.38 spl 130gr Federal HST blem bullets at Midway USA

[ddixie884]

These are on sale for $16.09 per repackaged box of 100. Free shipping over $49.00..............

[Old cop]

Thanks for the heads-up. I just clicked on their site and almost all their .38 is either out of stock or unavailable.

[STORMINORMAN]

Originally Posted by Old cop

Thanks for the heads-up. I just clicked on their site and almost all their .38 is either out of stock or unavailable.

And I just found some Speer158gr JSP there for $0.16 each yesterday...!

Cheers!

[reddog81]

Originally Posted by Old cop

Thanks for the heads-up. I just clicked on their site and almost all their .38 is either out of stock or unavailable.

Bullets, not ammo.

I ordered 400 the other week. It’s a pretty impressive looking hollow point meant to expand at .38 Special velocities.

[Nevada Ed]

I needed to add a small bottle of Hoppies with my two boxes of 130gr bullet to up the cost, to get free shipping.

Good luck.

[Old cop]

Originally Posted by reddog81

Bullets, not ammo.

I ordered 400 the other week. It’s a pretty impressive looking hollow point meant to expand at .38 Special velocities.

Apologies, my mistake.

[sourdough44]

I bought 100 also recently to try out. Still loading 9mm, will switch to something else soon

[ddixie884]

I checked Midway USA and these seem to be sold out.......

[Tony Tiger]

I bought 400 130gr 38cal bullets from Midway. They shipped fast but box was beat up bullet box on inside was crushed and warped open with loose bullets in shipping box. USPS. I ordered 4 boxes and three were normal shape fourth was smooshed with the middle warped open but paper wrap was still intact like normal...Shipping box beat up but still closed, bullets scattered inside... Lucky I guess...

[Tony Tiger]

Anyone have any specific reloading data on these 130s?

[reddog81]

Originally Posted by Tony Tiger

Anyone have any specific reloading data on these 130s?

There’s probably not much out there. The bullets are the same length and take up the same space in a cartridge as a 148 grain wadcutter bullet. Of course these are lighter and jacketed so kind of a apples and oranges comparison, but load data for 148 grain wadcutters should be a good starting point if you’re seating them flush with the case mouth. Max loads for .38 Special wadcutters show 900+ FPS in my Lyman manual.

The bullets do have a cannelure right in the middle. If seated and crimped into the cannelure you end up with an OAL of 1.44 and about the same amount of the bullet inside the case as a 125 grain JHP bullet. If you’d prefer to use the next sized larger JHP My Lyman manual jumps from 125 to 140 grain JHP and those bullets do have some overlap in the load data. Any load data that’s applicable for both 125 and 140 JHP should be fine for a 130 JHP assuming the bullet is seated to the cannelure and not flush with the case mouth. However I’m only guessing the cannelure can be used for a crimp as the Federal rounds are seated completely in the case. Im guessing only reason Federal has a cannelure on the bullet is to keep the jacket from separating apart from the lead. The bullet petals are cut all the way down to that groove and pictures of the expanded bullets show them opening that far down with some wicked expansion. Because of that I’d like avoid heavy crimps to prevent damaging bullet.

FWIW Lucky gunner.com showed 824 FPS with a 2” barrel and 850 with a 4” when they tested the factory ammo.

Obviously some consideration should be taken depending on the guns they will be fired in .38 Special vs .38 Special +P vs .357 Magnum.

[ddixie884]

I loaded a few of these in .357 cases and when seated flush they caused a pronounced bulge at the base.

[STORMINORMAN]

Originally Posted by ddixie884

I loaded a few of these in .357 cases and when seated flush they caused a pronounced bulge at the base.

My experience: when seated slowly I have no bulge that will not easily pass through a Lee FCD...

Visible, yes... Depending upon the brass.

Cheers!

[Stroker468]

Originally Posted by ddixie884

I loaded a few of these in .357 cases and when seated flush they caused a pronounced bulge at the base.

This is a one reason I seat and crimp separately. I use the Lee carbide factory crimp die. It resolves any similar issue. Not always necessary, but it never hurts.

[ddixie884]

Originally Posted by Stroker468

This is a one reason I seat and crimp separately. I use the Lee carbide factory crimp die. It resolves any similar issue. Not always necessary, but it never hurts.

I also seat and crimp separately. This bulge is pronounced and visible. It doesn't prevent chambering but I am not sure if the brass will cause trouble or even separation in later reloading.......

Please share the powder charges you are using for this bullet in .38spl. and .357mag.