Duplicating Buffalo Bore FBI Load

[Forrest r]

There's a huge difference between the fbi load and the buffalo bore fbi load.

The main difference is the hollow based hollow pointed bullet in the fbi load.



That bullet can be duplicated with one of these hollow based molds from lyman.



The the load hollow based bullet will need to be hollow pointed using a forster hollow point tool.

The buffalo bore fbi load uses a 158gr lead swc hp that is gas checked. 20 rounds for $29

https://www.buffalobore.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=108

In 2012 Brian Pearce did an article on testing different 38spl p+ loads in a 1.875" bbl'd ruger lcr snub nosed revolver. He duplicated the Buffalo bore load using:
6.3gr of power pistol powder
158gr rimrock lead swc hp
standard primer

The buffalo bore load gave pearce 999fps in that lcr.
The pp load gave pearce 1004fps

g/ch .38/.357 mag 158 gr. SWC-HP per 100/ in a plastic ammo box - Gas Checked Cast Lead Bullets - Top Shelf Bullets

I've done allot of testing with power pistol in low pressure cartridges like the 38spl/44psl/45acp. The results have been extremely impressive.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

In 2012 Brian Pearce did an article on testing different 38spl p+ loads in a 1.875" bbl'd ruger lcr snub nosed revolver.

That was in the Handloader #276 issue.

.

 

[Forrest r]

That was in the Handloader #276 issue.

.

Yes, issue #276.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

hoptob,

Will all due respect, sir, why waste valuable shooting time trying to duplicate a factory load? I have at least 2 boxes of W-W factory FBI loads that have to be 30 years old. I have no reason to buy more. They'll last me the rest of my life.

BTW, I've yet to come across any .38 Special or .357 Mag load that I think surpasses the FBI load for bipedal self-defense. And I will add that the FBI load is not a whole lot of fun when fired out of a 2" Model 60. I couldn't imagine firing a .357 Mag load out of a "J" Frame.

Not to answer for my friend but I am also involved with this ongoing project. There are many reasons to replicate factory or designer loads. Let's start with price, BBs FBI Load costs $28.79 + shipping for 20 rounds. Handloading costs using the same RimRock bullet, $8.65 for 50 rounds.

Next comes the fun, reloaders like to experiment and it's satisfying when you succeed.

IMO, because of the cost it's difficult to practice with your carry ammo and practice is important. If you can develop a replica load for your carry ammo you can practice without breaking the bank and save the store bought ammo for carry.

There is more but those are the three that I think if first.

 

[Rule3]

hoptob,

Will all due respect, sir, why waste valuable shooting time trying to duplicate a factory load? I have at least 2 boxes of W-W factory FBI loads that have to be 30 years old. I have no reason to buy more. They'll last me the rest of my life.

BTW, I've yet to come across any .38 Special or .357 Mag load that I think surpasses the FBI load for bipedal self-defense. And I will add that the FBI load is not a whole lot of fun when fired out of a 2" Model 60. I couldn't imagine firing a .357 Mag load out of a "J" Frame.

With all due respect, why are you addressing someone that posted a thread in 2009 and has not posted since 2010?

See Archs post above.

 

[ddixie884]

I don't know what happened to Hoptob, he seems to have gone away. I for one was very impressed with the work he did on this project. Thanx Hoptob...........

 

[SLT223]

This is an interesting read. Thank you for digging this back up.

 

[GCF]

Not to answer for my friend but I am also involved with this ongoing project. There are many reasons to replicate factory or designer loads. Let's start with price, BBs FBI Load costs $28.79 + shipping for 20 rounds. Handloading costs using the same RimRock bullet, $8.65 for 50 rounds.

Next comes the fun, reloaders like to experiment and it's satisfying when you succeed.

IMO, because of the cost it's difficult to practice with your carry ammo and practice is important. If you can develop a replica load for your carry ammo you can practice without breaking the bank and save the store bought ammo for carry.

There is more but those are the three that I think if first.

All good points.

I tend to practice w/ light load, 158 LSWC's, as they are accurate - & very cost effective. I could be off base, but my thought is, that reflexes (ingrained through light load training) will take over w/ SD loads - should the need ever arise.

That said, I've been considering placing an order for 300 - 500 Rimrock LSWC-HP/GC's - just because. A bit of full power load training couldn't hurt, right?

