 100%
152   0   0
Whats a good load to start with? I have a bunch of 357 brass and want to load rounds similar to 38 loads for steel plate matches.

Was eyeing the Taurus 627 but think Ill spend a bit more and get the Ruger Gp100 match champ.
 
38+P[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Do you reload? You can load it as low as you need to.

Yes. The GP100 is built like a tank


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
 
Any weight from 90-200 with 2.8 grains of Bulls Eye. I loaded a bucket of these with 90 grain 9mm in.38 cases. Everybody loved them!!!!!
 
So you’re compromising on the gun and maybe the load because you want to use brass that you already have? Seems penny wise and pound foolish. Why not buy a .38 revolver?
 
JimB said:
So you’re compromising on the gun and maybe the load because you want to use brass that you already have? Seems penny wise and pound foolish. Why not buy a .38 revolver?
Click to expand...
I want to 357 so I can have the Magnum loads for home defense or when I'm out and about and the ability to run a lighter load similar to a 38 when shooting competition
 
Just shoot .38s in the competitions and for practice. .357 cases are too expensive to use just for blammo.
 
CDR_Glock said:
38+P[emoji23][emoji23][emoji23][emoji23]

Do you reload? You can load it as low as you need to.

Yes. The GP100 is built like a tank


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...

Just curious, is there a point where you can go too low and get detonation?
 
jmccracken1214 said:
I want to 357 so I can have the Magnum loads for home defense or when I'm out and about and the ability to run a lighter load similar to a 38 when shooting competition
Click to expand...

Yes, the 357 is a good defense load but if you have ever shot one in doors without hearing protection you are in for a suprise.
 
SC380 said:
Just curious, is there a point where you can go too low and get detonation?
Click to expand...
Not really. Just the primer blast is enough to dislodge the bullet from the case. Of course it will most likely just move the bullet far enough forward to lock up the cylinder.
 
My Pard and I played with this one winter. We got 9mm bullets out of 2 inch barrels at 7 yards that would put a hole in paper but bounce off a cardboard target. We could get them to exit with a magnum primer only but with a magnum primer in .38 cases and .3 of BE they would make it to the target. It was cold and we had plenty of time to shoot on our indoor range.
 
Get the Ruger. Use the 357 brass with 125 grain coated bullets using the Cowboy loads for Trail Boss with standard small pistol primers. There is no need to use 38 Special brass unless you are also going to shoot these loads in a 38 Special revolver.


edit: Starline has 357 Magnum cases for only about $5 more per 1,000 than 38 Special brass.
 
Last edited:
I shoot 38 sp out of my .357 at the range. is there an advantage using lighter .357 loads? I don't reload and the 38 is usually cheaper off the rack.
 
vp9c said:
I shoot 38 sp out of my .357 at the range. is there an advantage using lighter .357 loads? I don't reload and the 38 is usually cheaper off the rack.
Click to expand...
I found lead bullets for $0.05 a piece and have 300+ pieces of 357 brass, I didn't know if there was a pet load people used to load it light. Didn't see a reason to buy 38 stuff. I'll buy factory ammo for self defense and just load my brass for plinking
 
The benefit of light 357 loads is that when you reload you can just keep one kind of brass rather than dealing with two. So you get the feel of 38sp but in a 357 case.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom