Guess the only way I will find out for sure is to size up a few both ways and see which come up with the smaller group size. Lyman 358311 160gr Rn and Lyman 358091 148gr Wc... both cast from straight wheelweight. 4.6gr W-231 with either. S&W K-38 (1954 vintage) with 6" barrel.

Run 'em and see.

Based on my model 14, I'd slow down on that 148gr wadcutter below 4 gr of 231. My Lee TL 148gr wadcutter is my most accurate load. I shoot them unsized.

Will probably run from 3.0 to 5.0 gr by 2/10 increments of 231 with the wadcutter. I usually load around 25 of each and then take the average of five 5-shot groups.

If you can tell the difference in how .0005" smaller bullets shoot, you are a MUCH BETTER shot than I will ever be! Maybe if you Ransom Rest them or something but really, in normal shooting venues, you'll never know the difference.

If the bullet is soft enough to obdurate it won't matter. The bullet is going to become the size of the barrel anyway.

Go .001" and I'll bet you can't tell the difference either out to normal handgun ranges. More than that or too hard and too small could be a problem.

It'll be interesting to hear though. Post some pictures.

My gut feel tells me the size difference might have more impact on leading than on accuracy.

quote:

If you can tell the difference in how .0005" smaller bullets shoot, you are a MUCH BETTER shot than I will ever be! Maybe if you Ransom Rest them or something but really, in normal shooting venues, you'll never know the difference.

I tested some in a machine rest and could not tell a difference in accuracy or leading.

In my experience folks make too big an issue over sizing diameter. A cast lead bullet will squeeze down or bump up as needed. Provided of course you don't have some gross inconsistency in your gun, like one Ruger in 44/40 I encountered. It had a .429 groove diameter and .425 throats. It was a lead smearing machine. Once the bullets are squeezed down that much they don't bump back up to fit the bore. Lead rushes around the sides of the bullet and you smear lead down the bore.

On the other hand I have had revolvers with slightly undersize throats give acceptable accuracy. They squeeze down in the throats then bump back up enough for a good seal of the bore. For instance I have a 38/44HD that has .3565 throats but it will shoot a cast .357 or .358 bullet fine, provided that it isn't cast too hard. But it doesn't matter in this case if the bullet starts out .357 or .358 it is going to be resized in the throats anyway.

I think too many folks insist on a certain size being "better". It may be but not if you are going to have bullets resized in the throats.

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provided that it isn't cast too hard.

I believe that's the key to it Jessie. Most commercial bullets are way too hard, which isn't the case with TVBs, from what I understand.

Elmer thought a hard bullet was 1 part tin to 10 parts lead, which is only about 9% tin. His normal bullet was 1 to 16, which is more like 6% tin and antimony wasn't mentioned for either alloy.

Lyman says 1 to 10 is only 11.5 BHN, which is a far cry from the 20+ BHN usually encountered.

I like it when some of the folks I have high regard for agree with me!

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gross inconsistency in your gun, like one Ruger in 44/40 I encountered

My brother had the same experience. The gun was a Ruger "convertible"; with 44/40 & 44 mag cylinder.

Hmmmm, what's wrong with this.. .426 or .429... pick one.

I shoot mine at .359. They work great.
I get less lead on the cylinder with the larger diameter bullets in my 357s and 38s.
Now, my 32Mag is a different story. oversize bullets cause severe leading on the outside of the cylinder.