Recently picked up a Ruger Security Six, 6" Stainless, about two months ago. I've been reloading .38 Special for years. This weekend I got the gumption to reload some .357 Magnum for the first time.
Loaded 50 Federal nickel plated cases, lit off with a CCI #500 and topped with 158 gr. Coated SWC from The Blue Bullets. Will edit with COAL. Loaded 10 rounds each from 12.5 gr to 14.5 gr. of Hercules 2400 in .5 gr. increments. Shot 5 rounds of each at various steel targets at my club (plus wanted to record the fireballs) and then 5 rounds on paper 15 yards out; rested on a soft case on top of my range box, not the most sturdy rest.
12.5 gr. and 13 gr. showed good promise, relatively medium range .357 loads. But they were also the first 2 groups of the day after shooting 50 rounds of .38 Special. Suspect shooter fatigue on the final 3 targets, but printed relatively consistent, maybe I'll shoot round robin next time, with groups of 10. (If I ever get to the range with enough daylight left)
All .357 Magnum loads shot on the steel put some serious smack down on the plates compared to my normal range activities consisting of 147 gr. 9mm.
Bonus target included with 11 rounds of 3.2 gr. Titegroup from misc. .38 Special cases, CCI #500 primer, same bullet. Shoots great and light! The best performer of my .38 Special outting last weekend.
Each powder charge took up two columns of 5. Shown in the video below from left to right: 12.5, 13, 13.5, 14, and 14.5 gr. The charge of 13.5 grains had one case exhibiting excess pressure signs of gas bleeding around primer. Charge of 14.5 gr. had 5 cases exhibiting gas bleeding and primer flow around the firing pin indent creating a little ridge. Now according to the Lyman 49th Edition, for my bullet weight, 14 grains of 2400 is the max charge and also the "accuracy load," so I certainly don't advocate others to go above and beyond published data, but I was confident that the Ruger could handle the increase in pressures, I definitely will not be going beyond the 14.5 gr. tested here for this specific powder. These specific casings have been used an unknown amount of times.
(Click on the image to get to the video)
Of course, this post would be fruitless without a fireball!