Reloading 38 Special with 9mm bullets

[@hardball107]

I also use 9mm bullets in my 38 Special's. I cast my own bullets so I use a Lee mould and drop a .356 bullet and powder coat it. The coating adds .001" to .0015" and they shoot great in my pistols, especially my S&W 642. Measure the bores on your revolvers, my 642 has .355 bores in it's cylinder so it shoots just fine. I also bought a 38 Special taper crimp die, I imagine you could use a 9mm die and IMHO it really wouldn't make much difference, they work fine. I have a Lee FCD for 38/357 and it would crimp plated bullets but was difficult on jacketed. I shoot medium loads mostly in the 850+ fps range with CFE Pistol powder and I don't even resize the cases, just decap with a Frankford Arsenal Hand Deprime tool, reprime, add powder and set a bullet in the case and taper crimp. The brass lasts forever (I have some that has been reloaded 20 times or more) because you're not working the case by skipping the resize and expanding steps and it's also very fast and I never had a bullet jump a crimp.

[@30-06john]

Looks like you have a good system there! Yeah, keeping the loads mild has the brass lasting many reloads. Hey, thanks for the comments and watching!

[@williamgaines9784]

The lead bullets, if not cast super hard, will deform enough to fill the grooves. Even jacketed should. That was one of the reasons hollow based bullets were made, that a good tight fit to the grooves would occur. For practice, or even small game/pest bullets, the 9mm would work fine in 38 spl or 357 as long as one keeps the velocity of those plated bullets within spec. One can't shoot what one doesn't have.😉

[@30-06john]

Absolutely! I just wanted to show that one can use 9mm bullets for reloading 38 Special so that we can still shoot during these times for shortages. Thanks for watching!

[@R.E.Parker]

I was doing this 30+ years ago using Sierra JHP bullets. Never had a problem. Lee Juras with SuperVel got this started...higher velocities/lower pressures. Works fine but work up your loads carefully and watch for signs of excessive pressure.

[@30-06john]

Yep, works pretty good, but I am using 38 special load data with equivalent 9mm bullets. Not trying for hot loads. Thanks for watching!

[@mckwilly]

awesome to be able to improvise and continue the hobbies, component availability is better than few months ago, but we got alot more to endure

[@30-06john]

I agree! Thanks for watching!

[@freedom-vc9wi]

You bet i found powder and primers today and a ton of reloading supplies

[@rbm6184]

I have loaded some 9mm in my .38Spl. because the .357 diameter 115gr. LRN polymer coated did not shoot well in my 9mm pistols. With the right size diameter for .38Spl. I decided to use them rather than let them sit unused. Since polymer and powder coated lead bullets can be shot to higher velocities I used the Hornady load data for 110gr. JHP using Unique powder. It is essentially the same load as I use for my 9mm reloads but at a lower velocity. I do use a lower or mild velocity charge for my pistol reloads. I agree with your best results. That lower powder charge is just right and pretty close to what I use.

[@30-06john]

Yep, works pretty good! Thanks for watching!

[@SCSlimBoiseID]

It certainly will work. The popular notion that a 1/1000th of an inch too small bullet will "rattle down the barrel" probably belongs in the realm of mythology. I've done it and obtained reasonable accuracy at combat distances. If you could recover a fired bullet and check it for rifling striations, it might serve as a mythbuster of sorts. Pressure would probably be somewhat less and velocity might be pretty close to what's published - maybe a bit higher, which could account for groups printing lower than point-of-aim. Switching things up the other way might be interesting - probably doable, but I'd want to use a jacketed .357 diameter slug rather than .358, in a weight that was around the 115 grains that is sort of standard for the 9mm Luger cartridge, and I'd back off on the powder charge too - maybe start down at the bottom of the tables. Nice video! Cheers.

[@30-06john]

That would be interesting to use .38 bullets in a 9mm, maybe in the future! Hey, thanks for the comments and watching!

[@UncleDuncan5092]

Good video for proving the concept by comparing the results on paper.

[@30-06john]

Thanks! Glad you found it useful.

[@michaelhenderson5098]

Thanks for posting this video. I just finished loading some 38 Special for my Ruger revolver. I used Berry's 124gr Round Nose, and some Hornady 124gr JHP like you did. My intentions were to go to the range which is fairly close by, but it is raining! :( Before loading any more, I want to do a test shot or two!

[@30-06john]

Glad you found it useful!

[@Russianpaintrain]

Its been working for the past 53 years , accuracy's been fine.

[@30-06john]

Yep, works fine!

[@boozeandbullets2084]

Cool test results

[@30-06john]

Thanks! I might try using regular jacketed bullets in a week or two.

[@emoryzakin2576]

Man thanks for confirming this idea I’ve got a ton of berrys 147s and just picked up a 357 I’m dying to shoot! Mucho gracias!!

[@30-06john]

Thanks, glad you found the info useful!

[@emoryzakin2576]

And putting it to use tonight, I’ll definitely let you know how it goes!

