The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old January 31, 2014, 07:26 AM   #1
ammo.crafter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 25, 2006
Location: The Keystone State
Posts: 1,967
.38 Special

Re: reloading 38Spcl ammo for S&W .38 Masterpiece which fires .38 Spcl and rated to also fire .38+P.

I have 500 cast lead swc with diameter .358 @ 140 grains.

Can these be used to reload .38 Spcl? I know the recommended bullet diameter is .357.

Thanks.
__________________
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson
ammo.crafter is offline  
Old January 31, 2014, 07:38 AM   #2
Salmoneye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 31, 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 2,076
Actually...

In the .38 S&W Special, the SAAMI spec for cast lead is .359"...

.358" is the spec for jacketed bullets...

The .357 Magnum has the same SAAMI specs, and I have never understood how or why bullet companies 'settled' on .357" for most commercial jacketed bullets...

ADDING:

lol

Forgot to answer your question...

You will have no issues loading those bullets for your .38 Spcl.....

Enjoy!
Salmoneye is offline  
Old January 31, 2014, 07:42 AM   #3
ammo.crafter
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 25, 2006
Location: The Keystone State
Posts: 1,967
OK

Actually, I believe it's the other way around.
__________________
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history when everybody stands around reloading".
--Thomas Jefferson
ammo.crafter is offline  
Old January 31, 2014, 07:51 AM   #4
Salmoneye
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 31, 2011
Location: Vermont
Posts: 2,076
Actually, I believe it's the other way around.

Believe what is the other way around?



Page 48 of the PDF but numbered Page 40:

http://www.saami.org/specifications_...wnload/205.pdf

Last edited by Salmoneye; January 31, 2014 at 08:01 AM.
Salmoneye is offline  
Old January 31, 2014, 11:01 AM   #5
pete2
Senior Member
 
Join Date: May 15, 2012
Location: Texas
Posts: 2,566
.358 is the standard for cast bullets in the .38 or .357. S&W bbl usually slugs .357ish. Colt will probably be smaller, .356 or .355.
pete2 is offline  
Old January 31, 2014, 12:27 PM   #6
mikld
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 7, 2009
Location: Southern Oregon!
Posts: 2,891
I disregard "standards" an "should be" dimensions when dealing with cast bullets. I slug every barrel and measure every throat of my guns I shoot with lead bullets. But .358" will prolly work quite well in your handgun...
__________________
My Anchor is holding fast!
I've learned how to stand on my own two knees...
mikld is offline  
Old January 31, 2014, 06:52 PM   #7
bedbugbilly
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 19, 2009
Posts: 3,283
I cast all of the bullets I use for reloading 38 spl / .357. I size them to .358 and they work fine out of all 7 of my 38spl / .357 revolvers I shoot.
__________________
If a pair of '51 Navies were good enough for Billy Hickok, then a single Navy on my right hip is good enough for me . . . besides . . . I'm probably only half as good as he was anyways. Hiram's Rangers Badge #63
bedbugbilly is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 04:41 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.06993 seconds with 8 queries