Using 125 gr. XTP's .358"+ after pulling

[gamestalker]

A year or so back I pulled about 50 rounds 125 gr. XTP's .357 mag. full tilt H110 loads, with the intention of re appropriating them as full tilt 38 spcl. Longshot loads. These were 125 gr. XTP's, firmly crimped, so when I pulled them I ended up having to tighten the collet die down rather tight to prevent the collet from pulling off. They bulged / deformed pretty good with the upper portion on most of the bullet shanks and lower olgive being 158", some are closer to 159" respectfully. Oddly, Gold Dots aren't nearly as soft, and the collet didn't even leave a mark.

Anyway, I hate throwing bullets away, so I was wondering if these would be ok to load with Longshot data, or would this possibly pose a pressure issue. I've been trying to come up with a way to swag them back down to .357", but haven't come up with a plan as yet. If I use them, they will be fired from my Taurus 608, the tank as it were, which has throats that are right at .357", give or take .0002".

Thanks

GS

 

[rcmodel]

Load them.

.001" makes no practical difference anyway.
When you consider .357" bullets become .358" or .359" bullets in the chamber throats.

Then, .357" something bullets again when they get to the forcing cone and resized to the bore.

Happens every shot to every bullet you shoot.

rc

 

[gamestalker]

And yet again you've come through RC, thank you Sir!

I figured as much, but in this hobby, it's usually best to trust the opinion of the experts, than to go off half cocked, pun intended.

GS

 

[murf]

looks like rc came up with the best way to swag them back down! colt barrels normally have .355" groove diameters, s&w barrels normally have .357" groove diameters. apparently, two thou extra "swaging" doesn't make a difference.

murf

 

[mdi]

Yep, you can shoot 'em, or if it bothers you, run them through a .357" push through sizing die...

 

[gamestalker]

I loaded them up today. My only concern is that they are jacketed, so I didn't know if that would drive pressures up significantly, since I load full pressure stuff pretty much exclusively.

GS

 

[murf]

pull the first fired case. sticky extraction? flat primer? cratered firing pin hole? if the case looks normal, have at it.

murf

 

[gamestalker]

I'll be running them from the Taurus 608 or the Ruger BH, so I'm probably just fine, but will definitely observe prevailing pressure signs.

GS

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Are you loading the bullets in .38 Special +P loads or in .357 Magnum loads?

If you are going full tilt .38 Special +P it would take a lot to go overpressure in a .357 Magnum revolver.

 

[gamestalker]

Ya Arch, I'm loading them as 38 spcl. +p, and shooting them from .357 revolvers. I guess I shouldn't really be overly concerned, since a .357 wheel gun is designed to handle 35,000 psi on the high end, v.s. 19,000 psi on the upper end for +p 38 spcl.. But I have always been mindful of any circumstances that may be out of the ordinary, especially since I load full pressure, full tilt stuff 99.9% of the time. Always better to error on the side of caution by asking questions prior to proceeding, than to wish I had later.

Thanks ya all!

GS