Help with .357 bullets

[Grasslander]

I need to build up my supply of .357 rounds. I want to try something different than the Hornady XTPs that I have used since I started reloading for revolver.

I was wondering what type of bullet to stock up on. Plated, powder coated, or something else? Just want something to practice with, in place of a jacketed bullet. Something more economical..

Also a question about bullet weight. I have used 158 grain bullets but wonder if maybe 125s or thereabouts would do just as well. I want to save my remaining Hornady 158 XTPs for a rainy day.

I do have a pretty good selection of powders to use. HP-38,296,CFE Pistol,H-110, Accurate #9, BE-86 and Unique.

All opinions and advice are appreciated..

 

[ericuda]

I would stick with the 158's. For general plinking there are much more economical options. I pretty much save the xtp's I have and use them over a good charge of H110 for powerhouse loads. Over the last few "sales" i have stocked up on xtreme plated which perform well for me. MBC lead would be a good bullet to have on hand and RMR's plated also look promising.

 

[627PCFan]

Like you my stockpile of 357 consists of 158xtp's and Speer Deepcurls. For bulk I load Missori Bullet Company 158gn SWC's (the hard version) over 12.6gns of AA9. Tune them to your gun and you wont want to bother with plated for the cost.

 

[BYJO4]

I shoot almost nothing but Missouri Bullet 158 gr LSWC. I recently switched to their coated bullet which is just as accurate but much cleaner to shoot and makes cleaning the gun easy. While slightly more expensive than the standard lead bullet, I think it's worth it.

 

[Dudedog]

RMR has some good deals on plated. The 158gr HC RN FPs worked well for me.
I have shot quite a Few Missouri bullet company 140gr "Zingers" and their 158 SWCs. The 158 SWCs are available in BHN18 (harder) and BHN 12 (listed as a .38 bullet, softer) If you are after .38 Special or light .357 power level practice rounds the BHN 12 ones might shoot better. If you go this way I would spend the extra money and get the coated ones. The 140 Zingers are nice because they split the difference between 125 and 158s. No load data for the 140s per say but if you start with the 158 data and work up your safe.
Both RMR and MBC offer THR members a 5% discount. RMR includes shipping, MBC can ship 2000 (3000 somtimes) for $14.
The codes are in the start of BDSs PIF thread.

 

[WestKentucky]

Stick to heavy bullets. I like lubed lead, but have no qualms with plated or coated bullets. I like missouri bullets, but I have used several others with the same luck. My preference for MoBuCo is based on the number of scrap bullets I recieved being significantly less than some other folks.

 

[joem1945]

I use MO bullet 158 SWC and 180 LRN. 158's are good for my .38 spl and .357 mag.

 

[Grasslander]

I know nothing about coated bullets. Are they clean to reload and shoot? Do you have to bell/flare more for these? Is the coating pretty durable, I mean is it easy to scrape it off when you seat them? All I've ever used is jacketed bullets.

Lots of questions I know, but please bear with me..

 

[Sunray]

You need to practice with the ammo you intend carrying.
The felt recoil of a 125 will be less than that of any 158. As will the felt recoil of a reduced cast 158 bullet, but that'd be better than a 125.
"...Something more economical..." That means cast. Jacketed bullets are expensive to shoot regularly, regardless of brand. Don't buy in bulk until you've found the load your revolver shoots best either.

 

[WestKentucky]

You need to practice with the ammo you intend carrying.
The felt recoil of a 125 will be less than that of any 158. As will the felt recoil of a reduced cast 158 bullet, but that'd be better than a 125.
"...Something more economical..." That means cast. Jacketed bullets are expensive to shoot regularly, regardless of brand. Don't buy in bulk until you've found the load your revolver shoots best either.

I disagree. A person should practice with similar ammo to what they intend to carry, but recoil from a 125 and recoil from a 158 is reversed when loaded properly. Overall length stays the same so the available case volume increases as bullet weight decreases. You have to load more powder into the case to keep things the same, and when you start loading them at anything below minimum loads you start seeing the lightweight bullets really jump up in velocity and recoil.

 

[justin22885]

you know, if youre stocking up say in preparation of any events or shortages, it may be a good idea to get some moulds and learn to cast, size, and load your own lead bullets.. i recommend 158 grain semi-wadcutters

 

[mdi]

I have had excellent results in my .357 with my home cast 160 gr ('posed to be 158 gr.) LSWC (wheel weight alloy, air cooled, sized to cylinder throats, no leading). I don't buy commercial cast anymore because most are way too hard and have poor lube. I normally load with Unique, but have used 2400, Blue Dot, True Blue, and WC 820 w/standard primers except in the WC 820 loads when I use SP Magnum primers...

I also have a Lee mold, 125 gr. RNFP which works really well in my .38 Sps., .357 Mags., and 9mm, just vary the sizing. I have driven the 125s pretty hot in my .38s (+P),and around 1,000 fps in my 9mms, but only tried "normal" lower magnum loads in my .357s...

