|
|
01-10-2021, 08:47 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: MIchigan
Posts: 241
Likes: 92
Liked 191 Times in 83 Posts
|
|
Loading wadcutters
Just received some 148 grain wadcutters from Acme. Never loaded these before. I have on hand Trailboss, Accurate 7, Red Dot and Claydot. Which powder do you guys recommend? Which cases 38 or 357? I will be loading fairly light loads for steel plates.
Eager to try these in my 686+ and 627.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 08:53 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Feb 2018
Location: Manhattan/Sag Harbor, NY
Posts: 752
Likes: 9
Liked 855 Times in 365 Posts
|
|
I always load them in .38 cases even if I shot them in one of my .357s. Red Dot will work fine.
__________________
Sag Harbor & Manhattan, N.Y.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 08:54 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jun 2014
Posts: 2,348
Likes: 5,453
Liked 2,773 Times in 1,260 Posts
|
|
The first place to look is the powder manufacturers published data. I don't load most of those powders except AA 7. That full wadcutter isn't going to leave a lot of room in the case. AA 7 may be slow and I seem to recall that Trailboss can't be compressed.
__________________
Just Say No - To Social Media
Last edited by AlHunt; 01-10-2021 at 08:55 AM.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 10:05 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2014
Location: Central Florida
Posts: 798
Likes: 582
Liked 470 Times in 273 Posts
|
|
I use Red Dot for my .38 loads.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 11:15 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
Posts: 9,528
Likes: 4,982
Liked 21,241 Times in 6,415 Posts
|
|
I shoot both 148 grain DEWC's and 148 grain HBWC's. In fact that is about all I load for the most part. I use 2.8 grains of Bullseye for them all. Try it, you might like it.
__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.
|
The Following 4 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 11:22 AM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Boise, Idaho, 83706
Posts: 344
Likes: 427
Liked 528 Times in 201 Posts
|
|
Of the powders you mention, Reddot or Claydot should do it. In 38 special cases.
__________________
Regards,
Tom
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 11:34 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 6,874
Likes: 7,481
Liked 8,128 Times in 3,678 Posts
|
|
I prefer Red Dot when Bullseye isn't available , actually Red Dot works well in target wadcutter loads .
I load them in 38 Special cases because I have buckets of 38 special brass and three of my "Target" revolvers are chambered in 38 special .
The one 357 magnum I do have shoots them just fine ... so I don't bother loading any in 357 magnum brass ... but you could do it if you like .
My pet loads : 148 grain cast WC - 38 Special brass
3.8 grains Red Dot @ 843 fps (target load)
4.0 grains Red Dot @ 900 fps (mid range)
4.3 grains Red Dot @ 960 fps ( max load )
Gary
__________________
Certified Cajun
NRA Member
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 11:40 AM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: East of Stick Marsh, Fla.
Posts: 9,528
Likes: 4,982
Liked 21,241 Times in 6,415 Posts
|
|
I use only .38 Special cases also. The 148 gr. WC/2.8 gr. Bullseye is shot in my Model 14 PPC, Model 52-1, Model 27-2, Colt Mid Range and Victory Model. It fills all my needs for punching paper. Will work as a self defense load in a pinch also.
__________________
USMC 69-93 Combat Pistol Inst.
|
01-10-2021, 11:52 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Jan 2015
Location: Black Hills South Dakota
Posts: 1,765
Likes: 9,057
Liked 2,987 Times in 1,128 Posts
|
|
No Substitutes
My Circa '93 S&W 686-3 357Rem Mag 6-1/2"Bbl holds a special
place. The frame size is nice, the trigger is very nice, and it is
very accurate.
Here is my go to 357mag Reload:
148gr LDEWC (Lead Double Ended Wad Cutter).
3.0grs Alliant Red Dot (with flash light always
check for double charge).
CCI #500 SP primer.
357Rem Mag Nickel Win and 357Rem Mag Starline brass.
Light Crimp on first crimp band.
700fps?
Very accurate reload for me.
I myself, maybe it's just me, never shoot 38Spl in a 357Mag,
or 44Spl in a 44Mag., 40S&W in 10mm, and I won't get into it
here why, I just don't do it.
The Best to you and your Endeavors.
My 148gr 357mag reload.
__________________
SD social distanc'n since 1889
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 12:20 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: Beautiful Pacific NW
Posts: 1,193
Likes: 2,054
Liked 1,818 Times in 705 Posts
|
|
I load 'em in 38 Sp. cases. Bullseye 2.8-3.0 gr is a pretty tame load that's fun to shoot. I also use Trailboss. The great thing about Trailboss is you can mark your case at the bottom of where the bullet will rest and fill your case to that level. Hodgedon will actually tell you that you can load that way safely for any caliber. I've done it and I'm liking Trailboss more and more for 38 and 45ACP. AA#7 seems a little slow burning for 38Sp. plinking loads. Red dot and Clay dot should work well, but I have no experience with either. They have burn rates similar to Bullseye.
Load 'em up and have fun. As always use your reloading manual data and start low and work your way up carefully.
