158gr Flat Point BB "Hard & Fast Lead Cast"

[Riomouse911]

Since the OP is a bit newer to loading .38 Special, I grabbed a few .358 bullets to show a few different ones.



L to R:

Eggleston 148 gr coated LRN
Extreme 158 gr plated target HPRN
Blue Bullets coated 158 gr SWC
Extreme plated 148 gr DEWC

All of these have a sharp-edged base.

Brazos 148 gr coated “button nose” wadcutter
Missouri (I think?) 125 gr lead RNFP
Eggleston 148 gr coated LRN

The three of these have a bevel base. Note the Eggleston round nose bullet on the far right, it has a pronounced bevel.

As was posted above, a decent flare is needed when loading a coated or plated bullet. If the edge of the case mouth catches the plating/coating, it will peel it off. This will leave a patch of bare lead on the bullet to smear in the bore when it’s fired.

Stay safe.

 

[Mostly Lead]

Yes, these are .358. And, hard cast so they should be less or no leading. Correct?

Missouri Bullet Company has a nice explanation on the factors around choosing the appropriate hardness for your load.

These folks have always done right by me. Haven't bought another brand of bullets in a very long time...

 

[tws3b2]

Since the OP is a bit newer to loading .38 Special, I grabbed a few .358 bullets to show a few different ones.

View attachment 1177138

L to R:

Eggleston 148 gr coated LRN
Extreme 158 gr plated target HPRN
Blue Bullets coated 158 gr SWC
Extreme plated 148 gr DEWC

All of these have a sharp-edged base.

Brazos 148 gr coated “button nose” wadcutter
Missouri (I think?) 125 gr lead RNFP
Eggleston 148 gr coated LRN

The three of these have a bevel base. Note the Eggleston round nose bullet on the far right, it has a pronounced bevel.

As was posted above, a decent flare is needed when loading a coated or plated bullet. If the edge of the case mouth catches the plating/coating, it will peel it off. This will leave a patch of bare lead on the bullet to smear in the bore when it’s fired.

Stay safe.

I have been meaning to ask. Could the bevel have any effect on accuracy or anything else of a bullet? I think I have read somewhere that it could but don't remember where. I take what I read on the internet with a grain of salt until I can confirm most times.
Thanks

 

[AJC1]

I have been meaning to ask. Could the bevel have any effect on accuracy or anything else of a bullet? I think I have read somewhere that it could but don't remember where. I take what I read on the internet with a grain of salt until I can confirm most times.
Thanks

The symmetry of the base has a huge impact on accuracy. In low power loads (38, 45acp 45c) the ability to opterate the base within the pressure limit of that chambering has an impact on accuracy. As a case example guys competing for Bullseye use soft hollow base wad cutters. Because you may not be casting yourself yet your goal will be to find the softest bullets made. Swaged is your best option for accuracy.

 

[Mostly Lead]

I have been meaning to ask. Could the bevel have any effect on accuracy or anything else of a bullet? I think I have read somewhere that it could but don't remember where. I take what I read on the internet with a grain of salt until I can confirm most times.
Thanks

Certainly isn't a significant contributing factor in my groupings... If you can hold a group consistent enough to see repeatable patterns in a blind test between beveled and non-beveled bullets, then well - I'm impressed.

 

[.38 Special]

I have been meaning to ask. Could the bevel have any effect on accuracy or anything else of a bullet? I think I have read somewhere that it could but don't remember where. I take what I read on the internet with a grain of salt until I can confirm most times.
Thanks

I have had poor results with bevel bases. Among other things, they seem very prone to leading, in my experience. As for accuracy, I have noted significant drop off at 50 yards, in two different competition guns. I have also noted that long distance accuracy (200+ yards, "artillery style") goes right out the window with bevel bases. I used to play at such stuff quite a bit, especially with a Model 29 in .44 Magnum, and a custom five shot Ruger Bisley in .45 Colt. Both guns would reliably hit a four foot square target at a few hundred yards, with flat base semiwadcutters, but hits with bevel bases were purely accidental.

Does that matter when plinking at ten yards? Probably not - but as far as I am concerned, the only benefit to a bevel base is ease of casting and loading, and flat bases are simple enough on both counts.

 

[.308 Norma]

as far as I am concerned, the only benefit to a bevel base is ease of casting and loading, and flat bases are simple enough on both counts.

I don't know whether it's true or not, but I've heard one of the "ease of casting" things (for bevel base bullets) is that they fall out of the molds easier. That could be important to a commercial caster.
Like I said though, that's just something I heard. I quit casting my own bullets years ago because casting bullets was just something I never did enjoy. Maybe if I'd have cast bevel base bullets, I would have enjoyed it.

 

[.38 Special]

I don't know whether it's true or not, but I've heard one of the "ease of casting" things (for bevel base bullets) is that they fall out of the molds easier. That could be important to a commercial caster.
Like I said though, that's just something I heard. I quit casting my own bullets years ago because casting bullets was just something I never did enjoy. Maybe if I'd have cast bevel base bullets, I would have enjoyed it.

It's absolutely true - and it's also true that it's easier to get a bevel base to  fill out, and even when it doesn't, it's harder to see - a flat base design shows any imperfection which occurs at the critical base of the bullet, while the bevel base hides it. As you note, I suspect bevel bases are one of several things that commercial casters tout as beneficial to shooters, when in fact they are beneficial only to casters.