Well, Ed... Back last December: was it REALLY "10 feet"or 10 YARDS?
Cheers!
"I'm bringing home, a baby, bumble Bee........."
La, La la.................
Speer 158 LSWC anyone
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"I'm bringing home, a baby, bumble Bee........."
La, La la.................
One of my earliest bullets for reloading 38 Special was the Speer 158 gr. SWC with the "dry lube" (1970 or so). I only had Bullseye and used mid-level loads. IIRC I got leading. I had read somewhere about alox, (waaay pre-web), . Bought one small bottle of Lee Liquid Alox, followed directions and eliminated 98% of the leading. Seemed to be too much work for little return way back then, so I purchased some generic commercial cast 158 gr. LRN and put the alox away.
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I tried some of the 240 gr .429 Speer swaged SWCs in my 4" mod 29-2. Very soft, leaded the bore at the low velocity of 750 fps. Still have part of the box, will probably just throw them away.
Options include
1. Label them as LEAD and throw them in a recycling bin.
2. Coat them with Lee Liquid alox and shoot them at speeds around 800-900 fps
3. Give them to a local caster to melt and reuse the lead.
4. Put them in the next yard sale someone you know has.
We have too much lead sitting in landfills that could be out being used, IMO.
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Good post. I'll add that I've had and have a number of S&W .44 Specials and .44 Magnums in the last fifty years. .429" bullets would be too small for any of them. They'll probably lead regardless of velocity unless maybe you pushed them hard enough to obturate.
SGT ROCK 11B
Member
When I got into reloading 40+ years ago. The LGS had Speer lead bullets. An old timer there was my mentor. When I shot PPC I always used Speer 148 HBWC with great success.
Eventually I move on to cast lead bullets for the cost savings. Speer makes a quality product JMHO YMMV.
Eventually I move on to cast lead bullets for the cost savings. Speer makes a quality product JMHO YMMV.
Here is a picture of the old Speer 158 LHP that I used to test out the factory
"FBI" loads , that I shot, out of my revolvers from J frames up to L frames.
It also did well at reduced fps, if needed, for lighter loads.
Sorry that they are hard to find now, and the higher prices that are being asked, for them.
"FBI" loads , that I shot, out of my revolvers from J frames up to L frames.
It also did well at reduced fps, if needed, for lighter loads.
Sorry that they are hard to find now, and the higher prices that are being asked, for them.
As far as swaged lead 158 grain bullets for use in .38 special loads I've used Speer, Hornady and Remington. Lately the Hornady bullets are the most available. My powder charge for years has been 4.3 grains of 231. If I get any leading it's a function of the revolver I'm using. Get a Lewis Lead remover to take care of any leading problems.
OP:
The Speer swaged lead SWC was the first bullet I loaded in 38 spl in 73. It leaded, but it is butter soft, and a Lewis lead remover got rid of the lead.
I still load them, but only for cloning the "FBI load". I use the HP version & Unique. I carry those in my tried & true model 49.
The Speer swaged lead SWC was the first bullet I loaded in 38 spl in 73. It leaded, but it is butter soft, and a Lewis lead remover got rid of the lead.
I still load them, but only for cloning the "FBI load". I use the HP version & Unique. I carry those in my tried & true model 49.
If you by chance have some of the 158 gr soft lead Speer bullets,
I will add that with the slow burning powders, I found that you can
reduce your higher pressure loads by .2 of powder and still get about the same
or higher fps, if you go from light to a heavy crimp on your case.
I needed a chrony to find this out, while trying for tighter groups with Unique and Blue Dot, powders,
and yes, the Heavy crimp turned out to be the best, in my J frame snub nose
for POA, fps and accuracy.
I will add that with the slow burning powders, I found that you can
reduce your higher pressure loads by .2 of powder and still get about the same
or higher fps, if you go from light to a heavy crimp on your case.
I needed a chrony to find this out, while trying for tighter groups with Unique and Blue Dot, powders,
and yes, the Heavy crimp turned out to be the best, in my J frame snub nose
for POA, fps and accuracy.
4barrel
Member
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Speaking of different and slower powders I highly suggest trying HS-6 with that 158gr soft lead bullet. I have gotten extremely good results with that combination but be sure to use a magnum primer. While you can use a standard primer the magnum primer insures a cleaner and more complete burn and lower ES and SD numbers.
It is, and you're right. I don't push swaged bullets over top std pressure 38 Spl loads, if even that hard. I've been casting for a long time now and haven't bought a swaged bullet in decades. I even cast my own hollowpoints.
I've shot some of the hollow point version. Decent performance, and not the absolute worst leading with medium velocity. Not sure how many I would do at magnum loadings.
Handload 357 Magnum Speer 158 Grain SWCHP Clear Ballistics Gel Test - YouTube
Handload 357 Magnum Speer 158 Grain SWCHP Clear Ballistics Gel Test - YouTube
When your reach 78 and have had neck surgery and four vert's fused together and nerve damage to your shooting arm and have " the Shakes"..........
Hitting a target at ten feet, off hand, is not as easy as one would think, it is.
Lets just say, if I were a BG, I would not want to take my chances, that I
would be able to do just a "Wounding" shot, instead of a killing shot !!
Old Corp
Member
I well recall when the Speer swaged bulk bullets were one of the very few choices out there for relatively inexpensive loading in 9mm,.38,.44, .45.
There were few commercial casters then - do recall 'Zero' brand but availability was spotty.
I used to joke that the Speers were 50/50 lead and solder.
It seemed they would lead up a bore if they moved much faster than a cleaning brush.
There were few commercial casters then - do recall 'Zero' brand but availability was spotty.
I used to joke that the Speers were 50/50 lead and solder.
It seemed they would lead up a bore if they moved much faster than a cleaning brush.
The Preacher
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My go to +P load for my 38's as well as my 357 Mags is 10.5 grs of A 2400 (I know, I'm not supposed to use 2400 because it doesn't work well) with the Speer swaged 158 gr. LSWC Hpt. Superbly accurate and enough velocity to make it effective. Now, if I could just find some more of them as I'm beginning to run low...
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
I well recall when the Speer swaged bulk bullets were one of the very few choices out there for relatively inexpensive loading in 9mm,.38,.44, .45.
There were few commercial casters then - do recall 'Zero' brand but availability was spotty.
I used to joke that the Speers were 50/50 lead and solder.
It seemed they would lead up a bore if they moved much faster than a cleaning brush.
I have loaded Speer swaged 158gr LSWC/HP bullets to .38 Special +P pressures without leading the barrel. It's all in the barrel fit, if the fit is correct no leading. (replica FBI load)
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Very true; bullet fit along with some load development. These bullets won't lead and will shoot accurately, but to get there often requires more effort than many want to put into it. Unless you get lucky on the first try.
