Anyone tried shooting plated wadcutters from XTreme or Berrys in a Model 52? Been shooting Zero Swaged, but of course they are out of stock until God know when. Plated are available.

I have. Not as accurate as the Hornady LHBWC. Worked OK in revolver (M14).

Just ordered 1000 WCDE swedged 38's from Roze. Look under 500 quantities not 1000. Still listed 19 units available and total price about the same with free shipping.

I've had pretty decent luck with plated in revolvers, but the only thing I've ever shot in a Model 52 is HBWC with Zero being my favorite. Down to my last 400-500 and starting to look for something to replace. Debating between Plated or HyTek Coated Lead.

Thanks for the heads up. Rather have the HBWC but will take the DE in these crazy times. Just places an order. Hopefully they will get here in the next year.

Berrys HBWCs shot just fine for me out of all my 38/357 revolvers: I use them to work up loads for the 130gr Federal HST JHPWCs.

"Look Mom - NO LEAD!"

CHEERS!

While you're waiting , order a double cavity bullet mould from Lee and never worry about bullet supply for the rest of your life .
You know the next shortage is only an election away !
Gary

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NRA Member

gwpercle;
I agree in principal wholeheartedly, but rather suggest a Lee Six cavity!

Then, never look back. I am a certified "Old Fart" but still active. I saw the shortages in WW II, Korean War, Vietnam War, and various political "wars", and determined early, that I was NOT going to be a "victim" of shortages. I started casting my own bullets and reloading when I was 14 (thanks to a "gunny" father) and have never suffered since.

Get independant as soon as things level off and shooting products become plentiful, again (hopefully, not a terribly long wait). Just think, "Long Term" and solve the problem when you can.

Keep on shooting,
Dale53

Not plated.......But I cast my own DEWC's and Powder Coat them. Shoot fine and no leading noted. Not really what you asked, but just my two cents.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.

I tried plated wadcutters (unknown brand) in a revolver years ago. They were very inaccurate and I wouldn't have even considered them for use in my 52.

However, with the shortage situation as it is at the moment, plated wadcutters might be worth a try in a 52. With adequate load development, they might prove satisfactory. Perhaps plated bullets have improved over the years.

I shoot Berry's 148 gr HBWC bullets in my revolvers. They shoot fine. No better or worse than my coated cast lead WC bullets.

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What could possibly go wrong?

Plated WCs in my M52s: groups of 6->12" at 25 yards
Cast WCs in my M52s: groups of 3-6" at 25 yards
Speer and Hornady HBWCs in my M52s: groups of 2-4" at 25 yards
Remington HBWCs in my M52s: groups of 0.6-1.5" at 25 yards.
Now, when I am out of Remington bullets, I'll have to try Star, Precision Delta, and Magnus. Damn Remington, why did you take away the best and the least expensive? Why?
Guess what MY opinion of plated WCs is...

Before I would use a plated bullet in a 38 spl auto pistol.........

I might think about going to a coated bullet, that is cleaner and might even have less friction, going down the barrel.

Lead is best but you still need a 2nd choice if stuff happens.

Good hunting.

I stuck a plated wc in my 38 sa years ago and it took 2 hours to get it out and it was twice as long. A plated bullet really sticks. I use a button nose wc in my 2 Clark and NM Colt 38 specials. I have 1500 hbwcs sitting on the shelf but there is little difference at 25 yards. I shoot plated in 9mm but not 38 auto anymore.

Local shooter could not get accuracy out of a 52-2 with Berry's plated HBWC . They told him to bump the load until he had it . At 3.6gr of Bullseye it blew the extractor .
An expensive no longer made hard to get parts for gun & won't feed it ammo it was designed for ie 148 HBWC Mid Range 15,000 psi level or less . It's your property & you can do as you wish .

That 3.6gr of BULLSEYE sounds just about right... But, as the START LOAD for a +P 158gr LSWC!

A 33% increase over the historic BULLSEYE load of 2.7gr seems pretty high to me: who, exactly, was it that suggested to just keep raising it until they were accurate?

Cheers!

Someone @ Berry's he talked to or so he claims . I fitted a NOS extractor for him & gave him proper loads . I use either the Remington or Zero swaged HBWC's . Cast or swaged flat base or dewc can & will work . In a semi-auto you have to load for function but wouldn't exceed 3.0grs Bullseye or 800fps .

For comparison, with a 148 grain WC (cast from an H&G #50 mould) and 2.5 grs. Bullseye, muzzle velocity is about 750 fps. This load is more accurate than those with heavier powder charges and it feeds and functions fine in my 52. Increased powder charges opened group sizes in my gun. I couldn't imagine trying more than 3 grs. Bullseye if you have an interest in accuracy, but I base my opinion on results from only one gun.

It does not take much Bullseye to get speed out of a 38 case.

In my 686 6" with a 148 HB, with just 2.7 grs of Bullseye and a F100 primer I can get.........
699 fps.

We are talking 38 special auto and some 38 autos aren't supported on the bottom of the case enough to go over 3.1 of bullseye. If the case ruptures it can blow the stocks off or the mag down. You can inspect your cases to see if there is swelling at the rear. You can't compare anything else to 38 auto pistol. Berry's makes a fine plated bullet<I have some> but they are not accurate as lead in a 38 auto.

Molds are going for sky high prices. Distributors are out of stock, prices on eBay have doubled for Lee 2 cavity molds. Other brands are even worse. I haven't checked suppliers like NOE but they might be the best choice right now if they aren't backed up.

I shot some of my powder coated 148 gr. DEWC's with 3.0 grains of Bullseye today and they did fine for me. For 10 shots 6 were in the X-Ring, 3 in the 10-Ring and 1 in the 9-Ring. Good enough for "Old Shakey Jake" here.

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USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.