Looking for a cheap .357 practice bullet

Super Sneaky Steve · August 14, 2011, 07:16 PM

Hey guys. I've been happily shooting .38 specials with cast and plated bullets but I've been sticking to the XTP's for my magnum loads so far. Now I'm ready for a big batch so I need something a little cheaper than the Hornady's.

If someone could provide a link to some cheap bullets that are suitible for mid to high power loads that would be awesome.

The cast bullets I bought at my local store were a pain in the butt to load. I had to scrape off the excess lube with a toothpick and some of the castings were just messed up. I'm not sure if all cast bullets are this way but I'd pay more for something that required less attention.

Thanks!

spacecoast · August 14, 2011, 07:35 PM

For hot loads I've had very good luck with Rocky Mountain 158 grain JHPs - very nice bullets at a reasonable price.

http://www.rmrbullets.com/

Looks as if they may be out of them right now, though. Their inventory comes and goes, so check back periodically. Last time I ordered I think they were 14 cents apiece, delivered.

willrussellville · August 14, 2011, 07:49 PM

Here is an Arkansas retailer that (from my experience) is reasonable and has great products..
http://www.thebulletworks.net/category-s/30.htm

farmerboy · August 14, 2011, 08:17 PM

Rainier plated bullets or Berrys. Both are cheaper and shoot good

mavracer · August 14, 2011, 08:45 PM

A good hardcaast 158 should not lead with even hot 357 loads. I've run oregon trails at 1600 fps with no leading. I've also used missouri bullets for loads in excess of 1200fps. Missouri has different hardness avaliable go with the 18 Bh for hot loads.

wild willy · August 14, 2011, 09:02 PM

I don't think there is many bargains in jacketed bullets any more. I shot Remington and Winchester bulk bullets for years.Wasn't real long ago thirty couple dollars for 500 now they are eighty.Speer 158 in the 450 box are about 13 or 14 cents apiece before shipping. Don't know of any jacketed bullets cheaper

Jim243 · August 14, 2011, 11:43 PM

RMR at 12 cents each JHP, very good bullets. Excelent quality and Jake is a great person and a member of this forum.

Jim

http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/product.sc?productId=21

OleEd · August 15, 2011, 08:03 AM

http://www.mastercastbullets.com/ Mike have been very helpful with me.

Pumping up Vel's will cause leading generally at Velosities over 1000 FPS -- at least for me in my S&W 586 .357. This is easily taken care of by using a couple of strands of Chore Boy copper strands taken from a pad and wrapped around your brass bore cleaner. Mike suggested and it works.

overkill0084 · August 15, 2011, 10:24 AM

Missouri 158 gr work well in all my revolvers.
http://www.missouribullet.com/detail...y=10&keywords=
You can push them pretty hard before leading becomes an issue. The service
I also use Rainier plated 158s as well. Good bullets.

jbrown13 · August 15, 2011, 11:22 AM

If you shoot a lot, you can find case lots of .357" JHPs at Montana Gold. 125 JHP is about 8.5 cents each in a case lot of 3,750 bullets and 158 JHP is about 10.9 cents each in a case lot of 2,950 bullets. In my experiences they are excellent bullets. https://secure.mooseweb.com/montanag.../pricelist.tpl

zxcvbob · August 15, 2011, 11:41 AM

Quote:

http://www.mastercastbullets.com/ Mike have been very helpful with me.

Pumping up Vel's will cause leading generally at Velosities over 1000 FPS -- at least for me in my S&W 586 .357. This is easily taken care of by using a couple of strands of Chore Boy copper strands taken from a pad and wrapped around your brass bore cleaner. Mike suggested and it works.

I buy bullets from Mike too and have been very happy with them. Use 158 grain SWC or RNFP and you should be able to run them with full-power magnum loads using a middle-speed powder like Herco or AA#7 without much leading. I haven't tried really running up the velocity with max loads of W296 or 2400 yet, or shooting them from a carbine. They might need a thin coating of liquid Alox lube added (in addition to their hard wax lube) for that.

I've also been casting my own bullets; lately I've been shooting a lot of 148 grain DEWC's loaded with 7.0 grains of WSF powder. That's maybe a .357 Sig equivalent load -- a big step up from .38 Special and a small step down from most .357 Magnum loads. Cheap to load and lots of fun to shoot.

