.358 caliber cast lead rifle bullet in a 357 magnum case?

CCCLVII · February 16, 2017, 01:07 AM

Any one here ever done a 358 caliber rilfe bullet in a 38 special or 357 magnum case with any luck? I am looking for a subsonic load that is heavy for caliber.

shootniron · February 16, 2017, 01:54 AM

Are you talking about something like this?

I have not shot them...but seems I have read of some folks shooting them in Handi Rifles.

Lee .358 200RF

Castboolits thread on the 200gr

Old Stony · February 16, 2017, 03:39 AM

I shot a lot of 180 gr. 358's out of a Contender years ago for silhouette competition where we needed heavy bullets to take down the steel targets. I don't remember what loads I used then, but we were loading them into .357 cases. I doubt you will have enough cylinder length to use them out of a revolver, but we did some of that also using 38 cases.

**Unclenick** · February 16, 2017, 11:53 AM

Most all .38 Special ammunition will be sub-sonic.

There was a 200 grain law enforcement load produced in .38 Special back in round nose police bullet days, called the Winchester Western Super Police. Factory velocity was 745 fps. One fellow in this old thread said he'd fired one that only got 600 fps from a 4" revolver. Based on how little 231 powder we showed you could use in your 246 grain bullet thread, you can see why. It's normal to use a slower powder with a heavier bullet, and .38 Special, even at +P is usually in the 250-300 ft-lb range. 800 fps from a 200 grain bullet would be 280 ft-lbs, so about like the +P energy level. A lot of .357 magnum is in the 500-550 ft-lb range, so such a load would be sort of a reduced .357 load.

Here's a fellow using 2400 to get a little more out of a bullet that weight. He's using 2400. That or Power Pistol would be better choices for bullets this heavy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoPVgQ1B9XM

black mamba · February 16, 2017, 02:12 PM

I think the biggest problem may be stabilizing the long bullet with little velocity in slow twist handgun barrels.

CCCLVII · February 19, 2017, 04:40 PM

The rifle has a 1 in 10 twist rate.

I'll look into 2400 powder

Joe-ker · February 19, 2017, 04:52 PM

Just loaded and fired some today. 158 g rangers I believe from Missouri bullets. 4.5 g Hp38 in 357----4.0 for .38s. Shot through my Big Boy.

http://missouribullet.com/results.ph...s=5&category=6

I now see further down you have a thread mentioning a much larger bullet.

skinnedknuckles · February 19, 2017, 09:28 PM

I've loaded a small quantity of Missouri Bullet's 180 gr WFN (coated) but I was loading them to .357 Magnum levels with H110 because I was trying to match the HSM Bear Load. They shot well in both my Taurus 66 and my Rossi Model 92 and matched the HSM velocities. I've also loaded a few of the coated MBC 180 gr RNFP as well.

I was just thinking of trying to load either to .38 Special or +P levels and try them on bowling pins but I notice Hodgdon doesn't list .38 Special loads for 180 gr bullets. However, they do have some 180 gr .357 loads with CFE Pistol, Longshot, and Titegroup that are in the sub-1000 fps range, and these powders can be safely downloaded as well if you want to go slower.

jaysouth · February 19, 2017, 09:39 PM

I shoot the Lee 200 rnfp clone of the RCBS FN, in .357 MAG CVA scout single shot pistol, .357 MAX Handi and a .358 WCF.

In the .357 mag with 14" bbl, I use 12 grs 2400 for a range fun load. Or a red line load of 296 for a deadly deer load. It also shoots the Ranch Dog 175 very well.

In the .357 Max with 16.5" bbl, I use a lot or 2400 for range loads, or a lot of RX7 for hunting loads. It speaks with authority on deer and feral pigs. It is the equal of a .35 remington with about half the recoil.

In the .358 Win, I use a lot of 3031.

To keep things simple, I cast all in WW plus a little solder, gas check them and size to .359 and lube with 3 dips in Ben's Liquid Lube I don't know if this bullet would work in a lever action .357 MAG.

As an anecdote, I know of someone who loads that bullet .38 SPL cases to shoot in his Ruger GP100. I don't know the details of his load, but he has killed a bunch of deer with it.

February 16, 2017, 01:07 AM	#1
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 432	.358 caliber cast lead rifle bullet in a 357 magnum case? Any one here ever done a 358 caliber rilfe bullet in a 38 special or 357 magnum case with any luck? I am looking for a subsonic load that is heavy for caliber. __________________ Always looking for a good hunt!

