Bullets for 38sp and 357mag

[larry7293]

I want to reload 38specials and possibly 357magnums for my henry big boy. Could I get by with using the same bullet "Missouri Bullet cowboy 15 with Brinell hardness of 12" in both cases or the "1 Ranger.358 Diameter158 Grain RNFP Brinell 18" in both cases? Want to use for target practice so would be using light loads. My Lyman manual says to use Bullseye 3grains to start or Unique 4grs as starting loads in 38sps. Not sure about 357mag case loads? Any suggestions for 357load?

thanks

 

[Fine Figure of a Man]

Get the coated bullets instead of plain lead. No leading over a wider range of velocity and they are clean to work with.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

X2 on coated. They are impressive.

 

[Blue68f100]

I'm using the MBC 38 Match 158gr SWC Coated bullets which are 12 BHN. I'm using WST for my powder 3.8gr These have a very light to non existence recoil. You may need to bump the load if used in a rifle. I have not crony these loads so I can't give you any velocity numbers.

 

[larry7293]

BE86 powder seems like a possible choice. 38sp 4.6gr and 357mag 8.1gr. If I can find the BE 86 powder. What do you think of this idea using the RNFB cowboy 15 bullets? Not sure about the Ranger 1 bullet - maybe to hard??

 

[Ks5shooter]

125 gr jhp or rn for plinking,why pay for extra lead,until you need a hunting load then go heavier.

 

[Bayou52]

I also join the chorus for plated over lead...

 

[Walkalong]

I like plated or coated 125Gr RN or TrFP and 148 Gr WC's for .38 Spl plinking and plated or coated 158 Gr SWC's for plinking .357 Mag.

 

[Dog Soldier]

A LEE 6 cavity mold a Harbor Freight powder coating kit makes many useful and economical bullets.

 

[Sunray]

The only real issue is that some(actually most) lever action .357's don't like shooting .38 Special. Has to do with the OAL's. Otherwise the only important part is the bullet being cast or jacketed. No interchanging the data.
You can use .38 Special data in a .357 case for your rifle with no fuss. Suggest you use a different bullet for each so you'll know what the load is.
Current Alliant data says the Unique Max load for .38 Special with a cast 158 is 4.2 to 4.7.
Same powder and bullet for a .357 is 5.4 to 6.
For Bullseye, it's 3.2 to 3.5 for the .38. 4.3 to 4.8 for the .357.
All manuals will be slightly different due to their data being averages and reflecting the conditions and firearm used on the day of the test. So your Lyman book(preferred by most) is fine. Alliant's data is out of a 6" revolver, not a 20" rifle. Main difference is the velocities.