Missouri 158 gr. LSWC Match bullet?

[something vague]

I have purchased Missouri's 158gr. LSWC that is designed for target velocities with a brinell of 12. Now what kind of velocities should I be aiming for when they say target velocities? I want to make sure that they are fast enough to obturate the bore to keep leading to a minimum, if this is possible with a solid lead bullet. I have been shooting hollowbase bullets as of late therefore have been spoiled with very little to no leading.

I am shooting these out of a Ruger SP101 .357 mag and a Ruger Blackhawk .357 mag.

Would I be better off loading these in .357 cases or should I just stick with .38's? I had great luck loading my hollow base's in the .357 case at low velocities of course. It just kinda seems like a waste of brass. Some pet loads with this type of bullet would be nice as well.

 

[Quoheleth]

Good bullet. Should shoot great out of the SP101.

I have good results with just about any .38 Special load. Right now, I'm using Bullseye - either 3.6 or 3.7 gr, I forget which - but also like Universal and Titegroup. I tried AA#5 - it gave me pretty nasty leading in my SP101.

I use .38 cases, as I have a whole coffee can full.

Q

 

[floydster]

I shoot the Missouri 158 gr. SWC match out of my 357 Blackhawk using 3.9 grs Trail Boss,it is one very accurate load, much better then the plated bullets I have been using. I use 38 Spl. cases.
Smokeyloads

 

[ArchAngelCD]

IMO you can drive those bullets as slow as 600+ fps and as fast as 1000 fps without leading. I'm sure Brad from Missouri Bullets will be along soon to give you his opinion on what velocity range is acceptable with his bullets.

My favorite load for a 158gr LSWC bullet in a .38 Special case is 4.0gr W231. It's not a very light target load but it's not especially hot either. That load is very accurate in my revolvers, especially my 4" M686.

 

[Walkalong]

I have had good luck with the X-Treme 158 Gr plated bullet floydster, although I am sure those Missouri Bullets shoot great as well. Ever try Clays with them? I am using .357 cases. I guess I need to try some of those Missouri Bullets folks are raving about.

12 shots - 7 yards - standing - two hands

 

[Quoheleth]

No, you don't Walkalong. Stick with what you're using. Leaves more Missouri Bullets for the rest of us.

Not to hijack (but I guess I will) I keep reading that Trail Boss is good stuff with lead bullets. Is it good with plinking/target loads with lead bullets across the board - .38, .357, .41, .45ACP and 9mm?

Q

 

[Walkalong]

I was unimpressed with it with plated bullets, although the accuracy tended to be good, but folks rave about it with lead. I haven't tried it with lead yet, but intend to in .44 Spl, one of these days.

 

[bluetopper]

Any load within 38 Spl specs with 38 brass will be just fine with those bullets.

Don't worry about it.

I use Clays and Bullseye powders in 38 with great results. You can't beat em.

To be honest with you, nearly all I shoot in 38 anymore is 148gr wadcutters. Great accuracy, and easy to load.

 

[something vague]

Damn Walkalong, that is one heck of an accurate gun/load combination. I have never tried Clays powder at all. I've always been more prone to want to use a medium burner with lighter to middle weight loads due to case fill. There's really no reason other than a mental thing about case fill. It just seems unnatural to leave so much unused space in the case with fast burners. I guess this comes from loading rifle rounds where most of the time your best accuracy comes from powders that give you proper case fill, with exceptions of course. I will have to buy a pound of Clays or B.E. sometime to see what all the hype is about. It odviously works for you Anthony.

 

[bluetopper]

Clays and Bullseye are very easy powders to ignite and I don't think volume in the case or case positioning makes a bit of difference with these powders.

Bullseye and 38 have been a mainstay at target competions since early in the last century.

 

[halfded]

I've been using 3.0gr of red dot with mine. Accurate enough for me so far. I loaded up 4.2gr of Unique behind a few last night, gonna give them a try today if the wind dies down.

 

[floydster]

Walkalong, very nice shooting.
I have had pretty good luck with Trial Boss and Red Dot. pushing the 158 gr. SWC from Missouri.
These are shot at 40' offhand from a 357 Blackhawk.

 

[floydster]

Couple of targets shot from my Witness Elite Match 45 ACP. using 231 and Trail Boss. Targets set at 40', offhand.
4.6 grs. 231, 200 gr. SWC
3.7 gr. TB, 230 gr. RN.
Missouri bullets

 

[Walkalong]

Excellent shooting there floydster

It just seems unnatural to leave so much unused space in the case with fast burners.

One definitely has to pay close attention so a double charge does not occur.

Clays and Bullseye are very easy powders to ignite and I don't think volume in the case or case positioning makes a bit of difference with these powders.

I have done a lot of "powder back" vs "powder forward" testing in .357 cases. Clays does better than most, but there will still be some velocity loss powder forward. That load using 3.3 Grs Clays with the X-Treme 158 Gr SWC (Load #72) will lose around 50 to 75 FPS with the powder forward vs powder back. That is much better than the 200 to 400 FPS difference some loads exhibited. I actually found one powder that gave more velocity powder forward! It won't really show up shooting close, but I like to shoot at 100 yards and consistent velocity is very important for that, and especially when I shoot at the 300 yard range.

I have a .45 Colt load pushing a 255 Gr plated bullet at 650ish FPS that shoots great at long distance. The PB vs PF difference when I shot it at 97 Degrees was 651 PB & 640 PF! That is with a relatively small charge of AA #2 rolling around that huge case. I love to shoot at clay pigeons on the berm behind the 100 yard targets with it.

To the OP. I use only .357 caes for .357s, but many folks use .38 brass in them. I would only recommend that one doesn't load .38 brass to over .38 pressures just in case they get into a .38 revolver.

 

[something vague]

300 yards with a .357 mag! That's out there. Is this with a handgun? If so what is it and is it scoped? I wouldn't even be able to see the target without a scope, but then again my eyesight isn't the greatest these days.

 

[Walkalong]

My eyesight is poor these days as well. Dang Doc says it's still 20/20 except for up close, which makes the sights are fuzzy. I used to have phenomenal vision. I miss it.

I am not shooting at little targets at that distance. There is a 14 X 14 steel plate at the 300 yard range. Ringing it about once per cylinder isn't too tough if you concentrate.

I do shoot better with a red dot on a handgun. I can aim more precisely. Practice at long distance can be frustrating, but it really helps shooting at closer distances.

My favorite is clay pigeons on the 100 yard berm. Last time out a fellow told me I was full of stuff. I hit the pigeon on the 3rd shot from my 25-5. Sometimes I won't hit one with an entire cylinder. Shut him up good.

 

[1911Tuner]

They should be okay at any reasonable velocity. My home cast bullets probably wouldn't hit more than 12 and I regularly drive the 160s to 1250+fps in .357 magnum revolvers...with zero lead fouling. The only real problem could come from a long jump from chamber to barrel...long chamber throats...and having the bullet skid across the rifling.

Just FYI...My alloy consists of wheeweight, mixed 16:1 with pure lead to reduce antimony to about 3% and tin mixed with that at 30:1 for roughly 94/3/3 alloy. Softer than certified Hardball alloy...92/6/2...and a little harder than straight wheelweight. It works well for anything from 800 fps .45 wadcutter to near top-end magnum revolver loads. Casts nicely and produces very consistent bullets.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I found Clays to be a good powder for the .38 Special but I also found it doesn't meter well with the light charges associated with .38 Special target loads. Even though it does a good job I don't load Clays anymore and have gone back to my standby, W231...