Suggestions for a good boolit for .38 spl and .357 mag

[Flintlock Hokie]

I've successfully cast round balls for my flintlock and they shoot great. Now I'm ready to cast some boolits for my .38 spl and .357 mag. Mostly I expect to just punch holes in paper at the range. For that I've always shot 148 gr wadcutters in both guns. I'll probably play around with some hotter loads for both guns, but that too will be mostly for fun. Both guns only have 4 inch barrels (I also have a 2 inch .38 spl) so I can't hunt large game with either.

I'm thinking about Lee's 140 gr SWC. It requires slightly less lead than the 148 gr WC and should feel nearly the same with light loads. However I believe it would be a more effective boolit for hotter loads. I don't care if it doesn't cut perfect circles on a target. I'm also not trying to push the boolits to maximum velocity.l

I welcome thoughts and comments.

Thanks!

[dsbock]

If your revolvers are older (i.e. with fixed sights) they were probably designed for 158 grain flat point or round nosed bullets. From talking to many other reloaders and shooters, they seem to prefer that round in low, mid, and slightly hotter loads.

I hope this helps.

David

[rintinglen]

I personally favor the RCBS 38-150 SWC, or the Lyman 358-477 over the Lee 140 grainer. If any of your guns have iron sights, they are probably sighted in for a 158 grain boolit. I like the Lee 158 RF for that reason. I have a bunch of 38 snubbies with fixed sights, so I generally load a boolit that is similar in weight to the factory ammo.

[Wally]

I've successfully cast round balls for my flintlock and they shoot great. Now I'm ready to cast some boolits for my .38 spl and .357 mag. Mostly I expect to just punch holes in paper at the range. For that I've always shot 148 gr wadcutters in both guns. I'll probably play around with some hotter loads for both guns, but that too will be mostly for fun. Both guns only have 4 inch barrels (I also have a 2 inch .38 spl) so I can't hunt large game with either.

I'm thinking about Lee's 140 gr SWC. It requires slightly less lead than the 148 gr WC and should feel nearly the same with light loads. However I believe it would be a more effective boolit for hotter loads. I don't care if it doesn't cut perfect circles on a target. I'm also not trying to push the boolits to maximum velocity.l

I welcome thoughts and comments.

Thanks!

Lee's 140 SWC is a sweet bullet for both calibers. 7.5 grains of Unique in he Magnum is an excellent load. I find the 105 Lee SWC is great for the .38 Spl..using 4.0 grains of Bullseye or Red Dot... Used to use the RCBS 150 SWC--a wonderful bullet but I too am conserving my use of lead.

[waksupi]

I'm also looking for a mold for a .357. I used to have a Lyman that I let go, that held up well at longer range. i am using one of our group buy molds now, and after fifty yards they start to wander, and at 100 yards, they have a mind of their own. Thanks for all of the suggestions, keep them coming!

[GP100man]

Lees 158 rnfp ,It shoots ok to good in all my 38/357 revolvers , just wish it did`nt have a small bevel base !! although it does`nt seem to affect accuracy ,especially with me doing the driving.

Just a good boolit to shoot what needs shooting.

I have a NOE 360-180 with `bout the same profile but plain based ,I have`nt got it to shoot bad in anything

[Harter66]

I've the Lee rnfp 158 also . I've used it in 4" 38;6" 357,and a carbine w/ good results way past any sane hunting range. I've used a Lee 150 SWC also . Group for group it was an even split.

[Flintlock Hokie]

If your revolvers are older (i.e. with fixed sights) they were probably designed for 158 grain flat point or round nosed bullets. From talking to many other reloaders and shooters, they seem to prefer that round in low, mid, and slightly hotter loads.

The guns are a S&W model 15 and model 19, circa mid 70s. Both have adjustable sights.

[GP100man]

Well then I`d consider anything between 150-180 grs.

[Lefty SRH]

The RCBS 38-150KT is a good accurate boolit.

[10mmShooter]

Another vote for RCBS 38-150-SWC, I have two of them tired the Lyman 4 banger and sold it and got two the RCBS 2cavs.

Shoots well in my 686 with ww231 for target loads in .38 @900fps and if I'm loading to .357 spec I use AA#5 and run them to 1100 fps.

[Kraschenbirn]

The ol' standby 358156 can be loaded with or w/o gas check and shoots well in all my .38/.357 revolvers. Just my nickel's worth.

Bill

[Larry Gibson]

The guns are a S&W model 15 and model 19, circa mid 70s. Both have adjustable sights.

For your revolvers and needs the Lee 140 gr SWC should work just fine. I think you'll find Bullseye powder to work very well with both cartridges for target level loads and Unique to fill the bill for "hotter loads". COWWs +2% tin and then add 20 - 40% lead (the SOWWs work well here) will be a good alloy for both with that bullet.

If using the Lee sizer and LLA I suggest the .358 and use the LLA straight as directed. If using a lubrasizer a softer lube like the 50/50 or BAC are best.

Larry Gibson

[H.Callahan]

I personally favor the RCBS 38-150 SWC, or the Lyman 358-477 over the Lee 140 grainer. If any of your guns have iron sights, they are probably sighted in for a 158 grain boolit. I like the Lee 158 RF for that reason. I have a bunch of 38 snubbies with fixed sights, so I generally load a boolit that is similar in weight to the factory ammo.
Ditto.

If you are interested, there is a group buy for a 358-477 clone from NOE (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=116318) that JUST ended. I suspect that if you plead, beg, grovel and splay yourself upon the ground, Swede would put you on the list to get one of the extra molds that a generally available at the end of a run.

