Return Of Speer's 146 grain JHP SWC

[Ala Dan]

Hello All-

While thumbing through my most recent (2004)
RCBS catalog (which includes Speer bullets), I
happened to notice that Speer has reintroduced
the .38/.357 146 grain JHP SWC. Its been quite
a few year's since I've shot some of these, but
I fondly remember them as being a mighty fine
performer! Glad to see 'em back in the line-up!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[ChristopherG]

What a great bullet, eh? I discovered it here at THR a few months back, and think they're about perfect for moderate 357 loads. I wouldn't trust them to hold together on impact if they were going over 1200 or so fps--gotta figure that soft lead up top would just peel off in a little doughnut. But, for a controllable round out of my 12 oz 340, for example, this 146 gr JHPSWC feels perfect at around a thousand fps (a bit more than that out my 4" 66). Makes me wonder why noone loads this bullet in a commercial load--but I guess speer is counting (justifiably) on selling a ton of their new .38 GDHPs, and doesn't have to worry about this old-fashioned projectile.

 

[Ala Dan]

Greeting's Christopher G,

Many moons ago, I used the Speer 146 grain JHP SWC's
with great success, as fired from these various makes
and models of weapons:

a) 2.5" barrel S&W 66 and Colt Python
b) 4" barrel S&W 19, Ruger Security-Six
c) 6" barrel S&W 19, Colt Python*

As indicated with the *, I achieved the best results from
the 6" barrel Colt Python. I agree, that these bullets do
not need to exceed about 1200 fps. I was real impressed
by their very flat trajectory; as I was shooting distances
that covered from 80 to 125 yards.

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[JimC]

I'm glad to see that Speer has brought back this very under rated, very affordable, accurate .38/.357 bullet.

It was one of the very first bullets that I reloaded for a 6 1/2" Ruger Blackhawk back in the late '60's.

As time progressed, I put a lot of them thru an S&W M28-6" with great success and a lot of fun.

I don't recall the exact load but it was a CCI 550 primer, any case I had on hand at the time and full of 2400.

They had a nice 160 gr. JSP with the short jacket also.

 

[ChristopherG]

Just in case anyone wonders where to get it, here 'tis:

http://www.midwayusa.com/rewriteaproduct/275027

Gives the benefits of the crisp, full-caliber channel and the 'splat' design of a LSWCHP without the nasty leading that you invariably must deal with when using pure swaged at much over 800 fps.

 

[Gordon]

A great bullet, I just ordered 1000 more from your info , thanx!

 

[g56]

I used to shoot tons of those, really brings back memories! The shocker was the price!

They aren't reasonably priced anymore, which is disappointing because it's a very low tech bullet, those things are running almost 11 cents each! You can get a Remington or Winchester 158 gr JHP, a much more modern design in quantity for about half the price.

Remington 158 gr JHP, $57.33 per 1,000

 

[Bob C]

I also fired a bunch of these in the '70's, but my guns generally seemed to do better with the 160 SWC half jacket which Speer also offered then.

In those days good quality hard cast bullets were much less available, and couldn't be ordered und er the laws in place until the mid- to late '80's. Accordingly, I used the Speer's as a reasonable alternative. I also liked the 240 SWC .44 of the same half jacket design.

 

[mec]

They are useful at high revolver velocity too. The nose will expand and shed but the portion under the jacket stays intact.

 

[Ala Dan]

Back in the 70's, I used these in variety of
weapons including 2X (4" & 6") S&W 28's,
a 6" Colt Python, a 4" Ruger Security-Six,
and a 4-5/8" Ruger Blackhawk. Used for
long range target work!

Best Wishes,
Ala Dan, N.R.A. Life Member

 

[Grump]

I once had some correspondence with Speer regarding this excellent bullet. Back then, the core was about 3% antinmony content, so it was hard enough to not worry much about jackets separating.

Fired into wet phone books (a VERY abrasive medium) at speeds over 1300 fps, they never broke up, and kept their front mushroom.

They were going to be my choice for hunting deer, but I never got around to it. 146-gr in .357 gives the best combination of velocity, trajectory, and retained energy, according to what info I could generate and/or access. I used 296 and had impressive speeds even in a 4-inch revolver.