105gr. 38cal. bullets

[BZimm]

At a gun show yesterday, I bought a 100ct. sack of 38cal. cast bullets at 105gr. TCFP. My intent at the moment was to try loading them in 38spl. cases just to see how a real light bullet feels. I'm beginning to load 38/357 with 125gr. and 158gr. plated HP and I've chosen data for those weights.

But I can't find load data for 105gr. cast. There's plenty of info available for 110gr. cast though. Can I extrapolate a recipe from one to the other? Am I being too particular? After I get a recipe figured out, then I need to learn how to lube these little guys. I love this stuff.

Any 38/357 loads I produce will run through my S&W 28-2 that I love to shoot.

BZimm

 

[Nevada Ed]

The Lyman manual has 105 swc data with clay, 700x, tite, bull, red and 231 powders from 809 to 1098fps.

38 spl, 357, 44 mag and 45 colt for under $10...
Pick up a copy....... lots of jacket and lead data.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

You can safely use the slightly heavier bullet data(in this case the 110gr data) but not the other way around.A light charge of any fast burning powder(Bullseye,700X,Red Dot,Promo)will give you a powder puff load accurate out to aprox 30yards.Have fun!
Qc

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Years ago I shot quite a few Lee cast 358-105 SWC bullets in .38 Special. Loaded 3.5 grains Bullseye. Very mild load and accurate in several revolvers tried.

 

[StakeOut]

The linked company sells 105gr 38 caliber .358" cast bullets

Excellent prices on hard cast bullets = $14.00 USPS flat rate for up to 4x500

Welcome to Summers Enterprises, LLC, makers of fine hard cast lead bullets.

 

[DWalt]

My Lyman cast bullet handbook has no .38 Special loads for 105 grain, but does for 92 grain. Max loads: 700-X, 5 grains; Bullseye, 5.3 grains; Red Dot, 5.2 grains, 231, 5.7 grains. It shows all those are fairly low pressure, less than 17000 CUP, and MVs in the 1100-1150 ft/sec range. Even if 105 grain bullets are used, these Lyman loads should be quite safe. Might want to drop back a half-grain or so to start.

 

[BZimm]

The Lyman manual has 105 swc data with clay, 700x, tite, bull, red and 231 powders from 809 to 1098fps.

Well ya know, I hate to admit this but I own that little handbook and I didn't look in there. I looked in the big Lyman 50th and left the little one be. I won't make that mistake again. Thank you all kindly.

BZimm

 

[Mosinmike85]

Re: lee 38-105 swc in 38spec.

I have been using 105gr swc AA #2 powder per Western Powder Company (Accurate ) start load 4.6 gr. To Max load 5.5gr. I use the start load out of my snub nose punches perfect round holes at 15 yards.

 

[max503]

I've got several hundred 105 grain swc's all cast, sized, and lubed, ready to go. Been shooting them out of a j-frame snubbie with various charges of Unique. I'm learning to use a raised front sight picture with both eyes open. The reduced recoil is welcome.

 

[max503]

My Model 15 likes these. This is 20 shots rapid fire double action at 50 feet. I got these loaded fairly hot with Unique.

 

[JonE406]

I know it's been sometime since this post originated... but I just loaded up and shot the 105-gr FP-NLG coated using 3.0 gr of Traill Boss for my mod 637-2 Airweight. Talk about one mild load, it was like shooting a 22 LR revolver. I shot the gong from 6 yards and couldn't be happier with the results. I was looking for a light shooting load, because I had carpal tunnel surgery on Jun 30th on my dominate hand.

 

[growr]

Many of my fellow Cowboy Action shooters that use the 105 bullet in .38 spl. seem to be using 4 gr.of Unique....might work for you if you can find any Unique

Randy

 

[max503]

Many of my fellow Cowboy Action shooters that use the 105 bullet in .38 spl. seem to be using 4 gr.of Unique....might work for you if you can find any Unique

Randy

Saw this thread. I'm still shooting a lot of these bullets, partly because I have a 6 cavity mold that works really well. Unique is my powder of choice.

Lately I've been powder coating some of these bullets for high velocity 357 loads. There's still work to do but the loads are showing promise. My Taurus 605, 357 snub nose works good with a heavy charge of Unique and the powder coated bullets.
The load data I use is for a 115 grain bullet. I figure that just adds an extra measure of safety to my experiments.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Went through some old targets and found one of my old 2018 targets
that I shot with an old box of 105 gr Meister lead bullets, that I was finishing off.

This light bullet is great for light recoil and training & target work
for beginers and kids, that want to shoot the .38 special, if you have one.

With the starting loads, I don't use ear protection but that is optional, depending
on the fps and powders types used in your loads.

This is my 2nd posting of the picture since the 1st had load data, that I try not to post,
since some of the loads might be too heavy for your revolver.

Just an idea of what the light 105 gr lead bullet can do, with 4 powders.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

The linked company sells 105gr 38 caliber .358" cast bullets

Excellent prices on hard cast bullets = $14.00 USPS flat rate for up to 4x500

Welcome to Summers Enterprises, LLC, makers of fine hard cast lead bullets.

Took the plunge... They look very nice! Some of the wadcutters, too.

StakeOut: Do you have any "pet loads" for this bullet in 38 Special, +P & 357 Magnum?

I'm specifically thinking about using the faster powders: i.e., Bullseye, Clays, 700-X...

Now, if Nevada Ed would just expand on his 105gr CFE-Pistol experience...!

Cheers!

P.S. Anyone else, feel free to chip in, please!

 

[Nevada Ed]

The group with CFE-p looks ok but..............

for some reason in my M49 snub nose revolver, the little 105 gr. bullet
as well as a 125 gr LFN & RN cowboy design did not shoot as well, or to POA or accurate
as the old standard 148 HB or BB lead bullet, in all my testing.

There is a great improvement out of a heavy 6" barrel, just depends on the weapon used.

CFE-p is best used in 38 to 9mm for medium to full loads, per my test, where this powder
works it's best vs other powders in the grs vs grs, fps & acc. test.

However.........
if the 105 gr, lead bullet works for you in your weapons, go for it and enjoy.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

At a gun show yesterday, I bought a 100ct. sack of 38cal. cast bullets at 105gr. TCFP. My intent at the moment was to try loading them in 38spl. cases just to see how a real light bullet feels. I'm beginning to load 38/357 with 125gr. and 158gr. plated HP and I've chosen data for those weights.

But I can't find load data for 105gr. cast. There's plenty of info available for 110gr. cast though. Can I extrapolate a recipe from one to the other? Am I being too particular? After I get a recipe figured out, then I need to learn how to lube these little guys. I love this stuff.

Any 38/357 loads I produce will run through my S&W 28-2 that I love to shoot.

BZimm

There is no reason to extrapolate anything, you can safely use the 110gr cast bullet data directly with the 105gr cast bullet. It's perfectly safe with such a small difference in weight but like said above, you should not go the other way around.

Are you sure the bullets aren't lubed? It sounds strange they are not. Is there a crimp groove on the bullet or are they really meant for loading .380 Auto ammo?

Keep us updated on the results, I'm now very curious. lol

 

[STORMINORMAN]

"...for loading .380 Auto ammo?"

Per the OP, these are .358" for 38 Special (and, possiby a +P or 357 Magnum?) loads.

In my experience cast .358" bullets don't usually play well in most 380acp or 9mm applications. I guess you could run them through a sizing die, but...

Cheers!

P.S. The ones I just got are coated, so..... Nope.