would 38/357 be a good starting to reload round

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BossHogg

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Universal clays is about the only powder i can find. what are some of your best loads? I guess they could use the same bullets,what are some bullet choices?
I will start out slow , dies should work for both loads, but looking foward to rolling my own. I know it's not rocket science but it is to me now.
 
38 special is a great round to start reloading. With a set of 38 dies, you can then load 357 mag as well. I think you will get wonderful results using clays with some 148gr WC in your 38. You may want to add something like unique, titegroup or 2400 when you progress to the 357.

Enjoy!
 
I started out with .38 spcl. 148g HBWC, I thought it was a great starter load to learn on.
Stick with published load data to be safe.
 
(I know it's not rocket science but it is to me now.)

It is a science and after all, they are little tiny rockets. I'm just playin with ya. I'm new and felt the same. I started slow also. It is way worth the trouble. Sometime I feel like I have to go shoot so I can make some more. Be safe. Rick
 
.38 Spl is a great round to learn on. Universal will work just fine to get started.
 
You chose good calibers to start with. The .38 Special and .357 Magnum are both fairly straight forward to load. As for using Universal Clays, if it's the only powder you can fine at least it's one of the better choices for both rounds. Universal is a lot like Unique but without all the dirty leftovers. It will produce good .38 Special ammo even though it's just a little slow for light target ammo and in the .357 it will produce fairly hot ammo. It can also be used with lead bullets in both. Don't worry too much about it being the only powder you can find, there are far worse choices out there.

Good luck, check everything twice and have fun shooting...
 
.38 spl and .357 mag are easy to reload. The best thing about revolvers is you don't have to hunt for spent brass thrown all over the area like you do for a semi auto.
 
I am a rookie myself and not only could I not get any powder other than Uniersal Clays I could not get any primers other then Small Pistol Magnum...

I have recently got regular small pistol and used these same loads and they seemed the same. I of course cannot test pressures and velocity but as far as just shooting them they felt the same.

(WARNING - NO WHERE IN PRINT WILL YOU FIND IT ADVISABLE TO USE MAGNUM PRIMERS IN THESE LOADS BUT IT WORKED WELL FOR ME AND I DID SO UNDER THE ADVISE OF SOME SMART EXPERIENCED PEOPLE)

I have done the following loads with good success:

.38 Spl
Universal Clays - 4.2
148g LSWC Bullet
Used the OAL from the Lee Die Set for this bullet

.38 Spl
Universal Clays - 4.5
125g Berry Plated Bullet
Used the OAL from the Lee Die Set for the 125g JHP

.357 magnum
Universal Clays - 4.5
148g LSWC Bullet
Used the OAL from the Lee Die Set for this bullet
 
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would 38/357 be a good starting to reload round
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I didn't know they made another caliber...

You mentioned Clays and Wad Cutters. Those two never really mix to well for me. I think Universal Clays is too fast for them. If you could find some Bullseye for those wad cutters you could drop to 600 fps or less. My favorite 38spl (for now) is a 150gr DEWC with 1.7gr Bullseye. Very pleasant to shoot and almost no crimp needed.
What kind of powders do you have available?

My favorite bullet for both is the 158gr LSWC.

NOTE: if your just starting and you only have a 357mag revolver and want to load 38spl just because... then try not to. If you can, just load 357mag brass only and you'll save yourself from (ring around the collar) a lead ring that builds up just before the cylinder throat caused by a soft lead wad cutter jumping across a gap to the throat and scraping off an inky's worth. It can possibly lead to problems unless removed. I'm not saying you can't or the accuracy is bad with 38spl because it is not. I just hate to clean the ring every time I want to load some heavy hitters.

And yes the 38/357 is the best caliber to start reloading and to keep reloading. In my case it is the only caliber they make.;)
 
There are Clays, and there are Clays.

Clays is slightly faster then Bullseye.
Universal Clays is slightly slower then Unique.

Don't get your Clays mixed up.

rc
 
One word of caution on 38spl reloading. As compared with shorter rounds, like 9mm, case on a 38spl is very large and if you are not careful, it is easy to double the powder charge and not notice it. On a 9mm, if you double the charge, it is pretty obvious, in a 38 spl, it is not that easy to see on visual inspection. 38spl was originally a black powder round and that is why it is so large relative to the charge needed today. If you start with 38 spl, be extra attentive in your powder charge.
 
I just spent the day at the range with my first batch of reloads, .38 Special. I worked up a load with 158 gr JHP and Hogdon HS-6. Twelve rounds each (I have 2 .38's) starting at 5.5 gr and incrementing by .2 up to 6.3 gr.

Everything went bang, and I had a fun day at the range:neener:, so yes .38 is a good starting point to reload!!!!!!!:D
 
would 38/357 be a good starting to reload round
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The Best

Okay, the .38 (loaded for and shot from a .357 mag revolver) may be TIED for the best starting reloading round with .44 Special (loaded for and shot in a .44 magnum revolver) and .45 Colt (loading classic/moderate .45 Colt loads in a heavy .45 Colt Ruger or a .454 or somesuch).

All straight walled pistol cartridges with numerous available projectiles and propellants, being loaded in revolvers (so brass retention and tracking are simple) which are much more robust than the cartridge being loaded might reasonably approach.
 
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