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Reloading manual variances

tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,335 ✭✭✭
edited June 2007 in Perry Shooter Competition Shooting and Reloading Forum
..OK, so my manuals are old, but this is way out of line.

#1...357 mag. 158 gr. JHP, 16.6 gr. of Win. 296 = 1610 fps
(from Win. data, 1976, which also stated that 296 was discontinued)

#2...357 mag. 158 gr. JHP, 17 gr. of Win. 296 = 1300 fps
(from the Hornady manual, 1987)

..Both are from 8 3/8" barrels. Of course manuals differ some, but this seems like an extreme case. My other older manuals don't list 296 powder, so I'm at a loss. Any thoughts guys?

..How about 18.2 gr. of 2400 with a 125 gr. JHP for 1500 fps. Anywhere near correct?
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    perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,390 ✭
    edited November -1
    I think you will find the same thing in all manuals after all they use different test equipment I also feel that revolvers have more difference between guns then say a semi auto pistol not only do the barrels differ in all guns but in a revolver you have barrel to cylinder gap to contend . If I were going to load I would stay below Max and just go with what shoots the best group . A miss at 1600FPS is not better Then a HIT at 1300 FPS. Just my $.02 "PRAISE THE HARD-BALL GUN"
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    tapwatertapwater Member Posts: 10,335 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    ..Roger that, perry. I've been loading for near 30 years, but never ran across that big of a difference. Truth is, I keep most of the .357/.38 loads down around 700 to 900 fps, with cast 158 swc bullets. Once in a while, I work up to a hot one, but had never used #296 powder before.
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    perry shooterperry shooter Member Posts: 17,390 ✭
    edited November -1
    Hello Tapwater I have edition 1,2,3,10,15, dated 1970-1997 all of these have the same spec's for 296 powder 158 lead 14.5 grains for 1560 and 158JHP 16.6 grains for 1610. I would tend to think that Winchester once they run a test never retest. I have over 100 reloading manuals dating back to Ideal 1920's to current.I have found that most times a new cartridge will be loaded HOT at first to be impressive but then manuals like Lyman and others will then down grade their MAX load This is really the case with the 10MM that Colt had in their delta elite. By the way Winchester states that you should use MAGNUM PRIMERS and not to use 296 with reduced loads . Cheers Karl Woerner
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