Loading 38 spl

[duckloads]

I'm gearing up to load 38spl's for the first time. The gun is a 15-4 2" nickle. I like the thought of 158 gr LSWC bullets.

I've been buying 255gr LSC in 45 colt from Tennessee Valley Bullets and they perform well.

The 158gr LSWC bullets come in .356, .357, and .358 sizes. What size is the suggested size for the 15-4?

Thanks

 

[duckloads]

I'm gearing up to load 38spl's for the first time. The gun is a 15-4 2" nickle. I like the thought of 158 gr LSWC bullets.

I've been buying 255gr LSC in 45 colt from Tennessee Valley Bullets and they perform well.

The 158gr LSWC bullets come in .356, .357, and .358 sizes. What size is the suggested size for the 15-4?

Thanks

 

[Erich]

Just ask Jessie what he recommends - he won't steer you wrong. IIRC, I got .357" LSWCs from him for my various handguns, including a no-dash Model 15.

 

[Smitty500Mag]

Actually in order to know exactly you'd have to slug your barrel and then Mic the bullet to see what diameter your barrel really is.

Smitty

 

[jibjab]

I would determine throat diameters of the cylinder, if they are .3576-.358" I'd get .358, if they measure .357-.3574" the .357" bullet will work for .38spl. if the BHN is 12-14 and there is adequate pressure to bump up the diameter to provide a good seal. The extra bevel on some cast bullets make obturation more difficult.

 

[Skip Sackett]

You can do like Erich suggested and ask Jes. I have slugged several of my 5 grooved barrels, not an easy task by the way.

As long as the lead isn't too hard, like 30+BHN, I don't think it really matters if the bullets are .001" - .002" too big. Maybe if you were loading some of those monster loads that we have played with it would make a difference.

I size all of my homecast 38/357 bullets to .358". Never have had a problem. I shoot out of "L" frames mostly with a few "J" frames scattered around!

FWIW

 

[Erich]

By the way, I recalled incorrectly . . . my .38 bullets from TVB are all .358"s.

 

[acl864]

I use TVB 158 gr SWC and 148 gr WC sized to .358 in both of my Model 19's and my 642. They're great bullets.

 

[jibjab]

I tried some .357" LSWC and had leading in all of .38spls. I used the rest for .357 mag with 6.1gr of Bullseye with good results.

 

[duckloads]

I plan on driving them on the slow side using Trail Boss or light doses of Unique.

 

[Wyatt Earp]

4.6 grains of W231 under a 158 grain Keith-style SWC from a local caster does me.

This is his 250 grain .430" slug:

His .358" 158s are just that in miniature.

 

[bmcgilvray]

I'd begin with the .358 diameter.

TVB is good bullets!

 

[RON in PA]

Another vote for .358.

 

[Roadzilla]

All if the hardcast I shoot are from TVB and in my opinion you won't find any better. In my 357's and 38's, I like everyone else, use a .358 and his 158's are excellent.

I wish I was getting paid for this, but sadly I am not.

Mark

 

[walnutred]

I wondered where you were coming from there Eric with .357. I size mine to .358 but thought maybe TVB bullets worked a little different due to hardness.

My standard load is 4.3 gns of Unique, Lyman 358156,sized to .358 W/O Gascheck, White Label Lube. I'm shooting a 10-6 so POI is as important to me as velocity. This is what works for me.

Now my FAVORITE loading, today at least, is a cast 125gn SWC over 4.1 gns of W231. I have no idea what velocity it has but POI is good, recoil minimal and groups are great.

 

[Beans]

Another vote for .358

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I also shoot a .358" bullet and with the 158gr LSWC I usually use W231 for an accurate and easy to shoot target round.

 

[John R]

I would go with the .358's