Plain base 358156

[38SPL HV]

I’ll try the great folks here (I’m getting nothing but crickets from my other friends from Castboolits):

I like using NOE dual crimp 155 gr SWC in 38 Special cases as cast and sold by GT Bullets. It appears to be more or less a plain base version of the 358156 bullet. All the load data I have for the 358156 is for the more popular gas check version.

Does anyone have experience using either the NOE dual crimp or 358156 SWC plain base versions? Powder? Load? Chronograph data? Crimp in lower or upper groove? Etc….Would you just rely on gas check load data when loading the plain base version?

 

[max503]

If it was me, I would load it with about 3.5 grains of Unique and work up from there. I would probably crimp it in the upper groove, mainly to keep grit off the bearing surface.
Bullseye seems to be easier to find right now. Somewhere around 2.X grains to start.

I regularly use data of a matching weight boolit, sometimes even data from a jacketed load.

But yea. Load it and shoot it! Use similar load data from the books. Sometimes you have to (intelligently) extrapolate data. I do this for my Rossi lever action rifle, so that the boolits will feed through the magazine. Ain't no manual on earth that tells you to do this:

 

[rockquarry]

I'd probably review my notes before any load development, but I've used the regular #358156 for many years with and without the gas check, but my favorite .38 Special and .357 bullet is the H&G #51. I've used a lot more of these. Velocity with the same powder charges is close (the #51 has about a 30 fps advantage) and accuracy is similar. I seat the the #358156 to an OAL of 1.46" in .38 Sp. and the #51 to an OAL of 1.48". Both bullets (with gas checks on the Lyman design) weigh around 160 grs. from my alloy.

That doesn't answer your question, I know, but I bring up the #51 to illustrate a point. Many of the SWC .38 cast designs are very similiar and basically use similar powder charges for the same results, at least that's been my experience. The Lyman #358439 plain base hollow point fits in here as well.

Obviously, load development in this area requires fine tuning, but an experienced handloader can do that safely. I'd have to look at old notes regarding #358156 accuracy with and without gas checks. I'd suspect accuracy would be best with the gas check as is usually the case with a gas check design.

 

[Tim357]

I've not used the 358156 plain base clone, however I have used the 357446, which is basically the 358156 without a gas check, and one more lube groove that doubles as a second crimp groove. Were it me, load your favorite charge of suitable powder and see where she hits on target.

 

[mtgianni]

I have plainbased a 358156 and done well with it. I like the checked version to shoot from a rifle but the PB works well for velocities under 1200 fps. I would start with start loads in a manual for the GC version and work up to where you were happy with accuracy. If you want to chronograph it fine but if you're just plinking and shooting paper stop where your groups tell you to.

 

[loc n load]

Lyman 358156 PB

This was the first bullet that I cast and that was in 1975. I started with this bullet due to reading Skeeter Skelton’s articles in “Shooting Times”.
I cast mine from straight wheel weights. I have have shot these in 2,3,4,5,6, 8 3/8’s and 10” barrels and the bullet was always accurate. I have very little leading with the hard cast PB regardless of velocity.
For 38 Spl loads I seat in the bottom groove, and load either 3.5 bullseye or 5 grains of Unique.
For 357 magnum, using 357 brass I crimp in the top groove, and load 13.5 grains of 2400. I have shot thousands of both the 38 spl and 357 loads in a slew of revolvers over the years.
I have loaded the 357’s up to 14.5 of 2400, but the 13.5 load will do anything I want of it. I have taken a couple of white tails with this load from a 6” M-28.
I have PB & GC versions of this bullet & others and use the same charges for PB or GC.
I consider this bullet to be one of the true classic 38/357 bullets. I always keep a couple coffee cans of these bullets on hand.

 

[smoothshooter]

Bullet style or small weight differences do not matter much with cast bullet loads.
Jacketed bullet data works with lead bullets too.

 

[cowboy4evr]

38SPLHV , I can help you here . This is in my " wheel house " . I have been casting and shooting a plain base version of 358156 for over 10 yrs or there abouts .
I bought my molds ( 2 / 4 cav ) plain base from Tom @ Accurate Molds . I find it very very accurate . I have loaded them from " mild to wild " and they ALWAYS performed very well . My favorite " hot " load is 15.5 grs of H110 . My std load for everyday use is 7.5 grs of Winchester Super Field . I have loaded them in 38 spl brass duplicating Skeeter Skeltons load of 13.5 grs of 2400 and the bullet crimped in the lower crimp groove with complete satisfaction . They made a very accurate load . In a 38 special load , they were very " boringly " accurate . I can not begin to guess how many I have cast over the years . Every time I am casting , whatever --- I always cast more of those 358156 plain base bullets , I use soooo many. I hope this helps . Regards Paul
.

 

[Patrick L]

We did a 358156 plain base as a group buy on Cast Boolits several years ago. I got a six cavity one. I load it over 13.5 gr 2400 in the .357 which is not a barn burner but more medium level loading. It is accurate, and I get no appreciable leading. I drop to 12.5 in a .38 special case and crimp in the bottom groove for a .38/44 load.

 

[gwpercle]

Plain base or gas check ... use the Same Data for both .

No real difference in velocity or pressure .

The check simply protects the base , it doesn't alter bullet hardness or require a change in charge .

Gary

 

[Luke Duke]

My GP100 just loves this bullet. 14.0 gr of 2400 in a .357 mag or use 38 special brass (which I have a ton of). I've tried several powders with .38 brass and seating it out to the lower crimp groove. Tried some Power Pistol this weekend and was pleasantly surprised. Started out with 7.0, 7.5 and 8.0 grains. All loads shot great but when I hit 8.0 gr this load just shined. No pressure signs the brass just fell out of chambers and I put 18 rounds into a quarter sized group at 25 yards. Locking that load in. Would Not shoot this in a .38 Special this is a .357 level load

 

[StrawHat]

We did a 358156 plain base as a group buy on Cast Boolits several years ago. I got a six cavity one. I load it over 13.5 gr 2400 in the .357 which is not a barn burner but more medium level loading. It is accurate, and I get no appreciable leading. I drop to 12.5 in a .38 special case and crimp in the bottom groove for a .38/44 load.

That is a very nice load in 38 S&W Special cases. And as noted by Skeeter, “as accurate as wadcutters”.

Kevin