.38sp ~158gn recommendations

[newageroman]

What's up guys. As title states I need bullet recommendations for .38sp. Mostly for fun, range, plinking. Probably SWC, but I could be swayed to RN or TCs depending on price. Last load for this revolver was using xtreme 158gn plated bullets. They seemed to work fine and I like how clean easy and they were during loading. I have used and will consider lead, plated lead, powder coated lead options and if you have suggestions on food 357 bullets I've got some of that brass ready to go as well.

I have about 2k-3k 38sp brass and ~1k 357 cleaned and ready to go. My reloading mentor just keeps stacking it on me now that he shoots mostly glock and 1911s. I even tried to get him to shoot my limited SAO 75B and he just "nahh" ed at it. I think he don't like commie guns. anyway...

I have the 650 and the conv. kit and old RCBS dies just haven't gotten around to setting it all up for that caliber just yet. I kind of only want to make 1 small test batch 200-200 bullets, basic testing and confirm load and such and then just pump em out one weekend. I doubt I'll do any matches and this is mostly just to have around for plinking. I've also done the casting stuff, but that's out for this run.

So what's the best deal on ~3k bullets?

[Wobbly]

My 38/357 bullets I get from Rocky Mountain Reloading (RMR). They offer both jacketed and plated made in-house. They also offer some outstanding deals on "blems" and "pulls' from time to time.

https://www.rmrbullets.com/

Of course the lowest price is usually 148gr WC, but they have a very nice plated 158gr that has a rolled-in cannelure for standard roll crimping. So even though the bullet is plated, you don't need to swap your crimp die like you would with Berry. I also see a 125gr plated HP that's new.

I really like dealing with these people. All the prices you see on their web page include the shipping (USPS Flat Rate), so there's nothing to balloon your purchase estimate at check out. Like everybody using Flat Rate, the max per big box is around 3000 bullets due to weight.

Right now they have a Holiday Special going on. Per their email sale flyer...

The coupon code is Christmas10 to get 10% off anything. 
The only exclusion is for gift certificates.   
This code will expire on January 2nd.

Per the same flyer...

We just got a TON of these!  So, to help move them faster we not only lowered the price, we are allowing the 10% off coupon code on them.

.224 75 grain TMJ bonded 2nds

250 - $31.00  (12.4¢ per bullet)
500 - $45.00  (9¢ per bullet)
1,000 - $80.00  (8¢ per bullet)
2,000 - $156.00  (7.8¢ per bullet)
10,000 - $750.00  (7.5¢ per bullet)
https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets/rifle/224-5-56mm/224-75-gr-premium-boat-tail-bonded-fmj/

9mm 115 Plated 2nds. 
We've gotten these a few times this year and they've always sold out really fast.  They are 2nds becaues a very small percentage of them have little voids that were caused during the forming of the core.  Pictures in the listing. 

250 - $22.00  (8.8¢ per bullet)
500 - $40.00  (8¢ per bullet)
1,000 - $69.00  (6.9¢ per bullet)
2,000 - $130.00  (6.5¢ per bullet)
https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bullets/pistol/9mm-355/9mm-115-grain-plated-round-seconds/

I like their ordering and check out system. If you get a password, they remember all your details and things happen very fast. Shipping is VERY fast and reliable. And of course, you get the sales flyers via email.

 

[SoCal]

For coated bullets you might try precision bullets, David Long also has some interesting videos on his web site.  Free shipping!

https://precisionbullets.com/product/38-150-rn/

and Berry's has some interesting hollow base wadcutters if you want to try some accuracy loads.  Free shipping over $75

https://www.berrysmfg.com/category/preferred-plated-bullets/plated-pistol/38-357

And there are lots of others such as precision delta and X-treme.  You could many hours reloading and shooting different bullets.

[newageroman]

So I pulled out the cases that I had ready and turns out to be onllly about 1k. so... looks like RMR will get the order, will be ordering some of the 75 gn pills on order too.
Thx for the tips.

[tde44]

I like coated 158 swc's.  My favorite at the moment are from Acme, next fav is Bayou.  Over the past couple of years I have found the Acme to be more consistent in terms of coating and weight compared to other brands I have tried.

