Powder for short barrel

[Glenn]

I am looking for a suggestion as to a good powder for a snubnose 357 load. Went to the range tonight with some loads that I used years ago. 15 gr. of bluedot with a 110 gr JHC bullet. I actually used to use 16 gr but I am not the masochist I used to be. These shoot fine in my 4.5" barrel Blackhawk but in my S&W 686 snubnose they produce a blinding muzzle flash. Anyone have a suggestion for a powder more suited to a short barrel? I don't necessarily need the exact load just a powder suggestion and I can look up a starting point and work up a load

Thanks

Glenn

[Guest Mugster]

I don't load .38/.357, but I think I'd try accurate #2 or something about that speed. Go with the biggest bullet you can find and put a good crimp on it. That helps a little. #2 at full power produces a mild orange flame in .45 acp with a 4 5/8" barrel. Its pretty good in .45 at least.

VV N320 is said to be pretty good. Haven't shot it.

Some of the mil surp stuff is claimed to be low flash (which I think is BS). You could try Pat's reloading if you want to play with it, they might be able to ship you some to fool around with if there's any surp handgun powder to be had in the madness.

[Jamie Jackson]

I would second the AA#2. Low flash and accurate loads.

I generally use it for my .38 snubby loads.

My masochistic tendencies run a bit shy of the .357 loadings...

[musicman]

Note that there are now warnings from Alliant about using Blue Dot with bullet weights of 125gr and under in .357, so I'd shy away from that now. BD is darn flashy, too. What's the main purpose here? Less flashy, or full power with another powder? For full power I'd go H110/W296. It produces quite the muzzle flash as well, especially from your 2.5" barrel. Slower magnum powders will always provide the best velocity, even in the shorter barrels vs. the faster powders.

2400 may meet your needs of power, and it seems less flashy in my experience. It's also more forgiving of reduced loads.

For more on the BD issue, see Blue Dot warning from Alliant? - Family, Friends, Firearms I couldn't find the warning on Allian's site any more, but it's copied in that post.

[Glenn]

Thanks for the warning. My loading books are quite old. The speer book I have lists 17 gr. as the maximum load. That much would be quite compressed by the bullet. I will definitely switch. What I am looking for is less flash. I no longer feel the need to go for maximum power in every load. Actually I shoot more 38s in that gun than 357s.

Glenn

Edited May 10, 2009 by Glenn

[musicman]

Oh man, then get you a pound of Bullseye and a pound of either HP38 or Win231 (they are the same powder) and work up some nice mild magnums, or just 38s in magnum cases. I worked up some light 38 level loads in 357 cases for my wife's model 19, and they are AWESOME!

[glockster157]

I tried to get some success out of the light 357 bullets in the snubbies but it is difficult. I got great velocities from 2400 which is my standard mag powder...not a big H110 fan, personal choice, but the recoil and blast were horrendous. So I tried the Bullseye, 231, #2 stuff and lost the flash but ran into pressure before I could get the velocities back up. I did try Blue Dot and got into pressure trouble quick, of course now it is not recommended for that use and it is a known problem. I just don't use Blue Dot at all anymore. I did not try Power Pistol or Herco and they may work better anyways.

My solution was to go to a heavier bullet and stick with the 2400. i realize you get more recoil but it was worth it to keep the velocity. I did reduce the loads to cut down on flash and it helps some. I am sure others may have had better solutions but short of dangerous duplex loads, I couldn't find them.

My final solution was to buy factory carry ammo for the snubbies, use +P 38's for practice and load my normal stuff for the longer barreled guns.

Good Luck and good shooting.

[leroy]

Just loaded and chronographed and old time plus + load of 5.1 grains of Alliant Unique with 158 grain lead hornady hollowpoints. Was 922 fps out of a 2 inch smith model 36. I really like Unique and 231 for short and 4 inch barrel guns.