Chrono data from my 357 SIG loads.....

[MarinePride]

I finally got a chronograph and had an opportunity to try it out today. I wanted to get a real benchmark for my gun with some Speer 125 gr. Gold Dots. Here is a 5 shot string from my Sig Pro 2340, which has a 3.9" barrel.

Gold Dot 125 gr. factory loads with chrono 9' from muzzle

1. 1331 fps
2. 1276 fps
3. 1299 fps
4. 1312 fps
5. 1336 fps

Gold Dot reloads with 13.0 grns of AA#9

1. 1188 fps
2. 1202 fps
3. 1201 fps
4. 1196 fps
5. 1205 fps

It appears that my reloads are falling short of the factory Gold Dots and I'd like to correct that without blowing up my Sig. The reloads I fired seemed to have more recoil than the factory Gold Dots, but the velocity is just not there and I'm wondering why? I would love to know what powder Speer is using in their factory loadings........
:animlol:

Oh well, back to the old reloading bench:thumbsup:

[just for fun]

All though I haven't tryed AA-9 I would have thought the speeds would have been higher! Some gun rag writer was into Blue Dot a few years back and I've had good results w/it. Haven't gone past 10.5 W/124 speer and HEAVY roll crimp my chrono shows 1415 fps. and a SD was 15. max is 11.0 according to powder maker. AOL 1.135. this load will out shoot speer lawman factory loads in my G32

[357glocker]

Those are horrible 357sig velocities! Out of my G31 here are some loads I chrono'd:

Factory loads:

Speer GD 125gr - 1395fps
Corbon 115HP - 1490fps
GeorgiaArms 125FMJ - 1429fps

My reloads using max loads of Hodgon Longshot:

Ranier 124grFP - 1485fps
Hornady 147gr XTP - 1252fps
Remington 147gr HP - 1253fps

Hodgon Longshot is a very good powder for 357sig if you're looking for speed!

[just for fun]

My reloads using max loads of Hodgon Longshot:
Hodgon web site doesn't list longshot and 357 SIG H-6 and Universal yes longshot no and they make it. Sorry Pal gotta pass on your reloads!!

[MarinePride]

I just loaded up 10 test loads using Speer Gold Dot 125 gr. and 10.5 grns. of Blue Dot. I'll chrono these sometime next week after hunting season is over. I know that I'm giving up a small amount of velocity using a 3.9" barrel.

[4eyes]

13 grains of AA#9 is fine if you want to preclude setback because the full case of powder doesn't allow the bullet to set back sufficiently to significantly increase pressures--even if you don't crimp.

I get better velocity results with less than full charges of Power Pistol. Similar speeds to the poster above using Longshot and 147 XTP bullets. Slightly faster than Longshot with 124 gr. bullets. And my PP loads have been more consistant over the chrono than Longshot.

[357glocker]

Originally posted by just for fun
My reloads using max loads of Hodgon Longshot:
Hodgon web site doesn't list longshot and 357 SIG H-6 and Universal yes longshot no and they make it. Sorry Pal gotta pass on your reloads!!
Get a free reloading guide from Hodgon and they will have all the info you need!

[357glocker]

I was looking up some info for another powder and ran into this, for the poster who was skeptical about using Longshot in 357sig. This is directly off of Hodgons website:

LONGSHOT™ This new spherical shotshell powder is the most versatile heavy field propellant Hodgdon has ever produced. Great field loads in 10 ga., 12 ga., 16 ga., 20 ga., and 28 ga. are shown herein. This propellant provides true magnum velocities with superb patterns. In addition, LONGSHOT is the best choice for those competitors shooting "race" games such as "Buddy" shoots, "Annie Oakleys" and more. LONGSHOT makes it possible to make USPSA Major with the 38 Super and it produces Major loads in the 40 S&W and 357 SIG at lower than usual operating pressures. Available in 1 lb., 4 lb. & 8 lb. containers.

[just for fun]

357glocker- after I read your post I went straight to hodgon's wet site for their starting load. went to pistols then [in the left columm ] went to 357 sig. long shot sounds like a powder that could get my SD lower. but I'll be darned if I can find your referance on thier site! there is it?

[357glocker]

Hit the smokeless link on the top of the page, then go to the shotgun/pistol link. It will give a description of each powder they manufacture!
I use the longshot for 357mag and 45acp also. It works well for target loads in the mag, but I really should find a new powder for the 45acp.

[just for fun]

Hey, 357 glocker thanks.There are so many ninga reloaders out there that I really wanted to see that the manufacture had to say! you would think they would update their own site if they were trying to sell a product!! That really doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me! I've been on a AA-2 kick for awhile and have been getting some outstanding results. 230 grain pression bullets, 5.4 grains of AA-2 and a AOL of 1.260. had to run this load over the chrono twice cuz the #'s wher hard to except! SD 1.2 ES 3 Vol 860. New pet load? you betcha!! Oh the brass was Winchester once fired. forgot to say this is a 45 APC load

[MarinePride]

I finally got around to testing some Blue Dot in the 357 SIG, here are my results out of a 3.9" barrel (SigPro 2340).

Blue Dot 10.5 grns.
Gold Dot 125 gr JHP
Speer cases
CCI 500
1.140"-1.137" OAL

Chrono data for 9 shots

1.1220 fps
2. 1320
3. 1266
4. 1237
5. 1194
6. 1232
7. 1273
8. 1221
9. 1274 fps

9 shot average is 1249 fps, so these loads are worse than the factory loading of Speer Gold Dots by a bunch. I'm beginning to wonder if it's worth my effort at this point, but it is fun to see what the loads are doing as far as fps is concerned. I might add that this loading feels like it has more power than the chrono says it does.

[357glocker]

That is still a little low for the Sig. As for the loads feeling hotter than the chrony reads maybe you should fire some known velocity .22's over it to see if it's reading correct???

[grendelbane]

Yes! Hodgdon also confused me by not putting all of their data on their website. I knew that they had listed several Longshot loads in calibers load for, and when I went to their website to verify charge weights I could not find anything!:shocked:

Then, I found the free Hodgdon brochure that I had picked up, behind the couch. In it was all of the data I needed.

I have had good success witih Longshot in both 10mm and .40 S&W. 357 SIG is in line for testing.

Power Pistol is also a good powder for 357 SIG, with the exception of its bright muzzle flash. Using max loads of PP with 125 grain bullets, my P239 gets about 1390, and my P229 gets about 1420 FPS. It seems like they are already starting to download the 357 SIG, as the Federal loads I got when I bought the pistol were also in this range, but now a lot of people report slower velocities. With this occurring, it is no wonder some people think that the 9mm+p+ is as good as the 357 SIG.

[MarinePride]

I had some AA #7 on the reloading bench so I decided to see what this stuff would do. I knew that it doesn't have the speed of Blue Dot or AA#9, but nevertheless I wanted to see what would happen. At 25 yards, offhand accuracy was just below point of aim and decent for a short barrelled pistol.

Sig Pro 2340 - 3.9" barrel
AA#7 - 11.0 grns.
Gold Dot 125 gr. JHP
CCI 500
Winchester nickel cases
1.138" OAL

1. 1167 fps
2. 1153
3. 1176
4. 1149
5. 1162
6. 1161
7. 1134
8. 1152
9. 1140
10. 1172 fps

The 10 shot average is 1157 fps, so that adds to yet another load that doesn't cut it in this caliber.