My EDC revolvers (M340, M640-1, & M65-3) are all .357 chambered, & while I know that a lot of guys load primarily .38spl brass for training, I prefer magnum brass.

Understand that the subject matter here is duplicating the .38spl FBI load, been wondering if anyone here has done any work in the 950 - 1050fps range, w/ this bullet - in magnum brass.

It also occurs, that "if" the soft / gas checked Rimrock bullet will stand up to moderate level, .357 magnum pressures - & maintain accuracy, it might make an "interesting" load, for use in 2.5" - 4" L / N frames, as well.

Thoughts?

 

[BLUEDOT37]

It also occurs, that "if" the soft / gas checked Rimrock bullet will stand up to moderate level, .357 magnum pressures - & maintain accuracy, it might make an "interesting" load, for use in 2.5" - 4" L / N frames, as well.

When I bought some of them they told me they rate them to a max. of 1150 fps.

.

 

[GCF]

When I bought some of them they told me they rate them to a max. of 1150 fps.

.

Thanks for the info. Did you load them in SPL., or magnum brass?

 

[AZretired]

hoptob,

Will all due respect, sir, why waste valuable shooting time trying to duplicate a factory load? I have at least 2 boxes of W-W factory FBI loads that have to be 30 years old. I have no reason to buy more. They'll last me the rest of my life.

BTW, I've yet to come across any .38 Special or .357 Mag load that I think surpasses the FBI load for bipedal self-defense. And I will add that the FBI load is not a whole lot of fun when fired out of a 2" Model 60. I couldn't imagine firing a .357 Mag load out of a "J" Frame.

My carry ammo is also the FBI load (Fed, WW or Rem) but it is not always easy to find. As I do like to shoot off the ammo that actually been carried at least a couple times a year, two 50 round boxes might last me 2 years but never the rest of my life and I'm 62!

I enjoy reloading and and try to load 158 gr Cast LSWC as close to 850 fps in a 2" barrel as possible for practice and plinking. And with the powder shortage of the last few years this has been interesting.

Great thread!

 

[Cleveland48]

I'm getting 830 fps average with 5.2 grains of unique with a 158 LSWCHP ( max +p load in Speer #14) I have never even seen a box of the Rem or Win FBI load! Is this reload I have close to there specs? I'm shooting a 442


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[STCM(SW)]

I molded some pure PB from my Lyman mold #358156.
They weighted in at 154 Gr +or- 1 gr.
This Boolit takes a GC.
Should I GC them when testing the load given by the OP?
If I HP them, they will loose some weight and a GC adds only 3 gr or so.
I'm going to first test a few with my S&W HD over my Croney.
Then my M 638 & M 49 or M 36-1.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

Did you load them in SPL., or magnum brass?

Both.

38 Spcl. @ 6.0gr/Power Pistol (+P) &

357 Mag @ 8.0gr/Power Pistol

.

 

[USSR]

Played around last year doing load development for the FBI Load using this bullet:

Starting point was ArchAngelCD's 7.0gr of HS-6 load. Then found comparative loads using 6.4gr of AA#5 and 5.6gr of Unique. Hope to do further work with them this summer

Don

 

[JSimpson65]

Played around last year doing load development for the FBI Load using this bullet

Don

That's a nice looking bullet - not sure if I missed it from earlier, but care to share details on the bullet/mould/maker?

Thanks

 

[USSR]

That's a bullet I cast out of an MP Mold 359640 mold. Once sized and lubed, they weigh in at about 160 grains.

Don

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Don, any idea how hard those bullets are? They sure perform well, that is some outstanding expansion!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't know what happened to Hoptob, he seems to have gone away. I for one was very impressed with the work he did on this project. Thanx Hoptob...........

I just sent an email to the old address I had, maybe it's still good. I hope so, maybe he will come back and discuss this further. I always did enjoy talking to him, Jim and a few others back then. (His name is Mike, right?)

 

[USSR]

Don, any idea how hard those bullets are? They sure perform well, that is some outstanding expansion!

Tony,

That's not my pic, so I don't know what alloy was used. Personally, I cast mine from an alloy consisting of about: 97% Pb, 2.75% Sn, and only 0.25% Sb. I'm guessing a BHN of about 7.

Don