Which bullet to use?

[Rob1109]

I want to reload a 158Gr. .38 Spc. round strictly for target at 800-850 fps. I don't want to clean lead/copper fouling any more than I have to. So, 158Gr. hard cast? FMJ? copper plated? Advise and counsel appreciated.....

P.S. this would be for snub-nose 1 7/8" to 2 1/8"

 

[Hondo 60]

Seems kind fast for lead. You'd probably have the best luck with jacketed bullets.

You didn't say what kind of gun or barrel length, that'll make a difference.

 

[MulticalinMO]

I have discussed this with Brad at Missouri Bullet Company and he assures me that hardness 18 projectiles can be safely shot at up to 1400 FPS. I like their their .357 Action! http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=10 for a 158 gr. projectile and the PPC#1 http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=9 for a nice gentle 148 gr. wad cutter at slower speeds. Just fun to shoot all day long.

MOFreedom

 

[TonyAngel]

I use MBC cast bullets exclusively. Never any leading problems and really zing the .357 loads.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

A hardness of ~12 will be fine for under 900 fps without leading, for over 1000 fps I would go with a hard cast of ~18. Remember, if you use too hard a lead bullet and push it too slow you can get more leading than if the bullet is too soft and shot at high velocities.

 

[Slamfire]

Valiant bullets cast their projectiles to 13 BHM. At the velocities of my loads, I don't get any leading in my revolvers.

Here are two loads which have proven to be very accurate in a wide selection of 38 Specials.


4" S&W M10-5

148 LWC Valiant 2.7grs Bullseye W/W cases WSP
19-Apr-09 T ≈ 60-65 ° F

Ave Vel = 696.2
Std Dev = 12.04
ES = 48
High = 721.3
Low = 673.3
N = 32
v accurate, about 2" low, no leading, mild recoil

158 LRN Valiant 3.5grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP
19-Apr-09 T ≈ 60-65 ° F

Ave Vel = 758
Std Dev = 22.86
ES = 100.9
High = 810.5
Low = 709.5
N = 32

 

[bullseye308]

If the bullet is sized properly for your pistol you can shoot lead with no issues so long as it has enough lube, sufficient hardness, and you start with a clean barrel.

 

[Steve C]

For the .38 spl 158 gr I use a softer bullet as the velocity is under 1K fps and they seem to shoot better. WC design works best on paper and the SWC is a good second, both cutting a nice round hole. RN bullets work best for shooting targets when you have to reload quickly during the course of fire as they guide themselves into the chamber either from speed loaders or when loaded singly.

 

[rcmodel]

18 BHM is too hard for .38 special standard pressure & velocity.

You want the softer bullets, so they will be able to slug up and seal the bore when hit with a light .38 Spl load.

Factory 158 LRN bullets are soft swaged, and they don't lead at 850 FPS.
.22 RF bullets are soft swaged, and they don't lead at 1,200+ FPS.

Too hard will allow gas cutting and they will lead, unless hit with magnum pressure & velocity to bump them up to fit & seal.

Try the 12 BHM .38 Spl from Missouri Bullet.
http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?pageNum_rsCWResults=1&category=5&secondary=9

rc

 

[CraigC]

Those from Missouri Bullet would probably be perfect and the price is right. Remember that Elmer Keith cast his bullets for running 1200fps no harder than 12bhn.

You might also consider swaged bullets from Speer and Hornady. Perfect for your velocity range. Unfortunately they're not any cheaper than cast bullets but at least they're not too hard.

Here's where I get my cast bullets these days. Not only are their prices much better than most commercial outfits, they're local so I save on shipping. They typically cast theirs 12bhn.
http://www.tennesseevalleybullets.com/products/bullets.html

 

[transtech]

Least clean-up the goal? Pay a little extra for plated bullets from Berry's or Rainier. In 357 Magnum I developed a load with Berry's 148 grain plated hollow base wadcutter with 3.8 grains of Alliant American Select with a lead-free primer (PMC or CCI) that I can only describe as incredibly clean, the cleanest load i've ever shot in any gun, any caliber, my Clean+Green load. Marvelously accurate also. In 38 Spl, you would want to reduce that to maybe 3.3 or 3.4 grains of American Select & with either round, the easy-loading plated wadcutter would be seated flush with a light roll crimp around the top edge of it. No lead-free primers? Use a regular primer & the only clean-up you'll have will be derived from the primer and a slight copper wash in the barrel that will come out with the ammonia-based copper removers. With the lead-free primer, however, you can shoot about 100 of these & the revolver will look like you shot about 5 rounds.

 

[Jesse Heywood]

For what you're wanting to do the 148 gr wadcutter makes a good bullet. BHN of 10-12. And if you do have leading problems get a bottle of Rooster Jacket lube.