Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading
o

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-06-2010, 08:59 PM
Glennp Glennp is offline
Member
margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets?  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets?

I load 2.8grains bullseye under the speer 148 HBWC for my K38. Im always paranoid of loading a few tenths over and blowing the skirt out and then blowing the gun up...

Put my mind at peace, how high could a HBWC be loaded with bullseye before it fails? I dont want to find the limit, just wondering where it is? 3.0? 3.2?

I use an RCBS powder measure and check every 10 throws on a beam scale. Paranoia!
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-06-2010, 09:29 PM
oldRoger oldRoger is offline
US Veteran
margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets?  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Citrus County, Florida
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 21
Liked 218 Times in 110 Posts
Default

Careful is not paranoia, it’s not paranoia if you can cause a ka-boom, and you certainly can do that. I have never heard of a reloading accident caused by someone doing too much check weighing.
I have used 3.0 grs with no problems, but I do not seat the nose flush. I suggest trying a bit more and checking the bore after each shot.
I doubt if anyone can give you a formula for your K38 and blown-off skirts. The reason that most people don’t go higher is that usually your groups begin to deteriorate when you go much higher than 2.9, I think most people find a sweet spot somewhere between 2.7 and 2.9 and settle in there.
Consider that lots and lots of these loads have been made with equipment far less accurate than yours. I personally have never seen a skirt blown off although it seems to be a common apprehension.

I load 148 gr HBWC in .357 brass for various guns, I do not seat them flush and am using 3.5 grs Bullseye.
__________________
Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-07-2010, 08:41 AM
Jellybean Jellybean is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2006
Posts: 2,698
Likes: 6
Liked 351 Times in 243 Posts
Default

Speer no. 12 lists a top load of 3.1 grains of Bullseye and suggests you don't go over that to avoid "bullet base deformation" with the HBWC. The max velocity listed is 799 fps., the max. velocity of all powders is 806 fps.

They do list loads with the 148 HBWC in .357 magnum also. The max. velocity there with Bullseye is 806 fps., and 822 fps. being the fastest overall.

I've never had one seperate, but then I've never tried to hot rod them, (unless seated backwards), because they aren't made for that purpose. But I'd say you don't have to worry about it.

Last edited by Jellybean; 03-07-2010 at 08:44 AM.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-07-2010, 11:54 AM
Glennp Glennp is offline
Member
margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets?  
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 45
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

Thanks for the book quote. I do have a manual, lymans 49th, and believe it or not there are no loads listed for the 148 HBWC!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-07-2010, 12:48 PM
TSQUARED TSQUARED is offline
Member
margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets?  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 2,260
Likes: 2
Liked 114 Times in 84 Posts
Default

I have used the 2.7 gr. Bullseye load for almost 50 years and increased it to 2.8 gr.to improve the reliability of my S&W 52. Since bulseye pistol shooters want the maximum accuracy with minimal recoil I never considerd increasing the charge weight.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-07-2010, 02:04 PM
oldRoger oldRoger is offline
US Veteran
margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets?  
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Citrus County, Florida
Posts: 2,073
Likes: 21
Liked 218 Times in 110 Posts
Default

Lyman tends to only show their cast bullets in their manuals when they list lead bullets. Long ago they made a HBWC mold # 358395. For those bullets in their first CB manual (July 1958) they show .38 max Bullseye 3.5@ 960 FPS out of a 6” K38 and .357 max Bullseye 4.1 @1050. Unfortunately they do not tell us what COL they used; I very much doubt it was flush since this was not a M52 load. Further they very well may have been cast harder than the Speer swaged bullet.
__________________
Ipsis Rebus Dictantitbus
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-07-2010, 02:43 PM
OKFC05 OKFC05 is offline
Member
margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets? margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets?  
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 8,158
Likes: 3,605
Liked 5,199 Times in 2,172 Posts
Default

Quote:
I load 2.8grains bullseye under the speer 148 HBWC for my K38. Im always paranoid of loading a few tenths over and blowing the skirt out and then blowing the gun up...
The primary failure mode is that the skirt separates and you get two holes in the target.
That is a sure sign you are too hot with a swaged HBWC. I've tried it and sure enough you get two holes.

A couple of tenths over with that wimp load is not going to blow up the gun.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 03-07-2010, 03:21 PM
CGM CGM is offline
Member
margin of error with BE and HBWC bullets?  
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Key Biscayne, Fl
Posts: 88
Likes: 108
Liked 11 Times in 9 Posts
Default

I have gone as high as 3.5 of BE.....Haven't had a problem. I know this is much more than what this bullet is intended for but, nothing came undone!
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
357 magnum, bullseye, k38, m52, model 52, rcbs, sig arms

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Swaged 148 Grain HBWC By Zero Bullets Nick B Reloading 16 03-05-2016 11:41 PM
WTS 38 HBWC bullets Nick Marciano Accessories/Misc - For Sale or Trade 1 02-13-2015 10:44 PM
Margin of error question on a 29-2 103 S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 8 06-30-2014 02:29 PM
WTB: Remington 38cal 148gr HBWC bullets - Have Star bullets to trade! Black_Talon WANTED to Buy 1 09-09-2011 09:38 PM
gummy HBWC bullets lmcgust Reloading 22 06-11-2010 09:35 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 03:45 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)