38 HP bullet

[terry]

  I have been doing alot of reloading for a new S&W 357 performance center hunting pistol and lever action cowboy rifle I bought to play with. I have been shooting coyotes and other varmints with both rigs on the weekends even though it's starting to get to hot with summer going full blast now. Right now I have hot loaded 180gr cast flat points and 158gr softpoints loaded and was thinking of loading a Some 38 special light recoiling 158gr HP load that would still expand at around 900fps giveing me alittle more damage for those tough top drop coyotes. I was wondering if any one new if the gold dot 158gr or Sierra Bullets 38cal 158gr JHC would still expand at around 900 to 1000fps impact speed? Both those reloading bullets are in stock here in town.

[Jerry Lester]

Either of those bullets will expand at the lower impact velocities on game the size of coons, and groundhogs or bigger. Personally though, for coyotes, I don't think they're the best choice. I'd use 125g, or 140g XTP-HPs myself. The 140g XTP's are hands down the most consistantly accurate bullet I've ever seen. They also can be very destructive at high end revolver velocities or rifle velocities. The 125g XTP-HPs are absolutely brutal on varmints at nearly any impact velocity, and have also proven very accurate in a wide range of 357/38 loads for me, and others I've loaded for.

If you'll work up a load with the 125g XTP-HPs running around 1400+ fps in that revolver, it'll likely give you(depending on the powder) around 1600-1900 fps in your rifle. It'll be impressive to say the least on varmints of any size, and will have very light recoil to boot.

The Remington "Golden Sabre" .357 bullets are designed for two different velocity ranges(357 magnum, and 38 special). These bullets are extremely explosive, but have given me less than decent accuracy in several different guns.

Last, but not least, the 125g, and 140g Remington bulk HP's are pretty daggone accurate, and expand very nicely at impact velocities as low as 500 fps.

[Larry Gibson]

  I have been doing alot of reloading for a new S&W 357 performance center hunting pistol and lever action cowboy rifle I bought to play with. I have been shooting coyotes and other varmints with both rigs on the weekends even though it's starting to get to hot with summer going full blast now. Right now I have hot loaded 180gr cast flat points and 158gr softpoints loaded and was thinking of loading a Some 38 special light recoiling 158gr HP load that would still expand at around 900fps giveing me alittle more damage for those tough top drop coyotes. I was wondering if any one new if the gold dot 158gr or Sierra Bullets 38cal 158gr JHC would still expand at around 900 to 1000fps impact speed? Both those reloading bullets are in stock here in town.

I concur with Jerry, the 125s are what you want. I've shot numerous 'yotes with the heavier bullets with varied success. The 125s are markedly superior especially with 6"+ revolver barrels. I push the Winchester 125 and the FP/XTP at 1690 with Bluedot out of my 6" Ruger Security Six.  That load is over 2000 fps out of 20" carbines. It is a very accurate load and will upset a 'yotes whole day.  Winchester and Fed 125 HPs run 1490-1500 fps out of the 6" Ruger and do fine for factory loads. The recoil is there but it is manageable. For a light recoiling load try the Remington 110 gr HP around 1400-1500 fps. It also performs well on 'yotes (and other vermin).

Larry Gibson