I'm not getting the same scores I used to with my 6" Model 19 using 38SPL wadcutters. It's probably my shooting ability, but I thought I would try to load some wadcutters in 357 brass. Can anyone suggest some loads for this? I have Bullseye, Unique, 231, Clays and Autocomp available for testing. All replys are much appreciated.

Suggest your .38 loads up 10%.
If your chambers and throats are truly clean and smooth, doubt it improves accuracy much, if any. Off a rest, my loads still go 1" at 25 yds in a 6" 686, virtually identical to my model 14.
In my aging shaky hand, no.

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Science plus Art

3 gr of Bullseye makes a fine load for HBWC in 357 brass.

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John

I received good groups out of my 6" M19 and 686 with 38 cases and the 148gr HBwc bullets.

You might try the 158gr Lswc with a few loads in 357 cases.
They worked as well or better at low to medium target loads, for me, than the lighter 148gr bullets in the longer case.

I save the 148gr bullets for the 38 special short cylinders.
Just seems to work for my weapons.

Good luck.

Use .38 Spl. data increased by 15%, which is the difference in capacity between .38 Spl. and .357 Mag.

Most manuals have loads listed under 357 magnum.
Years ago I spent a couple of months trying loads in both 38 and 357 cases. I was shooting the 148 gr. HBWC's and 158 grain SWC's with both magnum and standard primers in both.

When the smoke I would say that a very slight edge went to the 38 Special cases. I was shooting them in a 6 inch Python and a 4 inch 19.

2.7 grains of Bullseye. There's no reason you can't have the same loading in a .357 case that you use in your .38s. The ONLY difference between a .38 and a .357 case is that tad of extra length so that a .357 loaded cartridge can't be chambered in a .38.

And you don't want to push HBWC too hard or you can blow the skirts off, causing problems.

Now, SWCs I do give a little extra oomph when loaded into .357 cases.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

2.7 of Reddot may be preferred over Bullseye if you stick with the 38 spl load. It burns a tad slower and so gives you more velocity, especially with a 6" barrel.

A little off topic, but maybe not too much. I have a bunch of lead HBWC to load to shoot in my old M49 and M10-5. I read one post (possibly on another forum) by a person who said he did not seat the bullets flush but .250 from that. I wonder what effect that might have? More accurate, less, drop in pressure with attendant other problems?
Also, loading HBWC at case length ( as works with a M 52 ) in my revolvers has left a ring. How can I get rid of it? Hoppe's and a brass brush does not seem to do the trick.

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Regards;

David Jackson

I use 3.0 of Bullseye in 357 cases in either a Model 27 or 19, both with 6" barrels. I've not noted any real increase in accuracy using 357 cases; although theoretically, it should be more accurate with the bullets closer to the forcing cone.

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Keep your powder dry.

Years ago, I tried seating wadcutters to a longer overall length. It made no difference in accuracy for me. However, it's worth a try. Another revolver might show different results. Perhaps others have tried this.

I go about 10% up. Works for me.

I have benched 1000's but the 38 special brass came out on top. My best target hbwc target so for with a revolver is with 700x powder in a 6'' model 19 seated flush. It was my bullets but not my gun.

I've been using 2.8 gr of Bullseye under 148 gr HBWCs in both .38 and .357 brass for nearly 50 years, shooting the .38s in my .38 Special revolvers (and also a Model 52) and the .357 in the .357 revolvers. No problems, and perfectly acceptable accuracy. As the .357 case has about 12% greater internal volume it makes some sense to increase the charge a bit if you're interested in achieving the same muzzle velocity, but I've never cared about that for target loads, so never bothered.

I always used 2.8 grains of Bullseye with the Hornady 148 grain HBWC in the 38 Special and went to 3.2 grains with the 357 Mag.

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Mighty 90's,Trying 4 a 100!

I like to shoot double ended and/or button nose wadcutters in 357 cases. In my experience you can get better accuracy if you put a bit more horsepower behind them.

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Where we go one, we go all