[newageroman]

So they didn't have enough of the ones I wanted, but I got some plated hollow points and some of the 77 gn 224s. Christmas10 code still worked as of yesterday. I also will add that I have ordered 30 carb bullets from them in the past and was very impressed with those. Had My funds been larger I would have snagged more.

[Togmaster]

S N S Casting makes excellent coated bullets.

https://www.snscasting.com/38-357/

[newageroman]

Bullets arrived yesterday. 1k 158gn JHP in 4 250rnd bags. Had the press setup mostly already to get started. Using HP-38 Went with Hodgdons starting load, 3.8, 4.0, 4.2 - 10 rounds of each. COAL: 1.488"(edit). I sat them in the middle of the cannilure. Hopefully will fire them this weekend at the range. I'll be looking for a combination of general accuracy and ease of shooting (plinking ammo). I may hold a couple hundred back and load them on the hotter side, but that's really what the 357s are for.

Trying a powder baffle for the first time- my thinking is that most of the time, I keep the powder fairly low, like about 2-3 inches from bottom. Since I'm gonna pump out a bunch of these, and then a bunch of 223 in the near future, I'm wanting to sort out which powders do better with the baffle. I just cut a butterfly design from a coke can and bent to fit the cylinder.

I also did have some trouble with the primers sticking to the depriming pin and being reseated. I've never ran into this before and it was an annoying PIA. I tried rectifying it by chucking in a drill with some sandpaper, but still seems to be an issue.

Also as an aside, I took a glance at the 223 bullets. they looked good, but the bottom of the bullet looks almost like a rebated boat tail as opposed to a straight angled boat tail. It may just be the packaging, close inspection will tell. I'm hoping they won't need additional champering on the inside of the neck to seat good. This will be my second time loading for 223 (AR), first time loading 75 grainers with H335 - maybe another thread on that to keep it focused on the OP, but sling me some links to read up on if you got 'em.

[newageroman]

Got the 70 gn 223s loaded up and ready using H335. 5 different loads 21-23 grains. I will be shooting a few rounds of each for functionality, then test groupings at 100 and maybe 300 yds. They actually loaded very well, no issues seating bullets.

I'm hoping not to have to dial/adjust the gas block for these rounds, but if so, i doubt it will be much.

[newageroman]

quick update: Got to test the 38 sp loads yesterday . it was nice sunny weather just before evening. Its been a while since I've seen the muzzle flash out the ported barrel in the V shape, that was cool. I was running out of light or would have shot some 357 for fun.

The first set was powder puffy, and not super accurate. Some of which was probably me being rusty. Second set grouped well and seemed more fun. third set about as much fun to shoot, but didn't group as well. Settled on the middle charge so now I cant wait to pump them out.
Pics and details on the way.
Didn't even get to shoot the 75gn 223 load dev rounds. But I did sight in and buts clay bits at 50yds with the ruger MkII slabside that I just got scoped!
Have a great week! more to come.

[Wobbly]

I also did have some trouble with the primers sticking to the depriming pin and being reseated. I've never ran into this before and it was an annoying PIA. I tried rectifying it by chucking in a drill with some sandpaper, but still seems to be an issue.

One of the tricks for this is to sharpen the tip of the de-capping pin into a wedge. Don't shorten the pin, simply take some off the sides to make it a "chisel point".

[newageroman]

I've danded it down round, but you are saying try a chisel shape on the depriming pin?

[Wobbly]

Yes. I think what happens is that the spent primer starts to fold in half, which distorts the cylindrical shape, thereby making it impossible to re-enter the primer pocket.

Or you can use the Dillon Sizing Die with the spring loaded de-capping pin. That kicks a field goal with each primer.

[newageroman]

Well, this zombie thread seems appropriate considering things that's going on.
Just got the last of 1k 38 sp loaded on the D650 with HP-38 and the RMR 158 gn PHP.
My main issue was the decapping, I had to decap separate on the SS then pump them through the 650. The measure was spot on throughout.
I chose the midway point of my three test loads base on general group size at ~20yds.
Estimated vel is ~720
Have chrono - will report back...

[Wobbly]

My kid like to shoot 158gr with 231/HP-38 in his Model 10's. So I'm very interested to hear what you come up with.