Reloader (me) caught offguard !

[volshooter]

I reload all my ammo and have been giving away alot of .38 spc this past year. Mostly HBWC or SWC to folks wanting to practice or use for their handgun carry class.

Two weeks ago my wife, son and sister came to shoot some .38 spc's. I went to get some mild .38's for them to shoot and the cupboard was empty! I barely found 200 loads for them. Those were dated July 1996.

I don't shoot many .38's but was :shock: to find out I was out!
I could not even put together a full set of .38 dies or lead to load.

I ordered a new set of .38 dies and called the best hard cast bullet maker in the south (Jesse Clark of Tn Valley bullets) to ask him to bring me some of his fine super hard cast 158 SWC to last weeks gun show. Uncle Jesse came through and I will spend the next raininy day fixing my oversight.

Caught with my drawers down!

 

[RICHGCOOP]

I have ben loading some 38spc fore my Grandson. I use my 150 SWC keith, I cast out of A lymen 4 cavedy mold. I use them in my 357MAG'S.

RICHGCOOP

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Peanuts, Cracker Jack, 38 specials!! Get'em while their hot.

ps. don't forget to rotate your stock.

I mostly download 357 magnums so I don't get that carbon ring in the mag guns. I only have one 38 special gun.

...Jimbo

 

[volshooter]

600 HBWC loaded.
Got 1000 hard cast 158gr ready to go.

The only .38's I do pay attention to are shot shells. I priced standard .38spc. at bass pro last week. The $ for blasting ammo is $18.99 and above! Where have I been?

I see a massive reloading summer.

 

[toysoldier]

I mostly download 357 magnums so I don't get that carbon ring in the mag guns. I only have one 38 special gun.

...Jimbo

I do the reverse. I have a Service-Six chambered for .38 Special, so I make up mild .357 loads for it. I use nickel-plated brass, to distinguish it from other .38 loads (I also have a Taurus snubbie), label the box clearly, and keep the box separate from .38 loads.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

600 HBWC loaded.
Got 1000 hard cast 158gr ready to go.

Aren't hardcast 158gr bullets too hard for 38specials? I thought they were more tailored to near 357magnum velocities. The few times I loaded lead in 38specials I used soft bullets and they worked ok I guess. I was never really happy loading lead so I went to copper plated bullets. 8) 8)

...Jimbo

 

[volshooter]

Naw, hardcast can be loaded to the same specs. as gas checked rounds, without the gas checks, if they are cast hard enough, Uncle Jesse cast bullets that you cannot scratch with your fingernail. Been using them for years. I can push them up to 1500 fps without any leading. All shots have been complete pass throughs, two leaking holes.
The same weight hard cast can be loaded to jacketed of the same weight and a hard cast will get more fps. and from my experience more accurate. On deer I find expanding pistol bullets less effective than hardcast.