Range report - Used Bullseye for 357mag 158gr LSWC

[gonoles_1980]

Used a ladder from 4.4 to 4.8 gr. All shot well, I like I liked the 4.5 the best to use for my mid-range 357's. The one thing about the great powder shortage is I've been trying out a lot of powders since I can't get my W231/HP38. I've got titegroup, bullesye, AA#5, AA#7 and N320. Haven't used the AA#5 yet.

I'm using titegroup with the 38spl LSWC 158gr, AA#7 for a 9mm 124gr CPRN, bullseye LSWC 158gr 357mag (mid-loads) and N320 158gr CPFP for my hot load 357mag.

 

[Marlin 45 carbine]

'lswc' is a cast slug then?
seems to be a good load. BE is good for cast slugs IMO.

 

[gonoles_1980]

It was Speer's Lead Semi Wad Cutter.

 

[jakk280rem]

I like Speer's 158gr LSWC. I load it for my hot 38 loads in my 642. I use a little over 4gr of Bullseye, but I haven't tried them at faster velocities. Any problems with leading?

 

[gonoles_1980]

I haven't cleaned the gun yet, I will sometime this week and I'll check for leading. I did finish up with my hotter loads of xtreme CPFP 158gr with 6.5gr of N320. Not sure if it's a myth or not that the copper helps to clean out any leading.

 

[Buck13]

Not sure if it's a myth or not that the copper helps to clean out any leading.

I've heard the opposite: that jacketed loads will "iron down" the lead and make it harder to clean. No idea if that's true, but I did have the experience recently of shooting a mix of plain-base cast and plated bullets in my Redhawk over a few sessions, and a couple of weeks ago I was not getting the accuracy I expected. One of my buddies who is a considerably better shooter also got a fairly poor pattern; quite a bit worse than I expected from him. After a good cleaning (which didn't seem extremely difficult, but was a chore), with some visible flakes of lead on patches over a tight jag, I shot only plated bullets a week ago and did better.

Shooting a few gas-checked cast bullets is supposed to help clean out lead fouling, which at least seems plausible since the leading edge of the gas check usually has a little lube groove ahead of it where the fouling could be collected. Unfortunately, I'm out of GC bullets for the calibers in which I mix lead and plated, so I haven't been able to try that lately. I should keep a dozen rounds of GC loads in stock for when I think I need a "fire-cleaning" at the range.