Why would you choose a bullet weight over another?

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CWS&W

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I've been reloading .357 and 38 special for a couple of years now and I've been happy with .357-158gr SWC and 38 special-148gr WC. I like to make the tightest groups possible on paper.
But I wonder. There are so many choices of bullets, Lyman 49th has examples going from 90gr to 180gr. Why would you choose a bullet over another?
 
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I ditto your first choices. I only deviate when I see a convenient bargain. But again to re assess my optimum load to a new component is not so convenient after all.
 
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Because your 148gr WCs, while perfect for paper punching, would be woefully inadequate for someone who wanted to hunt, thus, the heavier 180gr. offerings

Your example of 357/38 is perfectly staged for the question at hand since it offers such a wide variety of weights and loads for different purposes.
 
I have so many reasons to choose particular bullets weights and style, but if you are asking me to pick the one single reason that motivates me most often...

It’s whatever I found a great buy on, and bought in as much bulk as I could muster!
 
Sevens said:
I have so many reasons to choose particular bullets weights and style, but if you are asking me to pick the one single reason that motivates me most often...

It’s whatever I found a great buy on, and bought in as much bulk as I could muster!
Click to expand...

Same, whether it be Berry's from Cabelas or whatever. Now days it's whatever you can find. Not being a hunter, I'm not picky.

Hard to tell if this is a rhetorical question or if OP actually wants to know what other people are using.
 
I only use cast bullets in handguns regardless of the cartridge but a recommendation here would apply to jacketed bullets as well. Unless there is an accuracy problem or point of impact problem that can't be corrected otherwise, I use the bullet weight that the cartridge was originally intended for. In .38 Special and .357 Magnum, for example, that's around 160 grains. I've tried heavier and lighter bullets and have yet to find a real need for them.
 
When you say best group=<target shooting=what size group can you bench on the average at 25 yards with 10 shots with the 148? Is it a bevel or flat base and what gun are you shooting those with? Maybe we can steer you in the right direction with a little info <IF> you need help. Target shooting is tricky. My shooting buddy and I paper shoot twice a week weather permitting. We swap out on who wins.
 
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Handguns with fixed sights are designed to optimise for a given bullet weight--158 gr. for 38 Spl, 230 gr. for .45 ACP--- and will shoot higher or lower with other weight projectiles. This is probably one reason why adjustable sights are so popular on hunting and target handguns.

At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it, LOL!
 
Even though the 148 gr bullet is good for target shooting........

some even load lighter weight bullets to get even lighter recoil
if needed or they might also get good accuracy in their weapons
with a bullet that even cost less than the larger 148 gr. bullet.

A 125 gr. lead at 533 to 600 fps or a even lighter 110 gr, JHP at770 to 866 fps,
make for some great target loads, for most shooters that own a 38 special.
 
I have other answers for this question (specific to 38/357) also:

I shoot a ton of plated, but I don’t use plated in full magnum loads. Because of that, I also stock FMJ 130’s, and JSP’s in 125/158 grain weight. And I love to feed tons of 125’s to my Coonan because the blast and fireball is pure pleasure and also because I love to save my 158’s for my L and N-frames.

I use a cast and powder coated 180 grain in my Ruger 77/357 because the rifle enjoys them.

I only use the swaged HBWC for my Model 52’s because that’s what they were designed around and they work so well. I tend to use cast SWC or DEWC for my PPC revolvers because their barrels were designed specifically for a lead bullet.
 
Father Joe said:
Handguns with fixed sights are designed to optimise for a given bullet weight--158 gr. for 38 Spl, 230 gr. for .45 ACP--- and will shoot higher or lower with other weight projectiles. This is probably one reason why adjustable sights are so popular on hunting and target handguns.

At least that's my story and I'm sticking to it, LOL!
Click to expand...
To follow up on what Father Joe said. I adjust elevation on fixed sighted guns by changing bullet weights. Heavier strikes higher.

Ed
 
5-Shot said:
To follow up on what Father Joe said. I adjust elevation on fixed sighted guns by changing bullet weights. Heavier strikes higher.

Ed
Click to expand...
I agree. In 32S&w Long I once tried some 116 grain cast swc's. Due to dwell time I could not lower my rear sight enough to compensate. Therefore I stick to 98-100 grain swc's.
 
I stick with the bullet weight of the original cartridge design. 230 gr for 45 ACP, 158 for .357, 124 for 9mm, etc. That's for the range, hunting is a different story. Those will usually be the least expensive bullets unless you have special needs like SD or hunting. Sights are usually regulated for the original bullet weight.
 
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The Lyman 358429 (170 grains) with a normal (not Keith) charge of Unique powder in a .38 Special case is awesome in a Model 94 Trapper or a 5” Model 10.
 
CWS&W said:
I've been reloading .357 and 38 special for a couple of years now and I've been happy with .357-158gr SWC and 38 special-148gr WC. I like to make the tightest groups possible on paper.
But I wonder. There are so many choices of bullets, Lyman 49th has examples going from 90gr to 180gr. Why would you choose a bullet over another?
Click to expand...

The simple answer for me is I don't choose what bullet to shoot.. I let the pistol decide!! :D

With both my M-29 and the M-500 the gun would let me know REAL quick if it didn't like a particular round! ;) Neither seemed to like anything by Federal but the M-29 picked out 240gr JHP Remington rounds while the 500 likes a 350gr JHP Hornady or 350gr SN Berry's Plated boolet for TP which I load to roughly the Winchester Reduced Recoil 350gr spec's...

How do the guns tell me what they like?? Recoil and Accuracy! ;)

And with Big Bore Revolvers, I tend to listen to them... :D :D :cool:
 
"...Why would you choose a bullet over another?
Reply With Quote..."

My best answer is the "powder" you are using:
  • Powder Burn Rate
  • VMD -Volume Measured Density, volume of 1gr powder per CC
  • Useful Case Capacity - I like powders that use more of the case capacity, in order to minimize the chance of accidental double loads

I tend to buy powder in larger quantities (for me at least), +16lb at a time when I can, per selected powder. For instance my VV N-105 works well for heavier bullets (think +158gr .357).

Got lucky and discovered N-105 also works very well with 147xtp 9mm too! As a matter of fact, N-105 is listed as the fastest top rated powder for 147XTPs (Lee Modern Reloading).

As for my .38 and .38+P needs, I use Hodgdon HS6. Also well matched VMD for .38 brass with 125-135 GS & GDots to 158XTPs.

So,... in a perfect World, us reloaders could change powders and bullets all of the time and at will. But in today's World we must stockpile supplies well in advance, and in generous quantities. ;)
 
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