what bullet to use

Doc Holliday 1950 · January 10, 2015, 08:44 PM

If you had your choice to get Speer, Hornady or Barnes bullet to hand load them to your specific load, which would you get. These loads will be somewhere between a 38 special + P and a 357 mag 140 grain load . All will be Hollow points.
The 2- 357 mags are a Rossi 2" and a EAA Windictor 4 ". Please everyone, we're not discussing whether these revolvers are good bad or ugly. All i'd like is what each of you would recommend what load you would you would go between a 38 sec. +P and 357 140 grain HP for SP? This is question 148.
Thanks,
Doc

Cheapshooter · January 10, 2015, 08:59 PM

I would be between Speer Gold Dot, and Hornady XTP.
Probably work up loads for both, and see if there is any accuracy difference.
But, leaning toward the Gold Dot (but it would be 135 gr.) If the extra 5 grains is important to you go with the Hornady.
As far as Barns, I'm not convinced. I don't run lead free!

Wreck-n-Crew · January 10, 2015, 09:12 PM

I'm with cheapshooter and would leave nothing to chance and use the Speer or Hornady. Right now I have nothing but XTP's in 9mm and 45 with the exception of some factory Critical Duty ammo in 9mm.

Nick_C_S · January 10, 2015, 09:17 PM

Quote:

I would be between Speer Gold Dot, and Hornady XTP.
But, leaning toward the Gold Dot (but it would be 135 gr.)

Cheapshooter covered it for me too.

Note: 135 GDHP SB's are extremely hard to find; and Hornady 140 XTP's are plentiful.

Cheapshooter · January 10, 2015, 09:37 PM

Quote:

Note: 135 GDHP SB's are extremely hard to find; and Hornady 140 XTP's are plentiful.

Right, didn't mean to send Doc on a wild goose chase.

The Hornady XTP will provide everything he is looking for.

skizzums · January 10, 2015, 10:19 PM

it's very hard to find any of the cool .38 bullets in stock right now. I would like to see the Sierra JHP sportsmaster 140gr and even the nosler 140gr. even the standard Remington half-jackets are out of stock or discontinued. I think the barnes are probably awesome bullets, but I will never know due to the 80c a bullet cost.

looks like you may be stuck with either hornaay or barnes at the moment. they will probably start pushing out pistol bullets more when spring comes around though

http://www.onlineshootingsupplies.co...ow-point-100ct
found these, only 125gr though, but may be more suited to a snubby more than a 140gr. I am not much for heavyweight from "2 or less barrels, they don't get the speed to reliably expand. but if your rocking 3" barrels or more, go as heavy as you please. www.grafs.com will be best place, but they don't have a ton of choice right now

mmb713 · January 10, 2015, 11:29 PM

For SD my first choice would be Speer Gold Dot followed by the XTP at a close second. I have no interest in loading Barnes bullets. You don't mention which powders you are considering for your mid-range 357 loads.

Cheapshooter · January 10, 2015, 11:47 PM

I checked the "usual suspects" in reloading supplies, and the Hornady 140 XTP are available at all of them.

Quote:

You don't mention which powders you are considering for your mid-range 357 loads.

And therein might be the real problem if he doesn't have suitable powder already on hand.
Pistol powder has been as difficult to find as 22 rimfire ammo!

Dufus · January 11, 2015, 12:32 AM

For a really good performing bullet in that caliber, the Hornady FTX 140 gr is a hard one to beat.

skizzums · January 11, 2015, 04:37 AM

powder isn't a problem for him. he has H110, Lil' Gun, IMR4227, titegroup, hp38 and hs6 all available to him. not to mention some thers, like 2400 I think

Mike / Tx · January 11, 2015, 10:06 AM

Between the choices mentioned I also go with the Speer and Hornady in that order.

I have simply used the Speer's probably 5-1 over the Hornady bullets in my handguns with excellent results on both target and game. Not saying that Hornady doesn't make a very fine bullet, but you asked which ones for my loads.

