What would happen if I…
- Thread starter DMW1116
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AJC1
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Likely nothing... you may loose accuracy if the base does not operate due to lower pressures. If the bullet is soft I bet you see nothing.
CQB45ACP
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Why? How many did you do already?
GeoDudeFlorida
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This is a new one on me! MBC has a 158gr C-LSWC which is meant to be used with .357Mag but not .38Spl? Does the description warn against using the bullets in a .38? Can I get a link, please?
GeoDudeFlorida
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Obturate.
There will be cases where fit will alleviate the need for obturation to assure a good gas seal.
AJC1
Member
I was imagining commercial cast where soft is not soft.... now swaged is super soft. Commercial cast soft is my magnum, and their 18+bhn stuff is just silly. If his bullets are 10-12 as soft commercial cast he will be great even at mag speeds. If there swaged 7-800 would be my limit.
Stupid autocorrect gets me all the time... it's obviously smarter
GeoDudeFlorida
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The description I found on the MBC site says 18BHN, which is a little harder than what Lyman Alloy No.2 runs (5-5-90). That alloy - along with equal or harder alloys like Typeset, Linotype and Babbitt - has been used in .38Spl loads since smokeless came around. Fit is King with hard alloys.
The 38 Special bullets are shown as 12 BHN. The 357 ones are harder but I don’t know how much. They mic at 0.3595-0.360. It’s the same barrel/gun. I can’t imagine fit will be a problem. I’m just nearly out of 2400 powder with none in sight but don’t want these bullets to sit around for however long it takes to find more.
GeoDudeFlorida
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I wouldn’t load them too mild but if you have them and want to use them, follow the recipes in the Lyman’s 48th or 49th for Linotype. It’s even harder and Lyman’s assumes a tight fit.
EricBu
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**probably** be just fine. What could happen? If those are BHN 18 uncoated and bevel based, they **might** not obturate correctly due to being too hard for 38 spl pressures, in which case you might possibly experience a bit of gas cutting, and some leading. Or they may work just perfectly;-) I'd yeet 'em, load on the upward side of 38 spl.
You could also take this opportunity to try some other powders. AA9 works excellently in 357 with that bullet, and is easily found these days.
I’m looking at 38 +P loads with Silhouette powder. I have a lot of 38 cases but don’t have a use for them. AA#9 and Enforcer are also in the list to try. I’ll be loading up as much as I can tonight with 2400 and see how many I have left. I have 100 empty cases primed and ready. If I fill those and have any 2400 left it’s time to pull those 30-30 cast loads and see how much I can get out of them.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Like said above, since the bullets are hard you might get some leading. Believe it or not, more leading is caused by bullets which are too hard than too soft.
Also like said above, if the bullets fit well in your barrel you will be fine. Again like said above, load up 12 and see how they work for you in your gun/guns.
Good luck and keep us updated...
Also like said above, if the bullets fit well in your barrel you will be fine. Again like said above, load up 12 and see how they work for you in your gun/guns.
Good luck and keep us updated...
so it doesn’t sound like it’s as big a deal as I thought. I’m currently loading as many as I can with my remaining 2400 powder. Part of that powder has to be recovered by pulling cast 30-30 rounds. 10 down, 50 to go.
After that I plan to try a dozen with Silhouette for their published range of 38 Special to 38+P.
After that I plan to try a dozen with Silhouette for their published range of 38 Special to 38+P.
.308 Norma
Member
g/ch .38/.357 158 gr. SWC-HP per 100/ in a plastic ammo box
In-Stock g/ch .38/.357 158 gr. SWC-HP (sized .358) OAL 0.699, Meplat 0.260, Nose to crimp groove 0.305
I like Unique for mid-range and .38 Special +P loads.
bluetopper
Member
When I have reloading questions like that I load a few up and fire them and see for myself.
I had a traumatizing experience with barrel leading. I do a fair bit more research before just shooting a few than I did then.
I have a fair bit of 357 to reload before trying this out with the leftover bullets. It might be a minute, but I’ll try them and see how they work.
I have a fair bit of 357 to reload before trying this out with the leftover bullets. It might be a minute, but I’ll try them and see how they work.
Random 8
Member
I've done this. I have some of the 158 RN 18BHN I use for dedicated hi-vel rifle loads. I ran out of 158 RN BHN12s so I used some dozen or so to fill out a box of modest velocity .38s as they were the only 158 I had handy pending my new order. Accuracy through both my TC 10" and a 6" Taurus was indistinguishable between the 2 slugs. Not a big enough sample to determine if any leading resulted.
P Flados
Member
The bullets should do ok.
All of the powders you mentioned are slower than I would consider optimum for 38 power in 357 cases or in 38s to be fired in a 357. Mid range loads do not need any specific power level and it is all about getting a bang that makes them feel reasonable.
I tend to go with stuff in the Red Dot to Unique range for this kind of stuff. A pound of fast powder goes a lot further. Many thousands of these rounds loaded with complete satisfaction.
All of the powders you mentioned are slower than I would consider optimum for 38 power in 357 cases or in 38s to be fired in a 357. Mid range loads do not need any specific power level and it is all about getting a bang that makes them feel reasonable.
I tend to go with stuff in the Red Dot to Unique range for this kind of stuff. A pound of fast powder goes a lot further. Many thousands of these rounds loaded with complete satisfaction.
They go bang. What we don't know is how accurate they will be. It's up to the load, the forcing cone and the gun barrel that will determine the results. Now if you are doing "full loads" of .357 mag with soft .38 Special cast bullets, that can cause you some real trouble besides leading up the barrel. Using Speer HPWC will blow the skirt off the bullet and possibly lodge in your barrel. You should know what would happen with the next shot. Ouch! I've heard some .38 Special loads don't like being shot out of a .357 Mag revolver due to the chamber length. And finally loading both types in the same .38 Special cartridge can be easily mixed up before going out to the range.
What would happen if I…
Anytime anyone asks a question like this the correct answer is "do it and find out". Same thing with the following"is this caliber big enough for bear", only way to find out is stand in front of one and shoot it.
