I ordered some 124gr & 147fgr 38/357 FMJ flat nose bullets need load data

[davefred99]

I am having trouble coming up with good load data for these bullets . I was originally planning on loading the 124 gr mostly for 38 special and the 147 gr in 357 mag. However especially for 38 special I am sort of at a loss for best powder and overall length specs. I have HP-38, Tightgroup, & BE-86 powders on hand but think from my limited data that CFE Pistol might be a good powder for my purposes. I want to sort of duplicate a factory load in 38 special around 1000fps in a 4″ barrel but also work in a 2.25 in snub nose too. It also seems I might be better of using the 147 gr in the shorter barrel.

[spclement]

I haven’t yet purchased any of the 147 grain smiley bullets because Lyman’s 50th is the only load data I can find for anything close to a 147 grain fmj bullet. Their data is for a .357 magnum load using a 145 grain Winchester Jacketed Silvertip with 8 different powders. I have no idea how the RMR Smiley bullet compares to the Silvertip in composition or length. A guy named Rollis Karvellis posted in the RMR In-House bullets forum with his results using the RMR 147 grain Smiley with a load of Alliant 2400 that was slightly less than Lyman’s starting load for the 145 grain Silvertip.
As far as the RMR 124 grain Teardrop bullets go, I just purchased 1000 of them and plan to start using .357 magnum data for 125 grain XTP bullets. The length of the RMR teardrops average only .003 shorter than my XTP JHPs, but not knowing how their metallurgy compares, I plan to stick with starting to mid-range XTP loads with the RMR teardrops at first. I have put a cannelure in them with a Buffalo Arms Cannelure tool so I can apply a good roll crimp, and plan on loading them at the maximum (for .357) 1.59 OAL. If I was still loading .38 spl, I would reference the vast amount of .38 load data available for 125 grain XTP bullets.

[spclement]

I just purchased the second edition of Modern Reloading by Richard Lee (revised in 2021)
I don’t think Lee does their own testing, but rather compiles load data from several different sources.
This manual includes many loads for a 146 Grain Jacketed Bullet in .38 spl, .38spl+p and .357 magnum.
It does not specify the brand or length of the bullet, it just says “146 grain Jacketed Bullet”.
It has loads for:
.357 magnum using 15 different powders
.38 spl using 13 different powders
.38 spl +p using 15 different powders.

[Elgie]

I’ve had good results with 5.3 grains of Power Pistol, which is handy since I use the same charge in my 124g 9MM. I just move the powder measure from one tool head to the other.

In the .38 I loaded to 1.455 COL

Shoots fine in my k frame smiths and my original alloy frame cobra. Dropped one into my wife’s king cobra and no issues.

I’ve seen some conflicting data about where that load is on the power scale. I interpolated loads from 158 grain jacketed and 140 grain jacketed.

I thinks it’s probably middle of the road “warmish.” Next time I go to the outdoor range I’ll Chrongraph it.

For years I’ve loaded 125grain jacketed bullets with 8.5 gr of Unique. I may need to change to Power Pistol, because I have more of it and it doesn’t stink up the indoor range so badly.

[Michael]

I have a Speer #13

It shows 15.1g max (.357) for 140g JHP. It says to reduce the laid by 1.0g for 146g JHP-SWC

But only 12.1g fits in the case. The book doesn’t indicate not indicate a compressed load. But 12.1 is definitely going to be compressed 🙁

I’m not comfortable using it, but it is a book load.

[Michael]

Forgot to list the powder. Alliant 2400

[mn]

Go to the Hodgdon Reload Data site and the have Data for these projectiles.

In .38 the Data is for 125g bullet but that 1 g difference is not an issue.

Reloading Data Center

[Author]

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