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Chas Martel
HB Full Member
| Joined: | 11 October 2008 |
| Location: | Nirvana, Wyoming USA |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 14 October 2008 12:50 AM |
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Hi,
I'm new to the board but I've been lurking around and reading a lot here and I'm very impressed with the wealth of knowledge of the members here.
I started reloading in the 1970s and loaded lots of rifle rounds mostly in 22-250 & .300 Win Mag. I also loaded quite a few .38 spl wadcutter rounds for plinking and target. I haven't done any handloading ammo during the past 20 years. Recently I've renewed my interest in pistol shooting and naturally want to start loading again so I can afford to shoot lots of rounds. I used to buy the Speer wadcutters in boxes of 500. I was always satisfied with this Speer product. I see those are still available. I also see Remington offers .38 bullets in 148 gr. HBWC. The Remington bullets are a bit cheaper than the Speers. Is there any good reason to pay the higher price for the Speer bullets?
I would also appreciate any information regarding alternatives to the two choices discussed above.
Thanks for any suggestions ya'all care to make.
Last edited on 14 October 2008 12:53 AM by Chas Martel
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Charley
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| Joined: | 9 September 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
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Posted: 14 October 2008 03:13 AM |
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I'm pretty sure both types are swaged, and not cast. Swaged bullets are generally softer than cast, but are fine for the velocities you can safely reach in a .38 Special. You can get leading with them if you try to push them too fast. Shouldn't be a dime's worth of difference between them, Remington's volume probably allows them to sell at a lower price.
Any properly sized bullet will do well in the .38 Special, wadcutters are fine for plinking, small game, and paper punching. If you want a heavier bullet, you can check out one of the swaged semi-wadcutters available from Speer, Remington, Hornady, etc, or buy cast bullets from one of the bazillion dealers on the 'net.
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"The LA Times they called him that,
'cause he's not authentic like me..." Al Sharpton
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Timberghozt
Board Founder
| Joined: | 11 February 2005 |
| Location: | Salado, Texas USA |
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Posted: 14 October 2008 12:04 PM |
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I make my own 158 grain bullets.Shoot em in 38 Special cases in my Ruger BlackHawk.At 25 yards the accuracy is unparalleled ...
I haven`t cast anything in a while.Still shooting the 1st patch I cast made from wheel weights and cut with a bit of linotype.I`d rather shoot them as a jacketed bullet using the 38 SPC cases in my 357 mag..Much cheaper to make em..and I humbly think they shoot better.
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miestro_jerry
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 28 June 2008 |
| Location: | Somerton (AKA BFE), Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 773 |
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Posted: 14 October 2008 09:50 PM |
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I cast my own and shoot them in my L frame, really good accuracy. The two bullets that you mentioned are swaged lead, softer than cast bullets.
Bunch of people sell cast bullets, you can try beckysbullets@yahho.com and see if she has some that you can use. I mention her because she lives down the road, and she is handicapped and this is how she makes extra income.
Myself I would recommend the 158gr SWC, or the 148 gr WC.
Jerry
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Chas Martel
HB Full Member
| Joined: | 11 October 2008 |
| Location: | Nirvana, Wyoming USA |
| Posts: | 9 |
| Photo: | | | Are you a handloader?: | Yes | | Favorite type of cartridge to load?: | rifle |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 02:34 AM |
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Jerry,
Is Becky's Bullets email address at yahoo.com of yahho.com?
What do you, or anyone else here, think of Suters Cast Bullets? If I use cast bullets, do I have to add lube? That's one more step.
Sorry I missed the distinction between cast and swagged. I've been away from this business for a long time. I have cast bullets before so I know exactly what those are, so I'm guessing swagged is somthing similar to extruded. Is that right? I kind of remember adding lube to cast bullets, but I don't remember the process or the tools used.
I'm not interested in getting back into casting bullets at this time because that would include acquiring some new equipment. New equipment will not fit into my budgert at this point (kids pursuing higher education, etc.). My experience casting bullets was limited in the first place and I really don't remember it in my fondest memories of the handloading experience.
Thanks for all your help out there.
Last edited on 15 October 2008 02:37 AM by Chas Martel
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miestro_jerry
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 28 June 2008 |
| Location: | Somerton (AKA BFE), Ohio USA |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 04:10 AM |
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That's Beckysbullets@yahoo.com. The bullets that she produces are cast and lubed. Swaged bullets are soft lead or pure lead that are pressure formed.
Myself, I use Lyman #2 alloy for most of my bullets and I make my own lubes, which that can get expensive, but I have a young man who helps me cast. For rifle bullets, I use the Lyman #2 alloy or Linotype. Plus I have a lube that prevents leading, allows up to 2,800 fps speed and low in smoke output.
I have the time and the place to cast, I am retired and way out in the country.
