38 and 357 reloads ?

rebs · July 18, 2013, 04:51 PM

what makes a decent load for each of these rounds with 158 gr LSWC bullets ? I am using unique for my 38's at 5.0 grains and 357's with 2400 at 13.5 grains. Just curious if anyone else has a pet load that is comfortable to shoot.

WESHOOT2 · July 20, 2013, 06:08 AM

3.2--4.2g W231 in 38 Special

4.6--5.4g Universal in 357 Magnum

mineralman55 · July 20, 2013, 07:09 AM

5 grains of AA#2 under the 158 LSWC. Also 4.1 grains of Trail Boss under a 158 LSWC. They're accurate, you can shoot them all day long and never get tired.

Webleymkv · July 20, 2013, 07:23 AM

I run 14gr 2400 under a 158gr LSWC for .357's in my S&W Models 27, 28, and 66 and 4gr Unique under the same bullet for .38's in my S&W Model 36. Both my .38 and .357 loads use Winchester small pistol primers.

243winxb · July 20, 2013, 08:58 AM

CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information. With 158 gr LSWC home cast bullets, I am using unique for my 38's at 5.2 grains and 357's with 2400 at 13.0 grains.

Drue · July 21, 2013, 05:20 PM

A 158 LWC over 5 grains of Unique is my "standard" load for .38 Spl. It chronys at 930 fps out of my 6" S&W which is a little hotter that the factory 158 LRN (830 fps) but is mild to shoot and groups well in my revolvers. I have also loaded and shot a bunch of .357s with a 158 and 13.5 of 2400. This is the old Skeeter Skelton load and it worked very well for me. I used to cast the Lyman 358156 bullet which uses a gas check. I lost all of my bullet molds in Hurricane Katrina and have not gotten back into bullet casting since. I have tried the load with plain based bullets from various vendors with poor results. They shoot accurately and do not lead the bore. But they deposit lead on the back end of the barrel and after 12 or 18 rounds it is impossible to turn the cylinder until the back end of the barrel is brass brushed. I suppose that the hot powder gasses are vaporizing the back end of the bullet and depositing the lead on the back end of the barrel. Plain based bullets work fine for the 5gr Unique load but my experience suggests that the 13.5 of 2400 load works best with a gas check.

Drue

SVTCobra306 · July 22, 2013, 12:49 AM

I'm not exactly a veteran at reloading, but I settled on 3.5 grains of Bullseye under a 158 gr LSWC from J&K for my .38 Special loads, shooting out of a 4" K frame S&W (model 66-2), and next weekend I'll find out how they do in a 5" GP100 also. I tested Red Dot and Unique also, but Bullseye was substantially more accurate for me. Shot 40 of them in a sitting last week, no significant leading to speak of, just a little powder residue that is reportedly common with .38 SPL Bullseye loads. I'm using Remington 1 1/2 primers for them.

I haven't really started developing a .357 load yet, I got my hands on some .45 ACP and 9mm dies and components and they've been taking up most of my time at the bench

, and I just today finally got a brick of CCI 550's to work up my .357 hunting loads.

fshfindr · July 30, 2013, 07:27 PM

I use 3.7gr. of Unique for TL357-148 WC 38's and 7.2gr. for TL357-158 SWC 357's. My Colt Trooper loves these rounds as much as do. Never any discomfort. Both are very accurate. The 8' bbl helps.

ligonierbill · July 31, 2013, 04:41 AM

For .38 Special (4" S&W 64), I like 5 grains of Power Pistol under a 158 Speer swaged SWCHP for 800 fps. Go to 5.8 for a +P at 940. Power Pistol meters very well. These are real soft bullets, not for mag velocities.

Tennessee Jed · July 31, 2013, 05:27 PM

I've recently been using AA9 with magnum primers with a 158 swc in 357 magnum. I don't have the exact powder charge handy, but it was on the low end of the range given by Accurate on their website.

It's been an excellent load. No leading, powerful enough for 357 magnum recoil, but not so tough to beat me up too badly.

I also will second the 3.5 grains of Bullseye for 38 Special. Classic load, and it's a classic for a very good reason.

ljnowell · August 1, 2013, 12:13 AM

I have always loaded 158gr LSWC(missouri bullets 357 ACTION!!) over 14.5gr of 2400 in 357 cases. I load the same bullet over 3.6gr of AA#2 in 38 cases for a light practice load. I also load the same bullet in 38 cases over 6.1gr of Power Pistol for a full power 38 special carry load.

July 18, 2013, 04:51 PM	#1
rebs Senior Member Join Date: January 10, 2012 Posts: 3,881	38 and 357 reloads ? what makes a decent load for each of these rounds with 158 gr LSWC bullets ? I am using unique for my 38's at 5.0 grains and 357's with 2400 at 13.5 grains. Just curious if anyone else has a pet load that is comfortable to shoot.

