Speer 158 grain LSWC HP - really this ugly

grumpa72 · February 12, 2012, 04:17 PM

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/258...int-box-of-500

I am just about ready to order some Speer 158 grain LSWC HP for reloading and I expanded the photo. These things look like they were cast by someone with a hangover. Are they really this grainy and coarse looking when compared to their other lead bullets?

salvadore · February 12, 2012, 04:44 PM

I've ordered swaged .32s &.38s WCs from Midway and the photo always looks much worse than the product....so far.

grumpa72 · February 12, 2012, 04:48 PM

On the same page, is a standard semi wad cutter http://www.midwayusa.com/product/204...c=S016ID150058
that is more in line with what I expect them to look like. Has anyone ordered the Speer product?

Salvadore,
thanks for you reply. Still thinking about this order.

Shootest · February 12, 2012, 05:08 PM

Swaged bullets always have a much rougher finish than cast. Some of the difference is the lube that coats the swaged bullets. Cast are much harder and can be driven to higher velocities. I cast my own for about $15/500.

grumpa72 · February 12, 2012, 06:08 PM

Shootist,
I cast for 9mm and .45 acp but I figured I wouldn't be shooting the .38 that much since it is a 2" Colt Cobra with an alloy frame. Not very pleasant to shoot. In addition, I haven't found a mold yet for the 158 LSWC HP in .38 special yet. Of course, I could just do the SWC, I guess.

thank you,
grumpa

PawPaw · February 12, 2012, 06:15 PM

Those aren't cast, they're swaged, and they're pretty good bullets. I've used them, but currently I'm using the Hornady version. Be advised that they are soft, but they seem to work fine in my standard .38 special ammo.

grumpa72 · February 12, 2012, 07:07 PM

Thank you for your replies. I guess I learned something today, thanks to Google, and learned what swaging is. I always thought that it meant resizing cast bullets to the exact dimension required but I learned differently.

Ok, so they are different, rougher, and not as "pretty" as my cast. I guess I will order some.

thank you again,
grumpa

salvadore · February 12, 2012, 08:01 PM

I load swaged WC for a Colt Cobra also. I load the bullet out a bit till it bumps up against the throat with about 3 grs. of bullseye or titegroup. They work good and don't seem to beat up the Cobra much.

bossman · February 13, 2012, 10:30 AM

Great bullets, the rough looking part is just the type of lube they use with that bullet. They don't smoke as bad as the banded lubed bullets.

The whole bullet is coated with their lube and I know some folks say they're messy to handle, but they are a great shooting bullet. Just don't push to hard.

oneounceload · February 13, 2012, 10:40 AM

Someone turned me onto Zcast bullets - at $24/500 they are a good deal. For 12.50 shipping you can get about 3000 delivered

http://zcastbulletz.com/products.html

Hammerhead · February 13, 2012, 12:47 PM

The Speer swaged bullets look a little rough but work well up to 1,000 fps.

Ralph G. Briscoe · February 19, 2012, 01:04 AM

Swaged--soft lead. I've used them for years with no problem at snubby velocities.

grumpa72 · February 19, 2012, 07:39 AM

Thanks to all. I have some ordered. I appreciate the input.

alloy · February 19, 2012, 07:56 AM

They are very slick feeling, as if the lube is some type of clear hard waxy spray paint. I use alot of them for 38 special, they work well. They do kind of look like the picture, but not really.

February 12, 2012, 04:17 PM	#1
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	Speer 158 grain LSWC HP - really this ugly http://www.midwayusa.com/product/258...int-box-of-500 I am just about ready to order some Speer 158 grain LSWC HP for reloading and I expanded the photo. These things look like they were cast by someone with a hangover. Are they really this grainy and coarse looking when compared to their other lead bullets?

February 12, 2012, 05:08 PM	#4
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	Swaged bullets always have a much rougher finish than cast. Some of the difference is the lube that coats the swaged bullets. Cast are much harder and can be driven to higher velocities. I cast my own for about $15/500. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

February 12, 2012, 06:15 PM	#6
PawPaw Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2010 Location: Central Louisiana Posts: 3,137	Those aren't cast, they're swaged, and they're pretty good bullets. I've used them, but currently I'm using the Hornady version. Be advised that they are soft, but they seem to work fine in my standard .38 special ammo. __________________ Dennis Dezendorf http://pawpawshouse.blogspot.com

February 13, 2012, 10:30 AM	#9
bossman Senior Member Join Date: November 16, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 996	Great bullets, the rough looking part is just the type of lube they use with that bullet. They don't smoke as bad as the banded lubed bullets. The whole bullet is coated with their lube and I know some folks say they're messy to handle, but they are a great shooting bullet. Just don't push to hard. __________________ NRA life member When the going gets tough, I just open another beer.

February 12, 2012, 04:44 PM	#2
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I've ordered swaged .32s &.38s WCs from Midway and the photo always looks much worse than the product....so far.

February 12, 2012, 04:48 PM	#3
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	On the same page, is a standard semi wad cutter http://www.midwayusa.com/product/204...c=S016ID150058 that is more in line with what I expect them to look like. Has anyone ordered the Speer product? Salvadore, thanks for you reply. Still thinking about this order.

February 12, 2012, 06:08 PM	#5
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	Shootist, I cast for 9mm and .45 acp but I figured I wouldn't be shooting the .38 that much since it is a 2" Colt Cobra with an alloy frame. Not very pleasant to shoot. In addition, I haven't found a mold yet for the 158 LSWC HP in .38 special yet. Of course, I could just do the SWC, I guess. thank you, grumpa

February 12, 2012, 07:07 PM	#7
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	Thank you for your replies. I guess I learned something today, thanks to Google, and learned what swaging is. I always thought that it meant resizing cast bullets to the exact dimension required but I learned differently. Ok, so they are different, rougher, and not as "pretty" as my cast. I guess I will order some. thank you again, grumpa

February 12, 2012, 08:01 PM	#8
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	I load swaged WC for a Colt Cobra also. I load the bullet out a bit till it bumps up against the throat with about 3 grs. of bullseye or titegroup. They work good and don't seem to beat up the Cobra much.

February 13, 2012, 10:40 AM	#10
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Someone turned me onto Zcast bullets - at $24/500 they are a good deal. For 12.50 shipping you can get about 3000 delivered http://zcastbulletz.com/products.html

February 13, 2012, 12:47 PM	#11
Hammerhead Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2004 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,432	The Speer swaged bullets look a little rough but work well up to 1,000 fps.

February 19, 2012, 01:04 AM	#12
Ralph G. Briscoe Member Join Date: February 8, 2011 Posts: 60	Swaged--soft lead. I've used them for years with no problem at snubby velocities.

February 19, 2012, 07:39 AM	#13
grumpa72 Senior Member Join Date: April 5, 2009 Posts: 487	Thanks to all. I have some ordered. I appreciate the input.