Not Ideal, But Ordered some 38 Super Bullets

[markr6754]

I am not necessarily desperate, but indications are that I will be if there’s no improvement in product availability, so as Mick Jagger sang, You can’t always get what you want! I ordered 1000 bullets, 38 Super, 121gr JHP .356” diameter. I’m guessing if I can load Berry’s plated, which are .356” I should be able to develop some loads for a jacketed bullet the same diameter. If I use 124gr JHP recipes I may find something in the mid range that works for me.

I recall posting about 4 boxes of 38 Super ammo that I bought in error a decade ago. Advice from multiple parties was to break it down and use the projectiles for 9mm range fodder. Guessing this is a similar scenario. Of course, I still haven’t broken down the loaded 38 Super ammo...who knows? I may obtain a sweet 1911 in that caliber one day...just so I don’t waste that ammo. Ji ji ji.

Load length may be an issue, due to the 38 Super profile versus 9mm, so I’ll err to the softer side while I work things out (assuming the bullets actually ship).

 

[AJC1]

The wait from rmr for backorder is only like3 weeks. That's not so bad.

 

[SlowFuse]

I shoot 125 grain TCFP lead bullets that are marked "38 Super" without issue, sized .357. In fact most of my German marked Sigs prefer them it seems.

If you are on the ragged edge data-wise I may back off a hair in case the bump up in size creates more pressure. I'd bet you wont be able to tell a difference, sounds like by your last sentence you're headed in the right direction.

 

[GoldieMI]

I use the 124 grain MW from RMR in 9mm/38 Super/357 Sig with different seating depths but it's more than usable for me. My 38 Super Barrels measured out at .3555 not .357/.358 (DW Guardian, Tanfoglio Gold, and Witness Match)
My 357 Sig Barrels (Sig Nightmare Full Size, P239) are happy with the same bullets too at .3555
I don't run ragged edge pressure levels and everything shoots just fine.

 

[fxvr5]

There's no problem using .356 bullets in your 9mm. Accuracy might even be better than .355 bullets (or not). Schuemann barrels recommends a jacketed bullet of .001 to .002 inches larger, and lead bullets .002 to .003 inches larger for the best accuracy.

Few 9mm barrels measure .355". Any barrel groove diameter between .355 and .359 is within SAAMI specs.
https://saami.org/wp-content/upload...FP-and-R-Approved-2015-12-14-Posting-Copy.pdf

 

[markr6754]

I use the 124 grain MW from RMR in 9mm/38 Super/357 Sig with different seating depths but it's more than usable for me. My 38 Super Barrels measured out at .3555 not .357/.358 (DW Guardian, Tanfoglio Gold, and Witness Match)
My 357 Sig Barrels (Sig Nightmare Full Size, P239) are happy with the same bullets too at .3555
I don't run ragged edge pressure levels and everything shoots just fine.

I have no means of measuring pressure levels, but as 98% of my shooting is indoors paper at 7-10 yards, I tend to load plenty soft....which can be a problem. Rounds that are attention getters in my Kimber Micro 9 seem to barely cycle my 92FS. Still, seems I'm not plowing new ground here, although from the response from AJC1 I may just place orders with RMR. I've waited a lot longer than 3 weeks for some deliveries. Not reloading, but I received an order Friday that I'd placed on 17 May. I had no idea what it was until I unwrapped the final item. I generally wouldn't give a vendor 2 months time without some kind of regular update.

 

[markr6754]

There's no problem using .356 bullets in your 9mm. Accuracy might even be better than .355 bullets (or not). Schuemann barrels recommends a jacketed bullet of .001 to .002 inches larger, and lead bullets .002 to .003 inches larger for the best accuracy.

Few 9mm barrels measure .355". Any barrel groove diameter between .355 and .359 is within SAAMI specs.
https://saami.org/wp-content/upload...FP-and-R-Approved-2015-12-14-Posting-Copy.pdf

That's an interesting point. With supplies as scarce as they are I'm surprised that his vendor wasn't listing them in the 9mm section. I only found them because I searched for ANYTHING in stock. I even saved $20 by buying 2 500 count bags. I noticed another vendor listing 124gr 9mm FMJ bullets with .356" diameter (but out of stock, of course).

 

[AJC1]

There's no problem using .356 bullets in your 9mm. Accuracy might even be better than .355 bullets (or not). Schuemann barrels recommends a jacketed bullet of .001 to .002 inches larger, and lead bullets .002 to .003 inches larger for the best accuracy.

Few 9mm barrels measure .355". Any barrel groove diameter between .355 and .359 is within SAAMI specs.
https://saami.org/wp-content/upload...FP-and-R-Approved-2015-12-14-Posting-Copy.pdf

This makes me sad they dont all produce 357 bullets instead of 355. 38 bullets are getting a lot harder to find and more expensive. I would shoot a 124 or 147 in a 38 in a heartbeat if they were larger.

 

[fxvr5]

This makes me sad they don't all produce 357 bullets instead of 355. 38 bullets are getting a lot harder to find and more expensive. I would shoot a 124 or 147 in a 38 in a heartbeat if they were larger.

You can shoot .355 bullets in your revolvers, too. The problem is that most 38/357 brass, and the mouth expansion reloading dies, are tuned for .357 bullets. That means a lose fit of .355 bullets in sized 38/357 cases. An undersize 38/357 size die will fix that.

BTW, 38 Special and 357 Magnum barrels have the same .355 +.004 groove diameter specs as 9mm/38 Super barrels. See the document at the link I posted.

 

[Dudedog]

I may just place orders with RMR

Give them a try, I think you will be happy. They normally ship really quick but are running a bit behind now, but are more than honest with their delivery times.
I really like their 124gr MPR JHPs, the Match Winners also shoot well for me in 9mm.

 

[Howland937]

I'm still pretty new at reloading in general but moreso with handgun rounds. Most all the data I've been using lists .355 bullets for the .38 Super. I haven't tried any other diameters so far since they've seemed to work pretty well. I've had better luck finding 124gr .355 than 125gr .356 or .357 anyway.