__________________
What could possibly go wrong?
|
01-10-2021, 12:35 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Oct 2009
Posts: 3,259
Likes: 22
Liked 5,581 Times in 1,955 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by AJ
I shoot both 148 grain DEWC's and 148 grain HBWC's. In fact that is about all I load for the most part. I use 2.8 grains of Bullseye for them all. Try it, you might like it.
|
That's the age old classic and maybe even the best combination there ever was.
If you want to use an alternate powder, look it up in several loading manuals.
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 02:19 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Reno Nv
Posts: 13,401
Likes: 3,189
Liked 12,760 Times in 5,686 Posts
|
|
You might just start with RD and ClayDot in a few 38 and 357 to see what turns up, for your first try at some target loads.
If you want a really Sloooooow target load, you can always go to the Trail Boss powder.
In my 2" J frame and 686 6" 38 & 357 lead loads, Red dot worked with a starting loads of 2.8 grs around 740 fps.
I do not use the 148 in the 357 but a 158 lead at 890 fps with Red Dot is my go to target load with Trail Boss at 755 fps my X-lite recoil loading.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 05:26 PM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Northwest Alabama, USA
Posts: 1,603
Likes: 366
Liked 1,910 Times in 681 Posts
|
|
Red Dot for sure of the powders mentioned.
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-10-2021, 08:45 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Illinois
Posts: 2,356
Likes: 2,856
Liked 2,775 Times in 1,164 Posts
|
|
I like 3.0gr Promo/Red Dot, 148HBWC in a mag case. Mellow, accurate and fun to shoot.
|
01-14-2021, 11:11 PM
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: May 2014
Location: Kenosha, Wisconsin
Posts: 66
Likes: 26
Liked 46 Times in 22 Posts
|
|
Just shot my first tray of wad cutters out of my 19-3. I used ACME hi tek coated, 38 cal. 148 grain WC.DBB bullets. 2.4 -2.8 grains of IMR Red and close to the end of my small pistol magnum primers. Shooting them was a stark departure from the usual 38/357 rounds I shoot at the local indoor range. They were fun to shoot. The recoil was like shooting 22. I seated them to the top crimping groove in 38 special brass with a light crimp the top
|
The Following User Likes This Post:
|
|
01-15-2021, 06:24 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Dec 2012
Location: (outside) Charleston, SC
Posts: 30,983
Likes: 41,642
Liked 29,232 Times in 13,818 Posts
|
|
Red Dot.....
And either case would be fine.
I don't always seat wadcutters flush with the case mouth but leave some protruding especially if there is a crimping groove.
__________________
"He was kinda funny lookin'"
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-15-2021, 10:32 AM
|
|
Member
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Baton Rouge, La.
Posts: 6,874
Likes: 7,481
Liked 8,128 Times in 3,678 Posts
|
|
I once did a test with cast 148 gr wadcutters that have a crimp groove .
I seated 25 flush and 25 in the crimp groove with a light roll crimp.
Both in 38 Special brass
Both over 2.8 grains of Bullseye .
That day the ones seated to and crimped in the crimp groove won the overall accuracy test but only by a slim margin ... After that test I just loaded all my cast wadcutters to the crimp groove .
This may not be the case with you and your gun so test them both ways and see which method works better.
Gary
__________________
Certified Cajun
NRA Member
|
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
|
|
01-15-2021, 01:04 PM
|
|
US Veteran
|
|
|
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Reno Nv
Posts: 13,401
Likes: 3,189
Liked 12,760 Times in 5,686 Posts
|
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by gwpercle
I once did a test with cast 148 gr wadcutters that have a crimp groove .
I seated 25 flush and 25 in the crimp groove with a light roll crimp.
Both in 38 Special brass
Both over 2.8 grains of Bullseye .
That day the ones seated to and crimped in the crimp groove won the overall accuracy test but only by a slim margin ... After that test I just loaded all my cast wadcutters to the crimp groove .
This may not be the case with you and your gun so test them both ways and see which method works better.
Gary
|
+1;
the lead 148 HBwc does best when seated flush with the case and a light crimp.
the lead 148 BBwc has been tried at 1.16" to 1.28" OAL but my bullets with a crimp area near the ends, did much better in accuracy, when they had a OAL of 1.25", in my test, with a light crimp.
Have fun.
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
|
|
|
Similar Threads
|
Thread |
Thread Starter |
Forum |
Replies |
Last Post |
Wadcutters
|
Jim Watson |
Reloading |
25 |
12-10-2018 08:53 PM |
44 Wadcutters
|
Drm50 |
Reloading |
25 |
11-27-2016 09:47 AM |
What wadcutters?
|
Beeser |
S&W Revolvers: 1961 to 1980 |
20 |
07-07-2014 01:11 PM |
Wadcutters
|
ncbengal |
Reloading |
13 |
08-24-2011 03:13 PM |
357 Wadcutters
|
m1gunner |
Reloading |
5 |
08-17-2009 11:07 AM |
|