No one talks about .357 Mag. 158gr. LSWC
- Thread starter newerguy
- Start date
Actually, I use LaserCast 158 gr. LSWC with great success, in both .38 and .357 applications. No leading either! 
http://www.laser-cast.com/
http://www.laser-cast.com/
Shooter 973
New member
357 mag and 158gr. LSWC.....
This is the bullet that I cast and use for about 95% of the shooting that I do with a 357. It does everything that I want a 357 to do. I use this for small game, would use it for large game if I had to, and would not feel under-gunned if I had to use it for self defense. For just casual shooting it just seem to fill the bill for an all around bullet for me. I don't load them hot, just a moderate load. 7 gr. of Unique under them, in any brand case. Nice shooting at 1000 rounds per pound of powder. Also works well with appropriate loads of 2400. Bluedot, or even Bullseye.
This is the bullet that I cast and use for about 95% of the shooting that I do with a 357.
It does everything that I want a 357 to do. I use this for small game, would use it for large game if I had to, and would not feel under-gunned if I had to use it for self defense. For just casual shooting it just seem to fill the bill for an all around bullet for me. I don't load them hot, just a moderate load. 7 gr. of Unique under them, in any brand case. Nice shooting at 1000 rounds per pound of powder. Also works well with appropriate loads of 2400. Bluedot, or even Bullseye. From what I understand, the reason we don't see that much about lead bullets in .357 Mag is concern about leading. It seems to me that as long as you don't hotrod them and use a harder lead, or just use gas checks, they should be OK. FWIW, I haven't loaded ANY lead bullets in .357 Mag for just that reason -- JHP only. I've been limiting my lead bullet shooting to .38 Spl. If Ga were to allow LSWC's to be used for hunting, I'd change my tune on that, but since they don't, I just haven't seen the need. Maybe I'll try some milder ones just for a look-see -- I've already got the components on hand, after all.
Geoff Timm
New member
Most discussion of handguns is related to self defense.
The heavier bullets in .357 158 - 180 gr. are GENERALLY used for hunting where range beyond 7 yards, destroying bone and penetration is an objective.
The ideal defense bullet would expand rapidly and stop just inside the targets body.
Geoff
Who really wants a phaser, compact, no recoil and 100% stopping power, without killing anyone.
The heavier bullets in .357 158 - 180 gr. are GENERALLY used for hunting where range beyond 7 yards, destroying bone and penetration is an objective.
The ideal defense bullet would expand rapidly and stop just inside the targets body.
Geoff
Who really wants a phaser, compact, no recoil and 100% stopping power, without killing anyone.
Windjammer
New member
I use the Winchester .38 +P 158 gr WC in my .38 carry gun. I use 148 gr WC in my 357 target loads. I keep the velocity under 1000 fps. to avoid the leading problem. I use this load for bullseye matches.
This contradicts everything I have read about self defense rounds. What is the purpose of a round that stops before it reaches a vital organ?
Ben Shepherd
New member
In a S.D. gun, at 357 velocities they go too deep. As a general purpose round, they have no equal.
In fact I have EXACTLY ONE toolhead for my dillon 650 that NEVER gets messed with, PERIOD. It is dedicated to a 158 SWC 357 load.
In fact I have EXACTLY ONE toolhead for my dillon 650 that NEVER gets messed with, PERIOD. It is dedicated to a 158 SWC 357 load.
Brian Williams
New member
Tis a bullet I use for 95% of my shooting, from a S&W 60-4 38, S&W 13 3" 357, S&W 65 4" 357, Marlin 1894C 357, and occasionally when I put the 38 spec cylinder back in my 642.
The .357 LSWC (non-HP) was FBI issue in the mid/late 70s. The issued FBI handgun was the S&W Mod 10. Agents could buy and carry other guns from an approved list if they wanted to carry a .357. 2.5" S&W Mod 19 was probably the most seen. However, even if they carried a .357 cal gun, it had to be loaded with .38 LSWCHP+P of either W-W or Federal, depending on what was purchased a given year. Agents with .357 cal guns could then carry .357 ammo as reload. This picture is of the standard FBI issued ammo from that time period.
