Loads for .38/357 using 93 grain LRN?

[Old Army]

Just above the beginner stage, so learning a lot as I go. I've found a great source for lead cast bullets (Grandmaster is located about 10 miles from me), and I've found that his 92 grain LRN (.356) works perfectly in my .380, and (.365) in my CZ 82. He also makes a 38 cal 92 grain, but I'm having trouble finding reloading data for that weight for .38 and or .357.

Looking for suggestions, thoughts, experience......

[versifier]

Welcome to Gunloads Old Army.

The lightest bullets I have tried in .38 or .357 are 100gr JHP's. I tried them in several different revolvers over loads of Unique. I found that in my revolvers, they were not particularly accurate, but my testing was limited to one box of them and only one powder, admittedly not a very thorough test. With Unique anyway, all of them from several different makers (S&W, Colt, & Ruger) and with different barrel lengths (2", 4", & 8 3/8") preferred bullets in the 150-160gr range, both jacketed and cast, and Unique gave best accuracy of five tested powders (UNQ, BEYE, BDOT, 2400, 296). Accuracy with 125gr and five different powders was acceptable, nowhere near as good as the heavier bullets, but way much better than the lighter ones.

I'm not saying not to try them or that you might or might not have good results, just that none of my revolvers have shown a preference for light bullets. Yours might love them. If I were going to try some cast that light, I think I would start with 700X or Bullseye. Interestingly, Lyman had best accuracy with their bullet #358242 with MAX charges of 700X in both .38spec (5.0) and .357mag (8.3) in a Universal Receiver. What results would be in a revolver I do not know. Never hurts to give a new bullet a try - you learn something whatever happens.

Lyman lists the following loads for 92gr cast in the .38spec:
700X 3.0 - 5.0MAX (+P 5.3MAX)
Beye 3.3 - 5.3MAX (+P 5.6MAX)
RDot 3.8 - 5.2MAX (+P 5.5MAX)
231 3.5 - 5.7MAX (+P 6.0MAX)
HP-38 3.6 - 5.0MAX
HS-5 6.5 - 8.4MAX
AL-5 6.0 - 7.9MAX

Data for 92gr Cast in .357mag:
700X 6.0 - 8.3MAX
SR-7625 7.5 - 9.8MAX
Beye 7.5 - 9.5MAX
231 8.1 - 10.1MAX
630 14.9 - 18.1MAX
HS-5 10.8 - 13.6MAX
AL-5 9.2 - 12.2MAX

[Old Army]

Thanks, great stuff. Your general observations make a lot of sense, seeing as how I cannot find load data for that small weight for a bullet in .38 or .357.

I have been using 700X to load .380s and 9X18s with the smaller bullet, and although the accuracy of the .92 grain is excellent in both calibers, both my Dillon and my RCBS set ups do not like to feed that powder as well as I like. So I just might use your data as a good starting point to try larger loads for 700X to get through the700X I have and use powders I have that are more "Dillon" friendly on the smaller Maks, 9mms, and .380s.

Of course the other solution is just to load a larger bullet in the .38/357 that will give me better results.

Getting older does not necessarily make you wiser.......

[armyrat1970]

Just above the beginner stage, so learning a lot as I go. I've found a great source for lead cast bullets (Grandmaster is located about 10 miles from me), and I've found that his 92 grain LRN (.356) works perfectly in my .380, and (.365) in my CZ 82. He also makes a 38 cal 92 grain, but I'm having trouble finding reloading data for that weight for .38 and or .357.

Looking for suggestions, thoughts, experience......

Welcome Old Army. This data is from my Lyman 3rd Edition Cast Bullet Handbook:
38SPL, 92gr. (Linotype) 1.456" OAL
700X
Start charge: 3.0grs.
Velocity: 675 FPS.
Pressure C.U.P.: 5,700
Max charge: *5.0grs.
Velocity: 1107 FPS.
Pressure C.U.P.: 15,700

357MAG, 92gr. (Linotype) 1.585" OAL
700X
Start charge: 6.0grs.
Velocity: 1206 FPS.
Pressure C.U.P.: 19,700
Max charge: *8.3grs.
Velocity: 1581 FPS.
Pressure C.U.P.: 41,500
*Designates potentially most accurate load.
Both were from a 4" barrel but there was differences in cases used, primers used, groove diameter and such. And of course using a different alloy for your cast will effect the given data. Differences in the shape of the cast boolit, even given the same weight will also effect the data (RN, Truncated Cone, SWC, WC, RN-FP).
This may give you something to start with if you start out with the start charges and work your way up. Don't go for max to start.

[wegriffin8642]

Thanks, great stuff. Your general observations make a lot of sense, seeing as how I cannot find load data for that small weight for a bullet in .38 or .357.

I have been using 700X to load .380s and 9X18s with the smaller bullet, and although the accuracy of the .92 grain is excellent in both calibers, both my Dillon and my RCBS set ups do not like to feed that powder as well as I like. So I just might use your data as a good starting point to try larger loads for 700X to get through the700X I have and use powders I have that are more "Dillon" friendly on the smaller Maks, 9mms, and .380s.

Of course the other solution is just to load a larger bullet in the .38/357 that will give me better results.

Getting older does not necessarily make you wiser.......

What's your favorite 700X load for the 92gr in .380? I've had good luck with .380/92gr/LRN/3.7 Unique.