I'm looking for an all around plinking target shooting boolit for my 38's and 357's and am trying to keep recoil mild for lots of shooting. I'm thinking 145 - 160 grain so it shoots poi for fixed sight guns. I'm using the 358156 with good results but don't want to bother with the gas checks all the time. I like some longer range shooting from time to time so I think I need to rule out the WC designs as well.
"To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." —Theodore Roosevelt"
Lyman 358477 is my favorite.
RCBS 38-158 CM -- A round flat nosed bullet that ought to do just what you ask of it.
I like the H&G 50 WC, and the MP 359-640 HP boolits the best. for long range, I like the the RCBS 180 grain silhouette boolit, but it gets very little use from me. In fact, my MP hollowpoint molds have largely displaced my old Lyman, RCBS, and Lee molds. I just don't get out shooting enough--most of my shooting these days is done indoors and 75 feet is as far as I shoot.
However for a one=size fits-all approach, the Lyman 358-477, the Lee 38-158 RF or the RCBS or Lyman variations thereof get my vote.
_________________________________________________It's not that I can't spell: it is that I can't type.
For a light SWC it is hard to beat the NOE 360-145 for plinking.
Al’s photo !
Jerry
S&W .38/44 Outdoorsman Accumulator
agreed. i just happen to have that mold i got from a guy around here......Originally Posted by Bohica793
The 358156 bare bottom tumble lubed for 38 plinkers. Use the gas check if you're going to load any hot 357's. I used to dip the bottom of my tumble lubed slugs in Motor Mica or Talcum powder. Probably wasn't necessary but it assured me the lube did not contaminate the small 3.0 powder charge of Bullseye.
I know it is not a direct answer to your question. My favorite 38 plinker is the Lee 125 RNF. It does shoot to the POA in my Model 10's at short distance, no more than 25 yards. I also use the same slug for 9MM plinkers.
Its simply hard to beat the production time using a Lee six-banger. I was sizing 358 for 38's and 356 for 9's. About a year and a half ago. I sized them all at 357 and use them in 38 and 9MM. So far, so good. No leaded 38 barrels and no problem chambering in 9MM pistols.
Last edited by azrednek; 05-22-2014 at 03:39 PM.
Gee...I wonder who.....
The Lee (90318) 140 Swc is excellent..it weighs 145 grains w/WW alloy...very accurate and hits as hard as a 148 WC.
I've shot more than a few 358156 SWC bullets and have been playing with the idea of sending my mould to Erik to have the gas check shank removed.
BUT since I bought a 6 cavity Lee 358-158 RF the old Lyman doesn't get near as much use.
..
GLL wins again..... and now I want one.
KE4GWE - - - - - - Colt 1860, it just feels right.
I've shot many of the 358156's without checks & they worked fine. I cannot tell the difference in accuracy. This is all 50 yards or less.
Will be trying a few pb molds soon. Good luck!
I think a gas check for 38 Special is a bit over kill but I do have one friend in particular the wont shoot lead in anything without a gas check.
I use the NOE 360 160 WFN with great results in both 357 and 38spec.
Every shot you get in life counts
I also shoot my (and possibly a few others) fair share of the lyman 358477 over 5 grains of Unique. Hands down it's my number one go-to boolit. It shoots tight groups consistently. However that beauty that GLL posted looks like something that should be added to my collection.
jeepyj
Sometimes it takes a second box of boolits to clear my head.
Feed back thread http://castboolits.gunloads.com/show...?261449-jeepyj
I like the Lee 158gr RNFP, I have a 6 cavity mold and use it for both my 38 and my wives 357. Mild or wild.
I've got a number of 'good shooting' 38/357 moulds, but two also stand out for ease of casting.
An Ideal marked 4 cavity 358477 and a Saeco 382. Both are a pleasure to cast with.
Jim
The cramer 25a (what cramer called their "hunter" bullet) has turned out to be an excellent bullet. It has the accuracy of the lyman 358311 rn & thumps hard like the lee rnfp.
[IMG][/IMG]
[IMG][/IMG]
The RCBS 38-150-KT is my go to universal .38 cal boolit. With my alloy they drop at 156gr and a bit over .360" diameter. This also allows me to use em sized at .360" for use in my .38 S&W.
Sure like the looks of the NOE 360-145 gr SWC - nice picture. Is that one currently available?
I've also been looking at the MP 360640 which drops HP's at about 140 grain and the solids I suppose around 150 grain. That should work well I would imagine. I have it's bigger brother which drops the HP's around 162 and the solids around 170 grains. It shoots very well.
Thanks for the picture of the Cramer - never seen one of those in real life. What time frame were they available?
"To anger a conservative, lie to him. To anger a liberal, tell him the truth." —Theodore Roosevelt"
Posting Permissions
| 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 |
Reply With Quote
