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03-06-2010, 08:59 PM
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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!
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03-06-2010, 09:29 PM
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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.
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03-07-2010, 08:41 AM
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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.
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03-07-2010, 11:54 AM
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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!
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03-07-2010, 12:48 PM
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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.
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03-07-2010, 02:04 PM
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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.
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03-07-2010, 02:43 PM
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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...
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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.
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03-07-2010, 03:21 PM
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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!
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