Cleanest ammo

Doc Holliday 1950 · January 31, 2020, 11:18 PM

I bought some cheap 38 sp. AMMO that smoked a lot & was a real pain in the gluteus Maximus to clean. I’m using Hornady 357 mag AMMO
This is for my new King Cobra 3” 357:38 sp

TruthTellers · February 3, 2020, 02:53 AM

I'll assume the cheap .38 was a lead bullet and that smoke is from the lube being burned, not the powder. Try any jacketed bullet or the Federal Syntech ammo, which is a polymer coated bullet. Neither use lube, less smoke, less mess, especially with the polymer bullet.

Dan-O · February 3, 2020, 03:45 AM

Id rather have a dirty gun than a clean gun.

Hal · February 3, 2020, 05:25 AM

Quote:

I'll assume the cheap .38 was a lead bullet and that smoke is from the lube being burned, not the powder.

I'll 2nd that. "Cheap" usually entails "remanufactured" - aka - commercial reloads.
Those are made to a price point - which usually means - lead bullets, horrible clay-type lube & a small quantity of the cheapest powder that will suffice to deliver enough oomph to let the bullet clear the barrel.

The best solution I know of is - take up reloading and make your own clean burning "cheap .38 spl.".

jaguarxk120 · February 3, 2020, 09:32 AM

As the old ad said years ago " You can trust the man with the star".
I'm talking about the lube star on the guns muzzle. To me cleaning out copper is more of a pain than cleaning lead/lube. For me Alox works fine all the way up to +P 44 magnums.
Yes I have to clean, but that is part of shooting.

gwpercle · February 5, 2020, 05:10 PM

The cleanest ammo ?
In over 50 years of reading gun magazines I don't think I've ever seen a test on which ammo is the cleanest shooting .
That might be an interesting topic for an ammo test !

Personally I'm more interested in accuracy and always pay attention to how accurate ammo is .
Gary

74A95 · February 6, 2020, 05:28 AM

What specific ammo was it that was smoking and dirty?

Hal · February 6, 2020, 10:56 AM

Quote:

In over 50 years of reading gun magazines I don't think I've ever seen a test on which ammo is the cleanest shooting .

For real?
I've read all sorts of comments over the years about how clean this or that burned.

I will admit though, it's got to be a good 30 years since I last read a gun rag.

Anyhow - in the reloading forum - clean burning is frequently spoken of when talking about different powders.

I can tell you that - Alliant Unique sure isn't clean.

.

stinkeypete · February 6, 2020, 01:04 PM

I like 2400 in .357 Magnum but
Win 231 is clean but I think too fast for a hunting load but might do well in a snub barrel
and Vihtavuori N110 looks to be a good full house powder and is said to be clean. I have not used that brand... others can comment.

As for factory ammo... I never shoot that stuff.

Erno86 · February 6, 2020, 02:00 PM

For practice ammo: I like the clean burning, aluminum cased Speer handgun ammo.

T. O'Heir · February 6, 2020, 02:38 PM

"...lube being burned, not the powder..." It's actually both. There can be some lead in the mix with a cast bullet too.
Is the question, "What factory .357 ammo burns the cleanest"?
The assorted manufacturers do not publish what powder they use anyway(they load for a specific velocity and SAAMI pressure according to the bullet weight and type.), but what bullet was in the .38's matters.
All of Hornady's .357 is jacketed, so lube smoke doesn't apply.
"...was a real pain in the gluteus Maximus to clean..." You're doing something wrong. Leave the solvent on for a half hour or so to let it work.

January 31, 2020, 11:18 PM	#1
Doc Holliday 1950 Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2014 Location: Bout as south as it gets Posts: 1,238	Cleanest ammo I bought some cheap 38 sp. AMMO that smoked a lot & was a real pain in the gluteus Maximus to clean. I’m using Hornady 357 mag AMMO This is for my new King Cobra 3” 357:38 sp

February 3, 2020, 02:53 AM	#2
TruthTellers Senior Member Join Date: October 22, 2016 Posts: 3,962	I'll assume the cheap .38 was a lead bullet and that smoke is from the lube being burned, not the powder. Try any jacketed bullet or the Federal Syntech ammo, which is a polymer coated bullet. Neither use lube, less smoke, less mess, especially with the polymer bullet. __________________ "We always think there's gonna be more time... then it runs out."

February 6, 2020, 02:00 PM	#10
Erno86 Senior Member Join Date: September 22, 2012 Location: Marriottsville, Maryland Posts: 1,779	For practice ammo: I like the clean burning, aluminum cased Speer handgun ammo. __________________ That rifle hanging on the wall of the working class flat or labourer's cottage is the symbol of democracy. It is our job to see that it stays there." --- George Orwell

February 3, 2020, 03:45 AM	#3
Dan-O Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 2011 Location: Northern Colorado Posts: 969	Id rather have a dirty gun than a clean gun.

February 3, 2020, 09:32 AM	#5
jaguarxk120 Senior Member Join Date: February 28, 2008 Location: Michigan Posts: 2,626	As the old ad said years ago " You can trust the man with the star". I'm talking about the lube star on the guns muzzle. To me cleaning out copper is more of a pain than cleaning lead/lube. For me Alox works fine all the way up to +P 44 magnums. Yes I have to clean, but that is part of shooting.

February 5, 2020, 05:10 PM	#6
gwpercle Senior Member Join Date: November 30, 2012 Location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana Posts: 1,915	The cleanest ammo ? In over 50 years of reading gun magazines I don't think I've ever seen a test on which ammo is the cleanest shooting . That might be an interesting topic for an ammo test ! Personally I'm more interested in accuracy and always pay attention to how accurate ammo is . Gary

February 6, 2020, 05:28 AM	#7
74A95 Senior Member Join Date: November 26, 2016 Posts: 1,674	What specific ammo was it that was smoking and dirty?

February 6, 2020, 01:04 PM	#9
stinkeypete Senior Member Join Date: July 22, 2010 Location: Madison, Wisconsin Posts: 1,344	I like 2400 in .357 Magnum but Win 231 is clean but I think too fast for a hunting load but might do well in a snub barrel and Vihtavuori N110 looks to be a good full house powder and is said to be clean. I have not used that brand... others can comment. As for factory ammo... I never shoot that stuff.

February 6, 2020, 02:38 PM	#11
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...lube being burned, not the powder..." It's actually both. There can be some lead in the mix with a cast bullet too. Is the question, "What factory .357 ammo burns the cleanest"? The assorted manufacturers do not publish what powder they use anyway(they load for a specific velocity and SAAMI pressure according to the bullet weight and type.), but what bullet was in the .38's matters. All of Hornady's .357 is jacketed, so lube smoke doesn't apply. "...was a real pain in the gluteus Maximus to clean..." You're doing something wrong. Leave the solvent on for a half hour or so to let it work.