Bullet Types - Working on new Loads....

[mcdonl]

Hi all. I am looking for a .38 special load, and as it is I cannot find a "perfect" match of bullet weight, Bullet Type and powder.

I have read about the different types of bullets, and how the react once fired and even how the velocities are different.

I have .38 special, 125gr Berry plated round nose bullets, according to their website plated bullets are right in between jacketed and lead bullets and that the loads should start with the minimum load for the jacketed bullets. Ok, so that gives me a good place to start.

The only problem is, these are plated round nose and all the data I can find for 125gr bullets are JHP's.... Is there a significant difference in reloading a JHP vs a FMJ if weight and powder are the same?

Thanks!

 

[rcmodel]

Well, the biggest problem I can see is, Berry doesn't even show that they make a 125 grain RN .38/.357" bullet on thier website. They do make a 158 grain RN though.

You sure that's what you got?

rc

 

[mcdonl]

Well, you had me thinking but I just double checked....

http://www.berrysmfg.com/product.aspx?i=14484&c=13&pp=8&sb=0&p=0

That's the one, but maybe it is not round nose?

 

[rcmodel]

O.K.
Thats a Flat Point, not a Round Nose.

Nothing much different then a HP except the HP would be slightly longer.

You can use starting to mid-range load data & OAL seating depth for a similiar shape & weight JHP bullet..

Unlike normal revolver bullets, that one does not appear to have a crimp cannulure.
So, you can't use much roll-crimp at all without cutting through the plating.

Just try for enough crimp to straighten out the case mouth bell + a frog hair more.

rc

 

[mcdonl]

Thanks RC!

 

[Walkalong]

That bullet shoots really well. It will take all but the stoutest .38 Spl loads. As long as you don't try to hot rod it with +P jacketed data, you will be OK. I shoot it at around 900 to 950 FPS from a 6" barrel.

 

[jfh]

So, I followed the link and wandered around the 38 / 357 plated bullets--

Has anyone tried those plated 158-gr SWC-HPs?

Jim H.

 

[Walkalong]

They shoot pretty well, but I actually prefer the X-Treme 158 Gr SWC (38-158 SWC)

 

[mcdonl]

Unlike normal revolver bullets, that one does not appear to have a crimp cannulure.
So, you can't use much roll-crimp at all without cutting through the plating.

Just try for enough crimp to straighten out the case mouth bell + a frog hair more.

Hi all, back for more

So, I loaded up a handful of these (Actually... I did it was my 10 year old daughter and we had a very nice time.....) and I am having some trouble with the crimp.

The lee 3 die set, says to put the bullet seating die in, turn all the way until it hits the shell holder, then back out three full turns... I did that, then I backed out the bullet seater a bunch, and slowly brought it back in until it was at the depth that put the OAL right where it should be. I used a factory round as a guide, set my calipers and checked each one. They were also under the OAL specified by the die set and manual.

Then, the instructions were to slightly turn the die in until I got the desired crimp. I could not seem to get any crimp at all...

Any thoughts?

thanks

 

[tom357mag]

Once you have your OAL make sure you back out the bullet seater and then turn the die body in until you get the crimp you want. Then after that take the cartridge all the way up and screw the bullet seater down till you feel it hit the top of the bullet and then your die should be set.

 

[mcdonl]

Thanks Tom. I will give that a try!

That worked well. One of the things you can't learn in a book are things like how much pressure to apply. I was doing it right, just not hard enough!