HP-38 and .38/.357M Frontier 158 grain, FP jacketed bullets

[Fal205]

Just picked up some Frontier 158 grain 38 Spl/357 Mag bullets and to my surprise, I'm having difficulties finding load data for them using anything other than Vihtavuori powders, which I don't have! I'm trying to get a good entry level load (.38 special) using HP-38. These are called Frontier 158 gr, FP bullets. They are copper jacketed/plated (not sure what the diff is). Any ideas/suggestions?

Going up to the next bullet in the list (XTP), the book recommends 3.8 gr of HP-38 and the next one down (146 gr jacketed) used 4.0 gr of HP-38.

 

[sunray]

Hi. You load for the bullet weight, not who made 'em. HP38 will do nicely though. Just use cast data for plated bullets. Hodgdon says 3.1 to 3.7 of HP38 for a cast 158(use the LSWC data). 3.8 to 4.3 for a jacketed 158. You'll note on their site the difference in max pressure. More about not trying to drive a cast bullet too fast. Causes leading of the barrel. Doesn't apply to a plated bullet, of course.
Plated bullets are not jacketed and do not get loaded with jacketed data. Difference is the thickness of the material and how it gets put on. Plated bullets have a very thin coating of copper usually in the area of 8 thou or so. A copper jacket starts as a considerably thicker, wee copper tube/cup the lead gets stuffed into.
An FP is just an RN with the round bit cut off. They're really SWC's. .45 ACP FP's work really well.
An XTP is a jacketed bullet. Pricey to shoot 'em regularly.

 

[Fal205]

Thanks very much!

 

[RodB]

I'm trying to get a good entry level load (.38 special) using HP-38. These are called Frontier 158 gr, FP bullets. They are copper jacketed/plated (not sure what the diff is). Any ideas/suggestions?

In my Taurus 357 I have used Berry's 158 running at 38 as well ....here is what I use.

In my Cast Bullet handbook Lyman 4th edition it suggests for a 158gr...no HP38 listed but it does lists 231...same powder.

1.445 OAL
Start load 3.6...Max load 4.0

At 3.6 Vel should be around 769fps...... and around 837fps at max 4.0.

 

[New Camper]

Maximum load from Hodgdon Basic manual 2008 - in 38spec +p with the 158gr XTP is 4.6gr of hp-38. MV is reported to be 807fps from a 7.7" barrel. That velocity is acceptable for a cast bullet, so should be acceptable with plated. I'm not sure that you can push a 158gr bullet fast enough out a 38spec to cause leading or plates to fly, before pressures reach dangerous levels... 357mag velocities are a different story.

Have you tried the Hodgdon website and the online reloading data? It should have an up to date starting point and max load, unlike that I have from 2008. I couldn't find a loading from the 8th edition Hornady reloading handbook.

EDIT: In the same manual from where I quoted the figures: Standard 38spec load listed for 158gr XTP is (Maximum charge) 4.3gr of HP-38, MV 779fps out of 7.7" bbl. Sorry I missed that when I first posted.