Lyman 358439 357 Hollow Point Bullet

[sargeny1]

Hi All...Does anyone know the nose to crimp groove length of this bullet..??? I don't want to crimp it over the front driving band...so I figure that length will give me the amount I have to trim off my 357Mag cases....No..?? This darn bullet is toooo long for S&W M27 & 28's.....
Thanks..
Pete

[MakeMineA10mm]

Just a thought, but rather than trim off some length on the 357 brass, why not just load using 38 Specials? Saves you from shortening the much more pricey brass that way.

[fecmech]

I get .390 from the center of the crimp groove to the meplate on my 358439. Hope this helps. Nick

[beagle]

Might try bumping the nose a bit. This will accomplist two things. First, it will shorten the nose length and second, it will start to fracture the nose which will result in quicker expansion./beagle

[smirker]

Years ago Elmer Kieth noted that this bullet was to long for the mod.27 and loaded as you said,crimped over the driving band,and in .38special cases.Old 38/44 load pre-dating the .357mag.I dont recall the load data offhand but it should be easy to find.

[Down South]

The 358439 will fit my Ruger GP-100 with just a tad of room to spare crimped in the crimp groove. I had heard the boolit was too long for some Smith's. I wouldn't try loading the boolit in 38 cases unless you stay with 38 special load data. Too easy to get em mixed up. I have 38 specials and a 357.

I'd go with trim the brass idea. Couldn't you load a dummy round crimped in the crimp groove, put in the cylinder then measure exactly how much is sticking out? Then trim the brass accordingly? I wouldn’t think you would have to trim very much off.

I’m pretty new at casting so I don’t know what Beagle meant by bumping the nose. I’ll have to do a search on that unless Beagle comes back and fills me in.

[sargeny1]

Hi All..I did some measuring....the nose length on MY bullets is .390" from meplat to crimp groove...I'd have to cut back 357 cases to 1.25" inch..!!!! That is a LOT to cut off....which drastically reduces case capacity and probably would cause a big jump in pressure with normal 357 loads.....powder charges would probably be have to reduced a LOT...but how much..???????Such a dilemma......what to do..????
Pete

[Ballard]

I shoot this bullet, in solid form, with 11.5grs 2400 in .38 SPL cases. This load could be increased. I think this is the route you need to go, rather than to mess around trimming down .357 cases.