Help Identifying a bullet

Reef · February 24, 2015, 09:43 AM

I have box of unidentified 38 bullets. They measure .357 and weigh 125 grains. Any idea looking at the two pictures who the manufacture is?

Jimro · February 24, 2015, 09:58 AM

Could be a Winchester or Fiocchi based on my highly calibrated eyeball....

Jimro

precision_shooter · February 24, 2015, 10:32 AM

Could also be Prvi. Or Magtech, though not certain...

wogpotter · February 24, 2015, 11:45 AM

Might be a Sierra, they make a semi-jacketed hollowpoint.

Nick_C_S · February 24, 2015, 11:53 AM

Sierra's are straight and angular on the sides; not curved.

But I don't know what it is. Not Speer, Sierra, or Hornady.

Maybe Nosler??

snuffy · February 24, 2015, 11:58 AM

Looks like a Sierra to me as well. They have that sharp shoulder on the edge of the HP and a flatter front.

Why the question? Load it like any other jacketed bullet of the same weight. Start at starting load for a similar bullet, work up from there.

skizzums · February 24, 2015, 12:06 PM

have a box of old sierra's that look mighty similar, ill check it closer when I get home.

mikld · February 24, 2015, 02:12 PM

That looks like the Speer 125 gr jacketed hollow point I used for several years before I started casting...

T. O'Heir · February 24, 2015, 02:36 PM

Could be from any maker. If loading it is your plan, you don't need to know who made. That doesn't matter. Only the weight does.

Sevens · February 24, 2015, 02:38 PM

The closest bullet I've got to that is the Zero 125gr JHP. From the side I would be willing to bet on it -- but from the top looking in to the cavity, the Zero that I have are more photogenic and have a bright, shiny bit of lead deep down in the hole. Yours may also look that way when you peer inside, perhaps the bullet you photographed is just camera shy or the flash didn't hit it properly.

Zero makes a decent CHEAP jacketed pistol bullet. It is NOT a bad bullet. But it is not a Hornady XTP in accuracy or a Sierra or Nosler in construction. It is a budget jacketed slug and I have been through many, many thousands of them.

Mike / Tx · February 24, 2015, 06:23 PM

Quote:

The closest bullet I've got to that is the Zero 125gr JHP

That is the closest I have as well. It also looks VERY similar although shorter to their 158gr as well.

Reef · February 24, 2015, 06:43 PM

Thanks for all the replies.

Quote:

Why the question? Load it like any other jacketed bullet of the same weight. Start at starting load for a similar bullet, work up from there.

I found these in storage from when I purchased my original reloading setup from a guy on Craig’s List and they were not labeled. I measured/weighed them and then looked in several reloading manuals to compare load data. Lyman lists the OAL for the 125 gr. Jacketed HP at 1.470, Lee lists 125 gr. Jacketed at 1.447, Sierra 1.450, and Speer is 1.435 – 1.440. I was just trying to match the bullet to the actual load manual specifications. If the longer OAL of 1.470 that is listed in the Lyman manual is used, the bullet is not seated deep enough to crimp in the cannelure area.

I ended up seating to the middle of the cannelure which turned out to be about 1.440 and went with a starting charge and worked up to a mid-charge level listed in the Lyman.

I appreciate the help guys.

Nick_C_S · February 24, 2015, 06:51 PM

Quote:

I ended up seating to the middle of the cannelure.

That's how you load cannelured revolver bullets - seat to the cannelure. The calipers stay tucked away in their case.

skizzums · February 24, 2015, 08:36 PM

yuppers....no need unless you are worried about being too long for the cylinder. if you are planning to load to absolute maximum pressures, then maybe it could be of some concern.

February 24, 2015, 11:53 AM	#5
Nick_C_S Senior Member Join Date: March 21, 2013 Location: Idaho Posts: 5,536	Sierra's are straight and angular on the sides; not curved. But I don't know what it is. Not Speer, Sierra, or Hornady. Maybe Nosler?? __________________ Gun control laws benefit only criminals and politicians - but then, I repeat myself. Life Member, National Rifle Association

February 24, 2015, 02:38 PM	#10
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,758	The closest bullet I've got to that is the Zero 125gr JHP. From the side I would be willing to bet on it -- but from the top looking in to the cavity, the Zero that I have are more photogenic and have a bright, shiny bit of lead deep down in the hole. Yours may also look that way when you peer inside, perhaps the bullet you photographed is just camera shy or the flash didn't hit it properly. Zero makes a decent CHEAP jacketed pistol bullet. It is NOT a bad bullet. But it is not a Hornady XTP in accuracy or a Sierra or Nosler in construction. It is a budget jacketed slug and I have been through many, many thousands of them. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

February 24, 2015, 09:58 AM	#2
Jimro Senior Member Join Date: October 18, 2006 Posts: 7,097	Could be a Winchester or Fiocchi based on my highly calibrated eyeball.... Jimro

February 24, 2015, 10:32 AM	#3
precision_shooter Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2007 Location: DFW, Texas Posts: 2,475	Could also be Prvi. Or Magtech, though not certain...

February 24, 2015, 11:45 AM	#4
wogpotter Senior Member Join Date: September 27, 2004 Posts: 4,811	Might be a Sierra, they make a semi-jacketed hollowpoint.

February 24, 2015, 11:58 AM	#6
snuffy Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2001 Location: Oshkosh wi. Posts: 3,055	Looks like a Sierra to me as well. They have that sharp shoulder on the edge of the HP and a flatter front. Why the question? Load it like any other jacketed bullet of the same weight. Start at starting load for a similar bullet, work up from there.

February 24, 2015, 12:06 PM	#7
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	have a box of old sierra's that look mighty similar, ill check it closer when I get home.

February 24, 2015, 02:12 PM	#8
mikld Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2009 Location: Southern Oregon! Posts: 2,891	That looks like the Speer 125 gr jacketed hollow point I used for several years before I started casting...

February 24, 2015, 02:36 PM	#9
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Could be from any maker. If loading it is your plan, you don't need to know who made. That doesn't matter. Only the weight does.

February 24, 2015, 08:36 PM	#14
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	yuppers....no need unless you are worried about being too long for the cylinder. if you are planning to load to absolute maximum pressures, then maybe it could be of some concern.