357 mag snubbie loads...

by Bri A, Thursday, May 10, 2018, 21:13 (2326 days ago)

I decided to do some playing with loads for my 2.5" M19 since it gets carried a lot. Have been carrying it with 38 Specials, loaded with a 158 gr SWC over 5.0 gr Unique. This load pushes the pill out of the muzzle at around 800 fps, but I have been thinking about something that would not be too hard on the gun, but would provide a bit more oomph.

My first attempt was the a 158 gr SWC over 14 gr of 2400 in 357 mag cases. Everything I read said this would be a moderately stout load with my older can of powder, but well within the K-frames ability to handle. I do not know what the velocity was, but the extraction was sticky and the primer showed signs of excessive pressure. I tried it in a Contender with the same result so pulled the rest I had loaded and decided to drop back and try to work back up.

The next attempt was the same bullet and case, loaded with 12 gr of 2400. The cases dropped right out of the cylinders and hit to nearly the same point of aim as the 38 Specials. Ran them over the Chrony and was surprised to see them averaging about 1150 fps.

Am now thinking I need to go back and confirm all the parameters to see why these loads seem to be hotter than expected. Am using WW standard primers, crimping in the crimp groove and using powder from an older lot of 2400. Am going to double check the bullets first to make sure they are what is written on the label and not encroaching too deeply into the cases.