Smith & Wesson Forum

Go Back   Smith & Wesson Forum > Ammunition-Gunsmithing > Reloading
o

Notices

Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here


Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 03-17-2009, 09:18 AM
signsrup signsrup is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Default

I'm interested in some light plinking/fun loads for my 38's.
I see the light loads for full wadcutters everywhere. My question is, can I do the same thing with 158gr SWC's and get the same (or similar) results as far as a range load, or is there some inherent quality of wadcutters that does not translate well to other bullet shapes?

I understand that i'll need to use load data for the correct bullet weight, it just seems harder to find a wadcutter mold, and it seems i'm stumbling over SWC molds constantly.
__________________
Eric
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 03-17-2009, 09:18 AM
signsrup signsrup is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Default

I'm interested in some light plinking/fun loads for my 38's.
I see the light loads for full wadcutters everywhere. My question is, can I do the same thing with 158gr SWC's and get the same (or similar) results as far as a range load, or is there some inherent quality of wadcutters that does not translate well to other bullet shapes?

I understand that i'll need to use load data for the correct bullet weight, it just seems harder to find a wadcutter mold, and it seems i'm stumbling over SWC molds constantly.
__________________
Eric
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 03-17-2009, 09:19 AM
max's Avatar
max max is offline
US Veteran
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: illinois
Posts: 6,294
Likes: 1,849
Liked 6,681 Times in 2,115 Posts
Default

Yes, you can do light loads with swc's.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 03-17-2009, 10:16 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
Banned
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 587
Liked 576 Times in 307 Posts
Default

You can pick up one of the best DEWC that was ever made on ebay most of the time for around $50 for a 4 cavity.

The mold number is #50 and they were made by Hensley & Gibbs.
Do a search on their website for "hensley gibbs" and you will turn one up for sure.

The are around 146 +/- depending on alloy. I have one and use it for my little girl's M14 6" barrel.

You can get a Lee TL mold too for around that price w/o handles.

Personally, there aren't any better molds than an H&G in my opinion. Some as good, none better.

One thing to be careful about, they made some that were .356" too. Mostly for 38 Super guns. Make sure they are made to cast .358" bullets.

You can also use any 158gr mold out there and have some superb results. It is all I use for competition.

Mine is a H&G 290BB. 160gr SWC with a wide grease groove and equal driving bands. The nose is shorter than what EK designed but it is a taste longer than the #51 H&G made for the "N" frame Smith's.

Hope this helps, kind of lengthy, sorry about that!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 03-17-2009, 10:23 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
Banned
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 587
Liked 576 Times in 307 Posts
Default

I did as I suggested you do and went to ebay. At this time there is one mold that meets the criteria I gave you. As you look at the guide pin holes you will notice that there has been some misalignment in the past. That can be fixed by a little champhering and pushing the pins out just a tad.

FWIW I wouldn't go over $50 for that one. It will take some cleaning up. Brass toothbrush and some brake cleaner to start with.

I'm not recommending it, just posting a suggestion. Do what you want seems to fit here real good!
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 03-17-2009, 01:18 PM
pownal55 pownal55 is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: vermont
Posts: 2,015
Likes: 375
Liked 717 Times in 376 Posts
Default

my 38 swc target loads seem as accurate as the wc target loads, i prefer them for small game and all around use.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 03-17-2009, 01:26 PM
duckloads duckloads is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Nicholasville, Kentucky
Posts: 903
Likes: 1
Liked 27 Times in 13 Posts
Default

My light load is 158gr SWC with 3.5 gr Trailboss. I tried some at 3.0 gr, but it wasn't enough pressure to seat the case against the recoil shield. Out of 50 rounds, I had two where the primer backed out a tad. It could have been a bad deal if the primer came out a bit more and tied up the gun. 3.5 grains T.B. was just enough to "slam" the case against the recoil shield and keep the primer in place. These loads were in once fired cases.

