I have been loading 44 mag, 357 mag, and 38 special loads with cast for a few years now. Im not set up to cast my own yet so I buy from a local commercial caster. After reading here and other fourms I was able to get my 44mag to stop leading with all cast loads from mild to hot because I found the perfect fit. Now its time to get the 38 to stop leading.
I am shooting a smith 686 with 4” barrel. The barrel slugged .3565” and the cylinder throats slugged .357” All of my loads use a commercial cast 158grain SWC with bevel base sized .358” Acording to the caster they are about 18 BHN. I have tried mid range magnum loads with blue dot, light loads with unique and red dot and always get terrible leading in each of the cylinder throats and the first inch or so of the barrel. The 38 special loads seems to lead worse than the 357 mag loads but they are both terrible. I have to use a brush with chore boy and scrub like a mad man to get the lead out of the cylinder throats and barrel.
I have about 1000 of these bullets so I would like to use them if possible. Should my next step be to buy a lee sizer die and resize the bullets down to .357” Im new to this but im thinking the cylinder throats could be shaving off the sides of the bigger bullet causeing leading. Or is the bullet size fine but too hard to allow a bump up to make a good seal? If so should I buy some softer bullets from Missiouri Bullet works? What size and hardness should I try for light loads? Also are 38 special loads in a 357 mag more prone to leading things up due to the bullet jump in the cylinder? Thanks