Do any of the the Lee manuals contain suggested (or max) loads for heavy (190-200 grain) cast bullets in the .38 Special and .357 Magnum? If so, what powders do they list?
Thanks
Do any of the the Lee manuals contain suggested (or max) loads for heavy (190-200 grain) cast bullets in the .38 Special and .357 Magnum? If so, what powders do they list?
Thanks
Last edited by PBSmith; 03-25-2020 at 08:50 PM.
The Lee second edition lists 14 powders for 38 special and 20 powders for 357 Magnum all with 200 grain lead bullets. Much of their data which is now almost 20 years old was originally from the powder suppliers. You can probably find up to date information on the powder suppliers websites. I would start with the Hodgdon site since it will have data for Hodgdon, IMR, and Winchester powders.
Some times it's the pot,
Some times it's the pan,
It might even be the skillet,
But, most of the time, it's the cook.
I recently saw an "updated" edition of Richard Lee's manual. One of my favorite articles in my 2nd edition was about cast bullet hardness and peak chamber pressure.
Lees manual does not have data specific to his bullets sadly. The Lyman 4th has a few lee moulds in it's reference.
Lyman #4 only has data up to 170 gr. in the 38 special and 180 gr. in 357 magnum .
No data shown on 190 gr. or 200 gr. boolits .
Gary
Certified Cajun
Proud Member of The Basket of Deplorables
" Let's Go Brandon !"
You could try www.matttsbullets.com, they make lead bullets and list a 195 gr. lead bullet, further somewhere on that site they say they test fire every design they make. Maybe they can help with load data.
My personal method is to use the heaviest Jacketed bullet load and deduct 10% from the starting load from Mr Lee`s 2nd edition. There are 4 listed loads for a 200 gr Jktd, all Vitavouri powders. And i always seat the bullet with NO crimp, why tempt fate.
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 |