coated lead bullets

[dolphin62]

Has anyone ever used these bullets. I was thinking of trying some to shoot out of my .38 revolver. The question I have is.....will they prevent or help decrease the amount of leading. I know with cast bullets if you go over a certain velocity with a certain bhn hardness you will get leading I have read. I was just woundering if these would help with that.

[revchuck38]

I've used coated bullets in .38 Special, 9x19 and .45 ACP. They eliminate both the leading and the smoke from the lube. I'm currently loading the last of my uncoated bullets and in the future will only order uncoated when the bullets I need aren't available coated.

[GuanoLoco]

Use them with confidence and strong preference. I’ve loaded many 10’s of thousands in 9mm and maybe 100 in .38.

No leading.

You aren’t going to have any issues with velocity in .38spl

[Jared]

I'll never go back to non coated again unless there's an extremely compelling reason (like some stupid law making the coating illegal, which I do not anticipate).

[LittleLebowski]

https://pistol-forum.com/showthread.php?21576-Sell-me-on-coated-hard-cast-lead-bullets

[NH Shooter]

A long time ago I used to load .38 Special target loads with copper-plated double-ended wadcutters. No lead fouling, good accuracy.

[Peally]

They're quite popular in competition and you shouldn't see any particularly standout negatives.

[Clusterfrack]

I’ve had good luck with SNS and Bluebullets. I wouldn’t say zero leading, but nothing a light scrubbing after 3k rounds can’t take care of.

[NH Shooter]

Haven't loaded .38s in decades, but these look good;

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1018181724/berrys-superior-plated-bullets-38-caliber-357-diameter-148-grain-plated-double-ended-wadcutter

[cheby]

I have shot close to 200K of various coated bullets. They are not all the same. Some (SNS or Bluebullets) are better than others. I have had some bad problems (leading) with others if I over-crimped them. One advice with all of them - do not use Lee sitting dies (Or any others that crimp simultaneously with sitting). It is difficult to adjust it to avoid the crimping. As soon as I ditched the die and started using Dillon's, the leading problem was solved.

[358156hp]

I cast & powdercoat my own. The accuracy is adequate for most purposes, although I don't think I'd shoot a bullseye match with powdercoated. Since I cast, I can pretty much make anything I want, anyway I want it. For example I waterdrop my PC bullets from the oven to harden them to please my 357 SIG. I usually don't bother with 9mm though.

[dolphin62]

They're quite popular in competition and you shouldn't see any particularly standout negatives.

Well thank you for the response......hey do you want to sell that dog?

[Peally]

Well thank you for the response......hey do you want to sell that dog?

I'd imagine it's like kids. Normally no but some days yes.

[Wyoming Shooter]

I've been thinking about some of these in 38/357: http://www.bayoubullets.net. Thoughts?

[LittleLebowski]

Well thank you for the response......hey do you want to sell that dog?

Before you ask, Peally doesn't rent pigs either. I've asked :(

[LittleLebowski]

I've been thinking about some of these in 38/357: http://www.bayoubullets.net. Thoughts?

Good to go. I use Leatherheads (http://leatherheadbullets.com/) since one of the owners is a member here and they are really good about supporting their stuff, even working with you on reloading tips but BBs are good to go.

[BN]

I've been thinking about some of these in 38/357: http://www.bayoubullets.net. Thoughts?

I've probably shot over 20,000 Bayou Bullets, mostly 9mm, but a couple thousand .38's. My favorite .38 plinking load is the Bayou 138 grain wad cutter over 3.0 of Bullseye.

[GuanoLoco]

I've been thinking about some of these in 38/357: http://www.bayoubullets.net. Thoughts?

Bayou is good to go.

[nate89]

I shoot 10-15k a year of coated bullets in 9mm with no issues. They are accurate enough for me, reliable, and I see no reason to go back.

[Gio]

I've been thinking about some of these in 38/357: http://www.bayoubullets.net. Thoughts?

Disclaimer, I am sponsored by Bayou, but I was using his bullets long before the sponsorship. Bayou's are excellent and provide great accuracy/consistency and are in line with prices from most other popular coated bullet manufacturers. They also ship out extremely fast...if you order them on a Monday you'll usually have them by Thursday or Friday.

[Trooper224]

I use them routinely in almost all handgun rounds. I've pushed coated bullets from Bayoux to 1200 fps in the .357 magnum with excellent results.

[ranger]

I load and shoot the Bayou Bullets in my 9mm. Good to go.

[Wyoming Shooter]

Thanks gentlemen. I just ordered 1000 135 grain 38/357 bullets from Bayou. Any suggestions for a training load powder charge? Best, ELN.

[LittleLebowski]

Thanks gentlemen. I just ordered 1000 135 grain 38/357 bullets from Bayou. Any suggestions for a training load powder charge? Best, ELN.

Need more details, powder, gun, etc.

[Wyoming Shooter]

Need more details, powder, gun, etc.

Well, since you asked: S&W 65 3", S&W 66 2.5", S&W 642, S&W 27 6", and Ruger GP100MC. I haven't reloaded 38/357 in many years. My hope is to find something that will be accurate and fairly soft to shoot on paper and steel out to max 50 yards. Fire away!

[Wyoming Shooter]

No kidding! Ordered 1000 38/357 135 grain on 1/9/2018. Received in WY on 1/12/2018.


Disclaimer, I am sponsored by Bayou, but I was using his bullets long before the sponsorship. Bayou's are excellent and provide great accuracy/consistency and are in line with prices from most other popular coated bullet manufacturers. They also ship out extremely fast...if you order them on a Monday you'll usually have them by Thursday or Friday.

[theblacknight]

All of your modern coated stuff is great.

I send my dad a small flat rate of the 158gr semi wads for his birthday. I've shot enough of his thru his mid 80's 4" 686 square butt to know they work great and are lazer beams out of those guns. He likes not dealing with wax and smoke. https://www.thebluebullets.com/product-p/1mfr-158-38.htm

[deputyG23]

Thanks gentlemen. I just ordered 1000 135 grain 38/357 bullets from Bayou. Any suggestions for a training load powder charge? Best, ELN.

3.6 grains of WST yields about 775 FPS out of a 4” GP-100 and 725 FPS out of my ‘49 2” S&W M&P.
For a +P equivalent practice load that is still a standard .38 pressure load according to the data, try 4.6 grains of BE-86 which gives a MV of 880 FPS out of the same .38 GP-100 and 772 FPS our of a 2” S&W M60.
Bullet is 158 grain Georgia Arms cast SWC.

[Jim Watson]

Thanks gentlemen. I just ordered 1000 135 grain 38/357 bullets from Bayou. Any suggestions for a training load powder charge? Best, ELN.

Do you have any gunpowder on hand? No need to reinvent the wheel and send you to the store looking for Brand X when you have the satisfactory Acme on hand.

[45dotACP]

Any coated full wadcutter profile bullets for .38?

EDIT: Nevermind, SNS casting sells them.