I've loaded some other 158gr SWC's with 4.5 gr Unique. These are just a tad snappier, but recoil is still not an issue with my 15-4, 2" K frame in nickle. Not that the nickle deal makes a difference other than it being a beautifull little 6-iron.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #8  
Old 03-17-2009, 05:38 PM
ChuckS1's Avatar
ChuckS1 ChuckS1 is offline
US Veteran
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Stafford, VA
Posts: 1,560
Likes: 84
Liked 1,441 Times in 526 Posts
Default

3.5 grains of Bullseye and a 158 grain SWC is very pleasant and accurate in my 6" K-38.
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #9  
Old 03-17-2009, 05:47 PM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
Banned
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Hoosier Land!
Posts: 4,379
Likes: 587
Liked 576 Times in 307 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally posted by ChuckS1:
3.5 grains of Bullseye and a 158 grain SWC is very pleasant and accurate in my 6" K-38.
Right ON!
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 03-17-2009, 05:51 PM
signsrup signsrup is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: Richmond, VA
Posts: 291
Likes: 0
Liked 4 Times in 3 Posts
Default

Thanks guys.
__________________
Eric
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 03-20-2009, 08:06 AM
TSQUARED TSQUARED is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Michigan, USA
Posts: 2,260
Likes: 2
Liked 114 Times in 84 Posts
Default

Trail Boss is my favorite powder for loading either lead or plated bullets for use in revolvers. The Hodgdon website has excellent data for using Trail Boss.
Quote:
Originally posted by signsrup:
I'm interested in some light plinking/fun loads for my 38's.
I see the light loads for full wadcutters everywhere. My question is, can I do the same thing with 158gr SWC's and get the same (or similar) results as far as a range load, or is there some inherent quality of wadcutters that does not translate well to other bullet shapes?

I understand that i'll need to use load data for the correct bullet weight, it just seems harder to find a wadcutter mold, and it seems i'm stumbling over SWC molds constantly.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 03-20-2009, 10:10 AM
Uncle Larry's Avatar
Uncle Larry Uncle Larry is offline
US Veteran
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: Greater Waynesville OH, Metroplex
Posts: 264
Likes: 0
Liked 0 Times in 0 Posts
Default

I've used 2.5 gr of Red Dot with a 148 gr cast SWC ( IIRC the mold was a Lyman, but my buddy disapeared with it ) in a 15-2 and it was a very accurate & pleasent load to shoot..
HTH
__________________
Adopt a retired Greyhound :)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 11-20-2016, 01:26 AM
Jupiter01 Jupiter01 is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Nov 2016
Posts: 157
Likes: 643
Liked 112 Times in 69 Posts
Default

Careful, there! I was trying some light loads for my 4" 357 Magnum, and I stuck a bullet in the barrel! That led to a little boy asking his mom;"Why is that man hammering on his gun?" Iirc, 3.2 gr. of Unique just won't do it! Ah well, live and learn! However, SWC, Wadcutters are good for target shooting.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 11-20-2016, 09:42 AM
USSR USSR is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Finger Lakes Region of NY
Posts: 418
Likes: 0
Liked 210 Times in 104 Posts
Default

After 7 1/2 years, I'm sure he's being careful.

Don
__________________
NRA Cert. Reloading Instructor
Reply With Quote
The Following 2 Users Like Post:
  #15  
Old 11-20-2016, 10:11 AM
rockquarry rockquarry is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 7,552
Likes: 4
Liked 8,885 Times in 4,121 Posts
Default

Regarding Hensley & Gibbs .38 Special moulds...I've had a 4-cavity #51 (SWC) and a 4-cavity #50 (WC) for years. #50 WC bullets shoot with exceptionally accuracy in my S&W Model 52 target automatic, but have always taken second place to the #51 SWC in all my revolvers.

I can't account for the superiority of the #51 SWC in revolvers as I've experimented for years with both bullets using different alloys, bullet diameters, powders and charge weights.

