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Old 03-06-2012, 11:54 PM
amd6547 amd6547 is offline
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Default Favorite Factory 38 Special Round Nosed Lead?

Since I bought my circa 1957 pre model 10 four inch, I have wanted to go the full Model 10 retro route for fun...
What is your favorite factory round nose lead 158gn load?
I looked at the local store...all they had was American Eagle and Blazer.
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Old 03-06-2012, 11:58 PM
Texas Star Texas Star is offline
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Winchester white box or UMC. Whichever is available and cheaper. I don't use it for defense or hunting, though.

Of those youmentioned, I'd opt for American Eagle, from Federal.

All of these cheaper loads may burn pretty dirty. But they're often quite accurate.
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Old 03-07-2012, 12:49 AM
GyMac GyMac is offline
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I bought a box of MagTech 158 grain RNL just to compare it to my reloads. They worked fine and I like the brass.
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Old 03-07-2012, 03:29 AM
lebomm lebomm is offline
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+1 on the American Eagle

Larry
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Old 03-07-2012, 09:27 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by amd6547 View Post
Since I bought my circa 1957 pre model 10 four inch, I have wanted to go the full Model 10 retro route for fun...
What is your favorite factory round nose lead 158gn load?
I looked at the local store...all they had was American Eagle and Blazer.
Over the years I've shot a lot of the Remington UMC 158 gr. LRN ammunition with very good results in a variety of .38 and .357 Mag. revolvers. Recently I bought a pretty little 15-3. I bought two boxes of the Federal Champion 158 gr. LRN loads at Wal-Mart. That little 15 produced very satisfying on target results with these loads. It didn't look like it'd been fired hardly at all. The Federal load shot to the sights at 25 yds. Cool. I've used the Blazer ammo with equal success, but in my area it is priced the same as brass cased ammo. As I reload my, I buy the brass cased ammo so that I can use the cases later. HTH. Sincerely. brucev.
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Old 03-08-2012, 11:25 AM
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Horseless Trooper Horseless Trooper is offline
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I always liked the Remington Express .38RNL. It has always been very accurate out of my 38s and I love the nickel case for reloading and carrying in loops. It was also the first load I carried as defensive ammo way back in the day. It's biggest draw back is price compared to the other brands.
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Old 03-13-2012, 05:01 AM
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I really like the 158 grain RNL bullets in .38 Special for target work. I shoot LOTS of 'em so I buy the heads and "roll my own". I find most reputable Caster's 158 grain RNL bullets to be just about the same. The only real difference is that some of the lube is smoky on the cheaper stuff. Not a biggy outdoors, but annoying inside.

The Factory RNL has just gotten too expensive to pop off hundreds of rounds per week.

Chief38
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Old 03-13-2012, 11:42 AM
kmrcstintn kmrcstintn is offline
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I like the Federal American Eagle the best for consistency from cartridge to cartridge, but I have a bunch of bulk reloaded hardcast SWC's from mastercast.net to use up; I've used the Blazer from time to time, but the powder deposits in the cylinder seemed heavier & the expanded aluminum cases were harder to extract/eject than brass cases

Last edited by kmrcstintn; 03-13-2012 at 11:44 AM.
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Old 03-13-2012, 06:11 PM
amd6547 amd6547 is offline
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Interesting on the Blazer being hard to extract...I have been shooting it in 357 mag, and it drops right out.
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