How to pick just one bullet

[358156 hp]

I have quite a few molds for my 38/357s, and they all shoot very well, usually better than me, but of them all my favorite has to be the Lyman SWC 358156 GC or its NOE clone of the 358156 GC HP version. Beside both being one of the most excellent bullets for 38/357 loads, the double crimp groove gives me the option to load a midrange 357 mag. Skeeter loads in 38 special cases, of which I have more than I will ever use up.

View attachment 37942
38 Special no gas check tumble lubed on the R dressed up for the 357 Mag. on the L.
View attachment 37943

That's a great drawing. I have had revolvers with cylinders long enough to accept 357 mag cases with the bullet set out to the lower crimping groove. At that point it's no longer a 357 mag, but a wildcat as far as load development goes.

 

[Jeff H]

but there's 2 good enough's.
the one above and the one that's as good as i can do.

...with what I have to work with (self-imposed hurdles).

Same bullet/load for two guns: .358", 180 grain, plain-based, WFN cast from wheel weights and tumble-lubed, at the upper edged of sub-sonic from an 18" carbine and about 850 fps from a 3" revolver. One bullet, one load, two guns. The "perfection" I sought was actually a functional optimum, which is what I mean by "good enough." Getting "good enough" from two guns with different purposes and getting useful results from both is not a task for the unambitious.

One is a hunting gun and one is a personal defense gun. To chase ultimate accuracy with either would be folly and would likely compromise some other beneficial trait inherent to the intended use of that gun. But then, "ultimate accuracy" for either would likely be somewhat less than that for a dedicated target gun, so "good enough" (for the intended purpose) pops up again.

SOMETIMES, good enough is good enough.

SOMETIMES, good enough is PERFECT!

...but not ALWAYS.

 

[Jeff H]

I do all my shooting at 50 yards or beyond. 25 is just to boring. Some day I want to try 200 yards. I guess that's my main reason to pick just one or two bullets. Waiting on a new spotting scope to arrive. No idea what happened to the old one. I could barely see the holes at 100 last week. But it's an old one. Probably had it 25 years.

Maybe switch to a 44 or 45 so you can see the holes?

 

[Winelover]

I can see .243 inch holes at 300 yards with my Gold Ring Leupold Compact (12 x 40 x 60mm)spotter. They use to be less than $600. Currently, the MSRP is approaching two and a half times what I paid.

GR 12-40x60mm

Proven performance, outstanding image quality, a wide field of view, and a compact 12-40x60mm size; our Gold Ring® spotting scopes have it all. Crystal-clear lenses provide sharper details at maximum magnification, while Leupold's unique Folded Light Path System uses lighter mirrors rather than...

www.leupold.com

 

[fiver]

nightforce makes a scope that you can see 6mm holes at 300yds like they are being transposed onto a TV screen.
i've looked in one, can't afford one, but it works.

 

[JonB]

I do all my shooting at 50 yards or beyond. 25 is just to boring. Some day I want to try 200 yards. I guess that's my main reason to pick just one or two bullets. Waiting on a new spotting scope to arrive. No idea what happened to the old one. I could barely see the holes at 100 last week. But it's an old one. Probably had it 25 years.

Your 686 ...never closer than 50 yards?
benchrest or offhand?

 

[johnnyjr]

between the 156 and 429 which shoots better in your guns?

Go with that one

Decided to stay with the 429 for now. Cast up some yesterday. It was so cold I couldn't get the 20 pounder up to temperature. Used the 10.lb that worked good. I shoot the 38-44 mainly anyway..johnny

 

[Rex]

Johnny, I also like the 429 in 38/44 loads but in my area 2400 doesn't exist or damn little of anything else. I got mad this year and spent my shooting money on fishing equipment!

 

[johnnyjr]

Johnny, I also like the 429 in 38/44 loads but in my area 2400 doesn't exist or damn little of anything else. I got mad this year and spent my shooting money on fishing equipment!

Wise choice. My son fishes all the time if he's not working..

 

[fiver]

it costs about the same.

you don't need 2400 to get 2400 like results.
there's only like 9 other powders that'll get you there.

 

[358156 hp]

it costs about the same.

you don't need 2400 to get 2400 like results.
there's only like 9 other powders that'll get you there.

