anyone use the Hornady lead bullets

bossman · March 7, 2011, 08:31 PM

I've used the Hornady .38 lswchp and liked it. Looking to try the 230 gr and the 255 gr and will be using Universal powder. Anybody have any favorite loads with Hornady's. What's the old FBI load.

ammo.crafter · March 7, 2011, 08:49 PM

The old FBI .38spl load was 158gr cast lead swc hp

bossman · March 8, 2011, 08:26 PM

No one? What's up with them are they to soft?

noylj · March 8, 2011, 08:55 PM

They are swaged bullets. They are not soft, as in pure lead swaged bullets.
I like them, except for the cost and they do not give me the accuracy that other lead bullets do. I am a big fan of swaged bullets rather than cast bullets.
However, in .38 Special wadcutter loads for my S&W M52, the Remington 148gn HBWC beats all others brands I have tested hands down and they are the least expensive.
For .45 Auto, the Hornady 200gn SWC is OK, but my own cast RCBS 452-201-KT (or whatever it is) and H&G68 are much better. Precision bullets makes a Moly-Koted swaged 200gn SWC that is one of my favorite bullets.
Of the many Hornady Frontier bullets I have tried, I like the 140gn .38 caliber Cowboy bullet in 9x19 and .38 Super.

Rifletom · March 9, 2011, 08:55 AM

Been using the Hornady 158 swc-hp and Unique[4.5gr]. That load is out of a older manual, as I don't have my new Hornady manual yet. But, it is very accurate in my Ruger Blackhawk. Certainly happy with it.

kraigwy · March 9, 2011, 11:35 AM

I use to use them all the time. They were good bullets, and accurate as any out there. I don't use them now for two reasons. Not many around here and being retired I have more time to cast my own.

Yes they are softer then a lot of cast bullets but that doesn't hurt anything if you clean your gun every now and then.

If the price was right, and I was too lazy to cast my bullets, I'd use them now (if I could find them).

March 7, 2011, 08:31 PM	#1
bossman Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 996	anyone use the Hornady lead bullets I've used the Hornady .38 lswchp and liked it. Looking to try the 230 gr and the 255 gr and will be using Universal powder. Anybody have any favorite loads with Hornady's. What's the old FBI load. __________________ NRA life member When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.

March 7, 2011, 08:49 PM	#2
ammo.crafter Senior Member Join Date: June 25, 2006 Location: The Keystone State Posts: 1,970	FBI The old FBI .38spl load was 158gr cast lead swc hp __________________ "Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading". --Thomas Jefferson

March 8, 2011, 08:26 PM	#3
bossman Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 996	No one? What's up with them are they to soft? __________________ NRA life member When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.

March 9, 2011, 11:35 AM	#6
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	I use to use them all the time. They were good bullets, and accurate as any out there. I don't use them now for two reasons. Not many around here and being retired I have more time to cast my own. Yes they are softer then a lot of cast bullets but that doesn't hurt anything if you clean your gun every now and then. If the price was right, and I was too lazy to cast my bullets, I'd use them now (if I could find them). __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

March 8, 2011, 08:55 PM	#4
noylj Senior Member Join Date: October 21, 2007 Location: Between CA and NM Posts: 858	They are swaged bullets. They are not soft, as in pure lead swaged bullets. I like them, except for the cost and they do not give me the accuracy that other lead bullets do. I am a big fan of swaged bullets rather than cast bullets. However, in .38 Special wadcutter loads for my S&W M52, the Remington 148gn HBWC beats all others brands I have tested hands down and they are the least expensive. For .45 Auto, the Hornady 200gn SWC is OK, but my own cast RCBS 452-201-KT (or whatever it is) and H&G68 are much better. Precision bullets makes a Moly-Koted swaged 200gn SWC that is one of my favorite bullets. Of the many Hornady Frontier bullets I have tried, I like the 140gn .38 caliber Cowboy bullet in 9x19 and .38 Super.

March 9, 2011, 08:55 AM	#5
Rifletom Senior Member Join Date: February 11, 2011 Location: So-Cal Posts: 789	Been using the Hornady 158 swc-hp and Unique[4.5gr]. That load is out of a older manual, as I don't have my new Hornady manual yet. But, it is very accurate in my Ruger Blackhawk. Certainly happy with it.