38/357 mag loads

[rebs]

I want to shoot my Smith 38 chiefs special 2" and my Smith model 19 4" 357 mag with 158 gr lswc's, can anyone recommend a place to buy accurate lswc's like the Elmer Keith style bullet ?
I am trying to decide or figure out a comfortable load for each one to shoot at the range. Does anyone have a pet load that I can work up to ?

[kraigwy]

I use LSWC's in all my38/357s, have been doing so for almost 40 years with great results.

For 38s I load 4.5 grns of unique for my 642 pocket gun and my M-64 ICORE revolver.

For 357s I load 14.5 grns of 2400 with the same bullet. Raises heck with bowling pins and I've shoot every thing up to moose and buffalo out of my 4 in Model 28 using that load.

I have gone to a 6 in Model 27 for bowling pens, I think the longer sight radius helps.

Both the 38 & 357s listed above also work great in my Marlin 94 38/357.

I don't see any reason what so ever to change.

[Misssissippi Dave]

I can't help too much. I have been using Montana Gold 158 grain JHP bullets. I have been using AA7 for mag loads and think it is a good combination. I had a few thousand SPM primers and thought as long as I was working up a new load I would use them. I have been happy with the results. If you were here I would be happy to let you try some to see what you thing of the load. I'm using a 4" barrel but I don't see using a little shorter barrel being a problem.

[m&p45acp10+1]

Pick one for cast lead projectiles. I cast my own. Shot a few hundred Precision Delta out of my Mod. 67-1 with no problems, or lead build up. My favorite load is using about 3.3 to 3.5 grains of Trail Boss gets a guestimated 700 or so FPS out of my 4 inch barrel. Shoots nice, and pleasant. Very clean as well. Trail Boss is the cleanest pistol powder I have ever loaded with.

[rclark]

Yep. Go to Rimrock and get some 158g SWCs. Put them under 5.0g of Red Dot (.357 case) and you are good to go. Easy shooting and accurate.

[zxcvbob]

In .38 Special with 158 grain cast bullets, I use 4.5 grains of Unique for a normal load, and 4.5 grains of American Select for a +P load. I also shoot a lot of 148 grain wadcutters using 2.6 grains of Red Dot.

In .357 with 158's I use 8.0 grains of Herco. If I want to go hotter, I switch to AA#7 (don't remember the amount, it's about 10 or 11 grains.) 148 grain wadcutters with 4.5 grains of Red Dot is a fun load and very accurate.

[rebs]

I use LSWC's in all my38/357s, have been doing so for almost 40 years with great results.

For 38s I load 4.5 grns of unique for my 642 pocket gun and my M-64 ICORE revolver.

For 357s I load 14.5 grns of 2400 with the same bullet. Raises heck with bowling pins and I've shoot every thing up to moose and buffalo out of my 4 in Model 28 using that load.

I have gone to a 6 in Model 27 for bowling pens, I think the longer sight radius helps.

Both the 38 & 357s listed above also work great in my Marlin 94 38/357.

I don't see any reason what so ever to change.
__________________

Kraig are those close to max loads or nice comfortable loads ?


Thank you for the replies, I appreciate it

[Sevens]

I like Dardas for commercial cast bullets:
http://www.dardascastbullets.com/
I buy his 9mm slugs more than anything, but I've had fine luck with the handful of 158gr LSWC I've gotten, too. I've been running them with 4.1 grains of Hodgdon Universal which is right in the middle of the range that Hodgdon currently publishes for a .38 Special, non+p.

I haven't worked with them in .357 Magnum loads.

[PawPaw]

For .38 special my standard load is 4.3 grains of Unique under a 158 LSWC. That gives me 780 fps from my 4" Model 66. I haven't chrony'd it from my snubbies.

For .357, I use that same bullet over 14.0 grains of Alliant 2400. I get over 1200 fps from my 6" Model 28, and over 1700 fps from my Marlin 1894.

You'll notice that these are really close to Kraig's loads. I don't consider either of them a max load. Still, they do what I want to do in the caliber.

[Wyoredman]

Does anyone here use 231 in their .38 spl loads? I have been trying it out and am finding that 4.0gr under a 158 gr SWC seems to be an excellent round. I originally load this round for my S&W 686, but my wife likes shooting them from her S&W Bodyguard.

What is the drawback of 231 in 38? It seems that the 231 meters very well in my powder thrower (Lyman) and you don't need much, so a pound makes alot of ammo.

Share your 231 in .38 spl experiences with me, please.

[zxcvbob]

There is no drawback to using 231 in .38 Special, it's an ideal powder for that application. There's lots of other good powders too, and I found loads I liked before I got around to trying 231 (or HP38, which is the same thing now)

[rebs]

Thank you guys for all the replies, I appreciate it

[reloader28]

2400 for 357.
Bullseye is another good one for 38spl.