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Old 01-21-2012, 12:21 AM
davebell18 davebell18 is offline
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Default 158gr lswc question

I am shooting a 357mag revolver and I am looking at reloading 38 specials. I had someone pour me 158gr lswc bullets. When I look in my reloading books it says that oal should be 1.481. When I load it, it does not look right, to much of the bullet is sticking out. To me it looks like the bullet should be crimped at the top of the top ledge of the bullet. The oal when I do that is 1.398. By pushing this bullet down farther doesn't it increase pressure? I currently have PP, bullseye, and H110. Thanks for your help.
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Old 01-21-2012, 12:54 AM
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A typical 158gr LSWC bullet should have a define crimp groove (cannelure) Simply seat the bullet to just under the top edge of that groove and crimp.

These are 45 Colt but the principal is the same.
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Last edited by Rule3; 10-02-2013 at 02:35 PM.
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Old 01-21-2012, 01:05 AM
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I would weigh one of the bullets first, as to be certain they are 158 grains or close. Start off using the starting load of Bulleye that your manual lists for .38 special and crimp in the crimping groove that should be on the bullet. Measure to make sure the OAL does not exceed the max. OAL that your manual should give you. Then you can work up the charge until you find a good load--be careful for signs of excessive pressure like sticky extraction. Seating a bullet deeper will increase pressure, but you will notice it more in smaller cases like 9MM, but this is why you start with the listed starting charge.

Good Luck
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Old 01-21-2012, 01:06 AM
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Welcome to the forum. I guess alot would depend on the bullet shape. If the bullet has a crimp groove I'd use it. If don't have a crimp groove I leave about a thumbnail thickness of the bullet shoulder above the brass.

The max col is 1.550 so anything below that should work. The 38 spl is a low pressure round with a lot of forgiveness in it. I load Hornady 158 gr LSWC with a 1.45 col with 3.1 to 3.4 grs of Bullseye. Good luck and let us know how they worked out.
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Old 01-21-2012, 01:29 AM
davebell18 davebell18 is offline
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Thanks guys for the quick response. If I am understanding you guys right I should crimp it tight around the indentation above the grease sleeve? Also it should be a tight enough crimp on it that I can not push the bullet in farther by pushing the end on a wood table, correct? Thanks again

- I am reloading bullets that look like what rule3 posted.

Last edited by davebell18; 01-21-2012 at 01:31 AM.
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Old 01-21-2012, 01:41 AM
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davebell18,

People get too hung up over COL listed in the reloading manuals. Particularly for revolvers COL is not critical as long as the cartridges are no longer than the cylinder of the gun they will be shot in.

All the COL listed in manuals means is "With this bullet, in this cartridge, the resultant COL when we loaded them was x.xxx". It isn't a specification, it is a reported result.

As Rule 3 said, a revolver bullet, .38 in this case, should have a well defined crimping canellure. Seat the bullet so the mouth of the case is slightly below the top of the cannellure and crimp there. Don't worry about measuring COL, it serves no purpose and is a waste of time. None of my personal loading/chronograph data records include COL as the bullet will always be seated to the cannellure!

The only time COL is important is when loading ammunition with un-cannellured bullets. In this case it is necessary information so everything can be duplicated later, or you have a base length from which you make seating depth adjustments.
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Old 01-21-2012, 11:53 AM
Steve in Vermont Steve in Vermont is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hawgleg View Post
Welcome to the forum. I guess alot would depend on the bullet shape. If the bullet has a crimp groove I'd use it. If don't have a crimp groove I leave about a thumbnail thickness of the bullet shoulder above the brass.

The max col is 1.550 so anything below that should work. The 38 spl is a low pressure round with a lot of forgiveness in it. I load Hornady 158 gr LSWC with a 1.45 col with 3.1 to 3.4 grs of Bullseye. Good luck and let us know how they worked out.
What he said. In the Hornady 8th Edition for 158 gr SWC, LRN and HP they call for a COL of 1.455 for all 3. I've found that works for the SWC but not the LRN, which for me came to around 1.480. Both settings, while different, leave the "thumbnail thickness of the bullet shoulder above the brass" for the respective bullet.
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Old 01-21-2012, 11:54 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by davebell18 View Post
Thanks guys for the quick response. If I am understanding you guys right I should crimp it tight around the indentation above the grease sleeve? Also it should be a tight enough crimp on it that I can not push the bullet in farther by pushing the end on a wood table, correct? Thanks again

- I am reloading bullets that look like what rule3 posted.
Very good, I think you got it. The low pressure 38 spl will not need a heavy crimp the lighter the better. Sounds like you've got a plan. Good luck.
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Old 01-21-2012, 01:23 PM
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Quote:
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The low pressure 38 spl will not need a heavy crimp the lighter the better.
Sometimes depends on the firearm. My 11oz 340PD will double as a bullet puller bullet even with light 38s unless you use a moderately heavy crimp. With my 686 all I have to do is remove the flair.
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Old 01-21-2012, 02:08 PM
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Thank you guys for all your help. I loaded up 50 rounds to try out at the range Thursday. I will let you know how it all goes. Thanks again
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Old 01-21-2012, 02:31 PM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rule3 View Post
A typical 158gr LSWC bullet should have a define crimp groove (cannelure) Simply seat the bullet to just under the top edge of that groove and crimp.

These are 45 Colt but the principal is the same.
Those look familiar!
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Old 01-21-2012, 03:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Skip Sackett View Post
Those look familiar!
Sorry Buddy, I failed to give credit were credit is due!

Those fine looking chunks of lead, are some of Skip's handcrafted BOOLITS!

I think you need a registered trademark stamp to put on them.
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Old 01-21-2012, 04:12 PM
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Quote:
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Sometimes depends on the firearm. My 11oz 340PD will double as a bullet puller bullet even with light 38s unless you use a moderately heavy crimp. With my 686 all I have to do is remove the flair.
This is true.
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Old 01-21-2012, 11:46 PM
m1gunner m1gunner is offline
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I have some SWC cast bullets that work fine crimped in the crimp groove for 38 SP loads. But they are too long for some 357 cylinders if crimped to the same place in 357 brass. I crimp ahead of the front drive band when using 357 brass.

The OAL is near the same between 357 and 38SP with these bullets. Since none of my loads are bleeding edge max loads, it isn't a problem.
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Old 01-27-2012, 08:37 PM
davebell18 davebell18 is offline
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Just letting everyone know the lswc worked great. Thanks everyone for your help.
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