Reloading .38

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JimmyMac69

JimmyMac69

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Hey, everyone I’ve have just recently gotten back into reloading used to load mainly rifle loads but like a lot of others supplies are hard to find. I’m pretty well fixed on brass, primers, and powder bullets
Has been the problem .I’ve got an abundance of 148 gr. dewc and I like to plink and shot with them. I’ve have a 1000 9mm 115 gr. Jhp and most of a box of 9mm 115 gr. Round nose lead bullets I have loaded a few of these in 38 brass it’s hard to crimp jacketed bullets but the lead seems to do okay, they shoot pretty much like a regular loaded shell I’ve loaded them according to .38 cal. Spec from Hornsby my question is this doing gun any harm .002” seems like a insignificant amount and I’m sure I am not the only person to do this thanks in advance for your help JimmyMac69
 
No, you're not doing any harm. 38/357 revolvers and 9mm pistols have the same specifications for barrel dimensions - a groove diameter of 0.355" +.004". Actual slugged barrel measurements show no differences between them.

The only issue with loading .355 bullets in 38/357 brass is that the bullets might fit a little loose compared to .357 bullets, because case wall thickness is designed around a .357 bullet. Some folks, like myself, get around this by using an undersize sizing die.
 
The accuracy should suck as they are .355 or .356 whereas 38s are .357 or .358
 
George P said:
The accuracy should suck as they are .355 or .356 whereas 38s are .357 or .358
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That's a myth. Accuracy will be fine since the barrel dimensions are the same. I've shot 38, 357 and 9mm in a Ruger Blackhawk with a conversion cylinder (and a .3577" groove diameter) and there was no difference in accuracy with factory ammo. The best accuracy was with 9mm handloads with several loads producing 24-shot groups under 2" at 25 yards - with the gun in a Ransom Rest.
 
fxvr5 said:
That's a myth. Accuracy will be fine since the barrel dimensions are the same. I've shot 38, 357 and 9mm in a Ruger Blackhawk with a conversion cylinder (and a .3577" groove diameter) and there was no difference in accuracy with factory ammo. The best accuracy was with 9mm handloads with several loads producing 24-shot groups under 2" at 25 yards - with the gun in a Ransom Rest.
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I’ve measured a sampling of lead bullets a lot of those run .356 with a few .357 they are no problem to load but the jacketed hops are all.355 those are loose in the case with out over doing crimp any way thanks for your replies JimmyMac69
 
Hmmm. All the barrels of my 38/357 Mag barrels run .357"+ (4). Four of the barrels of my 9mm pistols rum .355" and one is .357", verified by slugging. Every .355" bullet I've fired in my 38/357s have had poor accuracy, and I got a bit more than normal leading with cast bullets...
 
mdi said:
Hmmm. All the barrels of my 38/357 Mag barrels run .357"+ (4). Four of the barrels of my 9mm pistols rum .355" and one is .357", verified by slugging. Every .355" bullet I've fired in my 38/357s have had poor accuracy, and I got a bit more than normal leading with cast bullets...
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I’ve not checked bore sizes but I was a machinist for more than 45 years I have all the tools. I had really never given much thought barrel size thanks for the idea it will give me more time in my shop JimmyMac69
 
gunlaw said:
Here’s an idea. Use the 9mm bullets for 9mm cases. Get some .357-.358 for the 38spl. Problem solved.
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I agree, I just can’t find any locally most online retailers I look at seems like there either out or bullies have gone the same route as factory loads priced out of sight or on a back order.
 
For years I've only shot .357 in 9mm and 38/357 loadings. I shoot Extreme .357, 135 grain, RNPF with excellent accuracy in action pistol games.

.355 may cause accuracy issues in 38/357 barrels but every barrel is different!

Smiles,
 
Agreed Highland and Jimmy. However given the current circumstances we can only place an order and wait your turn.
 
fxvr5 said:
That's a myth. Accuracy will be fine since the barrel dimensions are the same. I've shot 38, 357 and 9mm in a Ruger Blackhawk with a conversion cylinder (and a .3577" groove diameter) and there was no difference in accuracy with factory ammo. The best accuracy was with 9mm handloads with several loads producing 24-shot groups under 2" at 25 yards - with the gun in a Ransom Rest.
Click to expand...

Can't say for sure now, since my 357/9mm Blackhawk convertible is long gone, having been donated to auction for charity. But that gun from the early 80's had different rifling than the 357 Blackhawk. It had 8 narrow lands and wide-ish grooves, where as the regular Blackhawk was 6 lands of a wider configuration. I did not slug anything back then, so I can't say for the diameters, but... Ruger must have been thinking of something.

