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 08-16-2009, 10:39 PM
m1gunner m1gunner is offline
US Veteran
357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: middle Ga.
Posts: 2,525
Likes: 211
Liked 610 Times in 301 Posts
Default 357 Wadcutters

I was wanting a load for farm and field carry. Have a coyote problem, so looking for something that gave decent accuracy and hit hard. But as I only have K frames, I don't want full boat 357 loads.

I have been using a 357 midrange semi-wadcutter for several years and it has been ok.

I found some load data and loaded up some DEWCs in 357 cases charged with 4.7 gr Bullseye.

Holy smokes, did I hit on the right combo for my M19. Pleasant to shoot, more zing than a 38sp, and it groups better than anything I have ever shot out of the gun. I was using a black 2X2 aiming spot at about 15 paces . After 6 shots offhand, I thought I had missed the target, as there were no visable holes in the white part of the target.

All 6 were in the black square.

I tried several more cylinders to verify, then compared with similar SWC loads, and these full wadcutters are the ticket for this gun.

Last edited by m1gunner; 08-16-2009 at 10:42 PM.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-17-2009, 07:52 AM
Bailey Boat Bailey Boat is offline
Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Concord, NC
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Liked 24 Times in 10 Posts
Default

Whose wadcutters and was there any leading????
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-17-2009, 08:43 AM
Bullseye 2620's Avatar
Bullseye 2620 Bullseye 2620 is offline
Member
357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters  
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Tierra del encantamiento
Posts: 3,479
Likes: 6,321
Liked 6,553 Times in 910 Posts
Default

My preferred varmint control load is factory 148 gr. .38 Special mid-range wadcutters fired from my Model 19-4. This has proven to be a very effective load against raccoons, possums, and coyotes, all of which we have here in the Blue Ridge mountains of southwestern Virginia.

I was looking for something with more "anchoring" power than a .22, and these .38 wadcutters do much better at producing humane, one-shot stops.

I've never bothered loading these up in .357 cases, but I am sure that would work just fine, as you have experienced.

Re the previous post, I would also like to know the brand of bullets you are loading. My personal favorite for reloading is the Remington 148 gr. bullet.


Bullseye
__________________
Five screws and 3-1/2 inches.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-17-2009, 09:28 AM
m1gunner m1gunner is offline
US Veteran
357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: middle Ga.
Posts: 2,525
Likes: 211
Liked 610 Times in 301 Posts
Default

The bullets are from Georgia arms. Listed as 148gr DEWC hardcast. The lube appears to be red rooster.

No leading in my model 19.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-17-2009, 10:22 AM
redlevel's Avatar
redlevel redlevel is offline
Member
357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters  
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: GA
Posts: 5,699
Likes: 8,045
Liked 12,731 Times in 2,419 Posts
Default

m1gunner, you are apparently a genius, because that is the exact same load I have adopted for just about all my .38s. I bought a 3" Model 36-1 back in March, and adopted it as my all-round farm "kit gun." I was loading the wadcutters with 3 grains of Bullseye, but wanted something with a little more "oomph." I settled on the 4.7 grain Unique load because I have a dipper that throws that amount. Scientific, I know, but that is the way it turned out. I don't know what the dipper is advertised as throwing, but that is what it weighs out. I load the Unique round with the bullet crimped at the first crimp groove so I can easily distinguish it from the Bullseye load just by looking. I load the BE load flush.

The Unique load works well in all my S&Ws, and I have just about adopted it as a defensive load in the snubbys. I use the Georgia Arms bullets, too.

I traded for a P&R Model 19-4 at the show in Columbus Saturday. I took it out to the farm just before dark yesterday and gave it my exhaustive accuracy workout: bouncing coke cans using both the Weaver hold and traditional one-hand hold. Both the gun and the Unique load performed as expected. It is the first 6" .357 S&W I have owned in over 35 years, and it was refreshing to discover that the increased sight radius still makes a tremendous difference.

I traded for the Model 19 at a table down the wall to the extreme right of where you came in the door at the show. The guy had four or five nice S&W revolvers. I also traded in a nice Model-10-5 rb two-incher with box and papers for the 19.

Where in middle-Georgia are you located? If you draw a line from Atlanta to Albany, and another from Macon to Columbus, I am very close to where the lines intersect near Butler. Maybe we can get together for some plinking one day. I had hoped to meet some of y'all at the show, but missed out on that.
__________________
Georgia On My Mind
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-17-2009, 11:07 AM
Rule3's Avatar
Rule3 Rule3 is offline
Member
357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters 357 Wadcutters  
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Florida
Posts: 22,065
Likes: 10,777
Liked 15,465 Times in 6,787 Posts
Default

If by dipper you are referring to the Lee Dippers, the .5 dipper is supposed to yield 4.6 grs of Unique. (depending on the heat, humidity, altitude and moon phase.)
Appears you are right on the money.
__________________
Still Running Against the Wind
Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
bullseye, coke bottle grips, kit gun, m19, model 10, model 19, remington, wadcutter, weaver

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
Forum Jump

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
44 Wadcutters Drm50 Reloading 25 11-27-2016 09:47 AM
.38 wadcutters in a .357 wader4 S&W Revolvers: 1980 to the Present 20 01-06-2015 01:44 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
45 wadcutters marc257 Reloading 12 05-19-2010 10:42 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 05:54 PM.


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