Far left is Remington .357 158 gr LSWC. Middle is W-W .357 158 gr LSWC. Right is W-W .38 LSWCHP+P. I can't find any Federal stuff laying around so must have shot it all up. It looked almost identical to the W-W .38 except the lead as just a shade duller.
I prefer the W-W as it has sharper shoulder and a larger meplat. Both the W-W and Remington .357 would lead your barrel after shooting very many.
Far left is Remington .357 158 gr LSWC. Middle is W-W .357 158 gr LSWC. Right is W-W .38 LSWCHP+P. I can't find any Federal stuff laying around so must have shot it all up. It looked almost identical to the W-W .38 except the lead as just a shade duller.
I prefer the W-W as it has sharper shoulder and a larger meplat. Both the W-W and Remington .357 would lead your barrel after shooting very many.
ISP2605: How are you going to shoot .357 cartridges in a Smith model 10 that is chambered for the 38 special? The FBI did issue a 3" round butt model 13 in the 1980s and some were grandfathered in until recently. Issue ammo was the 158 grain LHPSWC 38 +P commonly known as the "FBI load".
ISP2605: How are you going to shoot .357 cartridges in a Smith model 10 that is chambered for the 38 special? The FBI did issue a 3" round butt model 13 in the 1980s and some were grandfathered in until recently. Issue ammo was the 158 grain LHPSWC 38 +P commonly known as the "FBI load".
.357s shooting .357 full power lead loads with swaged soft lead alloy bullets lead very badly in my experience. Found that out 25 years ago shooting Remington 158 grain semi-wadcutters in my Ruger Security Six.
.357s shooting .357 full power lead loads with swaged soft lead alloy bullets lead very badly in my experience. Found that out 25 years ago shooting Remington 158 grain semi-wadcutters in my Ruger Security Six.
Wildalaska
Moderator
Lead 158s arent cool and trendy, dont fill advertising space in gun rags, they are cheap and you can even load em up yourslef.
For self defense, notch the tip
WilddontgetnobetterAlaska
For self defense, notch the tip
WilddontgetnobetterAlaska
"ISP2605: How are you going to shoot .357 cartridges in a Smith model 10 that is chambered for the 38 special? The FBI did issue a 3" round butt model 13 in the 1980s and some were grandfathered in until recently. Issue ammo was the 158 grain LHPSWC 38 +P commonly known as the "FBI load"."
Read my previous post just a bit closer. I wrote "Agents with .357 cal guns could then carry .357 ammo as reload." Obviously you can't shoot .357 out of Model 10s. Agents with 10s carried the .38 Spl 158 LSWCHP+P for reload, which is what I wrote - "However, even if they carried a .357 cal gun, it had to be loaded with .38 LSWCHP+P of either W-W or Federal,". Agents carrying some kind of .357 gun could carry either the .38 Spl loading or the .357 load as a reload. The .357 loads I pictured were reloads for those with personally purchased .357 guns.
I'm well aware the the .38 LSWCHP+P was the issued .38. That's what I wrote and why I included it in the picture. I also wrote that I couldn't find any of the Federal rds in that loading as I must have shot them all. All the rds in the picture were FBI issue.
For those interested in other FBI issued. The holster was issued with Model 10s to the Agents. Known as Hank Sloan by Bucheimer.
Read my previous post just a bit closer. I wrote "Agents with .357 cal guns could then carry .357 ammo as reload." Obviously you can't shoot .357 out of Model 10s. Agents with 10s carried the .38 Spl 158 LSWCHP+P for reload, which is what I wrote - "However, even if they carried a .357 cal gun, it had to be loaded with .38 LSWCHP+P of either W-W or Federal,". Agents carrying some kind of .357 gun could carry either the .38 Spl loading or the .357 load as a reload. The .357 loads I pictured were reloads for those with personally purchased .357 guns.
I'm well aware the the .38 LSWCHP+P was the issued .38. That's what I wrote and why I included it in the picture. I also wrote that I couldn't find any of the Federal rds in that loading as I must have shot them all. All the rds in the picture were FBI issue.
