Brinnel, 12 v 18, 38spcl v .357 mag

[SARuger]

I ordered some of the 158g SWC .357 bullets from MBC. Brinnel of 18. Can I use them in my 38spcl loads? MBC lists the same bullet in a brinnel of 12 for the 38spcl.

I'm new to the whole cast bullet thing, still learning

 

[Walkalong]

Maybe, maybe not, depends on the fit. 18 is too hard for .38 Spl pressures, but can work if the fit is really good.

What do your throats measure? What is your groove diameter? What do the bullets measure?

Or just load and shoot about 10 and see what happens.

 

[kcofohio]

All I know is, when using the 125 gr. MBC 12 Bhn and Titegroup or HP-38, the barrel leaded up. But went with a slower powder (Silhouette) max load and the 158 gr. Action bullet, and the barrel was squeaky clean. It is a thumper of a load out of a LCR though.

Try different powders in different burn rates IMO.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

sure you can and my guess is it will be just as accurate and probably more accurate then a softer bullet in the same gun even at 38 pressures

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I have used the 18's in my 38's but you are on "leading ground" if you don't have the right throat and barrel combination.

My suggestion is to use the softest bullet you can. I find i can load up my 12 brinnel bullets up to 357 Mag speeds with little leading. it is not until you get to 357 Maximum that you have to move up to the 18's. It simplifies logistics to stock the softer bullets.

 

[bluetopper]

I shoot cast lead bullets exclusively and shoot a lot. I never have any trouble with leading in my barrels regardless of hardness. From swaged to 22 Bn. But I know what hardness bullets to shoot in what calibers.

However, from my experience the hardness factor is much more forgiving and less of a problem of leading than many make it out to be.

 

[CZ9shooter]

You'll just have to try it and see what happens. If you get leading or other negative results you will just have to change a variable or two and try again.

I only own a 38, no 357, but I do load the same relatively hard bullet for 44 mag and 44 special. I get little to no leading. I am keeping the pressure as high as possible by loading at maximum charges for the special though. Maybe that is the key, maybe not.

 

[Captaingyro]

It's not directly responsive to your question, but the new Hi-Tek coatings help to take the question of leading out of the equation. With coated bullets, you have more freedom to shoot the hardness that works best in your barrel without having to worry so much about leading.

 

[Dudedog]

Yes you can use them.
Would the BHN 12 (softer ones shoot better) probably, but not a sure thing.
Load some and try them.
For me in my pistol shooting .357 loads around 1000fps they worked fine.
(ok at higher vels to)

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

We live in a world where its believed that harder is better and MBC is just filling that desire of the buyer. But if it were me i would run the 12bhn for both and make sure your load is not too light in thr 38's.

But before you go there follow the previous suggestion of checking your throat and barrel diameter to make sure the bullets are the right match.

Besides that if you don't want the worry then ditch the cast for coated and you will be fine.

I've cast and coated thousands and no leading. I've bought and shot MBC's coated bullets in 10mm, and 9mm with no lead.

I've cast and coated many of .357's for someone else and they have no leading to report in either.

Make the move and be done with the worry.

 

[SARuger]

MBC lists the coated bullets with the same Brinnel as the uncoated;

.357 158g coated

.38spcl 158g coated

Which one for both? I'm not sure why it matters if the bullet is coated, maybe for expansion after impact?

 

[Wreck-n-Crew]

MBC lists the coated bullets with the same Brinnel as the uncoated;

.357 158g coated

.38spcl 158g coated

Which one for both? I'm not sure why it matters if the bullet is coated, maybe for expansion after impact?

The 12 bhn is plenty for both. Heavier bhn of 18 wont obturate as well in the 38 special and may not be as accurate.

Hope this helps

 

[35 Whelen]

Why don't you just try them? Worse case scenario is they don't work and you'll know next time. I've shot plenty of 22 Bhn in .38 Specials and plenty of 12 Bhn in .357's. Oh, and I never measured a throat.

35W

 

[TimSr]

Maybe, maybe not, depends on the fit. 18 is too hard for .38 Spl pressures, but can work if the fit is really good.

You'll just have to try it and see what happens. If you get leading or other negative results you will just have to change a variable or two and try again.

Sums it up. I'm shooting the 18BRN over 17gr 296 in .357, and the same bullets also work well without leading in light .38s from both my GP100, and my Taurus 85. I don't like stocking multiples of the same bullets. Your mileage may vary.

I don't slug bores or measure throats unless I can't get "off the shelf" to work right and so far that's never happened.