.359 Lead Bullets for .38 Special?

[boreallimit]

I was searching the web and found a bullet caster that has a few different types of bullets that seem to be interesting enough to experiment with. The thing is all of his 38/357 bullets are sized .359. Will that extra .001 of lead be a problem? I thought all 38/357 lead bullets were sized .358. I would be looking to brew .38 Special standard pressure and +P loads in a Speed Six .38 Special.

Thanks for you help.

 

[DeletedMember275]

The extra .001" most likely will not present a problem. Realize though, that .358" is a purely nominal measurement; in a perfect world, all .38/357 revolvers would perform ideally with that diameter bullet. Many do not. Some barrels measure as small as .355" groove diameter; some are larger than .358", although that seems to be fairly uncommon.

If you plan to get serious about cast bullets, you need to do two things. First, is measure the chamber throats on your revolver(s). Next, slug the bore(s). Cast bullets should be right at or very slightly over throat diameter, which should be at least as large as groove diameter.

This allows your bullets to get started into the barrel straight, and not be swaged down below groove diameter. That will cause gas cutting and leading.

All of this isn't as involved as it sounds; you can buy plug gauges from Enco or MSC for a few bucks each to measure the chamber throats, and a lead fishing sinker can be used to slug the bore. There are videos on You Tube that show how to do both.

Remember that fit is king when shooting cast bullets. They need to seal the bore completely or they will lead like crazy!

 

[Rick Courtright]

Hi,

Good advice from Enigma, and you'll find that most casters and books have advised going 0.001" larger w/ cast bullets than jacketed just about "forever." So that .359" size could be considered "standard" practice for cast bullets in the .38 Spl and .357 Mag...

Start low, work up, you know...

Rick C

 

[boreallimit]

Thanks guys. I will keep your advice in mind.

 

[DGW1949]

All the above, plus:
My experience says that untill you do the weigh 'n measure thing, you can't be sure that what you've bought is what you think you bought.

DGW

 

[WESHOOT2]

My 'common' 158g cast LRN mike at .359". I don't push these hard.

 

[GP100man]

I shoot as big a boolit that`ll chamber .

I have a 30-06 that`ll swallow .313" & shoots em way better than I can !!!