New reloader has question(s)...

[American_Fusilier]

I think the Berrys website says you can use jacketed data with their bullets, as long as you don't pass their fps listing

 

[Centella]

Welcome to the club! Sounds like you've started with some fun revolvers. I've been enjoying shooting as a hobby for several decades and I'm only now trying reloading.

Hey thank you! Glad to be here.

 

[Centella]

https://www.natchezss.com/reloading/bullets/ho-38-cal-357-158gr-hpxtp-ho35750
These are kinda pricey depending on what you are going for, but they fit your requested spec.
If you don't need a HP I would skip the plated and go with a good coated bullet like this. I prefer coated over plated.
https://missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=226&category=20&secondary=9&keywords=
Welcome to the forum!

Hey thanks so much, these look like good options...

 

[Centella]

If you load a plated and a jacked bullet over the same powder charge plated will just about always make more pressure.

Thanks, good to know...

 

[Centella]

I've been using a lot of Xtreme bullets lately, they have a reloading guide you can download their site that has good starter loads too. 158 gr with a cannelure for 10 cents each is about as good as it get these days.
https://www.xtremebullets.com/38-158-RNFP-p/xc38-158rnfp-b0500.htm

Hey thanks, this is awesome!

 

[Centella]

Traditionally, plated bullets are treated like cast ones. That is, load data is interchangeable between the two, speeds are held down, and the case mouth needs a tad more flair.

That all is still true, and I generally adhere to the "rules". A catch is that much of the cast bullet data is quite low, so that folks don't call the powder manufacturers to complain about leading. With a bit of additional knowledge, cast bullets can generally be driven about as hard as jacketed, at least at typical handgun speeds. The same is usually true of plated, with the caveat that most of them don't want to be driven much past 1200 fps or so. (There are exceptions, like Berry's "thick plate" bullets, which are safe to 1500 fps.)

Short version: in standard .38 Special loads, just about any published load data can be used, whether it is intended for cast or jacketed.

With regard to the 130s, just use data for 125s. As long as you aren't trying to get the last few FPS out of the load, you will be fine.

<edit> And it's always a fine idea to check with the horse's mouth... https://www.berrysmfg.com/faq

Hey thanks so much for the information!

 

[Centella]

If your banging with a hammer on a lee loader your not able to make them fast enough to really drain the bank account. Almost every local store carrys the xtp and its twin the hap. Stick with jacketed for a while till your comfortable. The hap is a jsp made from the same jacket. You may find sierra jhp and jsp. For purposes on paper they are all gooder. Plated bullets are a little more critical on seating stem fit and will deform more easily. They are also more sensitive to crimp.

Hey thank you for the reply. Yes, I'd like to stick to FMJ, but they are just not in stock anywhere with the cannelure and the grains I have data for...

 

[Centella]

That's not true. And I can't even imagine what kind of twisted logic whoever it was told you that used to come up with that advice.
Edited to say: I can see some logic behind advising a new reloader to stick with jacketed bullets (rather than cast or swaged lead) but not FMJs (full metal jackets).

Yep, that's good thinking - using cannelured, or bullets with crimp grooves so that you can get proper crimps for use in revolvers is the way to go. The .38 Special is not a notoriously hard kicker (in a medium or large revolver) but if you're shooting revolvers that do have a lot of recoil, without a "proper" crimp, the remaining bullets in your revolver's cylinder can creep forward, out of their cases, as your revolver recoils - just like an inertia (a "whack-a-mole") bullet puller.
At any rate, welcome to THR Centella!

Hey thanks so much! Happy to be here

 

[Centella]

@Centella welcome to THR!

Always try to find published load data. VV has N340 data for both the Berrys FP 158 and the XTP 158. If you stick to the data, you’ll be just fine. Mind the starting and max charges, and the published COL.

I find it a lot easier to load FMJs and someone was giving you good advice.

It’s a lot easier to shave lead off a lubed or coated lead bullet, easier to swage them, and if they’re lubed they’ll smoke more, and generally an FMJ will provide better precision. None of these problems are insurmountable, but for a new reloader not having to deal with them is a plus. Plated are in between lead/coated and jacketed.

Most of my training rounds are coated lead these days, so I would encourage you to look at either plated or coated in the future. You’ll also see a lot of suppliers of these with a lot of options. Good luck on your reloading.

Hey thanks!

 

[Centella]

The advice on power data has changed a lot over the year's, and today Berry's says you can use any lead, plated, or jacketed data, which is lazy on their part.

Some low end lead data can stick plated bullets, and some top jacketed data can be over pressure. To see the latter just find published plated data and compare it to jacketed data. To see the former try starting charges of lead data and eventually, if not very soon, you'll stick a plated bullet since they have more friction than lubed lead.

The absolute best is published plated data for your bullet, but if you stick with middle to upper lead data, and go no higher than midrange jacketed data, you'll be OK 99% of the time.

Some low end lead data won't stick bullets, and some top end jacketed data won't be over pressure.

Sounds like you want bang for your buck, so I would look for a cheap coated 158 Gr bullet, use middle to upper lead data, and have fun.

I know you had success with your first try and want to duplicate it, but don't worry, . 38 Spl is easy to load for, and you'll have success again.

Hey thanks! Yeah, I've been curious about coated bullets...will very probably give them a try in the near future.

 

[Centella]

I think the Berrys website says you can use jacketed data with their bullets, as long as you don't pass their fps listing

Cool.

 

[N555]

Thanks, good to know...

If there're the same weight.