Bullet size

Igiveup · #1 03-06-2021, 11:57 PM

Can a bullet of .360 diameter be loaded for .38 spl. or is it only for .38 S&W? I have a bunch of casted bullets that are .360 and was wondering.

rockquarry · #2 03-07-2021, 12:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igiveup

Can a bullet of .360 diameter be loaded for .38 spl. or is it only for .38 S&W? I have a bunch of casted bullets that are .360 and was wondering.

It might be possible to use a cast bullet .360" in a .38 Special, but that doesn't mean it should be done. .360" bullets are for the .38 S&W. .358" or sometimes .357" cast bullets are more appropriate for the .38 Special. If you have a bullet sizer, a .360" cast bullet could be easily sized to .358".

alwslate · #3 03-07-2021, 01:26 AM

You can probably seat your .360 dia bullets in .38 spl brass but then you might find that your loaded rounds won’t fit in the chambers of your revolver. I bought a 500 count box of .359 dia cast SWCs for my .38 spl handloads once. I finally was able to use them up but I learned a lesson. Never again. I advise you to size them down before loading them. One trick you might try is to use a wood dowel and drive them through a chamber of your revolver if it has .358 throats.

DeplorabusUnum · #4 03-07-2021, 01:51 AM

Just get one of these and size them down to .358.
Lee Bullet Sizing Die Kit 358 Diameter

4barrel · #5 03-07-2021, 04:06 AM

Most S&W 38's and 357 have 357 throats. If the .360 bullet is round it will probably work. Measure to see. I have several molds that drop .360-361 but I resize to .357-.358. A bullet is normally not exactly round when dropped from the mold and resizing fixes that. Measure a fired piece of brass from the gun you are going to use these in and see if the bullet will push into the fired brass. Tap the bullet into the brass and if it fits the chamber and the cylinder will close you should be good to go.

Alk8944 · #6 03-07-2021, 05:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Igiveup

Can a bullet of .360 diameter be loaded for .38 spl. or is it only for .38 S&W? I have a bunch of casted bullets that are .360 and was wondering.

Yes, a .360" bullet is within acceptable SAAMI diameter tolerance for both .38 Special, .357 Magnum and other nominal .38 Caliber cartridges.

steelslaver · #7 03-07-2021, 07:32 AM

It mostly depends on your guns chambers. When you load up a piece of brass you end up with the 2x the brass thickness, plus the bullet OD. A fairly tight chamber might not let that extra .002 total OD chamber. As soon as the .360 bullet hit the throat it will become a .357 or .358 depending on your throat and fire fine will minimum pressure increase

I myself would resize them to .358

Let me know if you need a piece of 7/8 all thread with a .358 hole reamed through it and a tapered entrance. Just take a few minutes in the lathe