Sizing 38 S&W Bullets

[daddybld]

Sorry for the question if it is silly. But I am new.

I can't seem to find lightweight bullets for .38 S&W locally. 38 S&W need to be sized to .360. Can I get lead bullets for .357 and somehow size them "up" to .360? Is that possible?

Thoughts appreciated

[jimb16]

Yes, they can be bumped up, but why not purchase the proper mold and cast them?

[Bret4207]

Bumping can work with a fairly soft alloy and some good judgement on how hard you lean on the handle. For a light boolit, Lee's 9mm Makarov boolit should work. I think it's 100 grs or so and supposed to be .365. Lap out a Lee push through die to .361 or 2 and you should have something workable.

If you cast them of a nice soft alloy, maybe 50/50 WW/pure lead, they should drop even smaller than the .365, maybe no sizing would be needed.

[mroliver77]

As Bret kind of alluded to; I bet your throats on the S&W will be larger than .360.

Being that you are new I have no idea how much you know about shooting cast. I assume you will be shooting a revolver. In a revolver the boolit needs to fit the cylinder "mouth"(front of cylinder chamber is a sort of funnel to guide boolit into forcing cone). The boolit should have a slight resistance if trying to push a bare boolit through the cylinder mouth. You can get away with boolit sized .0005 (1/2 of 1 thousandth)smaller than the mouth size. Boolits too small, especially hard boolits tend to lead the barrel. You can get the size of your mouth by forcing a soft (pure) lead ball or boolit through the cylinder back to front and measuring the "slug" with a micrometer. So if mouth measured .362 I would want a boolit sized .3615 or .362. Some guys would even go larger. Some boolits will alow it, others will not.
Jay

[daddybld]

Thanks everyone. I am currently an apartment dweller and can't cast my own just now or I would. Can't wait for that. So I am looking for another solution for shooting SASS side matches with a top break in .38 S&W. Trying to avoid 145gr or 160gr bullets.

Appreciate the suggestions!

[Springfield]

Use these. 110 grain, made for BP but work fine with smokeless(which I hope you are loading very light) Sized to .360. Available from www.whyteleatherworks.com

[daddybld]

Thanks Springfield.

[williamwaco]

I know you can find bullets sized .358 easily. Before you spend a bunch of money trying acquire .360 bullets because someone told you you have to have them, first try the .358 variety.

Then, If you must, and you are new and have no equipment. Be aware that most Lee moulds cast bullets that fall out of the moold from .359 to .361. I have three six cavity and two two cavity molds from lee and they all drop bullets this size.