Just browsing the hodgdon site and noticed that they list .357 158 lswc while the rest of the 158 lswc tables list .358. I don't have any other manuals in front of me here to compare it to (at work).

Just wondering what the difference is. Thank you in advance.

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Jim

I'm not quite sure why the discrepancy...back when I started casting and reloading the Lyman #3 Manual said to size 357 magnum bullets and 38 special bullets to .357 diameter....so that's the dia. sizer I bought and used for 33 years. I purchase the new #4 edition and it says to size 38 special bullets to .358 and 357 magnum bullets to .357...didn't say why. I just purchased a .358 dia. sizer and will conduct some trials with 38 special loads sized some .357 and others .358 and see what happens.
I'm thinking it's going to be six of one and half a dozen of the other.... but you just don't know until you try something....my loads just might go into a ragged hole when sized .358.
I'm thinking the only difference is going to be .oo1 inch.
Gary

I'm confused. Is the op asking about using Trailboss with each size of bullet or what? Perhaps I am reading something into this. I load 5.0 grs. of Trailboss pushing a 125 lrnfp sized at .358. Have for many years. When shooting cowboy action I load down to 3.7 grs. of TB to aid in recovery time and for safety on shooting steel plates. Hope this helps?

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Bill
Dis B. Leaf

Something to be aware of when looking at bullet diameters is that the Devil is in the Details. Specifically in this instance the Devil is that pesky Fourth decimal place. Because some manufacturers will round a 0.3575 diameter down to 0.357 and others will round up to 0.358. Same exact diameter in both cases when measured with a 4 place micrometer but a different reported diameter.

Sorry, let me try to explain what I was looking at a little better. On hodgdon's site they list load data for hodgdon, Winchester, and IMR powders. There is a show here tomorrow and I was browsing some loads for a possible new powder to try. While searching 38 special, and I think it was the same for 357 magnum, I noticed that ALL the loads for 158gn cast LSWC were listed as a .358 diameter, except for trail boss. For that load diameter was listed as .357. I was just wondering why or if I'm thinking too much into this. While I never mic'd my gun, the .358 lead bullets fit better.

Thanks for the help so far gentlemen.

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Jim

Yes you are.

Being that I'm a newbie I just wanted to make sure. Thank you!

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Jim

I always take a grain of salt, before looking at the Hodgdon loading data site.

I might use it as a place to jot down info........ but I always
double check the figures with other manuals and information before doing any loading !!