For those interested in other FBI issued. The holster was issued with Model 10s to the Agents. Known as Hank Sloan by Bucheimer.
Last edited:
Johnny Guest
Moderator in Memoriam
I still like the old 158 SWC .357 load, too
I long ago bought a Saeco four cavity mould, and the bullet it produces fast became my favorite. It throws a long nose bullet which, using wheel weights hardened a bit with linotype metal, weigh out at 162 grains. It looks almost identical to the middle bullet in ISP2605's image. I had previously used a Lyman-Ideal two cavity mould (No. 358156???) but it had a shorter nose, and really didn't hold up as well at long range as the Saeco bullet.
I worked up a fairly warm load with the Saeco bullet and 2400 powder, and it doesn't lead unduly. My all around favorite, though, is 7.0 gr. of Unique. In keeping with my own rule, though, I should post the obligatory warning: CAUTION: this load is above published maximums and you use it at your own risk, etc. In fact, however, the same manuals show FAR hotter loads of Unique with 158 gr. jacketed bullets. I can only assume that the lesser loads for the lead bullet have to do with avoiding lead deposits in the barrel.
Since I retired and am not limited to use of factory ammo, my carry .357 is loaded with four of the 7.0 gr. Unique load up before two hot factory JHPs. The revolver is a Smith M65 three inch, and the handload is accurate and, I believe, adequately powerful.
This same bullet in a .38 Special case is loaded over a load of Unique which I hesitate to list, even with warnings. Suffice it to say, it is too hot for alloy frame snubbies which are usually loaded with factory 158 LSWCHP+P. (Though I use FAR milder handloads for practice in the little pocket revolvers.)
Best,
Johnny
I long ago bought a Saeco four cavity mould, and the bullet it produces fast became my favorite. It throws a long nose bullet which, using wheel weights hardened a bit with linotype metal, weigh out at 162 grains. It looks almost identical to the middle bullet in ISP2605's image. I had previously used a Lyman-Ideal two cavity mould (No. 358156???) but it had a shorter nose, and really didn't hold up as well at long range as the Saeco bullet.
I worked up a fairly warm load with the Saeco bullet and 2400 powder, and it doesn't lead unduly. My all around favorite, though, is 7.0 gr. of Unique. In keeping with my own rule, though, I should post the obligatory warning: CAUTION: this load is above published maximums and you use it at your own risk, etc. In fact, however, the same manuals show FAR hotter loads of Unique with 158 gr. jacketed bullets. I can only assume that the lesser loads for the lead bullet have to do with avoiding lead deposits in the barrel.
Since I retired and am not limited to use of factory ammo, my carry .357 is loaded with four of the 7.0 gr. Unique load up before two hot factory JHPs. The revolver is a Smith M65 three inch, and the handload is accurate and, I believe, adequately powerful.
This same bullet in a .38 Special case is loaded over a load of Unique which I hesitate to list, even with warnings. Suffice it to say, it is too hot for alloy frame snubbies which are usually loaded with factory 158 LSWCHP+P. (Though I use FAR milder handloads for practice in the little pocket revolvers.)
Best,
Johnny
Ben Shepherd
New member
Johhny Guest, I have the same mold, and agree completly with your post-with one exeption. I stuck with the 2400 load.
Johnny Guest
Moderator in Memoriam
Posting heavy loads
Reminding all of special H&R forum rules. Please review the sticky post at:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147679
It's okay to post loads above published maximums with the required Bold Faced Cautions.
ISP2605 - - In what handgun are you shooting that load? I went that high in my experiments but it was WAY too hot in my Model 19 and an old Colt .357 (pre-Trooper.) My max is a full grain under yours.
Best,
Johnny
Reminding all of special H&R forum rules. Please review the sticky post at:
http://www.thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=147679
It's okay to post loads above published maximums with the required Bold Faced Cautions.
ISP2605 - - In what handgun are you shooting that load? I went that high in my experiments but it was WAY too hot in my Model 19 and an old Colt .357 (pre-Trooper.) My max is a full grain under yours.
Best,
Johnny