- Joined
- Dec 5, 2006
- Messages
- 231
- Likes
- 27
Hi all,
I'm a reloading newbie. I recently picked up a progressive press and with it came a lot of .357 brass. I've been doing some reading while the rest of my gear arrives.
I'd like to start out loading .38s for my Ruger .357 magnum revolvers. I have some .38SPL brass, but I'm wondering if it is safe to load the .357 brass to .38 load specs? The previous owner has the press set for a light .38 using the .357 cases.
My powder is Alliant Bullseye, bullets are 158gr lead flat nose and Winchester SP primers. My Lyman manual (49th ed.) says 3.0 grains gives me 786fps in a .38SPL case. It provides no data for these same bullets in a .357 Magnum load. Should these 158 grain bullets NOT be loaded to .357 speeds & pressures? Or do I need another reloading manual?
I'm thinking of starting at 2.8 grains or so. I obviously want to be safe, but don't want squibs either. Is that too low?
I did some searching on the site and found:
38 +P in .38 brass - http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=38493&highlight=.38 . Indicates higher pressures are probably OK in .38 brass but not the reverse.
BostonShovel put a similar question here - http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=38493&highlight=.38 about .357 brass with SP primers and a .38 standard load however there was no resounding yes or no as to how safe it is.
And http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=15533&highlight=.38&page=2 - should I have gotten 147 grain bullets?
Do people generally feel that loading .357 cases to .38 specs is safe?
Thanks!
I'm a reloading newbie. I recently picked up a progressive press and with it came a lot of .357 brass. I've been doing some reading while the rest of my gear arrives.
I'd like to start out loading .38s for my Ruger .357 magnum revolvers. I have some .38SPL brass, but I'm wondering if it is safe to load the .357 brass to .38 load specs? The previous owner has the press set for a light .38 using the .357 cases.
My powder is Alliant Bullseye, bullets are 158gr lead flat nose and Winchester SP primers. My Lyman manual (49th ed.) says 3.0 grains gives me 786fps in a .38SPL case. It provides no data for these same bullets in a .357 Magnum load. Should these 158 grain bullets NOT be loaded to .357 speeds & pressures? Or do I need another reloading manual?
I'm thinking of starting at 2.8 grains or so. I obviously want to be safe, but don't want squibs either. Is that too low?
I did some searching on the site and found:
38 +P in .38 brass - http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=38493&highlight=.38 . Indicates higher pressures are probably OK in .38 brass but not the reverse.
BostonShovel put a similar question here - http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=38493&highlight=.38 about .357 brass with SP primers and a .38 standard load however there was no resounding yes or no as to how safe it is.
And http://www.northeastshooters.com/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=15533&highlight=.38&page=2 - should I have gotten 147 grain bullets?
Do people generally feel that loading .357 cases to .38 specs is safe?
Thanks!