For powders I would look into the mid to slower burn range, like HS-6, AA-5 or 7, maybe 2400. The 110 will give you a huge muzzle flash as will 2400 but at least with 2400 you have a wider range of loads to work with. The AA powders are very low flash, in my experience, in comparrison to the others, more of a dull orange glow, than a bright white flash. The HS-6 would probably work well also but I haven't loaded much if anything using it and jacketed. All of the loads I use it for are with my 45 Colt and lead.

January 10, 2015, 08:44 PM	#1
Doc Holliday 1950 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2014 Location: Bout as south as it gets Posts: 1,238	what bullet to use If you had your choice to get Speer, Hornady or Barnes bullet to hand load them to your specific load, which would you get. These loads will be somewhere between a 38 special + P and a 357 mag 140 grain load . All will be Hollow points. The 2- 357 mags are a Rossi 2" and a EAA Windictor 4 ". Please everyone, we're not discussing whether these revolvers are good bad or ugly. All i'd like is what each of you would recommend what load you would you would go between a 38 sec. +P and 357 140 grain HP for SP? This is question 148. Thanks, Doc

January 10, 2015, 08:59 PM	#2
Cheapshooter Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2007 Location: Missouri Posts: 8,306	I would be between Speer Gold Dot, and Hornady XTP. Probably work up loads for both, and see if there is any accuracy difference. But, leaning toward the Gold Dot (but it would be 135 gr.) If the extra 5 grains is important to you go with the Hornady. As far as Barns, I'm not convinced. I don't run lead free! __________________ Cheapshooter's rules of gun ownership #1: NEVER SELL OR TRADE ANYTHING!

January 10, 2015, 09:12 PM	#3
Wreck-n-Crew Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2013 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,820	I'm with cheapshooter and would leave nothing to chance and use the Speer or Hornady. Right now I have nothing but XTP's in 9mm and 45 with the exception of some factory Critical Duty ammo in 9mm. __________________ If you ever have to use a firearm, *you don't get to pick the scenario!*

January 10, 2015, 10:19 PM	#6
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	it's very hard to find any of the cool .38 bullets in stock right now. I would like to see the Sierra JHP sportsmaster 140gr and even the nosler 140gr. even the standard Remington half-jackets are out of stock or discontinued. I think the barnes are probably awesome bullets, but I will never know due to the 80c a bullet cost. looks like you may be stuck with either hornaay or barnes at the moment. they will probably start pushing out pistol bullets more when spring comes around though http://www.onlineshootingsupplies.co...ow-point-100ct found these, only 125gr though, but may be more suited to a snubby more than a 140gr. I am not much for heavyweight from "2 or less barrels, they don't get the speed to reliably expand. but if your rocking 3" barrels or more, go as heavy as you please. www.grafs.com will be best place, but they don't have a ton of choice right now __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

January 11, 2015, 04:37 AM	#10
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	powder isn't a problem for him. he has H110, Lil' Gun, IMR4227, titegroup, hp38 and hs6 all available to him. not to mention some thers, like 2400 I think __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

January 10, 2015, 11:29 PM	#7
mmb713 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2011 Location: Salt Lake City, UT Posts: 421	For SD my first choice would be Speer Gold Dot followed by the XTP at a close second. I have no interest in loading Barnes bullets. You don't mention which powders you are considering for your mid-range 357 loads.

January 11, 2015, 12:32 AM	#9
Dufus Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2014 Posts: 1,965	For a really good performing bullet in that caliber, the Hornady FTX 140 gr is a hard one to beat.

January 11, 2015, 10:06 AM	#11
Mike / Tx Senior Member Join Date: April 8, 2000 Posts: 2,102	Between the choices mentioned I also go with the Speer and Hornady in that order. I have simply used the Speer's probably 5-1 over the Hornady bullets in my handguns with excellent results on both target and game. Not saying that Hornady doesn't make a very fine bullet, but you asked which ones for my loads. For powders I would look into the mid to slower burn range, like HS-6, AA-5 or 7, maybe 2400. The 110 will give you a huge muzzle flash as will 2400 but at least with 2400 you have a wider range of loads to work with. The AA powders are very low flash, in my experience, in comparrison to the others, more of a dull orange glow, than a bright white flash. The HS-6 would probably work well also but I haven't loaded much if anything using it and jacketed. All of the loads I use it for are with my 45 Colt and lead. __________________ LAter, Mike / TX