[Shiloh]

There are so many good boolits to choose from. That caliber shoots many boolits well.

I have half dozen molds for .38/357. The only one that doesn't shoot well is the LEE 158 SWCTL.
Too Small.

All other boolits LEE and Lyman shoot well.

Shiloh

[DrCaveman]

I'll take the opposite stance of Shiloh and recommend the lee TL 158 SWC. Shoots great for me between prob 700 fps and about 1600 fps. Light load uses ramshot competition, heavy load uses Alliant 2400. Only other difference is I give a few more squirts of lee liquid alox for the magnum loads. They both shoot awesome in my smith 19-3 and my ruger kgp-161. No leading after sizing to .358

[Swampman]

I use a 173 grain Keith style bullet (Ideal 358429) cast from an old Ideal mould. I load them with 4 grains of Unique in .38 Special cases and 5 grain of Unique in .357 cases. I shoot them unsized and lubed with liquid alox.

[floydboy]

I also like the 358156 without the gas check. I use it with 3.5 gr Bullseye in mag case.

[DrCaveman]

I also really like the Lyman/ ideal 358429 Keith 170 grainer, it may be my new favorite for magnum loads. I haven't tried loading it light so can't comment.

One thing about the lee 2-cavity moulds is that you can try several boolit weights and shapes for very low cost, then when you find your favorite you can feel better about dropping over $100 for a higher quality mould & handles

[cf_coder]

I haven't seen anyone throw the RanchDog 175 grain TLC359-175-RF out there yet. You can order this half and half gas check/plain base then you get the best of both worlds. You can really push the gaschecked one pretty hard. They are plenty accurate and have a big 'ol meplat that works great as a hunting round...

With that said, I also use a Lyman 358156 with/without gaschecks as well. So it's kind of a toss-up...

[Flintlock Hokie]

For your revolvers and needs the Lee 140 gr SWC should work just fine. I think you'll find Bullseye powder to work very well with both cartridges for target level loads and Unique to fill the bill for "hotter loads". COWWs +2% tin and then add 20 - 40% lead (the SOWWs work well here) will be a good alloy for both with that bullet.

If using the Lee sizer and LLA I suggest the .358 and use the LLA straight as directed. If using a lubrasizer a softer lube like the 50/50 or BAC are best.

Great! I already have both Bullseye and Unique. I also have smelted quite a bit of COWWs. Now about the tin and the extra lead... In another post quite a few folks said they shoot COWW "as is." So tell me more about the need to adjust the alloy, please. Also, is the best source of tin Rotometals? I've thought about getting some lead free solder but I haven't priced that yet.

I had already planned to get a Lee sizer in 0.358. That's what my current batch of store bought 148 gr WCs measure. I also planned on pan lubing my bullets. So it sounds like we are mostly in serious agreement here. Just tell me a little more about why I should adjust the alloy.

Thanks!

[Swampman]

I'd shoot them as cast and tumble lube them with liquid alox. Alloy isn't gonna matter IMO.

[Lefty SRH]

Another good one for .38spl is Lyman 358311

[MtGun44]

358477 and 358429 are prime designs. 477 is nearly a clone of RCBS 38-150-SWC (used to
be called 38-150-K) and both are superb. Lee 357-158-RF is a real good one too.

Bill

[soldierbilly1]

like one of the previous posters, I have a Smith Model 15, it shoots the Lee 158 gr RN FP very well. BTW, it makes nice round holes in paper.
It used to shoot the Lee 148 gr Full WC but I sold that mold. Those bullets were a PIA to seat and a nightmare to pull should you ever have to.
Both rounds shot really well, the M15 is a real sweet shooter once you get used to it! The 158 gr bullet is also easier to use with speedloaders as well.
Billy boy

the 158 gr mold was bought based on several recommendations from the boys on this forum.
This forum was on the money, as usual, to which I am greatly indebted.


Obama must go!

[Artful]

My Fav's
I'm old school 358156 SWC designed by Ray Thompson as used by Skeeter
http://www.sixguns.com/crew/skeeters_bullets.htm

Lyman 358311 RN Orginal design - put thru Forster HP tool works for game also.

I have RCBS SWC and a group buy SWC but those old lyman were my first single cavity molds
and I shot some might good groups with them, of course back then I could see the sights :lol:

in truth any of the Lee 6 cavity 38 molds will probably do but if you have adjustable sights and want to save lead,
I'm partial to the little Lee #: 90315 - 105 SWC pill it shoots well for me and saves my silver, I mean lead supply.

[AggieEE]

Here's another vote for the RCBS 38-150 SWC I like it in the magnum with Herco, 2400, bluedot etc. When the group buy for Miha's SWCHP get's done I may change my mind about the RCBS, atleast I hope I do ;-). For true paper punching, match shooting, There's a reason the 148gr.HBWC is king for everything else I think something in the 150-160 gr. would suit you fine. My 2cents anyway.
AggieEE

[RugerFan]

My SP101 LOVES the Lyman 357466.

[evan price]

I have the Lee 6-cavity SWC which is the discontinued 150-gr version of the now-140gr swc bullet. Seems nice. The 105 casts nice too.

If I could have anything I would want the Lyman 358156 as a Lee 6-cavity mold.

[Rex]

I've come to like the 358665 bullet. It is much like Lee's 158-rf but a bit heavier with a little fatter nose. Unique works fine in both 38 and 357. If I want to push it hard I use 2400 though Unique will drive a 357 fast enough to get the job done.