I DID slug old SW 39 barrel I had, and it was very loose. The Bar-Sto I stuck in there was right on the money at .355, so I dunno... I think maybe it depends on the manufacturer, as to what they do with bore dimensions.
 
fxvr5 said:
That's a myth. Accuracy will be fine since the barrel dimensions are the same. I've shot 38, 357 and 9mm in a Ruger Blackhawk with a conversion cylinder (and a .3577" groove diameter) and there was no difference in accuracy with factory ammo. The best accuracy was with 9mm handloads with several loads producing 24-shot groups under 2" at 25 yards - with the gun in a Ransom Rest.
Click to expand...
That has also been my experience shooting factory ammo in my nm conversion blackhawk, 38,357 and 9mm, no difference in accuracy. Would like to know what you are loading 9mm to get that kind of accuracy with the ransom.
 
JimmyMac69 said:
I agree, I just can’t find any locally most online retailers I look at seems like there either out or bullies have gone the same route as factory loads priced out of sight or on a back order.
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You would be safe using 9mm bullets in 38/357 revolvers, but as you can see, not everybody agrees on how good they will shoot...

Personally, I use .355"-.356" jacketed, and .357" cast in my 9mms. I use .357" jacketed and .358" cast average in my 38/357s. I have a very good mold that drops a 125 gr RFP bullet with a crimp groove and I size the bullets according to the gun they will be used in; .356"-.357"+ for my 9mms and .358"+ for my 38/357s and I get excellent performance in all guns...
 
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I shoot .355 almost exclusively in my 38s. Never any real issue. Can’t run them at 38spl spec exactly because the bigger case volume (less room taken up by bullet) means lower pressure and it gets dirty. Bump up a tenth of a grain or so from the 38 spl recipes and your in the right ballpark though.
 
WestKentucky said:
I shoot .355 almost exclusively in my 38s. Never any real issue. Can’t run them at 38spl spec exactly because the bigger case volume (less room taken up by bullet) means lower pressure and it gets dirty. Bump up a tenth of a grain or so from the 38 spl recipes and your in the right ballpark though.
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I have shot maybe 50 some 115gr jacketed hps and some 115gr cast rns seems like a lot off carbon on the cylinder face I’ll try what you said thanks
 
I just thought to myself “I am going to try loading up some 115 grain 9mm in some.38 Spl cases and see how accurate they are.

Then Murphy spoke up and said “How many small pistol primers do you have?”:evil:

This will have to wait.
 
MDI if your cylinder throats size your bullets smaller than barrel size, lead bullet accuracy will most likely be dismal. Using a played or jacketed bullet even if smaller than the barrel does not seem to affect accuracy as much. I have had to get my throats reamed on most of my revolvers that I use lead in if I want any accuracy. True for Ruger, S&W, Rossi, and Colt.
 
Project355 said:
I DID slug old SW 39 barrel I had, and it was very loose. The Bar-Sto I stuck in there was right on the money at .355, so I dunno... I think maybe it depends on the manufacturer, as to what they do with bore dimensions.
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The bar-sto barrel was probably a better fit in the gun than the old barrel. That's all that needed for improved accuracy.

As an example, see the article below where the 'new' barrel had a larger groove diameter (0.3578") than the 'original' barrel (0.3565"), but shot more accurately with every load tried. The difference was that the new barrel was a better fit in the gun.

https://www.ssusa.org/articles/2020/1/14/apex-tactical-barrels-for-smith-wesson-mp-pistols/
 
fxvr5 said:
Powders: Power Pistol and Accurate #7.

Bullets: Hornady and Sierra JHPs.
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Thank you, two powders I have never tried, I went through a phase where i thought i had to try all the fast burning powders :)
 
dcarr said:
Thank you, two powders I have never tried, I went through a phase where i thought i had to try all the fast burning powders :)
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Those powders produce very good accuracy in my 9mm semi-auto pistol, too. That's why I selected them.
 
Pat Riot said:
I just thought to myself “I am going to try loading up some 115 grain 9mm in some.38 Spl cases and see how accurate they are.

Then Murphy spoke up and said “How many small pistol primers do you have?”:evil:

This will have to wait.
Click to expand...
A friend of mine just got out of the business left me pretty well stocked on every thing but .38 bullets and 9 mm brass
 
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