Question about hot 38 loads using pure lead.

[rmatchell]

I have been thinking about casting either Ideal 358250 or RCBS 38-162-swc in pure lead for use as a SD rounds for the house. I was wondering if anybody has tried to use pure in a hot 38/357 load gas checked or not. I like the idea of a heavy soft boolit to expand.

[DLCTEX]

I find 50/50, WW/pure, expands well at 38 Spc. velocities. I want enough penetration to go through heavy clothing.

[rmatchell]

Thanks for the reply, I haven't tried to do anything to expand yet. My grandma keeps a 38 in her bedroom with hard cast swc, and I keep a 357 with xtp's around for our house. I was hoping to find a heavy soft load to do the job. So I guess a better question is how fast do you have to push different alloys to get them to expand well.

[Larry Gibson]

I use pure or darned close to it with the GC'd 358156 HP'd with the 1/8" Forster tool loaded in my .38 SPL for +P loads with excellent accuracy and terminal performande equal to the vaunted FBI 150 LSWCHP of Federal and Winchester fame. I've also done the same with 358477s but they'll give some leading after a couple cylinder fulls......not a problem for seldom (hopefully) used SD loads. Suggest the use of a good soft 50/50 NRA lube.

Larry Gibson

[MtGun44]

I have used a fairly soft (8 BHN) range lead in HP for .38 Spl loads that expand
very well at normal "warm" velocities - like 5 gr of Unique under a 158 boolit.
That is harder than pure, which is supposed to be 5 BHN. WWTs run about
11 or 12 in my experience.

Bill