Reloading 158 gr for 38 special

[not-fishing]

A word to the wise. Loading for 38 spc don't use CCI primers, they're harder to fit in the brass and you have to keep the trigger heavy because they're harder than other primers.

Winchesters primers shoot better, Federal are the softest and load the easiest.

[rsrocket1]

CCI primers work fine for me in 38 special and all other cartridges. Federal primers are softer which can lead to blowups on the bench, most often with Dillon tube fed primer systems it seems.

50BMGBOB,
You can use lead data for your plated bullets and use the low end data if you are trying to achieve low recoil. You need to list the powders available to you if you want specific advice. Since the 38 special does not need to cycle an action, the load simply needs to be strong enough to push the bullet out of the barrel. I once shot a commercial hard cast bullet (a little on the small side) with a primer only squib and chronographed it at 231 fps. The bullets were not crimped (you don't need to crimp revolver rounds if the load is light enough. My usual load nowadays is 5g Unique which drives the bullets out at around 900 fps and those bullets definitely need a firm crimp. When I shot a few primer only squibs with those crimped bullets, the bullet never left the case.

If you have a choice of powders, choose the fastest ones available to you. A low charge of fast powder like Red Dot, Clays, or Trail Boss will make for a good low recoil load. Slower powders like Unique, 800X or Power Pistol can be used at low charges, but will be very smokey, inconsistent in velocity and leave lots of soot on the cases and gun.

Oops, I saw that your powder is 700X. That would be a fast powder and perfect for low velocity/low recoil loads.

[rdfact]

I had never heard of lead bullets in .38 cases fired from a .357 causing leading - good to know. I have bunch of lead bullets that I have yet to use. I bought a used Ruger .357 that had a lot of leading. As someone else said, chore boy cleaned the lead out quickly.

[HappyChappy]

Great info, now to sort it all out. Being that I am just starting up after a long sabbatical from shooting I am doing a lot of investigating first. Today my Son, "Phophet" from Oceanside, and I check out some powder measure from the Lee 1000 disc. We drop 5 consecutive fills as normally would be filled from the 3.2 measure in the disc and the weight was as followed: 1.4; 2.4; 2.5; 1.5; 2.5 grains, what am I doing wrong. He has never used a Lee Progressive so even he was not sure. Anyone have any insight? Also I wasnt sure what was meant by "tag for great info"' am I suppose to do that and if so how or were you just saying this all was great info. The other thing you will find out about me, even though I am good with computers I really have never had a reason to blog or chat on them.

[ljnowell]

700x does not meter well from any powder measure below about 4 grains. Not Dillon, hornady, or Lee. It is what it is, cornflakes in a can.

Glad to see another Pro 1000 user. My press works great and the priming is exactly as it should be. Make a paper cover for the primer chute and keep it full. Lube the press regularly and it will him along a long time.


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[HappyChappy]

Thanks for the info

[Cowboy T]

I shoot cast lead in .38 Spl cases in .357M firearms all the time. The one that immediately comes to mind is a certain Ruger Security-Six. I don't get those leading problems that others have mentioned.

As for cast lead in .357M loadings? I do that all the time, too. Again, no leading.

In all cases, my BHN is no higher than 12 (straight wheel weight alloy), using liquid Alox for lube.

[pacrat]

I've been mixing loads of CAST 38 spl and 357M in a model 19 S&W since the early 70's.

Never had any of the supposedly dreaded lead ring in chamber with "CAST" bullets.

If you buy crap slugs like the Speer "cold formed" bullets, which is sales speak for dead soft "SWAGED" pure lead with even crappier surface lube. And load them higher than 800 fps. YOU WILL LEAD YOUR BORE.

The bullet "alloy" strenght must match the pressure level of the intended load.

JM2c

[Bikertrash]

I am about to start loading 38sp for my wife, she wants a light than factory load.

I did the same for my wife. What I found that worked well was 3gr of Bullseye with a 125gr plated bullet with an OAL of 1.44" Then I found that 5gr of Power Pistol worked exceptionally well with the same bullet but better accuracy.

