I'm thinking of reloading some 38 special using the Remington 357 semi jacketed hollow point for a 3 inch S&W model 10
I requested load data 38 Special from Accurate Powder and got.

Barrel: 7.75" ¦ Twist: 1-18.75" ¦ Primer: WIN WSP ¦ Bullet Diameter: 0.357"

Case: STAR ¦ Max Case Length: 1.155 " ¦ Trim Length: 1.145"

Powder: Accurate – No 5®.

Bullet weight: 180 grains.
Start load: 4.9 grains (625 – 675 Fps)
Maximum load: 5.5 grains (700 – 775 Fps).

Powder: Accurate – No7®.

Bullet weight: 180 grains.
Start load: 5.6 grains (650 – 725 Fps)
Maximum load: 6.2 grains (825 – 875 Fps).
Any comments about the load.

I load a 180 gr cast bullet in 38spl brass all the time . It has become one of my favorite loads . I use Unique powder so can't help you with the Accurate powders . My load makes it a +P , but it sure does shoot nice , really nice . I don't have any 38spl revolvers so all my 38spl loads are used in a 357 magnum .
That " heavy for caliber " bullet works just fine once you get powder charge adjusted for better accuracy . Regards, Paul

Those 180 grain Remington SJHPs are hard to find right now

That bullet is moving too slow in a 38 Special for any worthwhile expansion.

I have been shooting them at 1050 FPS in a suppressed lever action but my supply has dried up

I agree with Cowboy4evr, a hard cast 180 will perform just as well at those velocities and will be less expensive per projectile and easier to purchase down the road

I have over a thousand of them. The lead of the bullet seem to be on the soft side. I was going to load up about 50 rounds to used when I go mushroom hunting I carry a 38special. Their has been a increase in the coydogs and coyotes.

Even though you have many of them I would not recommend such a brave bullet in a short barrel .38 Special. For Coyotes I feel a 158gr bulletin more velocity will be more effective. Additionally, the recoil might prevent a quick follow-up shot with the 180gr bullet. I like them in a .357 Magnum and leverguns but not .38 Special revolvers.

That said, if you want to use them I think those loads are safe since Accurate sent them to you but I would use a different powder in the form of HS-6 but the AA#7 load above will be fine.

If you want to sell some of those bullets in getting it you must them in lots of 100 in the for sale forum you will get buyers. They are hard to come by and you can use the proceeds to buy a 158gr wide meplat cast bullet from Cast Performance for the woods carry job.
38/158gr. RNFP .358 dia 250 Count - Grizzly Cartridge - Cast Performance

Good luck, be safe.

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SWCA #3437

Load data seems about right...roll with it and let us know how things went.

I tried heavy bullets in 38 spcl. back in the 70's and found that 170 grain cast SWC was about the heaviest practical weight for 38 spcl.
The 180 grain Remington SJHP's didn't leave enough room to get enough powder behind the bullet to get it moving fast enough. The jacket also required extra powder to get it up to a decent velocity. Cast bullets required less powder and worked better.
With the 180 gr. jacketed bullet Accurate #7 will give you about 850 fps...not bad .
Cast 170 gr. SWC was my limit for 38 spcl. but didn't have A#7 then , I have a sneaking suspicion Accurate #7 might get a decent velocity with a 170 gr. cast bullet !
Gary

I will tell you that the 173 gr " KEITH " swc (lyman 358429) also works well in 38spl cases . You can slow it down or speed it up and it still shoots accurately , either way . Regards, Paul

That weight bullet and a bunch of Unique power, does a number on Nevada Jack Rabbits, inside of 50 yards.

I tried them just for the heck of it and found that they were just
"Plumb Handy" at putting fur in the air.

Just hoping that some day I get to get a "Yote" inside of 75 yards
to see if I can put a big hunk of meat down in its tracks.

Have fun.

180 gr SJHP in a 3" mod 10 for coyotes? Heavy jacketed bullets are not
often used in the 38 spl because velocities are so low that sticking a
bullet in the barrel is a real possibility. A cast bullet or lighter JHP
would remove the threat of a bulged barrel by firing another shot with
a bullet stuck in the bore.

Sorry but I used the bullets for my 357 Max rifle. I'm trying to used what I have on hand.

I'd be surprised if you got anywhere near 800fps with that max AA#7 load and that bullet in in that short bbl'd model 10. Add to that a spread of +/- 20" in poa from 7yds to 25yds would make that bullet/load/firearm combo 1 of my last choices.

Just because you have a bunch of the wrong thing laying around doesn't mean you have to use it.

Don't know about you but I've always picked a yardage that I wanted a fixed sighted firearm to hit the poa. Then I tested bullet/load combo's until I found a load that would do just that. Hit to the poa for the desired yardage.

The loads that Accurate provided were from a 7 3/4" barrel. I fear that the velocities you will get from your 3" model 10 will be substantially lower.

Oh go ahead and try 'em. Velocities may be less but you can find out if they stabilize and shoot ok.

I got in on a group buy for a 175 grain SWC 5 or 6 cavity (can't remember for sure) from Lee. They've shot well out of anything I tried them in. I use Unique.

I got one of the Miha molds in the same 358 429 bullet. Going to try it out when I get the lead pots fired up. Back up in the 80s again. so may take a week or two.

I think AA No.7 would be more suited to 6 inch or longer barrels. For your 3 inch model 10 I would say the AA No. 5 is perfect. The recommendations by Accurate seem correct (of course.) AA No. 5 is a great powder similar in speed to Unique but I like it better because it shoots so much cleaner than Unique. It lives up to it’s name, Accurate. It is easy to meter and has a flash suppressant.

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Accuracy supercedes Speed

I believe listing them in lots of 100 on an auction site would net you enough to buy 5000 cast bullets in a weight more appropriate to your intended use. As one who shoots the Max and follows newsletters those are hard to come by and in demand.

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Front sight and squeeze

I got the bullets when a gun store closed down and got them dirt cheap because no one wanted them.

I got hold of a bunch of Speer 200gr TMJ .357" bullets cheap and they shoot very nice in 38 cases. I also use them in 357 Mag, 357 Max Contender, and my 35 Rem lever action.