358311

[Mainiac]

I am back to working on my 14 smith,,38 special.
Shot some impressive groups today,with this old ideal 358311.
Id forgot how good this thing shoots!!
So i had to make 4-500,to keep testing.sometimes its nice to go back old school,and find this stuff still works,spendid!

 

[richhodg66]

The first mold I ever bought (not given to me by Dad) was a single cavity 358311. I still have it. Casts well and it is an accurate bullet. Quite a good plinker in .35 caliber rifles too.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The Model 14 brings a lot of good traits together to make an overall great gun.

A LRN bullet of about 160 grains, like the 358311, is a good match for that fantastic revolver.

 

[Bazoo]

It's an underrated bullet for sure. I've always wanted a 38 Combat Masterpiece, model 15. They just have the right look to me. The closest I've came was a Smith model 10 and a 66. My wife has a no dash 686, which I get to play with to my heart's content, though I've not tried the 358311 in it yet.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

It's an underrated bullet for sure. I've always wanted a 38 Combat Masterpiece, model 15. They just have the right look to me. The closest I've came was a Smith model 10 and a 66. My wife has a no dash 686, which I get to play with to my heart's content, though I've not tried the 358311 in it yet.

The Combat Masterpiece (Model 15) is, for all practical purposes, a Model 14 with a 4” barrel. A cool gun with far more refinement than first meets the eye.

 

[RicinYakima]

It's an underrated bullet for sure. I've always wanted a 38 Combat Masterpiece, model 15. They just have the right look to me. The closest I've came was a Smith model 10 and a 66. My wife has a no dash 686, which I get to play with to my heart's content, though I've not tried the 358311 in it yet.

The gun in my bedroom is a pre-model 15 Combat Masterpiece and it is literally a K-38 with a pencil barrel. It has the trigger stop, 5 screws and wide hammer. I have owned it for more than 45 years and is one of the last guns I would sell. Unfortunately, my kids have no interest in revolvers.

 

[Mitty38]

462 gifted me an old 358311 when I first started casting, and farly new to loading. Had a lot of bullets gifted me.
So cast a few, tumble lubed some, powder coated some. Got nothing stellar. Then moved on.

Recently went back to it. Cast about 500 or so, and did the old Vaseline, STP, Paraffin, pan lube. Now it is one of my favorites.
In a 6" barrel 38 special with 4.6 grain of Unique it just shines.

 

[Mitty38]

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The gun in my bedroom is a pre-model 15 Combat Masterpiece and it is literally a K-38 with a pencil barrel. It has the trigger stop, 5 screws and wide hammer. I have owned it for more than 45 years and is one of the last guns I would sell. ........

I had the same model gun. Pre model-15, 5 screw, target trigger, target hammer, trigger stop.
I couldn't mesh with that wide serrated target trigger and couldn't bring myself to modify such a fine example of an old 5-screw K-frame. Sold it and got a like new, in the box, model 15 that was made in 1970.
Promptly pulled the narrow trigger out, ground the serrated trigger face smooth and polished it. Re-blued it, put it back togther and now have what is the perfect model 15 for me.

 

[Bazoo]

The gun in my bedroom is a pre-model 15 Combat Masterpiece and it is literally a K-38 with a pencil barrel. It has the trigger stop, 5 screws and wide hammer. I have owned it for more than 45 years and is one of the last guns I would sell. Unfortunately, my kids have no interest in revolvers.

Sad. I'd be inclined to take "dads AR15" down to the gun store and trade it on a revolver. I guess I wouldn't really if my dad had left me any guns. but new stuff doesn't resonate with me nearly as much as revolvers.

 

[Bazoo]

View attachment 36828

Good looking round with a healthy crimp.

 

[CWLONGSHOT]

I like the looks of the 358 for 95 a little better. But I've never been around those fan and handguns. Kind of odd because I really like them in rifle bullets.

 

[Mainiac]

The ol 311 clearly outshot the 148 wadcutter today!!!
Love this old stuff!

 

[RicinYakima]

Wadcutters were not designed to be more accurate, but to cut full value holes in the target paper.

 

[Walks]

I gave up casting .38cal WC's years ago, as I couldn't cast a more accurate bullet then the Hornady 148gr Swaged WC.
My old M14 loves the old standard load of 2.8grs of Bullseye.
In the days of My long ago youth, when the eyes were clear and the hands strong and steady, one hole groups were often the result.

 

[Petrol & Powder]

The ol 311 clearly outshot the 148 wadcutter today!!!
Love this old stuff!

A lead round nosed bullet of about 155-160 grains has been “THE” ubiquitous loading for the 38 Special since the origin of the 38 Special. That bullet is unquestionably a good choice for excellent accuracy in 38 Special loads.

As others have pointed out, the wadcutter is not more inherently accurate than a round nose (a fact you observed) but it cuts clean, full-size holes in targets. Because target scoring rules reward higher values if the bullet hole even touches the next higher scoring ring – there’s real advantage to those clean wadcutter bullet holes in Bullseye matches.

At the typical ranges that wadcutters are used, the well-defined bullet holes are a greater overall advantage than the slight bit of increased accuracy from a round nose bullet.

 

[Mitty38]

Yep, I use 128 grain SWC in powder puff loads at 7 to 10 yards.
And the 358-311 160 grain. 38 spcl. full load at 10 to 25 yards.

Beyond that 358311 in 357 Magnum H110 load.6 inch barrel.
I can with a pistol scope and bench or rest, ring a 24 inch gong at 100 yards almost every time.

 

[JWinAZ]

Looks like I'll have to try the 358311 for my S&W .38s. My first CF handgun was a Model 15 purchased used for $165 at my LGS. A 1961 vintage gun. It had been carried a bit, cared for, and not shot much. My wife used it in a self-defense class and appropriated it as her own.

 

[Mainiac]

Shooting more splendidly tight groups with this bullet.
Now,i have to test if it will shoot as well as the lee105swc,,,that little thing is amazing,in this 14.

 

[Creeker]

The 311 is very accurate.