Bullet Diameter

Whino83 · #1 09-01-2020, 11:20 AM

I have a big bag of old bulk packed 38/357 jacketed bullets I am wanting to load up but they’re measuring .358” in diameter. All of my others I have (Hornady and Sierra) measure .357”. I’m not sure if these are safe to load or if I need to pick up a die and resize them down to .357”. What do you guys think?

stansdds · #2 09-01-2020, 11:59 AM

They will be just fine. Be sure to carefully work up to maximum safe loads.

4barrel · #3 09-01-2020, 01:09 PM

Most throats in a S$W are 357. Unless you load hot nothing to worry about.

Funflyer · #4 09-01-2020, 01:18 PM

Use em! Worst case, you may find they're much more accurate and end up selling all your .357" projectiles.

Whino83 · #5 09-01-2020, 03:21 PM

I was thinking they’d be fine. These are just going to be used for target loads so it’s not like I’m going to be hot rodding them or anything.

BLUEDOT37 · #6 09-02-2020, 02:50 AM

If you haven't already, buy a micrometer to accurately measure your bullets.

You'll be suprised at the difference between it & a caliper.

.

stansdds · #7 09-02-2020, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Whino83

I was thinking they’d be fine. These are just going to be used for target loads so it’s not like I’m going to be hot rodding them or anything.

Since they are jacketed bullets, do not go real light with the powder charge or you might end up with the lead core exiting the barrel, but the jacket stuck inside the barrel. For jacketed loads, I recommend loading them to full power 38 Special levels or even 38 Special +P levels. This is incredibly easy to do with 357 Magnum brass and they will still be pleasant to shoot in anything bigger than a 2 inch barreled J-frame S&W.

scattershot · #8 09-02-2020, 10:19 AM

Little story... I once had a pistol rebarrelled. It was a .45 Colt, and said so on the new barrel, as well. Turns out, it was a .44 magnum barrel. Longstory short, I out two rounds of .45 Colt down the .44 caliber barrel before the light bulb came on. Besides kicking like a mule, there were no ill effects. You should be fine with your .358 bullets.

stansdds · #9 09-02-2020, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by memtb

I may be incorrect, but, I think that many perhaps most handgun bullets are listed as 0.358” diameter! memtb

For 38 Special/357 Magnum, the standard bullet diameter is 0.357" for jacketed bullets, but swaged and cast lead bullets are usually 0.358" diameter.

stansdds · #10 09-02-2020, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scattershot

Little story... I once had a pistol rebarrelled. It was a .45 Colt, and said so on the new barrel, as well. Turns out, it was a .44 magnum barrel. Longstory short, I out two rounds of .45 Colt down the .44 caliber barrel before the light bulb came on. Besides kicking like a mule, there were no ill effects. You should be fine with your .358 bullets.

That's a huge difference in diameters!

So, what was the final solution, another re-barrel job or fit a 44 cylinder?

Gamecock · #11 09-02-2020, 01:18 PM

As long as they are consistently .358, you will have no trouble. There is enough variability in diameter of bullets to encompass .358.

I.e., .357 is actually .357 +/-.

scattershot · #12 09-02-2020, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stansdds

That's a huge difference in diameters!

So, what was the final solution, another re-barrel job or fit a 44 cylinder?

I fit another, correct, barrel.

SMSgt · #13 09-02-2020, 05:51 PM

You're talking about a .001 difference in diameter, .0005 on each side. Hardly an area of concern.