The .357 vs .38-44 loads

[David LaPell]

I have been tinkering with some .357 loads in the form of a 162 grain hardcast bullets, mould #358156 vs some 172 grain cast bullets #358429 loaded in .38 Special +P brass. I load 13.0 grains of 2400 for the lighter bullets and 12.5 grains of 2400 with the .38 brass. I am trying to debate which is better for whitetails and coyotes at the moment. Both are about the same for accuracy. Right now I can see that the only advantage in the lighter bullets is that they are gaschecked and they help with the leading in the barrel.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

Sounds like either should work within their range. Penetration shouldn't be a problem, and a 38-44 equivalent load with those powders may even be a little easier on the ears than 357 with 296, H110 or the like. I like the idea of the gaschecked 358156. Those bullets have proven accurate in most anything I shoot them in. They work qite well in my Marlin 1894C driven to high 357 Mag velocities, even with its microgrooved barrel.

 

[Vanilla Gorilla]

I use the 358429 almost exclusively. I don't like gas checks.

My everyday load for a .357 is actually more of a .38-44 load. Do a search here for "the load" and you should find what I'm referring to. It gives me a 175 grain 358429 at 1150, and will do everything I need it to. It will completely penetrate our smallish whitetail deer from any angle. I also use your 2400 load with Keith bullets, with similar results to the load mentioned above.

if this thread gets read much, eventually you'll get the crowd that say, "If you want a .357, use .357 brass." They can do what they want to, but I like the .38-44 loads, and I enjoy shooting them. And I also have an unlimited supply of .38 brass, while my .357 supply is certainly finite.

The only real reason I even bother to use .357 brass any more is really stout loads of 2400 for long-range shooting, usually 200+ yards.

 

[specops65]

I have used Sketter Skelton's load (though I seem to remember he got it from Elmer) of 13.5 grs of 2400 in 38 Special brass for years. I've used 358156 in both regular and hollowpoint versions as well as 358429 in both versions. You can also try 358466 and 358477 (there are 2 versions of 358477, one is 150 and the other is 158 gr). If the bullet fits the cylinder throats and the barrel has decent throat I have not found gas checks to be necessary. I even have a 358156 mold that the gas check was removed. I've never found a great deal of difference between them but must admit a fondness for the 358429HP. It works well in both rifle and pistol. Cast from straight wheelweights they expand to .58-.62 and have never lost an animal to a good hit from one.

 

[GPerry]

Here's my suggestion: go one better by searching around for #358430, which is the 160 grain hollow-point version of your 173 grain Keith bullet. I found one on e-Bay for a reasonable price several years ago, but you may find one at a gunshow or even online somewhere. Twelve grains of 2400 in .38 cases gave over 1100 fps in a .38/44 Heavy Duty, and 13.0 grains gave me 1300. I reserved these loads for my .357 N-frames, even though they were in .38 cases. Made of wheelweights and water-quenched, they caused minimal leading.

The only downside to this bullet is that it comes from a one-cavity mold, so it's not the best choice for high volume shooting.