Super Sneaky Steve · August 15, 2011, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Rainier plated bullets or Berrys. Both are cheaper and shoot good

I read on Berry's website that they can't be pushed to magnum speeds. Do they say that just for legal reasons?

TATER · August 15, 2011, 03:17 PM

Try these.

http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...78|281|304|325

WANT A LCR 22LR · August 15, 2011, 04:55 PM

I use Zero brand 125 Jacketed soft points at 38+P levels, they have been great. Their retail arm is Roze distributing. Last I checked they were $ 80 ish per 1000 delivered.

When shot into a dry phone book, the hollow points don't seem to act much different then the flat points so I only get them when Roze is out of flat points.

Longdayjake · August 15, 2011, 05:10 PM

I just want to say thanks for the support I get from you guys on this forum. I must say that I love my job because of everyone on these forums that make being in the business a pure joy. It is because of you guys that I am often able to lower my prices when everyone else has been raising theirs.

Also, I am low on .357 stuff at the moment, but if you haven't checked out the website in a while it is worth a scan. I am starting to get to the point that I can stock a lot more stuff. And .357 is on its way!

Shootest · August 16, 2011, 04:30 AM

Buying (jacketed bullets) in large quantities is the cheaper way to go for hot loads.

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...ber=1601186739

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...ber=1390159765

http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...ber=1657130362

For light target loads I cast my own.

AlaskaMike · August 16, 2011, 03:30 PM

I've never had significant leading in my S&W model 28 with full power loads and 158 grain cast SWCs, and I've used some pretty stiff charges of 296. Other loads have used 14.5 to 15 grains of 2400 with good results as well. Note that 15 grains of 2400 is almost certainly above max in most manuals for cast 158 grain SWCs now, but it used to be a pretty standard magnum load.

I've been casting my own for a little over 5 years now using RCBS 38-150-SWC, but prior to that I bought Lasercast 158 grain SWCs. The Lasercast are extremely hard--much harder than my own cast bullets, but neither leaded my model 28 at any velocity.

August 14, 2011, 07:16 PM	#1
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,249	Looking for a cheap .357 practice bullet Hey guys. I've been happily shooting .38 specials with cast and plated bullets but I've been sticking to the XTP's for my magnum loads so far. Now I'm ready for a big batch so I need something a little cheaper than the Hornady's. If someone could provide a link to some cheap bullets that are suitible for mid to high power loads that would be awesome. The cast bullets I bought at my local store were a pain in the butt to load. I had to scrape off the excess lube with a toothpick and some of the castings were just messed up. I'm not sure if all cast bullets are this way but I'd pay more for something that required less attention. Thanks!

August 14, 2011, 07:49 PM	#3
willrussellville Member Join Date: May 26, 2010 Location: Arkansas Posts: 78	try these folks Here is an Arkansas retailer that (from my experience) is reasonable and has great products.. http://www.thebulletworks.net/category-s/30.htm __________________ Help others reach their dreams and most of your dreams will come true....

August 15, 2011, 08:03 AM	#8
OleEd Member Join Date: December 8, 2009 Location: Mo Posts: 44	You might check out my source: http://www.mastercastbullets.com/ Mike have been very helpful with me. Pumping up Vel's will cause leading generally at Velosities over 1000 FPS -- at least for me in my S&W 586 .357. This is easily taken care of by using a couple of strands of Chore Boy copper strands taken from a pad and wrapped around your brass bore cleaner. Mike suggested and it works. __________________ Ed Retired - Army and Civil Service w/CBT ENGRS NRA Life Menber (1969)

August 15, 2011, 10:24 AM	#9
overkill0084 Senior Member Join Date: August 7, 2010 Location: Northern, UT Posts: 1,162	Missouri 158 gr work well in all my revolvers. http://www.missouribullet.com/detail...y=10&keywords= You can push them pretty hard before leading becomes an issue. The service I also use Rainier plated 158s as well. Good bullets. __________________ Cheers, Greg “At the core of liberalism is the spoiled child – miserable, as all spoiled children are, unsatisfied, demanding, ill-disciplined, despotic and useless. Liberalism is a philosophy of sniveling brats.” — P.J. O’Rourke

