Whats your go to bullet for 38 special and 357 Magnum?

I havent tried all that many designs, But i settled on the 358156 as my go to bullet. Because it can be loaded both in 357 cases and 38 cases seated out, and because I can run a gas check, it seemed to me that it is a great all around bullet.
I have a 358429 also, and am thinking about picking up a 358416. I am also trying to figure out what I want for a heavier bullet, in the 180-200 grain range. I havent dont a lot of research on this yet however. And I am wanting to get a 356242 to run both in 380 and as light 38's. Those would have to be flattened on the nose to run through a leveraction safely.

I currently am useing a marlin 1894c and a ruger blackhawk, and the wife uses a 686.

What weights and designs do yall like, why, and what dont you like and why?

I have been shooting NOE's 360160 in both 357 and 38spec. It is very accurate from both.

I use a RCBS 150 gr Keith type swc. I also have a RCBS 150 mold that they cut a little deeper and made a 170 swc out of. Both cast and shoot great, but I wish RCBS made a 4 cavity mold! Both of these work great in revolvers, but I don't know how they will feed in a lever action.

MP359640
Has a double crimp groove. I don't bother w/ 38 Special brass so that feature doesn't matter to me. How it shoots does.

Lyman 357446

My experience with #358156 is that it does not feed well in lever actions and is less accurate in lighter. 38 Special loads when used without the GC. It is for heavy loads only.

For rifle use I prefer a 180-grain LBT plainbase with .255" meplat and of head length to provide 1.59" OAL in. 357 brass and 1.55" when seated out and crimped in the top lube groove in. 38 Special brass. This bullet feeds well and is accurate either in subsonic loads with 3.5 grains of Bullseye in. 38 Special or 4 grains in. 357 for low noise or in full charges with compressed caseful of 4198 in .357 brass or alternately 9 grains of #2400 in .38 brass or 12 grains in. 357 brass. Good on game, I need no other bullet.

Lately I have found my best accuracy when using an NOE 360-160-WFN and an NOE 360-150-SWC. I can load these fast or slow and get good groups either way.

I use the Lee 158 TL in the 38 case pushed by either 4 gr BE or 8.5 gr 2400. In a mag case I use the 358429 with 12 gr 2400. These are launched from a 6" Blackhawk and the Bullseye load from a S&W model 15. I have 7 or 8 other moulds but decided to trim back and use what really works for me. All these loads are extremely accurate in my guns and very easy to shoot well.

I bought an old Ideal 358311 off e-bay some time ago...great deal ... but Single cavity. It shot super in both my 38 Spec & 357 Mag at least that is what I thought !.... until I had "Buckshot" hollow point it for me. That just pushed the CG back a bit and now it shoots STELLAR in my 38 Specials and 357 Mags Totally magic! Buckshot made it in to the Magic boolit!!! It "IS" my go to boolit when I want accuracy!!! Hands down!

I dont run the 358156 light normally. For 38s its just plinking ammo so I just lee dipper them. But for 357 im running 15 grains of 2400 with a gas check or 13.5 without. They feed well in my rifle, as its had some modifications to it, most notably, had the chamber chamferred.

I havent worked up a subsonic load yet, but am thinking about giving it a go with the 358429. Like a nice quiet round for small game for the rifle.

go to the top of this page and look where it say's cast boolits.
that's a lyman mold.
it's in 35 caliber, and weighs about 160grs.
it would be the only 38/357 mold I would keep if I had to have just one.

+1 on Lee 158 TL. Works fine in 38 and 357.

The RCBS Cowboy or RCBS 9mm bullet. I have lots of 38/357 moulds and those two are my recommended favorites. SWC have never shot as well in my 686.

I am sold on the MP moulds 359640 HP. Haven't cast any solids yet, the HP just shoots so good.

Lyman early 358477 which is 150 gr, or RCBS 38-150 K (old designation) or 38 150 SWC (current
designation) are both superb and almost identical. Lyman 358429 is heavier and also superb,
but I find it works best at near top end .38 Spl loads, or medium to heavy .357 Mag loads.

Lee 358 158 RF is also superb, but has a BB, which some do not like.

Bill

I don't load much 357 for pistol - I just prefer shooting 38s. But, I do load 357 for my Handi-Rifle.

I'm with Jim on the 358 311 - it shoots well out of all of my Smith 38s from 3, 4, 5 and 6" barrel lengths. I also like the Lee TL358158SWC as it seems to work equally as well. Both of those seem to shoot well out of the Handi in 357 loads. I have a number of 358 molds in different weights and configurations but I find myself gravitating towards those two bullets as the shoot the best for me. I'll also add that I'm not loading in close to max loads - much prefer light to moderate.

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Originally Posted by runfiverun

go to the top of this page and look where it say's cast boolits.
that's a lyman mold.
it's in 35 caliber, and weighs about 160grs.
it would be the only 38/357 mold I would keep if I had to have just one.

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Its very similar to the 358416, what number is it?

Popping on the bandwagon for the 358311 for everyday use!

Different calibers...different bullets for me. For the .38, it is the 358156 and for the .357, it is the 358429.

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Originally Posted by btroj

I am sold on the MP moulds 359640 HP. Haven't cast any solids yet, the HP just shoots so good.

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Me too.
I have two of these, one that runs about 158 grains and one that was supposed to run 140 but actually weighs in around 150 grains. They are about all that I load in my 357's these days.