Loading lead for .357 Mag

[ns3v3n]

Maybe you guys can help me out, My Lyman's 49th edition's info on loading lead is confusing me. All of the different weight on there did not require the bullet being gas checked except for the 155 gr. Now If i want to load some 158 gr RNFP, do I need to have these gas checked??? Not going crazy with max loads or velocities here, just probably low to mid loads, and with those loads, do I need hardcast bullets? or is bullets with BHN 14 hardness good enough??? They are around $20 cheaper than the hard cast. Thank you!

[AJD]

What exactly are you going to be using for low to mid-range loads? If I understand your post you want to use light target loads similar to .38 special? If so, you absolutely do not need a gas check or a hardcast bullet. You could even get away with a BHN of less than 14 depending on the load. Harder bullets might actually lead to leading with lighter loads. Missouri Bullet has good deals on cast bullets and they have them with different BHN hardness depending on the application. However, if you are using a slower burning powder like 2400, W296, etc. for magnum type loads then you would want to use a harder bullet, but bullet fit is just as important. And you probably would still not need a gas check for most of those loads.

[ns3v3n]

Thanks, I plan to getting some bulleyes and 2400 to play with. the 2400 i'm going to use it with jacketed bullets so no problem there, but with bulleyes, even on the min charge, it said to use gas checked bullets in the 150 gr range. Just wondering why only that weight required to be gas checked and not the one above it, say 160 gr.

What exactly are you going to be using for low to mid-range loads? If I understand your post you want to use light target loads similar to .38 special? If so, you absolutely do not need a gas check or a hardcast bullet. You could even get away with a BHN of less than 14 depending on the load. Harder bullets might actually lead to leading with lighter loads. Missouri Bullet has good deals on cast bullets and they have them with different BHN hardness depending on the application. However, if you are using a slower burning powder like 2400, W296, etc. for magnum type loads then you would want to use a harder bullet, but bullet fit is just as important. And you probably would still not need a gas check for most of those loads.

[sargenv]

Lyman likes to sell molds and gas checks.. You can use plain lead bullets and I'd say to use them sized to .358".

[Bill Steele]

I have never used gas checks on any of my lead .357 Magnum rounds. As Sargenv suggests, getting the size right will make the biggest difference.

[AJD]

Yeah, for the loads using Bullseye you won't need gas checks and you really won't need a BHN harder than 12. And as I mentioned earlier and as Sargenv said, the right bullet size (fit), for your bore makes the biggest difference. Good luck.

[ns3v3n]

Thanks guys, I think i'll get some of those bullets to try, the sell offer to send me sample to try first, if you guys are interested to try him out, his name is Mike from Mastercast in IL. Good guy and very helpful on the phone.