The late, great gun writer Skeeter Skelton wrote quite a bit about using the Lyman 358156 cast bullet in .38 Special cases, but for use only in .357 Magnum revolvers.
You will find it in Handloader's Digest, 8th edition, copyright 1978.
AGAIN, this load should only be used in .357 Magnum revolvers. It is DANGEROUS to use it in any .38 Special revolver or rifle.
Skelton noted that his calculations showed that a standard .357 Magnum case with the 358156 crimped in the upper crimping groove created a case volume of about .0725 inch.
With the same bullet crimped in its lower groove in a .38 Special case, the case volume was about .069 inch.
"This means that the .38 Special version only about 5 percent less capacity than the .357 Magnum," he wrote.
Skelton also warned against using brass that had been fired more than a couple of times. He once used much-fired brass with two cannelures, formerly wadcutter ammo, and reported that the case separated at the canellure, leaving the forward part of the case in the chamber.
"As new a lot of brass as you have available is best -- preferably uncannelured. After two or three firings of these heavy loads, reserve the used brass for standard or light .38 Special loads," Skelton noted.
THE RECIPE
Lyman 358156 bullet, cast about 1 part tin to 15 parts lead. Skelton used a hollowpoint mould, which threw bullets close to 150 grains. He later acquired a mould for a solid bullet, which weighs slightly more.
Lyman 35-caliber gas check on bullet's base.
New or once-fired .38 Special brass.
CCI standard small pistol primer.
Hercules 2400 powder --- 13.5 grs. Readers are warned that this was the OLD Hercules-made 2400. The newer 2400 made by Alliant is said to be slightly more powerful. Reduce your load to 13.0 grs. for the newer 2400.
Velocity from 6-inch barrel is about 1,200 feet per second.
Note: Seat the bullet to the second crimping groove. That is, crimp in the lower groove. Use a heavy crimp.
HOW ACCURATE?
Skelton praised the accuracy of this load:
"A 10-shot group of solids measured 1-3/8 inches at 20 yards. The hollowpoints went into a single 7/8 inch hole -- that is, seven of them did. Three flyers opened the group to 1-7/8 inches. I believe that this was because I had cast the bullets rather hurriedly."
"I've never hit on a load so utterly versatile and reliable," Skelton wrote. "While I prefer a larger-bore magnum for big game, I know this handload will do the job if I do my part. It has no superior on small and medium game taken with a revolver, and it is an outstanding cartridge for personal defense."
GATOFEO NOTES
Based on this article, back in 1978, I bought a Lyman 358156 bullet mould, of solid design. I use this bullet almost exclusively in my .38 Special and .357 Magnum revolvers.
I haven't found a need to purchase another mould of similar weight.
Interestingly, in a later article Skelton reported that this heavy load printed nearly to the same point of aim as the 148 gr. wadcutter load; close enough to not bother adjusting the sights.
My own experience bears this out. It's handy never having to change the sights, when switching between heavy-duty and light, plinking loads.
Ray Thompson designed the Lyman 358156 bullet back in the 1950s, when .357 Magnum brass was sometimes difficult to find. Its ability to deliver Magnum velocities with readily available .38 Special cases was, at the time, a boon to shooters.
Today there is little reason or need to load this bullet in .38 Special cases, as Skelton once did, because .357 Magnum brass is plentiful. In fact, I don't suggest you load it in .38 Special cases, as one may find its way into a .38 Special and strain or damage the gun.
However, the 358156 a very useful bullet in a .357 Magnum case too.
The Lyman Reloading Handbook No. 47 (1998) shows a maximum load with the 358156 that averages better than 1,350 feet per second from a 4-inch pressure barrel. This is a maximum load, producing 40,300 copper units of pressure.
The Lyman 358156 is old but hardly feeble. It's one of the most useful and accurate bullet designs out there.