Recommendations for .38 and .357 mag

[Darryl Moore]

For a Big Boy X, which grain bullet is recommended by the forum in .38 sp and .357 mag? (ex. 158 gr)

[BigAl52]

Most guys on here shoot at least the 158gr. Roze Dist Zero Bullets is a good place to get jacket bullets in that size cheap if you reload. They are a good plinking bullet and Berrys along with Xtreme make great copper plated bullets if you dont want to use lead for plinkin. Copper plated bullets need to be shot at lead bullet velocitys. Some guys are using Missouri Cast Bullets and using the 180 grain Pugnose bullet. Most of us who order MCB bullets are using there coated version and they work real well. Finding factory 357 ammo right now can be a challenge and expensive. Try Ammoseek if you are looking to buy online. Welcome to the forum

[Travlin]

I have Lyman moulds for 158 gr. semiwadcutter and 148 gr. full wadcutter bullets, a Lyman lead pot and lots of number 2 alloy. This combination has kept my .357 shooting since 1969.

[JEBar]

agree with BigAl52 .... ours fires everything we've fed it but it excels with 158's

[Hatchdog]

If you decide to shoot jacketed bullets the Hornady 158 XTP shoots very well in mine. Reloaded of course, buying factory ammo with the XTP would be very expensive.

[Oldbrass]

Mine shoots 158 very well, Sierra JSP and Hornady XTP both over W296...these also work wonderful in my Ruger GP100

[Steve51]

I have the Henry Steel .357 (20" barrel). I only shoot .357 magnum loads in mine.
I have settled on two loads, depending on availability of powder. My preferred load is a Hornady 158 gr. XTP JHP over 14.5 grains of 2400. If 2400 is not available, I use the same bullet over 14.2 grains of AA#9. I do not use magnum primers for these loads.
I do not shoot .38 specials in this rifle.

[Shakey Jake]

I shoot Nosler 158 gr in mine. Yeah, a bit more expensive but they're good.
Jake

[Rifletom]

In my BB Classic with 20" barrel: 158gr Missouri cast coated with 13.5gr 2400.
180gr Missouri cast coated with 11.5gr 2400. These are rnfp.
A new load has developed: 158gr Missouri rnfp with 6.0gr Universal. This seems to be an exceptional load.
There you go. But, hard to beat that 180 load.