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Thread: Casting .357 bullets for 38 Super — input appreciated

  1. #1
    Boolit Mold
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    Casting .357 bullets for 38 Super — input appreciated

    Gentlemen,
    Has anyone here cast .357 bullets for shooting in a 38 Super 1911? I have a Lee 358-125-RF mold and would like to shoot some slightly oversized cast bullets to see if it will improve accuracy in my Colt 38 Super. I will size and lube them at .357. Hornady shows a load in their manual for a .357 jacketed Bullet so it “should” be OK... if I work up powder charges slowly. But I was wondering if someone here has already done this and could give some advice.

    Thank you in advance,
    Gene Pool

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    I size .357-.358 in all .38 Supers, .380 ACP and 9mm Parabellum.
    The ENEMY is listening.
    HE wants to know what YOU know.
    Keep it to yourself.

  3. #3
    Boolit Grand Master

    gwpercle's Avatar
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    Sized to .357 works well in several 9mm Luger pistols with cast , had better results than with .356.
    .357 should work just fine in 38 super. Go for it !
    Gary
    Certified Cajun
    Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
    " Let's Go Brandon !"

  4. #4
    Boolit Buddy c1skout's Avatar
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    I use that Lee mold and size .358 for my super. Shoots better than I can hold!

  5. #5
    Boolit Master
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    I size to .357 to use in my STI 2011 both race and stock guns.

    People have used them in all sorts of 9mm barrels and work flawlessly, glock, CZ shadow, shadow2 plus more i can't think of.

    From what i have seen online, bigger to a limit can work better than smaller. If it's a little small for the barrel it will lead, if it's a bit bigger it will swage to the correct size. Being lead, there don't seem to be any pressure indications between the two sizes on the cases. By bigger to a limit, i'm not saying try and load a .40 in a 9mm case of course one or two thou seem to be just fine.

  6. #6
    Boolit Mold
    Join Date
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    Thank you, gentlemen. Your inputs have given me confidence.

    Gene

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check