.38 148 Grain Plated DEWC's

[AJ]

Was going through my stash of bullets. I found a box of .38 148 grain DEWC's that are plated. Has anybody used these? I use 148 grain cast DEWC's in my PC revolver. I also use 148grain HBWC's in my 52-1. I am assuming that these are plated so you can drive them a bit faster. Just speculating at this point. Or are they a curiosity?

 

[rockquarry]

My one and only time using plated wadcutters in .38 Special was a poor accuracy disaster. They were given to me by a gunsmith who couldn't get them to shoot well either. I don't know the brand. Maybe yours are good ones. Try them at various velocities. My most accurate velocity in a 52-2 was 750 fps using my own H&G #50s with 2.5 grs. Bullseye.

 

[robertrwalsh]

I have shot a fair number of Berry's plated .38 wadcutters and am very happy with the result, but I am NOT a hard-core bullseye shooter. They do make it a lot easier to clean the gun afterwards.

 

[Model19man]

I bought a box of 500 Berry's 148 grain plated wadcutters in 2019. Then I moved and the box got stashed in my warehouse while I had a shop built.

In any case I finally opened the box and began shooting them. I tried Unique and W231. The W231 load gives the best accuracy. I have used most of them and plan to buy more when this batch is done.

 

[sjmjax]

Berry’s plated is just about the only target practice bullet I use now in handguns. Eliminating all plain lead bullets where possible.

I have found that in the wadcutters in particular I need to increase powder charge significantly to get same velocity and accuracy as swaged lead. Probably due to the long bearing area and higher coefficient of friction

Phenomenon not quite as noticeable with more conventional bullet shapes.

But, it’s much cleaner than plain lead and worth it to me.

 

[rwsmith]

Am I right in saying....

...that Berry's plated bullets are limited to 1250 fps

XTreme Bullets say 1200 fps but the heavy plated versions are good for 1500 fps.

I REALLY LIKE XTreme's heavy plated bullets.

 

[gwpercle]

The thin "plating" is not a Jacket ... it simply replaces the beeswax-alox orwaxy lubricants that might smoke a bit .

I would load and use them just like you do cast double end wadcutter bullets ...but with these plated bullets you could push them faster ...
I would keep them in the 950 to 1000 fps maximum velocity .
Heavy loaded WC's hit hard at under 50 yards and aren't the worst self defense / small game hunting loads you can put together !
Check their accuracy ... I have heard reports of poor shooting results !
Load Safe,
Gary

 

[Nevada Ed]

I have yet to put any plated through my 38 or 357 revolvers but I have put
plated bullets in my 9mm pistols for average to full speed loads to see what takes place.
I do know that I do get better accuracy in the low fps loads with coated bullets with the heavy 147 gr bullets, while the little 115gr FMJ plated are best at the high fps loads, for accuracy.

Have fun.

 

[viceunit]

I recently picked up some of these Berrys 148 gr plated DEWC on sale at Cabelas, and I had a gift card. I loaded up 18 rounds for testing, using 5 gr. Unique and CCI 500 primer. I ran 6 across the chronograph for an average of 936 fps out of a 6" model 19. Too cold and windy that day to set up paper for accuracy testing, but I was able to ring the 8" steel target easily at around 20 yards with the remaining 12 rounds. Easy to control with an authoritatve smack on the steel.

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

I prefer the X-Treme Plated Bullets. Better quality so much more accurate than the others, JMHO.

 

[mtgianni]

I got an estate a while back that included 1000 200 gr 40 cal plated bullets and 1800 180 gr. I don't find them as accurate as home cast but they do OK for what I ask a 40 cal gun to do.