Missing out just using 158 grain 38/357???

[Blueduck]

My standard plinking loads for my 38 loads are 4 Gr 231 under a 158 grain Laser Cast SWC, 357 loads are 5.5 Grains 231 under same. I'm very happy with the results accuracy, cleanliness wise but it's time to order up a couple thousand new bullets...

I'm not going for match accuracy as these are mainly used for 3-25 yard self defense practice and I don't like full wadcutters because I use speedloaders. Am I mising any advantages by not giving the 125, 140, 180 grain bullets a try?

 

[HSMITH]

Less recoil with the lighter bullet is the only thing you will notice with lighter bullets. I like to make recoil with heavy bullets rather than powder for my practice loads.

You can make some 125 loads that you have to listen for the bang to know they went off they are so soft.......

 

[moxie]

Try 8.9 grs. Unique under a 125 gr. JHP. Nice medium wallop load for practice. It should be in the ~1300-1350 fps range. I've been using this one for years.

 

[Quantrill]

You could try the Keith Semi-wadcutter of 168gr. That would be Lyman 358429. A little different configuration that I personally think makes a difference in accuracy and penetration. Lots of people offer "keith" bullets but this is the original as Keith designed it. Just my 2 cents. Quantrill

 

[griz]

A small point here but you could also use the Round Nose Flat Point (cowboy) lead bullets. The price is the same as SWCs but the RNFP will work better with speedloaders. IIRC Laser Cast also makes a TC bullet that should be easy to drop into the cylinder.

 

[Clark]

With fixed sights on a revolver, I am stuck with what ever bullet wieght it wants to shoot.

That is 158 gr for Colt Police Positives.

I consider the 158 gr LSWC lubed hard cast bullet an excellent design and just right for most 38 Special and 357 mag loads for me.

In snubbies, I use 125 gr, and don't care where they shoot.

 

[Johnny Guest]

Hi, blueduck - - -

I've been out of town for a couple of days and just now read your post. Coincidentally, I just last night sat down and ran off a hundred .38 loads-- 158 LSWC with 4.5 gr. of 231 - - adjusting the 550B. This is barely a standard factory load, just for messing around. I'll load the rest of the 500 pack with this load, and then some of the 4.0 231 load for the alloy snubs. I use a 158 RNL for them, just to easily tell the difference.

Later on, I'll load up some long-nosed 165 LSWCs with +P charges of Unique for my son to use hunting with his Colt .38 six-inch.

By that time, I'll be in the mood to run off 500 or so 130 FMJ RNs for plate shooting, using Winchester Super Target. This is a good, clean-shooting load, by the way, but it bears little kinship with what I consider "Street" or "Field" loads.

Then, I'll back out the seating and crimping dies and build some moderate .357 loads with the 165. When all THAT is said and done, it'll be time to set up the chronograph and experiment with some heavier .357 loads, both with lead SWC and XTP HPs.

Clark, I've had several Police Positives over the years, but seldom apreciated what a nifty little wheel gun they are. I'm back to looking for one, or possibly a three-inch Detective Special. More compact than a K frame Smith, but enough beef to handle modestly warm loads.

What kind of .38/.357s are you shooting, Blueduck? My above assortment will go through several family-and-friends revolvers, including alloy and steel J-frames, K and N frames, a Taurus, and a couple of Colts.

I've been doing so much .45 and 9 mm shooting lately, I've almost forgotten how much FUN the .36 resolvers can be. Hope you all enjoy yours as much as we do ours.

Best,
Johnny

 

[Mannlicher]

If what you are using satisfies you, then I would not say you were missing out at all.

I am partial to the 146 grain Speer JHP myself.

 

[Blueduck]

Many thanks for all the replies and suggestions

Johnny, guns I use these loads in are my 2 1/2" and 4" Model 19's, normally carry the 2 1/2" but occasionally you just need a change. Using the 4 grain fo 231 under 158 grain semi wadcutter makes for a really relaxing afternoon

A small point here but you could also use the Round Nose Flat Point (cowboy) lead bullets. The price is the same as SWCs but the RNFP will work better with speedloaders. IIRC Laser Cast also makes a TC bullet that should be easy to drop into the cylinder.-Griz

Griz that really brought a moment of clarity to Blueducks constantly cluttered little mind

I'd started using semi-wadcutters because thats what we normally practice and qualify twice a year with, however my carry load is a 147 grain +p+ Hydra-shok which would have a much closer profile to the load you suggest. So actually for the past couple of years I've been practicing for my practice instead of practing for real. if you know what I mean

 

[357Man]

I've been messing around quite a bit with the same sort of thing lately; I like the Laser Cast bullets as well, I've been shooting the 158 grain FP. For commercial machine cast bullets, they are just about the best I've ever seen. The only better ones around are the hand cast ones from Dry Creek Bullets and maybe Leadheads, but they cost more.
My favorites lately has been the 158 FP with 5.5 grains of Unique or 6.0 grains of AA#5 in .38 cases.
This afternoon, I tried out some 125 grain Hornady XTPs in .357 cases with 7.0 grains Titegroup. More power than your average plinker, but accurate.
If you're curious about checking out other bullet weights, give the 125s and the 140s a try. For what you said you are using these loads for, I don't see much need to shoot 180s.