Perhaps designs by other mould makers would show different results than what I've depicted here.
Reply With Quote
  #16  
Old 11-20-2016, 02:52 PM
Qc Pistolero Qc Pistolero is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: May 2016
Location: 30min SE Montreal
Posts: 2,026
Likes: 150
Liked 1,540 Times in 841 Posts
Default

The SWC and/or RN are as accurate as WC.The big asset with WC is that they are easier to score when competing since they will make a neat full diameter hole in the paper.
Qc
Reply With Quote
The Following User Likes This Post:
  #17  
Old 11-20-2016, 06:59 PM
Ceapea's Avatar
Ceapea Ceapea is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: Midwest
Posts: 742
Likes: 460
Liked 248 Times in 127 Posts
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by Jupiter01 View Post
Careful, there! I was trying some light loads for my 4" 357 Magnum, and I stuck a bullet in the barrel! That led to a little boy asking his mom;"Why is that man hammering on his gun?" Iirc, 3.2 gr. of Unique just won't do it! Ah well, live and learn! However, SWC, Wadcutters are good for target shooting.
Both 3.0 and 3.2 gr Unique are very good out of my 6" 15-2 PPC gun. But, 2.3 gr Bullseye is even better. So I use that.
__________________
Thugs that comply don’t die!
Reply With Quote
  #18  
Old 11-20-2016, 08:24 PM
johngalt's Avatar
johngalt johngalt is offline
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: St. Paul (smokey!) MN
Posts: 5,335
Likes: 1,443
Liked 6,647 Times in 2,564 Posts
Default

For light loads, you may find that soft bullets are more accurate than hard. I much prefer swaged over cast for paper punching.
__________________
Common sense isn't so common.
Reply With Quote
  #19  
Old 11-20-2016, 09:03 PM
mikld's Avatar
mikld mikld is online now
Member
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: May 2012
Location: S. Orygun
Posts: 2,461
Likes: 1,962
Liked 1,827 Times in 987 Posts
Default

Wadcutters are used for target shooting because of the large for caliber surface area to engage the rifling. Also a wadcutter cuts a clean hole in paper. In theory, a full wadcutter may be more accurate than other styles, but in real life, it's not all that much better. I have been reloading 38 Special since '69 and tried almost every type bullet available and settled on two; cast DEWC and cast 160 gr SWC. Each has it's good points, and each has it's bad points, but for all intents and purposes,they are the same accuracy wise...
Reply With Quote
  #20  
Old 11-21-2016, 02:58 AM
Wise_A Wise_A is offline
Banned
38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK? 38 sp. light load...full wadcutter or is SWC OK?  
Join Date: May 2016
Posts: 3,121
Likes: 2,661
Liked 4,324 Times in 1,793 Posts
Default

A well-made SWC will cut as neat a hole as a full wadcutter. In my experience, the sharper the shoulder, the cleaner the cut.

Either one will produce satisfactory results for target .38 Spl, both in terms of low recoil and accuracy.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bullseye, hensley, k frame, m14, model 14, primer, sig arms

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
148 gr Wadcutter Load Data Jingles Reloading 18 10-26-2016 12:18 PM
TiteGroup replacdment load for Bullseye 2.7 wadcutter. tomf52 Reloading 8 10-20-2015 09:49 AM
Any manufacturers offering the 38spl. 148gr. wadcutter load with the copper jacket? shooter7 Ammo 7 02-13-2010 08:50 PM
load data for a 255 gr hollow point semi wadcutter 44 rem mag Superflywimpy Reloading 12 05-27-2009 09:08 PM

Powered by vBadvanced CMPS v3.2.3
smith-wessonforum.com tested by Norton Internet Security smith-wessonforum.com tested by McAfee Internet Security

All times are GMT -4. The time now is 04:21 PM.


Smith-WessonForum.com is not affiliated with Smith & Wesson Holding Corporation (NASDAQ Global Select: SWHC)