Jerry
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Chas Martel
HB Full Member
| Joined: | 11 October 2008 |
| Location: | Nirvana, Wyoming USA |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 04:25 AM |
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Is Linotype lead generally available in the digital age? Pehaps I'm jumping ahead, but I thought technology had moved beyond that. You know laser printing and such.
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miestro_jerry
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 28 June 2008 |
| Location: | Somerton (AKA BFE), Ohio USA |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 04:30 AM |
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I can still find it out there and when an old local newspaper is bought out, I can general get the pigs for next to nothing, something about EPA hazard and all.
Plus I know where there is a hand operated press sitting looking to be used.
At the moment, I am sitting on a few hundred pounds. For most people WWs and Lyman #2 will work for them, but I shoot fast magnums and big bores that need Lino grade lead for hunting with.
Jerry
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Chas Martel
HB Full Member
| Joined: | 11 October 2008 |
| Location: | Nirvana, Wyoming USA |
| Posts: | 9 |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 04:38 AM |
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So I take it WWs and Lyman #2 are commodities that are generally available from the usual suspects (midway, graf, etc.). Is that correct?
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miestro_jerry
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 28 June 2008 |
| Location: | Somerton (AKA BFE), Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 773 |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 07:28 PM |
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WWs I bargain for the local tire stores, I alloy my own Lyman #2, Lino I buy it it appears. I also go to the local junk yards and slavage places.
I know Midway sells alloys, but the prices are a little on the high side for me.
http://www.midwayusa.com/browse/BrowseProducts.aspx?pageNum=1&tabId=2&categoryId=8662&categoryString=685***
It is just knowing what to look for when you are out and about.
Jerry
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Charley
Administrator
| Joined: | 9 September 2005 |
| Location: | San Antonio, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2299 |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 09:32 PM |
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Swaged bullets are cold formed, and pretty soft. That's why I differentiated them from cast. If you buy cast or swaged bullets, you do not need to lube them, they should come that way. Most swaged bullets have a dry lube film on them, many cast bullets have a waxy lube in the lube grooves.
Not much lino left around here, it's been scarfed up by casters or recycled. Get wheelweights while you can the EPA is working to phase them out, and some states, Cailifornia for one, have allready started to phase them out. Buying alloy, lead or bullets mail order can be done, but shipping gets expensive quickly. Being a cheap SOB, I buy bullets locally, or cast my own.
____________________
"Barack, the Magic Negro, lived in DC,
"The LA Times they called him that,
'cause he's not authentic like me..." Al Sharpton
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miestro_jerry
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 28 June 2008 |
| Location: | Somerton (AKA BFE), Ohio USA |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 10:10 PM |
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Charley,
I don't cast all of my bullets, the 225 gr RN 45 ACP favorite and the 124 gr RN 9mm, I buy from Becky, she has a better deal than my costs, but also, I buy 5,000 or more at a time from her, plus I have no shipping costs, she down the road from me.
I figure in 5 years I will mine the lead out of my back stop and recycle that in to bullets.
As long as well have junk yards we have hope.
Jerry
Last edited on 15 October 2008 10:11 PM by miestro_jerry
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Charley
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Posted: 15 October 2008 10:23 PM |
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If I had somebody that close by, under her circumstances, I would buy from her. I don't.
There will always be lead available, but you can bet it won't be cheap lead.
____________________
"Barack, the Magic Negro, lived in DC,
"The LA Times they called him that,
'cause he's not authentic like me..." Al Sharpton
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miestro_jerry
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 28 June 2008 |
| Location: | Somerton (AKA BFE), Ohio USA |
| Posts: | 773 |
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Posted: 15 October 2008 11:10 PM |
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She believes in the USPS, $8.95 flat rate for 50 pounds or less of bullets.
The letter carrier hates her. 
Jerry
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jjb2
addicted handloader
| Joined: | 5 July 2007 |
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Posted: 17 October 2008 01:33 AM |
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| my model13 and model 27 both liked 148gr. hbwcs... the bullets i bought were hornady several years ago..... now i too cast my own from a great old lyman #358477 mould that makes beautiful 150 gr swcs... don't count the full wadcutters as defense loads... they will perform quite well in tests and so i wouldn't be afraid to use em if you were so inclined...... i have loaded a few hbwcs into .357 cases at magnum velocities but i haven't shot any into the clay to test em... they sure look wicked tho......................
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miestro_jerry
HB Life Member
| Joined: | 28 June 2008 |
| Location: | Somerton (AKA BFE), Ohio USA |
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Posted: 17 October 2008 02:30 AM |
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The best 38/357 defense load that I can make is your basic 158 gr SWC. I don't even load them that hot. But I buy my home defense bullets these days. Generally I use Hydra-Shoks. But I am looking at the new generation of frangible ammo at the moment.
In the house, I don't want to shoot thru 2 or 3 walls, so I think a tamer load would work.
In Powell Ohio, at the pistol range there, some guy just let out of the mental hospital came to the range and with very low power 38 Spl reloads took off half his head. So range and power should be a combination of factors to look at.
Jerry
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