I have PCed mebb 1,200 cast bullets and find they are everything good said about them; clean handling, clean shooting, and as accurate as any. I purchased some coated bullets from Precision mebbe 5 years ago and shot mebbe 1,000 in my 45 ACPs and my 9mms. Again, very good bullets. When I reload with coated/PCed bullets I use the same methods I use when reloading plain lead; size according to the gun (home PCed bullets are sized after coating/cooking just like lead), and use lead bullet load data. While PCed bulllets can be driven faster than plain lead, I'm just "K.I.S.S ing" it with excellent results.

 

[tcj]

I like the Bayou bullets in coated and Montana Gold in semi-jacketed.

If you don't need to crimp into a cannelure then the Blue Bullets are probably the most economical.

I stay with 158's.

 

[Grasslander]

Justin, not trying to sound snarky, but I have absolutely no interest in casting. I understand what you are saying, but the money spent on casting equipment could be used for bullets instead.

I don't shoot the Magnum much anymore, since I've gone to .40S&W for carry and SD.

 

[maxxhavoc]

I used to shoot plated bullets for lower-power rounds with W231/HP38. Then I figured out that they were no fun. If you are going to shoot .357, Shoot full-power .357. So I save the plated rounds for .38s, and use XTPs for .357 with H110/W296.

I prefer the 125's, but mostly because of the increased boom and flash. More of a "fun" factor than anything practical.

 

[Ed Jaws]

If you're going to punch paper, SWC are the way to go, nice round hole.

I just finished up test loading X-Treme plated 158 SWC with 10.2gr of AA#7 and it's a load my wife likes to shoot too. I'm sure you can find a medium power load with the powders you have.

Cheaper than jacketed and no worries about leading the barrel. And a heck of a fun time shooting 'em.

 

[Walkalong]

Coated 158 Gr SWC's work great for full power loads for practice or plinking.

 

[maxxhavoc]

Coated 158 Gr SWC's work great for full power loads for practice or plinking.

I gotta try some of those. I didn't expect them to handle .357 loads.

 

[Dudedog]

I know nothing about coated bullets. Are they clean to reload and shoot?

Yes much cleaner than lubed lead.
The MBC BHN 18 bullets can be loaded Full Power in .357

You need to practice with the ammo you intend carrying.

I disagree. You should practice with ammo that feels the same as what you carry so you are used to the way it feels when shooting it.. You need to verify what you carry functions but no need to practice with it. I practice with less than full power loads most of the time. Trigger control, aiming, (POA POI may be little different than full power )are the same with mid range loads as with full power rounds.

 

[Steve C]

Don't just go out and buy 1000 pc box because of a recommendation given here. I'd suggest you try a few different bullets and weight to see what you like. Missouri will sell you a sample pack or you can simply bury a box or bag of 100 bullets at your local supplier. Mostly I use 158gr RN and SWC bullets in 38/357 for practice but load 110 to 158gr jacketed for hunting and carry.

Lead bullet loading brings issues of leading. You don't want to run 125gr lead bullets at 1,450 fps like the JHP's are loaded to unless you enjoy hours of cleaning the lead out of your barrel. Lead is more economical to shoot and the lighter bullets will be even more so however using a heavier bullet at sub sonic velocity usually produces a more accurate round.

Round nose bullets are easier to load revolvers with than semi-wad cutter or wad cutter bullets either singly or by speed loader since they self center in the chamber and don't hang up when inserting them as much. Round nose bullets don't cut as nice a scoring hole in a paper target as the wad cutter types but figure out if that's important to you or not.

I see little validity in the "practice with the ammo you intend carrying" theory unless you only own one gun one caliber and the only reason you own it is for self defense. I shoot and practice NOT to prepare for shooting another human being in self defense but because I enjoy shooting as recreation and sport. I hand load ammo for 6 different pistol calibers, carry different ones at different times but shoot all at the range. Ammo is loaded with a variety of bullet weights and types to meet the needs of its intended target type or game.

 

[Walkalong]

I gotta try some of those. I didn't expect them to handle .357 loads.

I have shot them from SNS and ACME and both work well. Acme sells 100 packs (What I bought to try). SNS also sells 100 count sample packs.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

I know nothing about coated bullets. Are they clean to reload and shoot? Do you have to bell/flare more for these? Is the coating pretty durable, I mean is

I use a lot of Missouri Bullet Company coated 140 gr Zingers. I have shot over 3k out one 686 since January. They are very clean to load and shoot. I have not cleaned the 686 yet. I have zero leading in the barrel. The loads smoke about half as much as the same bullet that is uncoated.

As far as 125's go, I buy 125 gr JHP from Montana Gold for a dime each shipped....Yeah, you have to buy a case to get that price, but they don't go bad like milk...lol.

 

[TfflHndn]

Don't forget to check out Bayou Bullets for coated SWCs. I haven't found a more accurate bullet for .38 or .357 and I agree with others that the absence of lube and exposed lead makes for a cleaner loading operation and easier cleaning of the gun. My personal favorites are Bayou and SNS Casting for coated lead, with Falcon coming close on their heels.

 

[Grasslander]

Thanks for all the replies fellas. I think the sample pack idea is the best way to go in my situation.

Glad to hear the leading problem is solved with these type of bullets. Plus the powder coating just looks neat. You could use a different color for each bullet weight. (I'm sure that's what most shooters do anyway)