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Old 02-11-2011, 10:35 PM
Steve in Vermont Steve in Vermont is offline
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Default Bullet recommendations for reloading

I'm looking to reload .38's and purchase bullets in bulk. I've considered Remington 125 gr. SJHP and Berrys Plated 125 gr. FP among others. I'd appreciate any recommendations from veteran reloaders as I don't want to purchase 1000 and find I made a mistake. Thanks.
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Old 02-11-2011, 10:42 PM
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Could you give us some more details about what you want to use the rounds for? Target, plinking, self defence? Lot's of variables but we can get it sorted out.

Hobie
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Old 02-11-2011, 10:48 PM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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Finding out that you made a "mistake" is part of the fun of reloading! 1000 plated bullet are what, $150? Shoot them up in a year and try something else next year!

What are you trying to do with the 125gr bullets? Duplicate factory ammo for practice? Just have a light weight bullet to plink with?

Have you thought about lead bullets? What are you going to shoot them through?
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Old 02-11-2011, 10:54 PM
gregintenn gregintenn is offline
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I'm a big fan of the lowly wadcutter.
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Old 02-11-2011, 11:09 PM
Dragon88 Dragon88 is offline
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If you aren't opposed to a cast bullet, I really like the 125gr Berry's cast. They are very cheap and can handle any velocity the 38 special can put out with good accuracy. I have shot thousands of those and just bought another 1000 pack. If you do need a jacketed or plated bullet, I think the Berry's plated offering of the same bullet would work well. You can always buy a 250 pack and try them first.
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Old 02-11-2011, 11:39 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gregintenn View Post
I'm a big fan of the lowly wadcutter.
+1
Is there any better load for 38 special than the lowly wadcutter over a little bullseye? I think Moses kept a few boxes of them in the ark.

The same wadcutter over a bunch of unique goes really fast too.

There are no "bad" bullets, just ones for different purposes. If you have a few thousand of different styles sitting around they will find their niche. Bullets don't expire and prices will likely only continue to rise.
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Old 02-11-2011, 11:43 PM
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I'm a new starter too, and I think -- for plinking and targets -- 148g lead WC is a great "training" round. And they are about the least expensive / round to load (when not casting yourself).

I also think 158 LRN or similar works easy and well with .38 and .357.

These two will give you a nice range in the 38/357, with a single powder (i.e. unique or bullseye) for littlemoney
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Old 02-11-2011, 11:49 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gregintenn View Post
I'm a big fan of the lowly wadcutter.
Me, too.

You won't find anything that is easier on the bore or more accurate with mild loads and ranges under 60-70 yards. It will also do a number on small game and most assuredly knock the wind out of anybody who takes one on the breastbone.
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Old 02-11-2011, 11:51 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by jhvaughan2 View Post
I'm a new starter too, and I think -- for plinking and targets -- 148g lead WC is a great "training" round. And they are about the least expensive / round to load (when not casting yourself).

I also think 158 LRN or similar works easy and well with .38 and .357.

These two will give you a nice range in the 38/357, with a single powder (i.e. unique or bullseye) for littlemoney
You are starting out properly my friend.

In retrospect I would have made a straight walled case like 38/44/45 my first centerfire firearm purchase and picked up a simple reloading kit for it at the same time. Oh well, I survived with only some money wasted and no body parts damaged.
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Old 02-12-2011, 07:39 AM
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My range won't allow plain lead so I bought and loaded 1K of Berry's plated 158 HP's. At $100/thousand it was a no-brainer. They are great for plinking in my J, K, and N frame guns and I would imagine they would be effective in a SD situation.
I don't know the advantage of a lighter bullet other than being able to make it go faster. Berry's cautions against making up hot loads so my logic was to buy the heaver bullet. I'm happy with them.
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Old 02-12-2011, 09:23 AM
Steve in Vermont Steve in Vermont is offline
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Default Follow-up on recommendation request

I'm looking for bullets I can use in practice with a 640-1. I'll carry factory for SD. I've shot wadcutters in the past but then I could buy them for $ 10 a box. Is there a significant difference in barrel wear between wadcutters and jacketed and what do you recommend for powder with a 148 gr wc? I'd like to keep the loads on the "light" side as my wife will also be using them.
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Old 02-12-2011, 10:44 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve in Vermont View Post
... and what do you recommend for powder with a 148 gr wc? ....
Coke, Pepsi RC or "other"?

Everyone has their favorites. I prefer Titegroup for most of my .38 as well as .45 loads. It meters well and burns clean.
Hodgdon says 148 grain LHBWC and Titegroup is 2.7 to 3.3.
Run 'er at 3 even.
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Old 02-12-2011, 11:54 AM
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Howdy Steve. I have loaded the 148 gr. WCHB over 3.5grs. of W-231 / HP-38. I use it for training new shooters. Very light recoil out of a Ruger GP-100 with a 4" bbl. I have shot it out of the 640-1, and while, as you might expect, there is a lot more felt recoil with the same load in the little 640, I did not find it uncomfortable by any means.

I have also loaded the 158 gr. LSWC with the same load and have found it to be a nice mild, accurate load. The least expensive quality bullets I have found were Missouri Bullet Co. bullets.

Missouri Bullet Company



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Old 02-12-2011, 01:58 PM
Steve in Vermont Steve in Vermont is offline
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Thanks Everyone - I'm going with the 158 gr. SWC and HP-38 powder to start. And Wheelgunner840, thanks for the advise and referral to the Missouri Bullet Co., that's where I'm going for the SWC.
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Old 02-12-2011, 02:04 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Steve in Vermont View Post
I'm looking for bullets I can use in practice with a 640-1. I'll carry factory for SD. I've shot wadcutters in the past but then I could buy them for $ 10 a box. Is there a significant difference in barrel wear between wadcutters and jacketed and what do you recommend for powder with a 148 gr wc? I'd like to keep the loads on the "light" side as my wife will also be using them.
SWMBO's favorite practice load is a 148gr WC over 3.0gr of TiteGroup, but her CC is a Rossi snubbie, which weighs more than a 640, so you might want to back off to 2.7gr (Minimum load).

I have shot that load in a 637, which weighs about the same as a 640, and it's pretty docile, but it is always a good idea to start low and work up.
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Old 02-12-2011, 03:20 PM
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Lead SWC's. You can load them slow..you can load them fast...you can load them till your sick of them and pick up some 125's or ..??.. that are jacketed and load them awhile....

Buy the lead slugs by the 1000's....and buy your jacketed bullets by the box of 100.
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637, 640, bullseye, remington, rossi, ruger, sig arms, wadcutter

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