by flintlok » Fri Aug 16, 2019 6:29 pm
Loading 38 Special rounds is as easy as pie. I cast my own bullets. The trick to good accuracy is not to use hard cast lead bullets and use a soft lube that has the consistency of a 50/50 beeswax and vasoline mix. I've also have Lee's Alox liquid lube with good results. The 38 soft bullet base upsets and expends on firing and is swaged by the bore as it passes through the forcing cone. Hard cast bullets do not appreciably upset. I like Winchester 231 powder. That's old school but works great for me. I set overall lenght is set by the crimp ring on the bullet. I also cast for 357 but I will load the to 38 +P velocitys. I use a semi wadcutter Keith style bullet mold that Lyman sells. The cast bullets should at least one thousandth inch over bore diameter to avoid gas cutting and leading the bore. Be sure to set a good bullet crimp. If you fail to do so the bullets may move out of the casing and beyond the cylinder which will cause your revolver to bind and jam.
I also have use both metal gas checked bullets but I prefer with card paper wads under the bullet. The paper acts as a gas check it's much less fuss. Buffalo Arms sells press mounted wad cutters for 358 diameter bullets. I use index card type paper.
The faster I go, the older I get.
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Flintlok, I think you're dead right....."The Dogge"
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