[@ChineloBelico]

So how did it go?

[@emoryzakin2576]

@@ChineloBelico kinda disappointed, at least compared to fmj. But my bulldog has a short barrel and apparently only likes light bullets. 2 years later this is what I've learned lol

[@ChineloBelico]

6 inch 357, 7gn longshot and same bullets... let's see if the longer barrel do a better job. 😬

[@USAACbrat]

Hi John, I am running low on 125 Berry's 357's I shot 5.0g HP-38, in 357 Magnum cases with Mag pistol primers. I measured the base of a slugged 125g .03510 barrel dia. Speed was the problem 28-2 6.5 inch bbl.

[@30-06john]

Since it is a .357M revolver, try a bit hotter load. I am not sure of how accurate it can get using 9mm bullets at 25 yards. Good luck!

[@sylviacandler5541]

I use 9mm 124 and 125g Gold dots in the 38 special with top end loads of AA#5. These loads are very, very accurate in the Taurus 85, S&W 60, and Combat master piece

[@30-06john]

Thanks for the info, and thanks for watching!

[@Hisslave1]

Make do with what you've got. Accuracy does not seem to suffer at all either. I've been using small rifle primers in pistol cases and they work just fine too.

[@30-06john]

Thanks! I might have to try using small rifle primers!

[@brycet6866]

Seillor and Belloit uses 9mm .356 in their range ammo for .38 and 357. No sure what powder they use in either , I remember reading somewhere that they used to use herco, but the stuff they use now looks more like 231 or maybe AA 2,5

[@30-06john]

Thanks for the info, and watching!

[@ejsocci2630]

Thank you for sharing this information

[@30-06john]

No problem, and thanks for watching!

[@ericlaird7508]

John ,thank you for the info and taking the time to share this video..I was wondering since it's only 1000th off maybe I could get away with loading 9mm in a pinch.....you answered my question....KEEP ON ROCKING IT!...30-06JOHN,GUNS AND RELOADING..........

[@30-06john]

Eric, Thanks! That is exactly why I made this video. Glad you found it useful! John

[@ericlaird7508]

John, I have a question ,because of our current situation...components are becoming a little hard to find.... is it possible to load (.355) 9mm in .38 without hot gassing the bullet and leading the barrel... because of the 2 thousands differance?.....also would it be unsafe?

[@30-06john]

I think you are talking about using lead bullets, not plated or jacketed, correct? I would say using a hard cast bullet you will be OK. Using a soft lead, or swaged lead bullet, you would want to check, clean the barrel more often. Some powders burn hotter, like Lil'gun, but that really is not a 38 Special powder. Using normal 38 Special powders and loads I think is OK. Hey thanks for the question and watching!

[@markgotschall2914]

I buy the Berrys 357 125 target bullets and load them as is for the 38, size them down to 356 for my 9mm, saves having a lot of different bullets on hand.

[@30-06john]

Great idea, and thanks for watching!

[@seantu1496]

When it comes down to it, if you measured the bullets as you take them out of the packaging while loading, there will be a lot more than a +/-.001 variance through the bulk box of the things, with some being under and others over spec. More of a concern is the actual length of the bullet, and what you are loading for COL and the actual volume in the casing, but if you use some common sense and start with a light load and work your way up you'll be fine.

[@30-06john]

Yeah, the actual case capacity and not seating the bullet too deep is important. Hey, thanks for watching!

[@USAACbrat]

I am shooting 115gr 9mm Berrys round nose, thing I will tr about 850-900fps. I am shooting on a rifle range and to shoot there it has to be Mag. cases and 25 yds is minimum. Book values, spent the chrono money on reloading bullets and primers.

[@30-06john]

Yeah, accuracy might be poor with those limitations. You can try a litter hotter load since it is 357M.

[@johnwalters7415]

They are still close enough to use for self-defense if it cams down to. Better than not having anything

[@30-06john]

Yep, have to keep shooting!

[@DummyRound]

Great stuff 👍 I was always curious how well that might work

[@30-06john]

Thanks! In a week or two, I might try regular jacketed bullets instead of copper plated lead and see how they work!

[@eddiemiranda1224]

They work just fine. Did this year's ago.

[@30-06john]

Yep! Thanks for watching!

[@randybichsel4244]

I do it all the time, I use ACME bullets polymer coated love em...

[@30-06john]

Yep, works pretty good! Merry Christmas and thanks for watching!

[@magnum_0710]

I just tried this, I got a bunch of pulled/blemished HSTs and wanted to load them in 38/357. The 124s worked but the 147s didnt work too good. Itd probably work better with a different set up but im using a Lee Classic loader. At least I know they'll work in a pinch

[@30-06john]

Yeah, what I did was a quick test, so results will vary. Thanks for your info and watching!

[@garyK.45ACP]

I just discovered your channel and your videos look interesting. Subscribed. 👍

[@30-06john]

Thanks for subscribing! If there is any topic that you are interested in, let me know and I'll see if I can work and schedule a video on it!

