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Thread: 38 special 230 grain pin bullets

  1. #1
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    38 special 230 grain pin bullets

    As no one makes a mold anymore I emailed tom at accurate molds to see what he thinks about a custom mold. What are the realities of loading a bullet this long in a 38 special? Case bulging, do I need the thinnest brass? My 357 lever gun also feeds full meplate( as in backwards loaded jacketed bullets) down to 1.43" oal, so was even going to try one of the 230 grains in that. Just for fun, not trying to set any records for practicality here.

  2. #2
    Boolit Master RU shooter's Avatar
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    What revolver do you plan on loading them in ? If it has a long cylinder like a 686 you could design it so you can load it at max cyl length and not have to deep seat it . Not as heavy as you mention but I shoot the 190 gr ranch dog 35 Rem bullet from my 686 it does have a very wide flat nose and not deep seated
    Last edited by RU shooter; 12-03-2020 at 09:20 AM.
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  3. #3
    Boolit Master

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    You need to find some 38 wadcutter brass. there is less taper in them to accommodate the deep seated wadcutter.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master


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    You probably won't have any problems. I was recently playing with a 220 grain bullet, and in 357 magnum I had to watch which cases worked. Most did, but a couple brands didn't. That same bullet worked in every 38 special case I tried. Maybe I have all wadcutter brass, but I doubt it.

  5. #5
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    Ly358627 is what you want. http://www.lasc.us/Fryxell_Lyman_358627.pdf
    [The Montana Gianni] Front sight and squeeze

  6. #6
    Boolit Grand Master
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    I wonder about stability issues at achievable appropriate 38 Special pressure and velocity especially in Smith revolver barrels. If those are not criteria you need to be concerned with have at it.

    A lot of the bullet needs to be in the cylinder throat so do be aware of the issues that arise when doing so.

  7. #7
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    Magma still makes that mold, and they will drill it for handles if you ask.
    Nozombies.com Practical Zombie Survival

    Collecting .32 molds. Please let me know if you have one you don't need, cause I might "need" it!

  8. #8
    Boolit Master
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    What kind of velocity are you expecting with a 230 grain 38 special load ?

  9. #9
    Boolit Master
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    Accurate Powders has load data for .38 Special and a 230 gr. lead "Penn" bullet, using AA#5, AA#7, and AA#9.
    For in much wisdom is much grief: and he that increaseth knowledge increaseth sorrow. Ecclesiastes 1:18
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  10. #10
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    Thanks fellas, also for the link to magma molds.

  11. #11
    Boolit Grand Master
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    MT Gianni nailed it. 358627 is a great bullet and has wide application.

  12. #12
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    Click image for larger version. 

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    I load these 250gr boolits for my 350 Legend, overall length is 1.050. They cast at .357 so may be a little thin for your needs but if they would be helpful to you for mock ups etc I would be more than happy to send you a few.

  13. #13
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    http://www.accuratemolds.com/bullet_...36-250BG-D.png

    This is the description on Tom's page.

  14. #14
    Boolit Grand Master Outpost75's Avatar
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    These are the heavy bullets I use in the .38-200 S&W Victory Models and in a .38 S&W Rook Rifle assembled with a 10" twist 9mm barrel:

    Attachment 272663Attachment 272664Attachment 272665Attachment 272666Attachment 272667Attachment 272733
    Last edited by Outpost75; 12-06-2020 at 06:23 PM.
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  15. #15
    Boolit Master RU shooter's Avatar
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    Those would definitely kill a rook or just about anything else they would hit ! . What's the velocity in the rifle barrel ?
    If you find yourself in a fair fight, your tactics suck!

  16. #16
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    Quote Originally Posted by RU shooter View Post
    Those would definitely kill a rook or just about anything else they would hit ! . What's the velocity in the rifle barrel ?
    The bottom target tells you: 719 fps
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  17. #17
    Boolit Master JMax's Avatar
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    I used that bullet at second chance pin shoots using a WW 38 spl case and 7 gr of blue dot in both a 686 and a 28-2, these loads were about 1000 ft/sec out of the 686. Death on pins, unfortunately I earned HG Master Blaster and got to shoot with the big boys.

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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