Need Data for 38 Special Oregon Trail Cast Bullets

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I'm loading up some 38 Specials for a buddy of mine and he gave me these Oregon Trail Laser Cast 125gr FN bullets to use. Does anyone have any data for these using Bullseye powder? Maybe just use FMJ data?

 

[Hombre0321]

The old target load for the 130 grain hard cast wadcutter was just 2 grains of bullseye. This simple load has won many of a handgun accuracy match. Might be a place to start.

Using FMJ load information with a cast bullet could be tricky ( notice I SAID "could"). If you get to heavy handed and get those cast bullets wound up and moving to quick you can get Nose Slump depending on just how hard they are.

Good Luck
Roland

 

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Wow, that's a big difference. I looked at Hornady's data for their data of the 125gr XTP and it was 4.5gr to I believe 5.3gr. I was thinking of trying out 4.7gr with a OAL of 1.450

 

[artbosco]

I'm loading up some 38 Specials for a buddy of mine and he gave me these Oregon Trail Laser Cast 125gr FN bullets to use. Does anyone have any data for these using Bullseye powder? Maybe just use FMJ data?

Oregon Trail will give you lots of data for all their bullets. For Free! Just call. FMJ data is a little too warm for cast. Cast data is OK for plated.

 

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I'll call them on Monday. Thanks

 

[Hombre0321]

I completely agree about the 2 grain load being a little on the wimpy side. I am just relating the information that it was a very successful loading for target work a few years ago. This load was in the Sierra, and Hornady reloading manuals for several years if I remember correctly.

RS

 

[bheadboy]

fro years the 148gr dewc cast load for bullesy target comp was 2.7gr bulleye powder with a firm crimp.

the lighter bullet should do well with 2.4-2.5.gr

Bob

 

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Thanks for the info, I'll keep that in mind when I call them up.

 

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Man, I can not find any load data in any of my books for 125gr LC bullets. Maybe because I have the newest editions? I've got Hornady, Lyman, Sierra and Speer.

 

[bheadboy]

Thumb,

my 1973 fLymqn has the following for 121 cast, no doubt the extra 4 gr are nominal

these are min-max loads

bullesye 3.4-4.6
uniq 4.5-5.7
700x 3.4-4.2

they recommend the 358429 keith style 168gr as favorite hunting and I found it to be great target as well with moderate loads

just remember the light cast bullets will have the short bearing surface thus may not shoot as well as heavier longer bullets, the Keith have a long bearing surface for the weight.

Bob

 

[Thumb]

Thumb,

my 1973 fLymqn has the following for 121 cast, no doubt the extra 4 gr are nominal

these are min-max loads

bullesye 3.4-4.6
uniq 4.5-5.7
700x 3.4-4.2

they recommend the 358429 keith style 168gr as favorite hunting and I found it to be great target as well with moderate loads

just remember the light cast bullets will have the short bearing surface thus may not shoot as well as heavier longer bullets, the Keith have a long bearing surface for the weight.

Bob

Thanks, Here are a couple pics with one of the bullet itself and the other the bullet in the case with a crimp. The length of the bullet itself is .581". Does that look like a short bearing surface compared to the Keith bullets?

Did your book give an OAL for that load of 3.4gr to 4.6gr of Bullseye?

Forgot to say the friend that will be shooting these is a so-so shooter so precise accurate loads are not required, he just wants to shoot some paper and that's it.

 

[bheadboy]

Thumb,

I expect if you measure the front ring dia it is below the two where the grease grove is, the beveled base reduces the bearing surface and in that is a negative,

this is not a bullet I would choose for any shooting other than to go bang. go to the Lyman page and look a their choice for .38 in the 155-170 gr range. preference the 170 Keith design with moderate load.

Bob

 

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Yes, it's not what I would shoot either but it's what he gave me. I usually shoot no lower than 158gr myself. For now as long as it goes bang and he can hit paper at 10 yards he will be happy, heck he's happy if he hits 5 out of 10!

I'll load up a few and if they go bang I'll load them up and tell him not to buy these any more.

Thanks for your input

 

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I went to the range today and tested out some loads using Bullseye with 2.7gr to 3.7gr using the 125gr O Trail bullets and all shot well in my Ruger Security Six. At 20' I hit paper 22 out of 24 shots and that was an 8" x 11" paper. That will be plenty good for my friend to shoot so I'll load up around 3.0gr just to make sure they go bang in all his revolvers. Oh and the OAL was 1.450

Thanks for all your input.