A neighbor gave me 1000 lead, 357 125 grain tcfp cowboy action bullets from Missouri bullet co. I use Bullseye powder and in the past I have always reloaded JSP or JHP for shooting in my 357 model 28-2 6 inch. I have never fired a lead bullet in the years i had the gun.

My problem is none of my reloading manuals show load data using bullseye powder for either 38 of 357 using the above lead bullet. I want to load them in 38 cal. and have usually used 4.6 grains of powder when loading jacketed bullets of 125 grain.

The bullets will only be used for fishing trip plinking, any help as what would be decent load with bullseye powder would be greatly appreciated..

I have never loaded the 125 grain lead bullet but I do load the 158 grain lead at 3.3 grains Bullseye. The Lyman cast bullet catalog lists a starting load of 3.4 grains bullseye with a 121 grain lead bullet up to a max. load of 4.6 grains. That should be good starting info. James

If you go here you can ask the experts.

Alliant Powder - Ask the Experts

Bob

__________________
Bob
KDØQCE

Dang I wish my neighbor gave me free bullets. I shoot quite a few of these, 4.0 to 4.5gr is my range for Bullseye in 38 spl cases. 4.0 is a light plinker, 4.5 if I want a little more pop. Accuracy is very good in my guns, actually so good that this is my most loaded round.

Don't try to push those bullets fast. They are soft, made for plinkin/target loads. I'd start with around 3.0gr of Bulleye.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide For 125 gr Oregon trail bullet

This is a max load. My Lyman 49th lists a 120gr Linotype with a range of 2.8 to max 4.6.

So 3.4 gr as mentioned by James seems like a good place to start.

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

Thanks for the info, the bullets from my neighbor were from a rental home he had that the tenants left in the garage.

One dumb question, I have shot for and reloaded for 15 years but what exactly does cowboy mean when it comes to bullets. I have always used the same JHP or JSP bullets and never reloaded with lead bullets. All my shooting is just plinking on my fishing trips, but I do shoot about 10,000 rounds a year...

"Cowboy" loads are light loads used in cowboy competitions.

If you're not familiar with SASS - go ahead & look 'em up.

SASS - Home

__________________
John 3:17
<><

If you have not already seen this then, then this explains the "hardness" of the bullets. The Cowboys are a softer hardness of 12, vs say, 18 for 357 magnum.

Missouri Bullet Company

__________________
Still Running Against the Wind

I load 158gr solid LWC using 4gr. Bullseye.

__________________
NRA Life Member

Cowboy Action shooting requires "lead only" boolits. And there is a maximum fps at most ranges (up to 1000fps IIRC) because cowboy targets are close to the firing line.

Softer lead is up to the shooter; some swear by softer lead being better in the 45LC loads.

There is a world of pleasure in finding a decent cowboy load.

I prefer my 38 loads in 130 grain over Tite Group in the 850 fps range.

There really isn't much need for '357 mag' level hot loads for cowboy targets.

Back splatter and target damage is 2 of the reasons for moderate level 38 loads.

__________________
Dum vivimus Vivamas

A couple of us shot a 121 gr cast bullet (9mm sized to .357) in PPC for several years. 3.3 Gr 231 or 3.2 Gr. Bullseye. Very accurate, recoil like a .22. Was strictly a paper punching plinking load. Believe the velocity was just under 700 fps.

__________________
H Richard
SWCA1967 SWHF244

If ya go too hot with the cast boolits you'll know it when ya go to clean the weapon...

I sent a email to Alliant re their advice but no response yet. I'm going to try a few at 3.5 grains bullseye for my fishing trip next week. I have plenty of loaded bullets for my week long fishing trip and am in no hurry to load the lead bullets.

I had a neighbor once who tried to give me bullets but they were all coming out of the muzzle of his gun.

Alliant replied to my email, and advised the bullets can be loaded from 3.8 to 4.8 grains of bullseye..

?!?!?!?!?!?!?!? Maybe they moved their service center to India. Keep the velocity low.