July 20, 2013, 07:09 AM	#3
mineralman55 Member Join Date: September 29, 2009 Location: deep south Posts: 99	.357 Loads 5 grains of AA#2 under the 158 LSWC. Also 4.1 grains of Trail Boss under a 158 LSWC. They're accurate, you can shoot them all day long and never get tired.

July 20, 2013, 08:58 AM	#5
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,730	CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond or not covered by currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information. With 158 gr LSWC home cast bullets, I am using unique for my 38's at 5.2 grains and 357's with 2400 at 13.0 grains. Last edited by 243winxb; July 20, 2013 at 05:16 PM.

July 21, 2013, 05:20 PM	#6
Drue Senior Member Join Date: July 6, 2002 Location: New Orleans, La Posts: 154	A 158 LWC over 5 grains of Unique is my "standard" load for .38 Spl. It chronys at 930 fps out of my 6" S&W which is a little hotter that the factory 158 LRN (830 fps) but is mild to shoot and groups well in my revolvers. I have also loaded and shot a bunch of .357s with a 158 and 13.5 of 2400. This is the old Skeeter Skelton load and it worked very well for me. I used to cast the Lyman 358156 bullet which uses a gas check. I lost all of my bullet molds in Hurricane Katrina and have not gotten back into bullet casting since. I have tried the load with plain based bullets from various vendors with poor results. They shoot accurately and do not lead the bore. But they deposit lead on the back end of the barrel and after 12 or 18 rounds it is impossible to turn the cylinder until the back end of the barrel is brass brushed. I suppose that the hot powder gasses are vaporizing the back end of the bullet and depositing the lead on the back end of the barrel. Plain based bullets work fine for the 5gr Unique load but my experience suggests that the 13.5 of 2400 load works best with a gas check. Drue Last edited by Drue; July 21, 2013 at 05:26 PM.

July 30, 2013, 07:27 PM	#8
fshfindr Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 2013 Location: South Jersey Posts: 188	I use 3.7gr. of Unique for TL357-148 WC 38's and 7.2gr. for TL357-158 SWC 357's. My Colt Trooper loves these rounds as much as do. Never any discomfort. Both are very accurate. The 8' bbl helps. __________________ Richard L.

July 20, 2013, 06:08 AM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	standard primers 3.2--4.2g W231 in 38 Special 4.6--5.4g Universal in 357 Magnum __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

July 20, 2013, 07:23 AM	#4
Webleymkv Senior Member Join Date: July 20, 2005 Location: Indiana Posts: 10,446	I run 14gr 2400 under a 158gr LSWC for .357's in my S&W Models 27, 28, and 66 and 4gr Unique under the same bullet for .38's in my S&W Model 36. Both my .38 and .357 loads use Winchester small pistol primers.

July 22, 2013, 12:49 AM	#7
SVTCobra306 Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2013 Posts: 434	I'm not exactly a veteran at reloading, but I settled on 3.5 grains of Bullseye under a 158 gr LSWC from J&K for my .38 Special loads, shooting out of a 4" K frame S&W (model 66-2), and next weekend I'll find out how they do in a 5" GP100 also. I tested Red Dot and Unique also, but Bullseye was substantially more accurate for me. Shot 40 of them in a sitting last week, no significant leading to speak of, just a little powder residue that is reportedly common with .38 SPL Bullseye loads. I'm using Remington 1 1/2 primers for them. I haven't really started developing a .357 load yet, I got my hands on some .45 ACP and 9mm dies and components and they've been taking up most of my time at the bench , and I just today finally got a brick of CCI 550's to work up my .357 hunting loads.

July 31, 2013, 04:41 AM	#9
ligonierbill Senior Member Join Date: May 20, 2007 Posts: 2,456	For .38 Special (4" S&W 64), I like 5 grains of Power Pistol under a 158 Speer swaged SWCHP for 800 fps. Go to 5.8 for a +P at 940. Power Pistol meters very well. These are real soft bullets, not for mag velocities.

July 31, 2013, 05:27 PM	#10
Tennessee Jed Member Join Date: July 14, 2010 Posts: 92	I've recently been using AA9 with magnum primers with a 158 swc in 357 magnum. I don't have the exact powder charge handy, but it was on the low end of the range given by Accurate on their website. It's been an excellent load. No leading, powerful enough for 357 magnum recoil, but not so tough to beat me up too badly. I also will second the 3.5 grains of Bullseye for 38 Special. Classic load, and it's a classic for a very good reason.

August 1, 2013, 12:13 AM	#11
ljnowell Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Posts: 274	I have always loaded 158gr LSWC(missouri bullets 357 ACTION!!) over 14.5gr of 2400 in 357 cases. I load the same bullet over 3.6gr of AA#2 in 38 cases for a light practice load. I also load the same bullet in 38 cases over 6.1gr of Power Pistol for a full power 38 special carry load.