Reloading 38 Special - Component sources?

F

flashhole

New member
Wife got a Smith & Wesson 38 Special snubby. Guess who gets to make ammo for it.

What is a good source for bullets? I picked up a couple boxes of factory stuff just to start shooting and have some brass but the primary shooting ammo will be my handloads.

I already have primers and powder which helps.

Thanks in advance.
 
I like Missouri Bullet Company. Use Rocky Mountain Reloading as well. But I only use cast bullets for my .38 spl./357 mag rounds.
 
For lead, I really like Missouri Bullet Company. Their soft cast bullets work really well in 38 Special in target type velocities - which is a great way to start with a snubby.

For plated, I'm partial to X-treme. Rainer makes great plated bullets too - especially their plated DEWC's.
 
Fortunately the 38 Special is a very forgiving, excellent starter round and components are available almost everywhere. If you are new to reloading or new to the 38, I'd suggest jacketed bullets (either 125 gr or 158 gr, any style) and start with starting/minimum loads from your manual. It won't take long for you to get used to the 38 and start experimenting with other bullets. I now use 124 gr JHP and 125 gr. RNFP and 160 gr SWC cast lead in my 38s and a "house gun" load of a DEWC loaded over a near max. load of W231.

I stated reloading the 38 Special in '69 with a Lee Loader, Bullseye, generic lead bullets (didn't know about barrel leading!) CCI SP primers and brass I scrounged at the local police range. At that time most sporting goods stores had some reloading components (the local Army/Navy Surplus store sold some ammo). The fellers above have listed many sources for components so I won't add any, but I've purchased components from most of those listed.

https://www.google.com/search?q=38+...ome..69i57.13933j0j7&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8
 
The smallest groups I've gotten came out of my copy of this mold. In my K38 it cut groups almost in half as compared to Federal match loads.

If you don't have time to cast, I recall Ed Harris did a bunch of testing and wound up finding the swaged 148-grain HBWC made by Remington held the tightest groups. The trick is finding them. I got a couple thousand from Midway when they had them, but they didn't last and don't show up on their site now.
 
Thanks for all the good information guys.

Yes, I will likely cast bullets for it in a couple of months.

Happy New Year everyone!
 
The starting load for a jacketed bullet is a minimum. Too light and you risk sticking a bullet or even just the jacket.
I once saw a core hit the target, leaving the jacket in the barrel. Seeing the impact on target, the shooter ignored the weak report and shot again. Bulged the barrel.

Lead is more forgiving at Special pressure. Coated lead is cleaner.
 
I try and buy cast bullets locally, but it is sometimes hard to bypass some of the internet casters that sell their own. I don't cast myself but 500 158gr LSWC for under $35 is the rate now from like Missouri or Falcon... and others.

My favorite since I started back in 1973 is 4.6 grains of Unique and a 158 grain LSWC. Everyone has a favorite powder, primer and load so you will have to decide what you want, not what we recommend.
 
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