.38 +p 150 swc

[zt77]

i have an rcbs 150 gr swc mould, not gas checked.
i'm having a rather tough time finding some good loads for this, help would be appreciated.

I am shooting a smith and wesson m66-1 4" bbl.

I'm also interested in this thing called the hollow pointer, apparently you hook it up to a case trimmer and drill holes into your bullets, anyone have experience? and if so, data to share?

oh and one more thing, does anyone recommend this bullet for .357 magnum in this particular gun?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

It sounds like you might be new to reloading. If that's true you might want to get a good reloading manual and read up on some basics.

As for hollow point lead bullets, they are very hard to drill. Even if you can drill them, doing it well so that you don't ruin the accuracy is really hard. I would suggest buying a mold that will produce hollow point bullets. It will save you a lot of time without a doubt. (IMO of course)

A lead bullet can cause leading in almost any application depending on a lot of different factors, sizing is one variable, proper lube and bullet hardness are even more. Also, driving the bullet at the correct velocity for the hardness is also important. A very hard bullet will lead a barrel if driven too slowly just as much as a soft lead bullet driven too fast. That bullet will be good in a .357 Magnum if your alloy is correct for the velocities associated with Magnum rounds but don't try to use that same bullet for slow .38 Special target loads. Try to cast a hardness of ~12 for the .38 Special and 18 for the .357 Magnum.

There's a lot more so I would suggest you get to reading if you want to do it right. Good luck...

 

[loadedround]

As Archangel stated, you are in need of a good reloading manual and I strongly suggest you obtain one and red it throughly. For your 150 gr bullets, you may use the starting data for the 158 gr lead bullets as your starting base. I would not recommend usuing any data for the LHBWC since that is an entirely different style bullet. Regarding the hollow pointer, a company called Forster Universal makes one for both pistol and rifle lead bullets. It works like a case trimmer and will hollow point your pistol bullets easily. I believe MidwayUSA sells Forster Universal products or check their website.

 

[zt77]

I'm not new to reloading, in fact I cast and reload for quite a few pistols and some rifles.
my standard load before had been rcbs's 158 swc with a gc, however i don't want to use gaschecks anymore. thank you for the referral though

the original question remains the same. none of my books have any data for 150 grain swc and i cannot find any online. i do understand how bhn and obturation works, the question was more geared toward the gun i am using, hearing of problems about k frame magnums, i only really shot .38 +p through it since i have thousands of brass.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A 150gr SWC isn't that much lighter than a 158gr SWC. Since you usually use more powder with a lighter bullet I would feel safe using the load data for a 158gr SWC as a starting point for developing that 150gr SWC load. Since most manuals don't list data for a lead bullet in a .38 Special +P you will have to extrapolate the data but it shouldn't be too hard. I have already done it for myself and it didn't take long at all...

 

[Randall]

Look in your load books for .38 and .357 and split the difference,or add .5 to 1 gr over a .38 load. Load these in.357 brass to prevent use in a .38.It will get you hot .38 loads.

 

[Randall]

Look in your load books for .38 and .357 and split the difference,or add .5 to 1 gr over a .38 load. Load these in.357 brass to prevent use in a .38.It will get you hot .38 loads.

 

[rcmodel]

Lyman #49 has 150 SWC .357 data with 10 powders, ranging from 13,000 CUP to 41,900 CUP.

.38 Spl data for a 150 WC with 10 powders running from 12,100 CUP to 16,400 CUP.

If you reload lead bullets, you really need a Lyman Manual.

rc

 

[zt77]

i have one lyman manual, i need another i guess.
thanks for the help guys, i tried some unique today. 5 grains gave the best accuracy, about 1.5 inches at 25 yards, 5.4 is what i will be using for now though, there was no powder burns on the cases with that charge, and it was fairly accurate

my chronograph isnt working at the moment and i have no clue how fast that is, how does it sound? it's very soft shooting, i was sort of looking for a little more power but this accuracy part is pretty nice!

 

[.38 Special]

I would use 158 grain data. I would not do any "extrapolation", but I have been accused of being conservative in my reloading habits.

The 66/19 is not the weak sister that it is often made out to be. It can tolerate many thousands of full house loads without serious wear. The particularly virulent jacketed hollow points are probably not especially good for it, though, especially if fired through a leaded bore.

I am not a fan of plain base bullets in the .357. They can be made to work, but everything -- bullet hardness, fit, gun dimensions -- needs to be perfect. Gas checks take all the problems right out of the picture. Lyman's 358156GC is the perfect bullet for the .357, and while I understand the desire to avoid gascheck designs, IMO you are actually creating more work for yourself in doing it, at least where the .357 is concerned.

 

[rcmodel]

I disagree in you needing to use gas checks with that load.

5.0 to 5.4 grains Unique with a 150 bullet is little more then a good .38 Special load. Your velocity will be in the 900 FPS range, and you don't need gas checks for that.

rc

 

[zt77]

I'm not seriously concerned about using .357 magnum really, as i have many thousand .38 cases.

what would be a good +p load? or what would be about maximum with unique, hp-38, or perhaps bullseye?

 

[Shoney]

Although I cannot give you loads, SAAMI lists 38 Sp. +P pressure as above 17,000psi and not to exceed 18,500psi. I do know there are manuals that list 38 Sp. +P loads, but I cannot remember which. I certainly do not recommend extrapolation to derive such loads.

 

[justashooter in pa]

i have loaded 6 grains of unique in 38 cases as a +P load, getting about 980Fps with cast and about 950 with jacketed in a 4" gun. a steady diet of this will loosen up a swing out cylinder gun over time.

get a chronograph and start with 4.5 grains. increase .2 grains at a time or so until you are comfortable. bullet seating depth will affect pressure considerably, so you are better off getting a reloading manual that details 158 LSWC in all aspects and starting there.