I have found a TON of reloading data for the .357 magnum. I am about to start reloading this round (for a rifle) the first time, and needed all the info I could get. Now the question:

Do any of you guys have a favorite load for this cartridge that you would recommend ?

Well as you said, there are "a ton" of choices so to nail down a favorite load we would have to know "favorite for what purpose". For deer I like the Remington 180 grain HP bullet over a max load of Alliant 2400. For small game and plinking I favor a 158 grain round nose, cast or swaged bullet over 5 grains of Unique so as not to blow up the animal. I've even had some fun with a single pellet of Hornady 000 buckshot over 3.0 grains of Red Dot with a tuft of cotton filler and lubricated by scraping the case mouth over a stick of bullet lube after seating the ball. Like you said, a ton of possibilities and that is what makes the .357 a lot of fun to play around with.

It might also help us if you mention the rifle you are using.

The rifle is a Rossi single shot with a 1/16" twist, 23 inch bbl, outfitted with a Bushnell Banner 3-9x40.
Mostly what I'll be using it for is Varmints and some bench shooting at the local range at 150 yards and in.

I like the 158gr Nosler with Alliant 2400 powder, standard primers and R-P or Win brass. For long range shooting I would look at the Speer 170 and 180 grain bullets also with Alliant 2400 or H110

158 Hornady XTP HP for serious hunting up to deer, 16gns of 2400 small rifle primer.
158gn bulk HPs for general use and practice (I bought winchesters) 12.5 gns of 2400 with small rifle primers.
110gn XTP HP went up to 20gns of 2400 approach very carefully, this is a load I tested and was very devastating on both ends. Kicked like a mule extreme muzzle blast but good gracious when it hit a flesh and blood target or for that matter a small pumpkin devastation is what comes to mind.
Marlin .357CB 24inch bbl.

Thanks guys!


I loaded some test rounds yesterday, since this is my first time loading (can't be to careful with stuff that goes boom!)

I am using a 158gr Winchester Semi-jacketed HP over escalating loads of N-110 from 14.9g to 15.9 in .2g increments with Winchester SP magnum primers. Hopefully, if all goes well, I will be experimenting with different loads very soon. I would just like to find out what kind of powder charge works well in the rifle with the N-110 and 158gr bullet, since that's the combo I would likely use the most. I do, however, want to experiment with light and heavy bullets since there are so many options with the .357. Once again, thanks for the loads ( I have copied them for future use!) and if ya have anymore pet loads, I would be grateful to hear them, since apparently handloading plays well to my obsessive-compulsive behavior lol !

Also, I have loaded some test rounds for my .45acp. I hope they will work out well.

I am using a 200gr LSWC over a 6.8gr powder charge of Unique with CCI 300 LP primers.
Have any of you used a load similar to this? If so, how did it work out for you? I kinda had my doubts about unique, but was reassured that it was a good powder for the load I wanted, which was around 875-950 fps with the 200gr bullet