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Thread: Short Barrel 38/357

  1. #1
    Boolit Bub
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    Short Barrel 38/357

    Do any of you have favorite loads for a short barrel 38/357? My soon to be wife(under 20 days left) got me a Ruger LCRx as an early wedding present and I wanted to know what people enjoy shooting in something with this short of barrel. It's my first wheelgun, but I load for several semi auto handguns. I have a pretty good selection of powder available locally, Alliant and Hodgdon.

    I don't have a mold yet, but will most likely get a 158 grain SWC, either new or from my grandpa who is getting out of reloading due to failing health. I did some searching but I haven't found too many loads geared toward short barrels. 1.875" is the barrel length by the way.

    Thanks!

  2. #2
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    I don't load full charge .357s in my snubbies, but +P .38 Special level with powders which give low flash in the short barrel.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Master

    Hickory's Avatar
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    I have this mould and use it in my S&W model 60,
    http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/product...oducts_id=2372
    but it might give your wife more recoil than she would like.
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  4. #4
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    With a snub i like velocities that give a quick return to target so +p 38 is the max I would want. In general the 158+ gives me a better powder burn so I compromise with recoil.
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  5. #5
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    I shoot 130 grain 38’s in my short barrel snubbie. Shoots to point of aim and recoil is bearable.

  6. #6
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    I got one for my daughter
    148 grain wadcutters
    Low recoil

  7. #7
    Boolit Master gnostic's Avatar
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    I load full-on 296 from the manual and 125 grain J word bullets in my 2.5" 686 and model 19. In addition to having a handgun I'm confident with, I can light cigars at 4 feet...

  8. #8
    Boolit Grand Master


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    I use 2.7 grs. of Red Dot behind either a Lee 125 or RCBS 158 RN in my 36's and 642. The recoil is lighter with the 125 but the 158 RN shoots to POA. BTW - both shoot 2" @ 20yds.
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  9. #9
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    My wife has a 2" S&W Model 10. It will only shoot to the POA with bullets 140 grains or heavier. I load 3.5 W231 with the RCBS 140CM boolit for her. It's an accurate load and she enjoys shooting it.

  10. #10
    Boolit Master
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    Since HP expansion is iffy at best I use some plated DEWC with a +P load of Win 231 or Universal Clays in my snub .38s and the equivalent loading in .357 cases for snubs in that caliber. I prefer the Universal because it burns very cleanly. I carry a +P load of the Lee 125 grain RNFP in either an HKS speedloader or in a strip loader because the DEWC are pretty difficult to reload in a hurry. GF

  11. #11
    Boolit Master
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    I've been loading the Lyman 358477 for 40 yrs. HP-38 is my powder.

  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master

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    In my 340 airlight the only really easy to shoot comfortable load is as follows
    Alloy is 50-50 beeswax paraffin pour in pan 1/2" - 5/8" thick.
    push sized deburred case into cake to cut bullet and seat into case
    seat a pistol primer and your good to go

    If you want a little more modify the primer pockets to large pistol size and open flash holes up to .100 size. The large pistol primer dosnt give a lot more real performance but it keeps you from loading full power loads in cases that have the flash holes modified

    I used these for practice and also pidgeons, mice and rats in buildings. A nice light load that has no recoil in in the ultra light magnums. The 340 at 12 ounces is sharp recoil even with light wadcutter loads. Other wise look for some light 100-125 grn bullets and load to light 38 spl loads. My 340 has a barrel ledgend warning against using 125 or lighter bullets in it.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    We ( myself,my wife, and daughter) shoot lots of cast wadcutters on top of 3.2 or 3.5 gr of bullseye powder. Carry load is the same, no such thing as "over penetration" in my world. The 125 gr Lee is a nice plinker but does not shoot to the sights in our M36s. All 38 special standard pressure,,,,, check the book don't trust my, or anyone's , memory!
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I use MP 360-640L 140 grain hollow points over 5.0 grains of WW-231 in my 357 snubbie. That is a plus P load, which, cast from 30-1 lead/tin expands reliably and is quite accurate. For many years, I used Lyman's 358-432 160 grain WC over 4.0 grains of Red Dot. Either of these loads will serve you well.
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  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy catboat's Avatar
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    I have a S&W. model 49 in 38 Special ( “Bodyguard” / humpback , 1 7/8” barrel). I shoot 148 grain double-ended cast wadcutters ( wheel weights) over 3.5 grains of Bullseye. Shoots well and to point of aim at 10 yards ( about 1 inch groups). I call it “ my short range squirrel gun.”

    You have to wonder how much your gift gun will be shot. Might be better to just reload commercial cast/ swaged or jacketed bullets, instead of casting your own.

    Roze Distribution ( online) is a great place to buy lead or jacketed bullets.
    They have high-quality swaged 158 grain lead HP bullets, as well as 148 grain wadcutters (hbwc or doubled-ended). Great quality and pricing, $77-80/1000 ( including shipping for swaged bullets). Their jacketed bullets, “Zero” brand, are also very accurate and high value. Can’t beat that with a stick. Not to mention your savings in time, and raw lead cost.

    Home casting isn’t always the answer to a shooting need.

    http://www.rozedist.com/mm5/merchant.mvc

    Roze Distribution pricing for 500 bullet orders ( great way to test bullets)
    http://www.rozedist.com/mm5/merchant...e=ZB-38Special

    Update: I picked up a S&W 60-4 ( stainless 3” heavy barrel 38 special j-frame with adj sights). I load homecast 148 grain solid base wadcutters ( H&G 50 or Lee tumble lube 148 gr solid wadcutter) over 4.5 grains Unique. Not quite +P level. Not quite “ FBI load” ( which is oft stared as 158 grain hp lead at 900 FPS, 4” barrel).
    Last edited by catboat; 01-17-2019 at 10:44 PM. Reason: Link added

  16. #16
    Boolit Master RU shooter's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by country gent View Post
    My 340 has a barrel ledgend warning against using 125 or lighter bullets in it.
    Why do they warn against shooting 125 or lighter bullets in it ? Seems that heavier bullets would be more abusive to a light weight gun recoil wise anyways ?
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  17. #17
    Boolit Master
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    Forcing cone impact stress or maybe cutting of the topstrap at BC gap by hi pressure gas., but then I'm guessing.
    “You don’t practice until you get it right. You practice until you can’t get it wrong.” Jason Elam, All-Pro kicker, Denver Broncos

  18. #18
    Boolit Mold
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    Mid range 38+p loads about all most people can handle in that light weight. I tried some full power loads in my smith ultra light and you aren't apt to get a follow up shot unless your a few feet away. Compare to a small hand cannon with 357 loads. Best loads I've found are milder HP-38 powder and lighter bullets. Little dirty but no excessive muzzle flair.

  19. #19
    Boolit Buddy mr surveyor's Avatar
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    for light loads in the revolvers, I use AA#5 in .38 spl and AA#7 in the .357 mag. I shoot cast wadcutters, semi-wad cutters, RNFP and some jacketed with these powders and all seem to run clean and reliable in the shorties.


    jd

  20. #20
    Boolit Grand Master

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    Quote Originally Posted by RU shooter View Post
    Why do they warn against shooting 125 or lighter bullets in it ? Seems that heavier bullets would be more abusive to a light weight gun recoil wise anyways ?
    It was a combination of high impact on the forcing cone and the barrel erosion from the powders used that wore out the earlier versions of the S&W guns.
    Wayne the Shrink

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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