 

[358156 hp]

Okay, one more...

 

[johnnyjr]

Amen to that

 

[richhodg66]

There is an old adage in the Army that the 70% solution executed in a timely and aggressive manner is wayyyy better than the 100% solution executed too late of half-assed. I believe that to be true and unfortunately saw too many staffs get bit by the Good Idea Fairy (paralysis by analysis) and didn't get something done.

"Perfection is the worst enemy f good enough".

That said, it sure is fun to experiment around and always be chasing something better.

I reload for a lot of things and have a lot of molds. A few years ago, I kind of wanted to develop a practice load and a killing load for every rifle, only really got there with the 7x57 and have gotten side tracked.

I like the idea of one mold per caliber. I'll never get there with .30 caliber rifles or .38 revolvers, but lately I've been pondering that six cavity Lee mold for their 230 grain RN tumble lube bullet. Would that work in .45 Colt well enough (I have a taper crimp die for .45 Colt). I'm thinking it will. I could sure cast up a lot fast with that mold and be done with .45s for a long time.

 

[fiver]

you can roll crimp in one of the bumps no problemo too.
i guess it'd work..... LOL

i routinely use a 225gr [here it comes,,, don't roll your eyes at me, you all know i been gonna say this the whole time] RNFP in both my 45 colt and 45 acp.
none of them care one way or the other.

 

[Rex]

Thanks for putting up the reloading data pages boys.
Rex

 

[L Ross]

I know. I feel the same way about bevel based bullets.

Once upon a time I distrusted bevel base bullets also. Not sure if I even remember why, or if it was just my innate trust in a perfectly square, sharp plain base. Logically it must be better than a bevel base.
Then I picked up a used Master Caster with several moulds, most of which were bevel base. I held my nose and decided that at the ridiculous close ranges that Cowboy Action Shooting took place at it simply didn't matter. The ease of the bullets dropping from the mould, the ease in starting the bullet into a case out weighed the potential accuracy gain offered by a flat base bullet at those short ranges.
One day I wanted to order a new Magma mould and I called to order a flat base mould and the owner asked me, "why?" I told him I wanted a more accurate bullet. He asked me if I ever tested a bevel base at more than cowboy distances. I had not, so I took my wife's Rossi .357 carbine and shot the Magma 38-130-RNFP with a bevel base at 80 yards. I then used a 125 grain flat base RNFP as a control. The bevel base out grouped the flat base. I know a very limited test, but it gave me food for thought. I no longer intrinsically distrust a bevel base.
Has anyone here ever shot a bevel base rifle bullet at any distance?

 

[Cadillac Jeff]

I have a 358075. I think that is the # it's an old no lines cut ideal 200 grainer...I need to give it a try in my 336 in 35 rem

 

[fiver]

yeah a few of them.
remember the H&G 68 is bevel base,, nobody complains.
but since i have about 24-25 magma molds i got some bevel base bullets.
as long as it isn't a real long and sloped base i've never had any real issue with them, i have more problems with under size noses.
even the LEE 230 shoots well and it has enough of a bevel to take a gas check.

 

[RicinYakima]

Once upon a time I distrusted bevel base bullets also. Not sure if I even remember why, or if it was just my innate trust in a perfectly square, sharp plain base. Logically it must be better than a bevel base.
Then I picked up a used Master Caster with several moulds, most of which were bevel base. I held my nose and decided that at the ridiculous close ranges that Cowboy Action Shooting took place at it simply didn't matter. The ease of the bullets dropping from the mould, the ease in starting the bullet into a case out weighed the potential accuracy gain offered by a flat base bullet at those short ranges.
One day I wanted to order a new Magma mould and I called to order a flat base mould and the owner asked me, "why?" I told him I wanted a more accurate bullet. He asked me if I ever tested a bevel base at more than cowboy distances. I had not, so I took my wife's Rossi .357 carbine and shot the Magma 38-130-RNFP with a bevel base at 80 yards. I then used a 125 grain flat base RNFP as a control. The bevel base out grouped the flat base. I know a very limited test, but it gave me food for thought. I no longer intrinsically distrust a bevel base.
Has anyone here ever shot a bevel base rifle bullet at any distance?

It is not about the shooting, but the mess of lube and sizing them!