February 16, 2017, 01:54 AM	#2
shootniron Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2011 Location: Georgia Posts: 1,599	Are you talking about something like this? I have not shot them...but seems I have read of some folks shooting them in Handi Rifles. Lee .358 200RF Castboolits thread on the 200gr Last edited by shootniron; February 16, 2017 at 02:02 AM.

February 16, 2017, 11:53 AM	#4
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Most all .38 Special ammunition will be sub-sonic. There was a 200 grain law enforcement load produced in .38 Special back in round nose police bullet days, called the Winchester Western Super Police. Factory velocity was 745 fps. One fellow in this old thread said he'd fired one that only got 600 fps from a 4" revolver. Based on how little 231 powder we showed you could use in your 246 grain bullet thread, you can see why. It's normal to use a slower powder with a heavier bullet, and .38 Special, even at +P is usually in the 250-300 ft-lb range. 800 fps from a 200 grain bullet would be 280 ft-lbs, so about like the +P energy level. A lot of .357 magnum is in the 500-550 ft-lb range, so such a load would be sort of a reduced .357 load. Here's a fellow using 2400 to get a little more out of a bullet that weight. He's using 2400. That or Power Pistol would be better choices for bullets this heavy. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xoPVgQ1B9XM __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

February 19, 2017, 04:40 PM	#6
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 432	The rifle has a 1 in 10 twist rate. I'll look into 2400 powder __________________ Always looking for a good hunt!

February 19, 2017, 04:52 PM	#7
Joe-ker Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2016 Location: North Iowa Posts: 247	Just loaded and fired some today. 158 g rangers I believe from Missouri bullets. 4.5 g Hp38 in 357----4.0 for .38s. Shot through my Big Boy. http://missouribullet.com/results.ph...s=5&category=6 I now see further down you have a thread mentioning a much larger bullet. __________________ From my cold dead hands..... Last edited by Joe-ker; February 19, 2017 at 05:04 PM.

February 16, 2017, 03:39 AM	#3
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	I shot a lot of 180 gr. 358's out of a Contender years ago for silhouette competition where we needed heavy bullets to take down the steel targets. I don't remember what loads I used then, but we were loading them into .357 cases. I doubt you will have enough cylinder length to use them out of a revolver, but we did some of that also using 38 cases.

February 16, 2017, 02:12 PM	#5
black mamba Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2011 Location: SW Florida Posts: 890	I think the biggest problem may be stabilizing the long bullet with little velocity in slow twist handgun barrels.

February 19, 2017, 09:28 PM	#8
skinnedknuckles Member Join Date: March 30, 2015 Posts: 43	I've loaded a small quantity of Missouri Bullet's 180 gr WFN (coated) but I was loading them to .357 Magnum levels with H110 because I was trying to match the HSM Bear Load. They shot well in both my Taurus 66 and my Rossi Model 92 and matched the HSM velocities. I've also loaded a few of the coated MBC 180 gr RNFP as well. I was just thinking of trying to load either to .38 Special or +P levels and try them on bowling pins but I notice Hodgdon doesn't list .38 Special loads for 180 gr bullets. However, they do have some 180 gr .357 loads with CFE Pistol, Longshot, and Titegroup that are in the sub-1000 fps range, and these powders can be safely downloaded as well if you want to go slower.

February 19, 2017, 09:39 PM	#9
jaysouth Senior Member Join Date: February 27, 2001 Location: Richmond, VA Posts: 787	I shoot the Lee 200 rnfp clone of the RCBS FN, in .357 MAG CVA scout single shot pistol, .357 MAX Handi and a .358 WCF. In the .357 mag with 14" bbl, I use 12 grs 2400 for a range fun load. Or a red line load of 296 for a deadly deer load. It also shoots the Ranch Dog 175 very well. In the .357 Max with 16.5" bbl, I use a lot or 2400 for range loads, or a lot of RX7 for hunting loads. It speaks with authority on deer and feral pigs. It is the equal of a .35 remington with about half the recoil. In the .358 Win, I use a lot of 3031. To keep things simple, I cast all in WW plus a little solder, gas check them and size to .359 and lube with 3 dips in Ben's Liquid Lube I don't know if this bullet would work in a lever action .357 MAG. As an anecdote, I know of someone who loads that bullet .38 SPL cases to shoot in his Ruger GP100. I don't know the details of his load, but he has killed a bunch of deer with it.