[rdfact]

Anyone ever used these lead bullets or have an opinion on them for .38 or .357?
"38/357 158gr Semi Wad Cutter Bevel Base .358dia hard lead bullet."
2000 bullets for $152 delivered = 7.6 cents per bullet.

https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.cfm?item_id=8973&dir=

[ljnowell]

Anyone ever used these lead bullets or have an opinion on them for .38 or .357?
"38/357 158gr Semi Wad Cutter Bevel Base .358dia hard lead bullet."
2000 bullets for $152 delivered = 7.6 cents per bullet.
https://www.wideners.com/itemdetail....m_id=8973&dir=

Missouri bullet is cheaper. I ordered 1000 for my mom the other day and they were like 72 or 74 bucks with shipping. You can also order their bullets from powder valley if you were ordering something else b


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[Cowboy T]

WHOA! You got a Lee Pro 1000 to work? and you are using it for .38/.357??

Yes, smarty-pants. He probably watched my videos to do it, too.

I'll chime in with another question. I am about to start loading 38sp for my wife, she wants a light than factory load. I picked up some plated 158gr bullets but having problem finding loading data for them. Lot's of data for jacketed and for cast lead. Where should I start with plated bullets though? with the lead or jacketed or some where in the middle?

Also, I have some Titegroup powder I planed on using with small pistol primers.

I was in a very similar situation. Ended up developing a load with my cameralady in mind (she shoots .38 Spl, too). That load uses a 108-110gr cast boolit, the Lee 358-105-SWC, on top of either 3.9 gr of Bullseye or 4.2 gr of Titegroup. This is a very enjoyable, light-shooting load that tames even a S&W Airweight or Ruger LCR. With this load, she can shoot a couple boxes out of an Airweight and not have her hands hurting afterwards. Out of a 4" bbl Security-Six or S&W M19, the load gets 850 fps, thus replicating the in-flight ballistics of factory .38 Spl loads, without the snappiness when used in featherweight guns. Also, when fired out of a Winchester M92 levergun clone chambered for .38/357, it feels just like shooting a .22.

In your specific case, since it sounds like you don't cast (yet), I'd consider a plated 125gr bullet with a comparably light powder charge, starting from 3.3gr of either Bullseye or Titegroup and working up from there.

[ljnowell]

Reloading 158 gr for 38 special

Yes, smarty-pants. He probably watched my videos to do it, too.



I was in a very similar situation. Ended up developing a load with my cameralady in mind (she shoots .38 Spl, too). That load uses a 108-110gr cast boolit, the Lee 358-105-SWC, on top of either 3.9 gr of Bullseye or 4.2 gr of Titegroup. This is a very enjoyable, light-shooting load that tames even a S&W Airweight or Ruger LCR. With this load, she can shoot a couple boxes out of an Airweight and not have her hands hurting afterwards. Out of a 4" bbl Security-Six or S&W M19, the load gets 850 fps, thus replicating the in-flight ballistics of factory .38 Spl loads, without the snappiness when used in featherweight guns. Also, when fired out of a Winchester M92 levergun clone chambered for .38/357, it feels just like shooting a .22.

In your specific case, since it sounds like you don't cast (yet), I'd consider a plated 125gr bullet with a comparably light powder charge, starting from 3.3gr of either Bullseye or Titegroup and working up from there.

Your videos are what helped me decide that obviously these presses aren't the junk people claim they are. Watching you run yours it seemed clear that in the right hands these are great presses.

There is a tips and tricks thread on THR too. Between your videos and that thread I have a press that operates 100%.


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[Sunday]

Snubbies are really fun to shoot with a mild load!.

[J-cat]

Reloaded 20+ years without cleaning brass. Bought a tumbler last year because I had a lot of dirty range pickup 223.

Good for you. I stuck a 9mm case in a carbide die after sizing dirty brass. So I guess what works for one may not work for everyone.