Hello all,

I have a 4th model .38 S&W New Departure (Lemon Squeezer) that is in excellent condition and is as tight as a new revolver. I would like to handload for it, and I thought 147 gr. hollow-based wadcutters would work well since the bore diameter is slightly larger than that of the .38 Special and they should "bump up" well.

However, I haven't been able to find any load data for that bullet. Any suggestions? Thanks.

I would load with FFFg, load this black powder about 1/16" higher than the seated bullet such that it compresses the powder. ANY air pocket could prove catastrophic.

I use the HBWC bullet and seat it out .025. I use 2gr of Bullseye. It shoots ok through most of my old top breaks. Don't try to hotrod with smokeless powder. Only use it on guns that are in very good condition.

__________________
Tom
NRA Pistol Inst

Speer shows .38 S&W loaded with a bevel base wadcutter seated to the top lube groove. Of course they were afraid of topbreaks.

I loaded hollow base wadcutters that way for my Legal Defender .36 Navy to .38 S&W conversion, hoping they would expand to seal the C&B's deep grooves.

Did they? That's what I'm hoping to do.

Not reliably, I ended by having the barrel relined to true .358".

But you should have no trouble with the small difference between .38 Special and .38 S&W. My Legal Defender after reline, Second Model Single Action .38, New Model No 3 .38 Target, and Great Western .38 S&W Derringer all shot .358" bullets quite well anyhow.