let's talk 38 wadcutters

Amp · Sep 3, 2020

I load 38 HBWC for target a bullseye league.
But i am interested in opinions on DEWC. Plated or not?
Any opinions you may want to share or talk about, please do.

Loyaljeeper · Sep 3, 2020

The DEWC can be pushed a little faster than HBWC. You may see a little less leading with plated but he really runs wadcutters fast anyway. I could see an oversized bore benefiting from plated.

mtgianni · Sep 3, 2020

If you have a model 52 there is no looking back. After my mid 50's I could no longer see well enough to tell the difference in groups between HB and standard wadcutters. I have never shot plated but find I group best with only one groove lubed on a standard wc, db, hb or with a slight nose. Col. Harrison did a bunch of tests in an old NRA handloading book and in Cast Bullets and determined the short nose wc grouped the best from a ransom rest and lubes of the day.

mikld · Sep 3, 2020

Since I cast my own, I have no interest in plated wadcutters. I have used DEWC for some very, accurate loads in my 38 Specials and my 357 Magnum with normal "target loads". I also have a load for my 38 Sp. "House Gun" that is a 145 gr DEWC, cast from my BHN 13 Mystery Metal, over a max. load of W231. It gives me pretty good accuracy out to 20 yds and I believe the flat front bullet traveling at around 900 fps will be pretty effective...

typetwelve · Sep 3, 2020

I load 148g DEWC from Missouri and Summers, both Hi-tek coated as the cost difference doesn't bother me that much. Both are superb over 3.1g of Tight Group seated to 1.225" (give or take). That got me an average of 803 fps from my 4" S&W 627 pro.

max503 · Sep 3, 2020

I too am a caster with very little experience with plated bullets. Due to the current ammo shortage my home cast bullets must do everything. That includes SD loads. I like a DE wadcutter, tumble lubed and sized to .358 or 9 over 4.X grains of Unique. Mine come from a 6 cavity Lee mold and I use whatever alloy that's handy. Anything from linotype to range scrap.
I shoot them out of J frames, K frames, a rifle, a Taurus revolver, and a 10" TC. They all like them just fine.

rockquarry · Sep 3, 2020

My only experience with plated bullets was with 148 grain wadcutters. I don't know the brand but they were quite inaccurate. My own home cast, conventionally lubed bullets cast from a Hensley & Gibbs #50 mould is a far better bullet.

Perhaps I just had some poor quality plated wadcutters. Others may be excellent but I doubt I'll try them.

Be aware that if you're looking for the most accurate .38 Special bullet for your needs, the wadcutter design is not always the best choice. A round nose or swc may outshoot the wc.

dave1918a2 · Sep 3, 2020

HBWC work great in My 52. DEWC shoot not so good. However in My 1923 Colt 38 Army special the DEWC shoot great with 4 Gr Unique and taper crimped close to the edge.

Amp · Sep 3, 2020

mtgianni said:
After my mid 50's I could no longer see well enough to tell the difference in groups between HB and standard wadcutters. I have never shot plated but find I group best with only one groove lubed on a standard wc, db, hb or with a slight nose.

I too suffer from what i can see. Not gonna take any trophy but i still enjoy the game. And trying to improve.
The red dot sight helps.

Amp · Sep 3, 2020

Part of the reason I started this post is because my load and factory loads do not always seem to stabilize at 50 feet.
While scoring we notice a few just out of round holes. I have read that S&W twist may be too slow.
Plus I may just wanna try something else for winter league assuming there is one.

rockquarry · Sep 3, 2020

As for DEWC, one of the truly best gunwriters ever (and a cast bullet expert as well), C.E. Harris, has repeatedly praised the DEWC cast from a SAECO/ Redding mould. If I was going to make my own DEWCs, that is the mould I would buy. However, it might be worth checking to see if this bullet is commercially produced if you're not a bullet caster.

4barrel · Sep 3, 2020

Amp said:
Part of the reason I started this post is because my load and factory loads do not always seem to stabilize at 50 feet.
While scoring we notice a few just out of round holes. I have read that S&W twist may be too slow.
Plus I may just wanna try something else for winter league assuming there is one.

The S&W twist is fine. Put some more powder in.

American Select with 3.7 or Bullseye make these come alive in 38 special. Here is a chart for speed 38 and 357. You didn't say what you were shooting these out of. Wheel gun- auto?

Model52guy · Sep 3, 2020

I think I might have tried most of 148 grain wad cutters in my M52’s. The best Accuracy I’ve found with the LHBWC from Hornady. I have tried DEWC’s, button Nose, plated, home made, factory made, etc. In revolvers (M14-Target masterpiece And Dan Wesson M15-2), there doesn’t seem to be near as much difference in accuracy.

vytoland · Sep 3, 2020

DEWC = my favorite ammo.....

rwsmith · Sep 3, 2020

The plating is something that....

rockquarry said:
My only experience with plated bullets was with 148 grain wadcutters. I don't know the brand but they were quite inaccurate. My own home cast, conventionally lubed bullets cast from a Hensley & Gibbs #50 mould is a far better bullet.

Perhaps I just had some poor quality plated wadcutters. Others may be excellent but I doubt I'll try them.

Be aware that if you're looking for the most accurate .38 Special bullet for your needs, the wadcutter design is not always the best choice. A round nose or swc may outshoot the wc.

....just doesn't need to be there in a wadcutter. I've used jillions of Speer and Hornady wadcutters,hollow base and double ended over 2.8 grains of Bullseye and never had any leading, but were great shooters.

I like coated bullets more than plated, but would still hesitate to use coated on wadcutter because again, it just doesn't need to be there.

max503 · Sep 3, 2020

Just a note. I always seat my home cast dewc's with the spruce UP. The other end always seems flatter and more consistent. I get good performance in all my guns.

stamper · Sep 3, 2020

I shoot Missouri Bullet Company DEWC (coated), Berry's DEWC (plated), and Oregon Trail DEWC (not coated) and can't tell any difference between them in terms of accuracy. The coated and plated bullets run cleaner, though.

J. R. WEEMS · Sep 3, 2020

WADCUTTERS

I find this all quite interesting. I am a big fan of WC's, always have been. Own a 52, and also load them in 32--- saw where Federal was making them in plated version, and have never seen any others.

never mind they are not available at this time

, nothing seems to be. Anyway, on the surface, I thought they might be a good idea -- after reading all this, I am not so sure--- they seem to be a good idea but maybe a bit more research is needed-- squibs are something I have rarely had to deal with-- mostly some old commercial ammo I bought 60 years ago-

Not so much with my own loadings but I guess it could happen to anyone-- I may have to lower my search net.??

noylj · Sep 3, 2020

See any one else in competition winning with plated wadcutters? I wonder why not.
Best accuracy I ever found was with the Rem. 148gn lead HBWCs. Nothing else came close and std. wadcutters and plated wadcutters were lucky to make 6" "groups" at 50 yards.

boatbum101 · Sep 4, 2020

If you're serious about accuracy forget plated . At best they're plinking or short range action games where 10 ring don't exist . But if you were a 2700 shooter you'd know that . # 1 is a HBWC & the Rem 148 HBWC is king . # 2 are cast rather DEWC or FBWC . I've had better luck with the FB button nose like the H&G 50 or Lyman 358432 heavy . If you don't shoot SF @ 50yds , DEWC will work too .

let's talk 38 wadcutters

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