[@bustabass9025]

I bought some Berry's 9mm .356 dia. 124 grain flat nose bullets. They will not shoot in my Taurus g3x for love nor money. They will function in my Glock 43. Gonna give 'em a go in my 38 Special handloads with some HP38, see what I come up with.

[@30-06john]

Hope it works for you, let me know!

[@juantoomany7202]

That .001 means nothing as you probably well know sir. You will find greater differences in bore dimensions between manufacturers for the same cartridge. (If .001 mattered much every smle on the planet would have exploded by now 😈)

[@30-06john]

Absolutely! I just wanted to show everyone that in this time of shortages, there are options so one can reload and shoot. Thanks for watching!

[@cuda4094]

​@@30-06johncan I use 9mmm for a 357?

[@30-06john]

Probably. Many variables but I think a load can be worked out, just follow standard loading guides for working up a load. @@cuda4094

[@cuda4094]

@@30-06john Thx

[@USAACbrat]

I tried this 115g Berrys, hitting sideways at 25 yds. need more powder?

[@30-06john]

I shot at 7 yards, I think. 25 yards is sort of far and there might be a stability problem. Did you chronograph the load? I assume loading 38 Special? Maybe a tad more powder to get it to standard 38 special or +P velocity. I hope this helps.

[@richarddavenport9708]

Very good to know! Thanks

[@30-06john]

Glad you found the video useful and thanks!

[@gvet47]

I have found some bullets do not always measure to match the label listing. I would push one of the bullets on the crimp stage to insure it holds.

[@30-06john]

That is very true, have to check after crimping! Thanks for watching!

[@billmaynard9234]

John, thanks for informative video. What brand power scale are you using, where did you purchase it and do you like it?

[@30-06john]

Thanks! I am using an inexpensive Lyman powder scale, about $70.00. I would get one a bit better, this one is OK but sometimes finicky. Hey, thanks for watching, glad you found it useful!

[@LEXxTALIONS7913]

Hi. I want to do the same but is possible to use the primary of the 9mm bullets and powder? Sorry my English. But in my case is I have a lot of 9mm ammo and I'm short on .32H&R magnum so I'm wondering if I can use the max of my 9mm ammo to convert in .32H&R magnum, in my country .32H&R magnum at the time is very hard to find, in fact is hard to find almost any tipe of ammo except shotgun shells!!!!! Is for my Ruger Sp101 in .32H&R magnum and my S&W 16-4 also in .32H&R magnum.

[@30-06john]

It is hard to understand exactly what you are saying. Your issue is that you have a lot of 9mm, but need 32H&R magnum. 9mm bullets are too large in diameter to use in the 32H&R magnum. There is no way to make the 9mm cases work in the 32H&R mag. The powder can, theoretically be used, but you need to know exactly what type of powder it is. Unsafe to try to guess the powder charge. The 9mm and 32H&R magnum both use small pistol primers. Sorry that I can not be more helpful.

[@LEXxTALIONS7913]

@@30-06john thank you for the answer, and sorry for my English. I don't want to use the case of the 9mm, I just want to use the powder and primary of the 9mm because I have a lot of 32H&R magnum used cases, and I can't buy in my country because there isn't for sale! But I understand that maybe is a high risk and I don't want to destroy my guns! The Ruger Sp101 isn't very expensive but my S&W is very expensive. Maybe is better to wait for the 32H&R magnum back to sell! Just hope don't take to long I only have 120 bullets!!!!

[@tonyholden1469]

Have you reloaded any 357’s with the HSN wadcutters?

[@30-06john]

I think you mean HSM wadcutters. I have used some of their others bullets in the past, worked OK.

[@30-06john]

I just realized that I had a box of HSM bullets in the video. Those are not a true wadcutter, more of a flattened round nose. I probably used them for a mid power 357 magnum load in the past, but I really cannot remember.

[@tonyholden1469]

@@30-06john yes, HSM bullets. I’m having a hard time finding some load data for the 357 with 158 grain wadcutters using HSM bullets. Was hoping you had reloaded them before.

[@30-06john]

I would use load data similar to a lead or jacketed bullet. My HSM bullets are a copper plated lead. Per Berrys Bullets that make a similar bullet, that is their recommendation per their website. Also not to get velocities higher than 1250fps. I would use mid power loads from a standard load manual like Hornady, Lyman or Hodgdon. I hope this helps.

[@Zzoro1987]

Live in the middle of a communist state, this little trick will help me a lot

[@30-06john]

Yep, works pretty good! I have another more recent video on this topic also. I hope this helps and thanks for watching!

[@williamgreene5488]

How did it do ?

[@30-06john]

Sorry for the late reply, I somehow missed your question. They work fine, especially the heavier bullets. Thanks for watching!

[@sawdustwhisper9397]

Dude take a drink of water for Christ sake

[@randyemenhiser2573]

Put in some "podder"

[@30-06john]

Podder is podder!