bullet weight preference for .38/.357

I shoot mostly 158 cast SWC in my fixed sight .38's, as that is what they were factory sighted with.
Although I have been playing with the Speer 135 Short Barrel Gold Dot bullets & Unique powder.

I also shoot 148 HBWC in adjustable sight .38's and .357's for target fun.

My long standing .357 load for my K-Frames has been a 140 XTP or Sierra JHP over 14.5 grains 2400.
It does quite well on Kansas coyotes and is easy on the guns.

rc

158gr Hornady XTP here

I'm pretty die-hard in my preference for 158 grainers. 158 shoots exactly to POA in all my .38/.357 wheelies, and I've got a respectable stash of "FBI" load layed in to carry me through the zombie apocalypse, or whatever.

I do make an exception for the 145-gr Silvertip .357; it's close enough to 158 to be honorary in my book (and, heck, the FBI did allow it as a sub with permission, or so I've read).

While acknowledging the supremacy of 125 in .357 for social use, it's too hard on my beloved K frames. I figure that the 158 GDHP, Hydra-shok and 145 Winny loads are plenty easy on the guns, let alone the 158 LSWCHP+P .38.

JMHO.

I like 125gr for both.

I shoot 158-gr lead SWCs for practice in 38 or 357... In 38's I have been carrying 147-gr +P+ Hydrashoks. In 357s I carry 140-gr Hornady XTPs.

I'm a fan of 158gr. for its sectional density and penetration.

158 fan here...Hornady XTP and lead SWC

148 DEWC's, and various types of 158 grain.

I like 125gr bullets for my .38 and .357 reloading.

158 gr lead. I'll shoot something else from time to time, but that's 98% or more.

What few 357's I shoot, are usually 158 JSP, but I usually shoot 38's in my magnum guns too.

158 LSWs.

Looks like C&L has a pre-lock "bloodwork" UDR. Maybe he'll sell it to me...

I shoot a pile of medium/hot 125 grainers. I have 4000k+ on my loading bench right now.

When carrying 158 SWC that I cast with hard lead. I also like the 140==147. When burring lead 125gr will do this keeps me up on my shooting and is easy on the gun.

I like the 158gr in both jacketed and hard cast. I also like the 170gr fmj
in my Thompson Contender.

Another 158 grain fan here, I'm a fan of heavy bullets in most calibers anyways. The only caliber where I like a middleweight caliber is 9mm, where I prefer 124 grain rounds because they seem to feed a little better in most 9mm guns I've had experience with.

Another 158 gr fan here--Speer and Hornady LSWCHP and XTP's for the really hot stuff. The overwhelming majority are either 4.7 gr Unique (my carry load), or 3.5 gr Unique or 2.7 gr Trailboss with the LSWCHP's in .38 cases--practice loads for my LW snubbies. This is in the interest of simplicity and economy. These loads shoot close to POA in all my snubbies and feed through my Marlin 94. I have a near max (over max according to some data) using the XTP, H110 and .357 cases which is reserved for a Trooper III and the 94. I have nothing against lighter bullets...the 125 gr XTP has worked well for me in the past and would be a good choice for varmints.

158 LSWC-WN, hardcast of linotype by Rim Rock, over 14.0 grains of 2400 shoots really well in my 4"GP100. About 1250 fps, accurate, clean, insanely low extreme spread and standard deviation.

I like 158 LSWC-HP w/gc, soft cast of lead (BHN 5) also by Rim Rock, over 6.0 grains of Power Pistol is a great .38 +P load, rocketing out of the same revolver at 950 fps avg. Same virtues as above load.

For general purpose plinking I load Speer 158 LSWC-HP over Accurate #5, Power Pistol, or Trail Boss. Accurate #5 duplicates factory ballistics for 38+P, Power Pistol does even better with the same pressure, and the Trail Boss is light, around 700 fps, and superbly clean burning.

The common denominator is 158 lead.

Cocked and Locked, what model is that in your pic? Looks hefty and being 8 shot I havent seen any of them.

Click to expand...

Looks like C&L has a pre-lock "bloodwork" UDR. Maybe he'll sell it to me...

Click to expand...

Yep...its a pre-lock 627-PC Ultimate Defense Revolver aka "Blood Work Gun".

Would I sell it? Dunno...think about sometimes. Here it is as they came from S&W with the Eagle boot grips.





and here with Craig Spegel boot grips and a 8-round speed strip in the pouch

If you eventually think any harder, please feel encouraged to PM me...

Depends on the gun. I've taken to loading 125gr for my 642.

158gr SWC, but it really depends on YOUR pistol's barrel.

I like the 158 Grain Semi-Wadcutter in all of my .38's for a practice round.
The Missouri Bullet variety works great for me.