Home Forums Reloading Bullet Casting .38 Special 158gr SWC-HP "FBI" Loads

Wondering if anyone has loaded +P loads to match the "FBI" loads.

Buffalo Boar uses the Rim Rock Lead with Gas Check.
They are easily available from Rim Rock. BHN of 5 is listed for that bullet by Rim Rock. They state that they can be pushed 1000 fps plus.

I am leaning towards a heavy load of HS-6.

What say you fella's with proven loads?


They will be shot from 3" Model 60 (.357)to 6" K-38. With a few in between.

I don't understand exactly what you are asking. If you are asking if I have loaded them, the answer is yes. Most of us probably have.

Two things:

I have never used bullets as soft as these with a GC for 20-22k psi. I believe they are 2% Sn only.

The data for HS-6 is very wide spread. Maximum charges for lead SWC go from 6.6gr Hornady Third Edition to 8.0gr listed in Speer No. 8 manual (1200fps). Hornady lists using Standard SP primers. Speer using Magnum SP primers. I will be using Magnum primers because my experience is that this powder needs them. Hodgdon's data does not list +P loads for lead bullets.

Proven Loads?

I did some load development work last year in regards to the "FBI Load" with this 158gr bullet.



Equivalent load with 3 powders are as follows:

7.0gr HS-6
6.4gr AA#5
5.6gr Unique

Hope that helps.

Don

What bullet is that? Specs?


How did the three powders compare?


Thank you in advance.

Gibby,

That bullet comes out of a MP Mold's .359640 mold. Actual weight lubed using the alloy I use for .38 Special loads is 160gr. The 3 powders produce loads that are the equivalent of each other in velocity (SWAG of about 950fps from a 4 inch barrel). I mostly use Unique only because I have so much of it.

Don

Many of us have been powder coating our cast bullets. I have been experimenting with real soft lead and powder coating including a bullet much like the one pictured. Expansion is impressive and weight retention is nearly 100%. I have pushed them in 357 and 45 Colt and ended up with no leading at all. I have been using Accurate powders and cannot comment on your powders listed.

I load a lot of the Thompson 358156 in HP form. I have two of the molds, one solid and one HP that I converted. The solid weighs about 159-160 and the HP goes 151-153 depending on alloy in my pot. Both of them get the same charge underneath them and more often than not it's either 5.0 or 5.5 gr of Unique.

I actually prefer them cast a little harder as they tend to act like a Nosler Partition peeling back the hollow point and then fracturing the petals off, leaving the solid base to penetrate deeper. And they seem to expand even out of my 2" M10 shot into wet phonebooks from 7 yards.

I've loaded them up to 7.0gr of Unique for use in my 38/44s and they are everything Skeeter said they'd be as far as expansion when you are getting near 357 magnum velocities.

Yep, that's the beauty of casting your own: you match the alloy to the intended velocity and usage.

Don

My soft cast open but do not fracture. I have recovered 280 grain soft 45 Colt rounds and none have lost 5 grains.

Do you know of any commercial casters that make these?

I use a 158gr SWC load using AA#5 with good luck. I am wanting to get about 100-150fps more. HS6 will let you do that.

So, a soft lead bullet with gas check going 1200fps at 20-22k psi in a revolver is no problem?

All depends on whether you are on the giving or receiving end of the barrel.

No problem at all with powder coating. Several details to get right to make it work with traditional lube, but easily possible as well. In my experience anyway.

No problem even without the gas check. I have done it Mt 45 colt Blackhawk.

+1. I cast bullets for my M1 Carbine that travel at 1800fps without a gas check.

Don

BHN 5 ?

Straight lead with just enough tin to make the bullets fill out the mold.

PM me your address.