Smaller Lead for .38 specials?

[zeek g]

Hello, all.

My son has started reloading recently, and has told me he has gotten tons of info from this forum from a lot of knowledgeable individuals. I was hoping I might find the same.

He bought 500 lead bullets for his S&W M&Pc 9mm, and I was looking to see if I could use the same lead for my 357 S&W Model 13 revolver, or if they would be too short. The bullets are about the same diameter that is suggested for my pistol (off of hodgdon's website), but they are a lot shorter, and that concerns me.

Here are the specs of the lead that he bought and I would like to use:
125gr RN CL (Round Nose Cast Lead) .356"
Bullet Weight (Gr.): 125 GR. CAST LRNFP
Bullet Diam.: .358"
Manufacturer: Hodgdon
Powder: Hodgdon Universal Clays Formula


Here is the info from Hodgdon's website about the type of bullet and powder load, that is suggested for loading my .38 special casings.
Cartridge Loads - Hodgdon Reloading Data Center - data.hodgdon.com

Bullet Weight (Gr.): 125 GR. CAST LRNFP
Bullet Diam.: .358"
Manufacturer: Hodgdon
Powder: Hodgdon Universal Clays Formula

STARTING LOAD
Powder Aoumnt: 4.3 Grs.
Velocity: 872 FPS
Pressure: 8,700 CUP

MAX LOAD
Powder Aoumnt: 4.7 Grs.
Velocity: 1036 FPS
Pressure: 16,800 CUP

Does anyone have experience loading these type of rounds? All help would be appreciated.

Thanks,
Zeek

[canoeguy]

I think you will be a lot happier loading .358 diameter 158 grain bullets designed for .38/.357 loading. For one thing, those lighter bullets will almost certainly shoot way low in your fixed sight revolver, most Smith and Wesson fixed sight revolvers were designed (sighted in) to be used with 158 grain bullets.

I'm sure it can be done, I think Ruger offered a .357 Blackhawk convertible revoler with a 9MM cylinder, but I can't imagine the accuracy would be good.

[Aticus]

Hey zeek, you got a ton of posts on the other thread of the same name.

But since I'm here: no the 356 bullets won't work well in a 38. For best results you need 357/358 bullets. See the posts in the other thread.