Years ago I had a GP 100 and my favorite load was a max charge of H110 pushing a 125 JHP, impressive fire ball from a four inch barrel

Gunner

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https://www.instagram.com/41gunner/
41 Mags rule, Baers rock!

Like you, I don't care much for the .357....it can be too blasty! So, I haven't loaded any for a while. It's on my short list to change that as we picked up a Heritage/Rossi carbine that I am anxious to shoot. I think I settled on 168-180's chugging along at around 1000fps or near that. Probably used Unique but it could have been something else. I also had some Keith 170's and I remember them shooting well. I do know I used his bullet and load out of one of my 38/44 HD's and liked 'em. Got another reloader going at pistol leagues one night when he glanced at my box and opined, "2400! Ain't that a bit slow for a 38?" I smiled at him and told him he needed to get out more.

173 gr. Keith SWC 14.5 gr. 2400 with Small Rifle Primer

160 gr. SAECO SWC same load as above

125 gr. Speer Gold Dot 21.0 gr. WC820

#358665 160 gr. cast FP 3.0 gr. Bullseye

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Ele era velho.
Ele era corajoso.
Ele era feio.

Once upon a time I put on a shooting demonstration at the end of a muzzleloading match with my New Model Blackhawk using my favorite load of 14.5 grains of 2400 under a 158 XTP. I was shooting gongs at 100 yards offhand. Then moved to the 200-yard gongs and after a few shots I was hitting it several times out of a cylinder full. Then we moved to the 300-yard gong which was about 18 inches in diameter. I was lucky enough to have brown dirt to see the impacts so I could adjust accordingly and started hitting a shot or two out of the six with most of the others close enough to scare a person if I was shooting at them. All shooting was offhand.

Little did I know at the time there was a state policeman watching (off duty). He asked who I was and that he had never seen anyone shoot a revolver that good that far. I had good eyes still then. But that Blackhawk has always shot 14.5 grains of 2400 and that 158 XTP very well.

Does anyone use 231 or Unique for 38 Special loads? Last year a friend got me back into IDPA but this season I want to shoot my Security Six and GP100. I have plenty of 357 brass and a fair amount of both powders

but did load up a bunch to shoot through my brother in law's OM Blackhawk years ago. Never cared for the crack of full on magnum loads, found 45 Colt and 44 S&W more to my liking. I keep thinking of picking up a Colt Clone in 5.5" persuasion some day, to fit a Barranti holster I received in a drawing years ago. If so, I'd be looking at lower powered loads in magnum brass. A 180 gr projectile over an appropriate charge of powder to reach about 1,000 fps should prove an interesting load without infringing too much on one's auditory system.

I love The .357. Yes its load and muzzle blast can be bad. But I wear hearing protection when hunting so not bad at all.

My everyday load is 6.0 ge of Unique with a 158gr SWC/Keith. Mild to shoot and accurate in ever gun I’ve used it in. Will work on deer just fine. Dedicated Hunting loads I use a 158gr XTP with a max. load of 2400, 296 or AA#9. All have worked well for me.