No crimp groove on 38spl 158gr Hornaday LSWCHP

[gonoles_1980]

I haven't been able to get Speer 158gr LSWCHP boolets for a while, so I bought some Hornady. I don't see a crimp grove in the bullet. I guess I probably should use COL for crimping then. Also use the standard roll crimp and not a tapered crimp like I usually do on boolets without a crimp grove (there is no taper to this bullet).

 

[ReloaderFred]

With soft lead bullets, you can just crimp into the side of the bullet wherever necessary to achieve the OAL you're trying for. The OAL isn't critical in revolver rounds, but if those rounds are going to be fed through a leveraction rifle, then it is, to ensure smooth feeding, and the crimp is necessary to prevent the bullets being pushed back into the case while under spring tension in the tube magazine.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[FROGO207]

I have done as Reloader Fred told you to do. I also seat a couple thousands long and then roll crimp in a separate operation. Probably makes no difference but that's how I have done it over the years

 

[PO2Hammer]

I loaded those for years, nice bullet for 38 velocities. I crimp lightly into the side of the bullet.

 

[Galil5.56]

I have used those a lot for HV "FBI" type loads - measured 930 fps from a 3", and did roll crimp them, to eliminate jump from recoil. A nice generous roll crimp worked great, and never had any movement. I myself do prefer the Speer bullets you mention, as they are softer, and expand beautifully.

 

[MEHavey]

haven't been able to get Speer 158gr LSWCHP boolets for a while, so I bought some Hornady

If this one: https://media.midwayusa.com/productimages/880x660/Primary/419/419842.jpg
then crimp just at/over the shoulder itself in one seating/crimping stroke..
This prevent bullets jump quite well.. but NOT setback.
Recommend using for revolver only.

 

[gonoles_1980]

It was the ones you linked MEHavey, thanks all for the suggestions. I measured some 38's I had left and used a 1.46 COL, about the 3rd diamond down shown in the picture in the MHEHavey link. I used my standard roll crimp. These bullets look to be a good backup to the Speer LSWCHP. They had a powder on them. I'll try them out at the range tomorrow.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have both the Speer and Hornady 158gr LSWC/HP bullets and like above, I just crimp where I want on the Hornady bullet. Those bullets are soft enough to do that. I set the OAL at the common 1.455" or close.

I think the Speer bullets are slightly different and come up as 1.440" when crimped into the supplied groove.

 

[Carl N. Brown]

Since I have a .38/.357 revolver and a .38/.357 tube magazine carbine, I want a roll crimp into the lead to prevent both jump (in revolvers) and setback (in tube magazines). The absence of an actual groove in the Hornady bullets doesn't prevent getting a roll crimp into the lead.

(I currently have a box of Hornady open and an unopened box of Speer, both in lead SWC 158gr.)

 

[gonoles_1980]

They fired just fine, bullets had nice clean holes i the paper. Excellent substitute for the Speer LSWCHP, I'll just get whichever is cheaper in the future.