38 spl. question

jdman

jdman

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
299   0   1
Location
............ Socialist Island BC
Hey guys,

new to reloading 357/38 spl.

Is there anything i should watch out for? I am wondering, when i bought primers i looked at the 357 load data first, and bought SPM. However when i look at the 38 spl. it says to use small pistol primers. Can i use the magnums in the 38 spl., as well? The brass i have for the 38 spl. is all +p.

Thanks, any tips will be greatly appreciated.
cheers, jdman
 
ok another thing i am unsure of is,
what are the hard and fast rules of lead bullets? I have never loaded any before.(other than a few to try out in my 45acp). Always used jacketed, or plated bullets.

SOme i have already have lube on them, so these are good to load i assume?

Others i have dont have lube yet, and some dont have the groves where the lube would go, (those ones i think are called speer HBWC).
Is lube mandatory for lead bullets, i guess is what i want to know? Or are they just soft like a frigid woman, who doesnt want it dry? :p
 
the speer hbwc have a graphite based lube and are good to go out of the box.
the hard cast style require some lube in the groove.
the magnum primers may make the loadds a little faster and are not a problem unless you are loading near max loads.

what powder do you have and how fast do you want to push the the bullets

the old target shooter standby is 2.7 grains of Bullseye powder with a federal primer and a 148 grn hbwc. with those speers they will all go through the same hole if you do your part.

throw up some questions or PM me maybe i can help
 
another thing i am unsure of is,
what are the hard and fast rules of lead bullets? I have never loaded any before.(other than a few to try out in my 45acp).
Click to expand...

Consult your loading manuals and you'll find the loading data for lead bullets. . To prevent excessive leading in the barrel, lead bullets should go down the barrel slower than jackets bullets. . I use lead handgun bullets and have had no evidence of barrel lead fouling using the loading data from my manuals. . I use four different loading manuals and use the comparison to arrive at a starting load. . Then work up from there. .

Lubed SWC lead bullets has been a favorite of mine for years and work well in 38 spec/357, 44 spec/mag. . Lately I've been loading 45 ACP with SWC and RN, both lead bullets with no lube and no fouling so far. . I'm trying to use up some old blue dot powder and loaded 8 boxes using 8.5 gr. blue dot pushing Hornady 200 gr SWC. . They've performed well with no leading. .
 
A standby plinking load of mine is 4.5gr of Unique with lubed hard cast 158gr SWCs. Not especially fast and no leading as long as I use those bullets. However, just so you are aware, when I changed the bullet to swaged Hornady 158gr SWCs, I got significant leading in 4 different revolvers...but none in a fifth. Switching powders to a little over 5gr of Power Pistol, which produces a faster load, the leading issue disappeared in two of the affected revolvers thus far...I still have to try the load in the other two affected guns.
 
i think the lubed ones are 158gr hard cast, from somewhere is brentwood bay maybe? cant remember what the box said, and i threw it out already. The others are around 150ish, with no lube, then the speer HBWC.
Looking at the lee dies i have for the 357/38 spl. they give no set up instructions as to how to set up 38 spl. Just says they are the same, but longer. i have it set up already for 357, as i loaded some up this AM.
Reason i was asking about the magnum primers in the 38, is i dont live close to a shop to buy some small pistol.
I think i have a bit of bullseye, some unique as well for the 38. I will try one of those. I bought some H110 for the magnums, as i said i only looked at the 357 data, and the store had no 2400, which looks like the go to powder for the 357. I always liked the flames that shot out of the 44 mag, 50AE with H110, so i hope it has some fire with the 357. :p
thanks for the help guys.
 
i just made up some loads for my 357mag using lil,gun which gave some nice side flames. 17gr of lilgun, mag primers, and berry's 158gr bullets.

h110 doesn't seem to give a good flame, but packs a good punch.
 
LOL, hate it when that happens.

Good dragons breath load i use is 18.6 grains of W296 and a 125 grain XTP. I dont fire them too much but they are fun.

I like 6.0 grains of Green Dot and a 158 Gr RN. Very accurate and easy to manage.
 
EvilDezel said:
Good dragons breath load i use is 18.6 grains of W296 and a 125 grain XTP. I dont fire them too much but they are fun.
Click to expand...

is this 357 or 38 loads?
another thing i am wondering. Is there any point in loading the lead bullets in the 357, or just use them in the 38's? It seems like a waste to load a light 357 to avoid leading.

And just to confirm, yes i can use the magnum primers in the 38, but just dont go near max?
 
I'm using mag primers for 38 right now because no sp were available and my velocities are right on the money so I don't think they make that much of a difference.

My load is 5 grains unique under a 130 grain hard cast lead flat nose. Accuracy is pretty decent and getting around 900 fps.
 
Yes, you can use the magnum primers. Like I said, I don't think it will matter much; even with max loads. From what others have said too, I think if anything it would just nudge your loads into the +P range. I primarily load lead for my .357s as well. I haven't had leading issues with hard cast bullets.

For what it's worth, I once spilled a couple of primers into cases that were being loaded and didn't realize it until I was done. I ended up shooting that batch of ammo with no ill effects.
 
If you are new to 38/357 take note that they have a large case capacity (the 38 originaly used black powder). It is somewhat easier to double charge or place no charge than in other calibers. When reloading have a good consistent system to visually check powder level of each case before seating the bullet.
 
stampede said:
If you are new to 38/357 take note that they have a large case capacity (the 38 originaly used black powder). It is somewhat easier to double charge or place no charge than in other calibers. When reloading have a good consistent system to visually check powder level of each case before seating the bullet.
Click to expand...

im using a 550B, so it is hard to do. But thanks for the tip, i usually try to keep a good eye on the bullet seat station.
 
EvilDezel said:
LOL, hate it when that happens.

Good dragons breath load i use is 18.6 grains of W296 and a 125 grain XTP. I dont fire them too much but they are fun.
Click to expand...

+1 to the 125gr bullets, i load 21gr of h110/w296 and it makes one hell of a noise! i don't do them often as well, but i'm shooting them from a 586
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom