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Originally Posted by
Green Frog
I know you have mentioned that you have picked your bullet, but the other comment about your ample supply of 38 Spl brass reminded me of an old Skeeter article. He too had more Spl brass than Mag, so he simply took his Ideal 357156 bullets and seated them out one groove less deeply, getting 357 length in 38 Spl brass. As has been hinted, it’s the size of the “combustion chamber” that determines pressure here. It might be worth your time to find those old Skeeter articles about his love for the 38/357. :coffeecom
One caution though... I would be very cautious sorting the brass I used. 38 Spl brass tends to be so ubiquitous and hang around so long, I’ve sometimes found brass that has been compromised for strength (once with a “Kaboom!”) :shock: Make sure you use good brass if you are going to be pushing the pressures up. Just a word to the wise. 8-)
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For heavy duty .38 Special and .357 Magnum loading the 358156 gas check shoots much cleaner than any plain base bullet. It is possibly the most accurate cast bullet I have used, and is an excellent game getter. The HP version offers spectacular expansion, and the solid gives the utmost in combined penetration and shock in its category, being particularly satisfactory for taking small table game without unwanted meat damage.
The 358156 has two crimping grooves. The upper is used when loading .357 cases and standard velocity .38 Special loads. When seated out to the lower crimp groove in .38 Special cases, more powder space is gained, and a very powerful load of 13.5 gr. of 2400 may be used in these cases, giving around 1150 fps. I emphasize that these heavy .38 Special cartridges should only be fired from .357 Magnum revolvers or from .45 frame .38 Special sixguns such as the Colt SA, Colt New Service, or S&W .38-44. While I have fired this round from K-frame Smith & Wessons and Colt Officers’ Models on occasion with no visible ill effects, these lighter revolvers were not designed for such heavy loads, and I definitely do not recommend the practice. Since I commonly carry this round for everyday use in my .357 guns, I have taken more game with it than any other individual handload, up to and including antelope, turkey, and javelina.
Some loading manuals list the 358156 HP bullet with as much as 16 gr. of 2400 in .357 cases, a top load which gives about 1600 fps velocity. Although well below the acceptable factory pressure level, this load is a bit hot, and I prefer 15 gr. of 2400 for better accuracy, less recoil, and longer case life.
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