Which bullet to buy next?

[SonOfScubaDiver]

So.......now that I'm finally doing some reloading, I'd like to find out which bullet style and weight would work best in my revolvers. For my first reloading, I loaded 148gn DEWC. I fired them out of both my 3" SP101 and my LCR. The SP101 is a 357 and the LCR is a 38spcl. I noticed two things while at the range: accuracy got noticeably better with the SP101 at 7-25 yards--accuracy was about the same with the LCR, but actually got a little worse at 15-25 yards. The factory target ammo I was buying was 130gn. I know enough to know that different weight bullets give different results, but I don't know how to find out what weight bullets my guns' sights come dialed in at from the factory. Since most 357 SD ammo is of the 125gn variety, I'm guessing that that would probly be the best weight bullet for the SP101, but I could be wrong because I'm not loading magnum rounds, just regular old 38 spcl, and like I said, accuracy got better with the 148gn DEWC. What do you guys recommend I try next? I know that 158gn bullets were the standard in 38spcl for decades, but does that mean that's what I should load for the LCR and SP101? Do I load different weight bullets for each gun? I know half the "fun" is trying this, that, and the other when reloading, but I'm trying not to go too crazy with supplies until I have a more permanent place in the house to git mah reloading on. Since the possibilities are endless when it comes to 38spcl, I'm hoping y'all can help me narrow things down. I'm open to any style of bullet. It doesn't have to be a DEWC. I'm open to trying FMJ, LRN, SWC, HPSWC, Semi JHP, Flat nose, etc. Thanks.

[disseminator]

I'm partial to Elmer Keith WFN bullets myself. I shoot a ton of em in my Model 29.

But, try 'em all.

[reddog81]

158 lead SWC or something close to that would be my choice. Cheap, easy to load, accurate, lots of load data, etc.

Of course anything 125 to 180 will work and some people prefer heavier while others prefer even lighter.

[USSR]

When I'm not shooting 148gr HBWC's, I'm shooting 158gr SWCHP's as in the FBI Load.

Don

[FITASC]

Most 38/357 come regulated for using the standard 158 grain bullet that has been the standard basically from the beginning.

[buck460XVR]

Did you slug the bores and throats of both revolvers? Many times different guns will have different dimensions and thus different performance when using the same diameter lead bullet. Most fixed sighted .38s and .357s were originally regulated for 158 bullets at standard velocities, most adjustable sighted revolvers aren't regulated(dialed in) from the factory, just centered. Reason most factory ammo is jacketed is because the same jacketed bullets tend to work in guns with variances in throats and bore. Because of this, I generally advise new reloaders to start with jacketed bullets, because accuracy success is easier, especially if one wants to use the ammo in more than one firearm.

[SonOfScubaDiver]

I'm not sure what you mean by "slug". And yeah, both revolvers have fixed factory sights, so it seems that 158gn is what I will get next. There sure seems to be a lot more load data available than what I found for the 148gn dewc. That FBI load might be fun to try out. Maybe I'll try more than one load just to see what difference there is.

[buck460XVR]

Originally Posted by SonOfScubaDiver

I'm not sure what you mean by "slug".

Slugging refers to tapping a lead ball of slight larger-than-barrel diameter down the bore/throats. This tells you the exact dimensions of your bore/throats and the proper dimensions your lead bullets need to be for best accuracy, seal to the bore and least amount of leading. Leading and poor fit with lead bullets vastly affects accuracy, and dimensions between two different firearms, even from the same manufacturer, can vary considerably. Again, not a problem with jacketed bullets.