Round Nose .357 projectiles?

[fiddler]

Does anyone make round nose .357 projectiles? Some of the .357 bullets have a hard time loading in the side gate of my Lever Rifle. 38 Special much less of a problem. I find the round nose bullets go in and around the corner easier.

I was thinking that if I can find a mold for round nose cast and powder coat it might be easier and cheaper than sourcing copper RN bullets. They make cone shaped flat projectiles, Wad/semi-wad, and trunc cone bullets but no round nose. Odd that they make round nose .356 but not .358??

 

[luckythirteen]

I've only seen lead. Ive tried Hornady frontier, but I'd imagine bullet barn and rusty wood would have cast too

 

[saskgunowner101]

I see on the Lee Precision site a few options for round nose molds

358-150-1R 6 Cavity Mold
SKU: 90326

TL358-158-2R Double Cavity Mold
SKU: 90388

If you lived closer, we'd come up with an arrangement...I enjoy casting lol

 

[fiddler]

I see on the Lee Precision site a few options for round nose molds

358-150-1R 6 Cavity Mold
SKU: 90326

TL358-158-2R Double Cavity Mold
SKU: 90388

If you lived closer, we'd come up with an arrangement...I enjoy casting lol

I enjoy casting as well and have a mountain of lead available. I've ordered the double cavity mold, should be here soon. I really don't know how well it will work. It seems the longer bullets with flat top get hung up on the way in. The rifle is still quite new and may loosen up a bit, and shoots quite flawlessly once they are in.

 

[Puma]

158 semi wadcutters should work fine.

 

[guntech]

I don't believe round nose bullets are considered safe to use in a tubular magazine. ?

 

[Snider shooter]

Lyman makes a 160 gr RN. # 358311. Works in anything I’ve tried it in.

 

[Garand]

Try Prairie Projectiles in Stettler AB. The only lever action I ever used semi wadcutters successfully was a Chiappa "Alaskan"

 

[Suther]

I don't believe round nose bullets are considered safe to use in a tubular magazine. ?

As long as the nose is blunt enough it should be fine. Lots of companies make 3030 ammo with a round nose.

 

[palwait]

I have successfully used 38 Super Campro round nose in my chiappa. Another option is Wolf bullets that includes .357 size in lead round nose. http:// www.wolfbullets.com/cancast.htm

 

[Meroh]

DRG in Guelph made them, but he has retired and shut down his operation a year ago or so. I really liked them for speed loaders for my GP100.

I will be giving these a try next time; I like campo in my 9mm. These should not hang up on the cylinder the way that SWC ammo does.

https://campro.ca/index.php?id=1021&produit=Cal. 38 158gr RNFP FCP These should work fine through your loading gate. Should punch a nice hole in paper or anything else

 

[guntech]

I once repaired a 1860 Henry Rifle 45 Long Colt. The owner had loaded round nose bullets and had one discharge while loading the tube. Luckily the tube has a very 'open' slot and the majority of the gases vented but the bullet just missed him and the tube was very distorted. That was a case where a round nose bullet should not be used in a tubular magazine.

 

[quinnbrian]

Have you tried sizing down 9mm ( lee sizier) push them through...

 

[I Dont Care About You]

The owner had loaded round nose bullets and had one discharge while loading the tube.

There is no way that is possible ... unless he was loading the tube with a hammer. Primers don't ignite from a slow push. I have completely crushed primers during reloading and never had one ignite.

 

[I Dont Care About You]

Have you tried sizing down 9mm ( lee sizier) push them through...

As 9mm are typically .355" why would they need to be sized down to fit a .357" bore?

 

[Denver Steve]

There is no way that is possible ... unless he was loading the tube with a hammer. Primers don't ignite from a slow push. I have completely crushed primers during reloading and never had one ignite.

Maybe after each round being loaded into the tube, the guy was mortaring the buttstock of the rifle onto some concrete to make sure the rounds where in there properly.....

 

[The_Shmoo]

There is no way that is possible ... unless he was loading the tube with a hammer. Primers don't ignite from a slow push. I have completely crushed primers during reloading and never had one ignite.

It is most certainly possible on an original style Henry front loader. A few things need to go horribly wrong, the (in)correct bullet design, not loading the tube to capacity, and letting the spring/follower slam down instead of easing it down. Several documented cases.

 

[VICIOUS]

RNFP 158 bullets like DRG before he passed away were good at loading into gates. Semi wad cutters in some rifles shave a finger nail of lead that builds up in the bottom and one day the gun jams for no reason.
SO watch the driveing bands lips. Truncated cones can work well. In the end I have just settled on CAMPRO 158 grain, sometimes RNFP or the cone for many firearms.

 

[guntech]

There is no way that is possible ... unless he was loading the tube with a hammer. Primers don't ignite from a slow push. I have completely crushed primers during reloading and never had one ignite.

Completely possible and he did it.

The rifle (as I quoted) was an1860 Henry Rifle 45 Long Colt. You can drop a cartidge in up by the muzzle and have it fall the full length of the magazine. Once the first cartrisge is there the next one has the primer landing on a bullet... hopfully a flat nose, but in this case he loaded bullets with a round nose.

 

[quinnbrian]

As 9mm are typically .355" why would they need to be sized down to fit a .357" bore?

Yes but you would be amazed on what the variance is.
I have a box of wincherster 147..gr. i think..bullets ( 5000 case) that work just as well as my swaged .357 cast lead...the difference as you pointed out is .002...so if your trying to make a 357 act like a 6mm long rang rig...then no. But for hunting , shoot out back, I would say you wouldn't notice much if any difference. But that said if the barrel is over size then yes. As usual, slug the barrel first. But you may also find that you have a 9mm (.355 ) bore...it wouldn't be the first manufacturer that did it.
Cheers
B