Leading -- Am I doing something wrong?

[desmobob]

Lots of good info... Thank you, folks!

I mic'd the Winchester 148gr, wadcutters. I checked three and they were all .3579". Again, they were HBWC that came in a bulk Winchester package of almost 3K bullets.

The leading has occurred in four different revolvers; two Smiths, a Colt and a Taurus. I'm thinking that more or less rules out issues with rough bore/chambers, undersized throats, etc.

I own a copy of the cast bullet handbook. I bought it when I bought some casting equipment years back that I have not yet used. I'll have to break it out and word up.

I have powder coating equipment and I powder-coated 300 of those wadcutters this afternoon.

Thanks again,
Bob

 

[glenwolde]

Another question: Is the leading close to the breech, the muzzle, or everywhere?

 

[desmobob]

Another question: Is the leading close to the breech, the muzzle, or everywhere?

To be honest, I don't remember. I do remember that I saw obvious deposits in the cylinder throats and knew I had a lot of scrubbing to do (which was true).

I hadn't shot any of these loads in quite some time but had a pair of new-to-me revolvers to shoot so I grabbed a bunch out of the ammo cabinet. I probably shot no more than three or four cylinders full in each. I knew this load had caused leading in the past but I didn't expect any issues after shooting such a small quantity.

I probably still have a hundred or more loaded up. I'll just expect to have to do some serious cylinder/bore brushing when I use up the last of them. I'll powder coat any of these same bullets when loading them in the future.

 

[BillBro]

Check your cylinder throats. Try pushing a bullet through from the front of the cylinder. It should not fall through, but pass through with just moderate thumb pressure. If you can't get it through your throats are tight and that's what's sizing your bullets down.

If you're using a Lee Factory Crimp Die try without it. Sometimes those can size down lead bullets. Remington brass is thinner than most, that might help a little.

This was my thought exactly.

 

[Model19man]

There are multiple Lee Factory Crimp Dies (FCD's) for 357 Magnum / 38 Special. The one for taper crimp is pretty good. Have not tried the others.

My guess is the bullets are swaged and too soft. Maybe try a different manufacturer like Missouri, Extreme or Berrys? I have used all of those and had zero problems. I don't use Bullseye, too cheap and dirty. My favorite is W231 for a 38 Special wadcutter.

 

[Model19man]

There is good data here for 38 Special : Reloading The .38 Special - Reload Ammo

 

[mtgianni]

To be honest, I don't remember. I do remember that I saw obvious deposits in the cylinder throats and knew I had a lot of scrubbing to do (which was true).

I hadn't shot any of these loads in quite some time but had a pair of new-to-me revolvers to shoot so I grabbed a bunch out of the ammo cabinet. I probably shot no more than three or four cylinders full in each. I knew this load had caused leading in the past but I didn't expect any issues after shooting such a small quantity.

I probably still have a hundred or more loaded up. I'll just expect to have to do some serious cylinder/bore brushing when I use up the last of them. I'll powder coat any of these same bullets when loading them in the future.

In general leading in the throat is a fit issue, leading in the last third of the barrel is a lube issue.
Over the years there have been warnings about reducing the 2.7 gr of BE with the fear of sticking a bullet and the recoil being so negligible that a second shot occurs ringing the bbl. I get just as good of accuracy with 2.8-3.0 gr BE.
When I turned 60 I could no longer see the sights well enough that HB WC made any more difference than standard wc's. I would look at a bullet that has a proper lube in the grooves rather than a coating. The blue lube used by most casting companies is great in that it stays in place while it is being shipped. Their returns are fewer for lube failures. It is not soft enough, IMO, to always leave enough on the barrel walls to lubricate the next bullet as it passes. The same can be said for wax coatings on soft wadcutters as they age.

 

[madmikeb]

I always had the same problem as the OP. I have Lewis Lead Removers, used the lead free cloths, and did the couple cylinders of jacketed thing to clean the guns. Went to gas check bullets which solved the problem. These days I have given in and just shoot plated bullets. No more problem.

 

[Borderboss]

I always had the same problem as the OP. I have Lewis Lead Removers, used the lead free cloths, and did the couple cylinders of jacketed thing to clean the guns. Went to gas check bullets which solved the problem. These days I have given in and just shoot plated bullets. No more problem.

Same here. I still have thousands of lead bullets that I load after tumbling in Alox. But I still have them because I switched to plated bullets and am only loading those, or jacketed.

 

[smoothshooter]

The throat diameter of your chamber mouths may be too small.
You could also try softer bullets for a better bore seal.
Missouri Bullet Co. offers two different hardness options.