August 15, 2011, 05:10 PM	#15
Longdayjake Senior Member Join Date: August 11, 2009 Posts: 619	I just want to say thanks for the support I get from you guys on this forum. I must say that I love my job because of everyone on these forums that make being in the business a pure joy. It is because of you guys that I am often able to lower my prices when everyone else has been raising theirs. Also, I am low on .357 stuff at the moment, but if you haven't checked out the website in a while it is worth a scan. I am starting to get to the point that I can stock a lot more stuff. And .357 is on its way! __________________ If you need bullets for reloading give my website a look. www.rmrbullets.com

August 14, 2011, 07:35 PM	#2
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	For hot loads I've had very good luck with Rocky Mountain 158 grain JHPs - very nice bullets at a reasonable price. http://www.rmrbullets.com/ Looks as if they may be out of them right now, though. Their inventory comes and goes, so check back periodically. Last time I ordered I think they were 14 cents apiece, delivered.

August 14, 2011, 08:17 PM	#4
farmerboy Junior member Join Date: May 16, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 1,343	Rainier plated bullets or Berrys. Both are cheaper and shoot good

August 14, 2011, 09:02 PM	#6
wild willy Senior Member Join Date: March 8, 2006 Posts: 404	I don't think there is many bargains in jacketed bullets any more. I shot Remington and Winchester bulk bullets for years.Wasn't real long ago thirty couple dollars for 500 now they are eighty.Speer 158 in the 450 box are about 13 or 14 cents apiece before shipping. Don't know of any jacketed bullets cheaper

August 14, 2011, 11:43 PM	#7
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 5, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	RMR at 12 cents each JHP, very good bullets. Excelent quality and Jake is a great person and a member of this forum. Jim http://www.shop.rmrbullets.com/product.sc?productId=21 __________________ Si vis pacem, para bellum

August 15, 2011, 11:22 AM	#10
jbrown13 Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2009 Location: Perry, GA Posts: 105	If you shoot a lot, you can find case lots of .357" JHPs at Montana Gold. 125 JHP is about 8.5 cents each in a case lot of 3,750 bullets and 158 JHP is about 10.9 cents each in a case lot of 2,950 bullets. In my experiences they are excellent bullets. https://secure.mooseweb.com/montanag.../pricelist.tpl

August 15, 2011, 03:17 PM	#13
TATER Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2002 Location: Mississippi Posts: 963	Try these. http://www.wideners.com/itemdetail.c...78\|281\|304\|325

August 15, 2011, 04:55 PM	#14
WANT A LCR 22LR Senior Member Join Date: September 5, 2010 Posts: 389	I use Zero brand 125 Jacketed soft points at 38+P levels, they have been great. Their retail arm is Roze distributing. Last I checked they were $ 80 ish per 1000 delivered. When shot into a dry phone book, the hollow points don't seem to act much different then the flat points so I only get them when Roze is out of flat points.

August 16, 2011, 04:30 AM	#16
Shootest Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2011 Location: Just outside Cleveland, Ohio Posts: 722	Buying (jacketed bullets) in large quantities is the cheaper way to go for hot loads. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...ber=1601186739 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...ber=1390159765 http://www.midwayusa.com/viewProduct...ber=1657130362 For light target loads I cast my own. __________________ The private ownership of firearms is an American Heritage. Anyone who disputes that is Anti-American and unpatriotic. NRA Life Member

August 16, 2011, 03:30 PM	#17
AlaskaMike Senior Member Join Date: September 26, 2005 Posts: 941	I've never had significant leading in my S&W model 28 with full power loads and 158 grain cast SWCs, and I've used some pretty stiff charges of 296. Other loads have used 14.5 to 15 grains of 2400 with good results as well. Note that 15 grains of 2400 is almost certainly above max in most manuals for cast 158 grain SWCs now, but it used to be a pretty standard magnum load. I've been casting my own for a little over 5 years now using RCBS 38-150-SWC, but prior to that I bought Lasercast 158 grain SWCs. The Lasercast are extremely hard--much harder than my own cast bullets, but neither leaded my model 28 at any velocity.

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