.357 QUESTION

[Northrunner]

I just bought a box of LSWC for my .38 and .357 handloads. The box is marked with a diameter of .357. Should it be .358 for lead?

I also bought some LSWC for my .44 Redhawk. That box is marked .430.

What is the correct size LSWC for the .38/.357.
Thanks...

 

[dave b]

.358 is usually better.

 

[specops65]

Depends on the gun. Measure the cylinder throats on your gun and use accordingly. Or just drop a bullet in the front end of the cylinder (every hole as there can be a variance). If it falls through you have problems, if it stops you should be good to go.

 

[shovelwrench]

Measure em, chances are they are .358.

.430 is correct. IIRC.

 

[Titegroups]

Guns vary. If you don't have a way to measure just load some and see how they shoot, after all that's the goal.

 

[Missionary]

Greetings
Too fat a bullet is generally OK but too smal is going to cuase leading.
But another possibility you will face is if your cylinder throats are too small then the bullet is going to rattle down the barrel.
The ideal is if the cylinder throats are .001 over groove.

 

[David LaPell]

The best way to tell is to either shoot both with matching grain weights and powder charges, or to measure the barrel and he cylinder throats. Slug the barrel to find out. My Model 27-2 just loves .357 SWC's while my M & P likes .358's. My .44's tend to prefer .429's.

 

[chief38]

I have use both, but in most of my guns the .357 is actually more accurate with less leading. Try the .357 and see if it shoots well, If you thing it is not up to snuff, try a .358. You can buy a bore measuring kit from Brownell's, but it's a whole lot easier and less expensive just to ask one of the bullet companies to send you a handful and try them.

chief38