help choosing .38spl bullet

[bevenue]

I am trying to reload for my S&W M&P340. I keep seeing lots of people suggesting the Precision Delta 148gr HBWC with match lube over 2.8 Bullseye. Precision Delta - Competition Ammunition

I see the Precision Delta is a .357. I was thinking I needed a .358 bullet when loading lead. Is this correct? or Do I need to get the Precision Delta and load n go?

 

[David LaPell]

Personally if you were going lead I would pick up the 162 grain #358156 which has been around a while now and works well in both .38 special and .357 Magnum. Is this a defensive round or just for practice. For defense, I would try either the 125 or 158 grain XTP from Hornady.

 

[bevenue]

Personally if you were going lead I would pick up the 162 grain #358156 which has been around a while now and works well in both .38 special and .357 Magnum. Is this a defensive round or just for practice. For defense, I would try either the 125 or 158 grain XTP from Hornady.

Bunny fart practice load only.

 

[ScottJ]

I've not been casting long. My first .358 was Lee's 140gr SWC.

I've been loading them over 8.5 gr Accurate No. 5 for .357 mag and my 66 really likes the load.

Just picked up a 1947 M&P and it seems to like them too over 4.3 gr HP-38.

http://smith-wessonforum.com/s-w-hand-ejectors-1896-1961/159814-range-time-new-me-m-p.html

 

[dave b]

You usually can't go wrong with .358 but the .357 hbwc will expand the base to fit and seal the bore. A light load like 2.8 Bullseye will work fine. Try a few before you get a lifetime supply.

 

[RidgwayCO]

My .38 Special bullet of choice is the Speer 158gr LSWC-HP (about 8 cents each from MidwayUSA). It's swaged from soft lead (not cast) with a proprietary coating, and performs very well in my .38 Special and moderate .357 Magnum loads (with next-to-no leading). Personally, I don't believe jacketed bullets in the .38 Special are necessary.

Also, these bullets can be loaded down to "mouse fart" levels, but the standard loads are accurate and not painful in the least. YMMV

 

[kshock]

Just load and go. Most of the PPC shooters at my club are shooting the Precision Delta's and if you could see their targets, it would convince you that accuracy is excellent with these bullets. I load that bullet with 3.2 grains of HP38 for competition, which falls into the "bunnyfart" category.

 

[chief38]

You did not say what you were going to use this load for. If it is for informal plinking, practice or target work, I use Meister 158 gr. RNL bullets. They a are very accurate, do not lead the barrel, forcing cone or cylinders, and they are relatively affordable. In most S&W fixed sight revolvers they shoot to POA.

For serious social work, nothing out there will beat Buffalo Bore's 158 gr. +P LSWHP. 1040 fps out of my 2" chief! And yes I did actually chrony them myself because I could not believe it either, however it is true.

chief38

 

[socal s&w]

I use the 148gr HBWC made by Hornady.

I'm guessing that the Precision Delta 148gr HBWC are very similar.

In a 686, 6" these are great target loads with light recoil. A real pleasure to shoot paper.

3gr even of Bullseye is my load. (Pretty much the bunny-fart load.) And yes, these are also .357, but as stated the skirt opens and creates the seal.

The holes in paper look like a punch was used instead of a bullet.

 

[bevenue]

Thanks for the replys everyone. Looks like I am going to be ordering some bullets Monday.

 

[socal s&w]

I stand corrected from my earlier post.

I just checked the Hornady HBWC box and it states .358" dia. not the .357" dia that I thought.

They do not have the usual lube on them either, they have a dry/powdery lube. I seems to work fine, as I stated, these are very accurate in a 6" 686.

 

[bevenue]

Thanks for the help guys. This bullet is doing so much better than my other bullet. I"m really happy with the way it turned out. PD 148gr HBWC over 2.6 Bullseye seated flush with a very light roll crimp.

 

[Steve C]

For HBWC a .357 diameter is fine, remember that with this type bullet the skirt is intended to expand to seal in the bore so the .001" doesn't make any difference.

 

[Bullseye Smith]

You guys are talking about bunny farts, when I shot PPC we used mouse farts = Zero Bullet 148HBWC and 2.2grs of Bullseye = a mouse fart . Good for fifty yards and catch with your hands at 75 yards, like shooting the plastic bullet with a primer.

 

[Bert Man]

Bullseye, +1 on the Zero 148 HBWC. Have used 10,000's since mid 70's with 2.7 gr BE for PPC matches/practice. Very accurate. Zero Bullet Co. in Cullman AL. Good folks to deal with. Have also shot the P-D remanufactured 148 also for dept. training. Also good stuff. Either one is probably more accurate than most shooters.

 

[bevenue]

You guys are talking about bunny farts, when I shot PPC we used mouse farts = Zero Bullet 148HBWC and 2.2grs of Bullseye = a mouse fart . Good for fifty yards and catch with your hands at 75 yards, like shooting the plastic bullet with a primer.

2.2gr of Bullseye. With my 1 7/8 barrel those would really be moving slow. Hornady has a minimum loading of 2.1gr of bullseye @ 550fps with a 4inch barrel. heck I might have to try it.

 

[running iron]

I carry 180gr. Sierra FPJ Tournament in my snub nose 38, or the 158gr XTP. I am a firm believer in heavy bullets for self defense. I live in the open country of the Colorado Plateau and don't have to worry about over penetration, but would rather have the most I can get. The 180 gr bullet shoots damn good from my gun. There must be a reason the old-timers liked the heavy weights too.

 

[l.carroll]

I love mastercast bullets...clean, accurate, and relatively cheap...158 grain SWC's @ 1000 for around $55.00 shipped.

I use clays or WSF and they both shoot clean.