Loading 38 Special wad cutters.

[MyDads38]

As with most here, I too use 2.8 grs. Bullseye with the Hornady 148 gr. HBWC. 3.0-3.2 grs. Bullseye works well for 158 gr. LSWC/LRN loads, and is easier to load with speedloaders. I use TiteGroup in my 9mm/40S&W loads with plated bullets and it works very well. Good luck and happy shooting!

 

[Forrest r]

American select

I've been using 3.0gr american select for the last couple years with my home cast 148gr hbwc's.



The wc/hbwc was developed to not only cut clean holes in paper. They take up more case volume which leads to less position sensitive loads. Am select is a real bulky powder which fills the 38spl cases when using hbwc's.

Powders like titegroup are not that bulky and rely on high nitro content to keep them from being position sensitive. The trade off is that the titegroup is a high energy/hot burning powder that tends to do better with plated/coated/jacketed bullets.

I've shot countless 1000's of bullets using the 38spl/univeral clays combo. Universal didn't start performing until I got to p+ levels then it was an excellent powder for the 38spl's. Any 158gr rn/fn/rnfp/swc 158gr bullet and 4.7gr of universal clays (P+ LOAD) were accurate

 

[Mistered]

With regard to loading blocks I too will charge say 50 cases at a time but I have found it much easier to use the plastic trays from a box of .45 or .40 ammo as loading blocks for .38/.357 as opposed to the standard blocks which some are rather large and bulky. A check (and double check) of power level with a small light is never overlooked and they get bullets seated immediately.

 

[just plain joe]

As has been said, some of the fast-burning smokeless powers are not very dense, i.e. they don't take up much space in the cartridge case. I throw twenty cases, check for consistent weight with a scale, throw twenty more, check, etc. When I have fifty or one-hundred charged cases, I then place the block containing the charged cases beneath a light and make certain that each case has the same powder level. I've been reloading since 1972 and have only had one "double-charge" with Bullseye powder. Had I not checked the level of the charged cases, I would have no doubt damaged a Model 10 revolver, and possibly injured myself.

Lastly, this should not be a problem, but if you encounter bullet deformation with the lead bullets or for that matter any bullet, you may wish to consider adding a step to your process....seat all your bullets to the desired depth, then in a final step, crimp them.

HTH.

JPJ

 

[27 Man]

JPJ imparted some good sage advice. I load 2.7 gn. BE with a 148 gn. Lyman 35891 BBWC. I weigh every 10th load and then visually check all 50 charged cases with a small penlight. Never had a mishap but know those that have. Maybe I can load another 40 years without one.

 

[Hotshot9]

I guess I should have added that I will be loading on my Hornady Lock N Load progressive press. I have found the powder drop to be good and accurate while loading 9mm. I just check every 10th round as a caution.
I think I'm going to pick up some Bullseye powder seems to be the most popular here.
Again thanks for the tips!!

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I guess I should have added that I will be loading on my Hornady Lock N Load progressive press. I have found the powder drop to be good and accurate while loading 9mm. I just check every 10th round as a caution.
I think I'm going to pick up some Bullseye powder seems to be the most popular here.
Again thanks for the tips!!

I'm more a fan of W231 than Bullseye and it will meter better than Bullseye since its a ball powder.

 

[johngalt]

I've used W231, bullseye, and Titegroup loading Hornady HBWCs. I've settled on 2.8 gr bullseye as my favorite, although 3.2 gr W231 is probably as good. I didn't like Titegroup as much - it burns very hot and leads worse than the others.

 

[Engieman]

I realize you are asking about loading WC in this post but for PPC, have you considered using Round Nose bullets? You may find they will load much easier with the speed loaders than wad cutters when using something like Comp 2 or comp 3 cylinder loaders.[/QUOTE]

Great advice. I love 148WC, but in my 627 with moon clips they are darn near impossible to line up and speed load.

 

[Jupiter01]

During my IPSC days, I used cast 150 gr. RCBS SWC bullets exclusively. 357 brass/5.5 gr. Unique/860 fps/4" barrel, chronoed. My standard load for 150-158 gr. bullets.

Like the previous poster, I found that even SWC bullets could hang up on the cylinder, slowing the reloading process significantly. RNFP or just plain round nose bullets will chamber more easily. Revolver and all, I usually finished somewhere in the middle of the pack, and never last.

My latest efforts "revolve" around hard-cast 147- 155 gr. full wadcutters, at about the same velocity, for daily use. The other powders have long and successful histories, but, since the first, I have not wished to take the chance of a hard-to-see double-charged case, so have stuck with bulkier powders...2400, Unique and Universal.

Good luck with your efforts

 

[bluetopper]

You mentioned you want to use Universal powder...... 3.7gr of it is a wonderful 38 wadcutter load I highly recommend. Superbly accurate.

 

[Hotshot9]

Went to the range yesterday with 40 rounds that I loaded...my gun is still in tact, I still have all my fingers! Seriously every one of my rounds went boom and did well on paper. used 2.8 gr of bullseye.

Thanks again for all your input!!

 

[silentflyer]

As mentioned above be VERY careful not to double/triple charge with low volume powders, and you should be good to go. Start at the bottom end of powder weights an work your way up to what works best for you.

 

[Kiwi cop]

I'm loading 4.2 gn Tightgroup under a jacketed 148 gn HBWC in my 6" 686 AFS. Great grouping out to 50 meters and makes just under 130 power factor.

 

[JPMCan.]

I'm loading 4.2 gn Tightgroup under a jacketed 148 gn HBWC in my 6" 686 AFS. Great grouping out to 50 meters and makes just under 130 power factor.

With .357 brass or .38spl?

 

[gwpercle]

Went to the range yesterday with 40 rounds that I loaded...my gun is still in tact, I still have all my fingers! Seriously every one of my rounds went boom and did well on paper. used 2.8 gr of bullseye.

Thanks again for all your input!!

I find loading solid base cast wadcutters , easier than the soft swaged lead . Sometimes the case will size the soft bullet down, as it is being deep seated , this makes it undersized which leads the barrel . If you run into this give cast solid base wadcutters a try. I size mine .357 .
I don't know what it is about 2.7 - 2.8 grains of bullseye , it just works ! I haven't found any powder better.
Good luck,
Gary

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I've used W231, bullseye, and Titegroup loading Hornady HBWCs. I've settled on 2.8 gr bullseye as my favorite, although 3.2 gr W231 is probably as good. I didn't like Titegroup as much - it burns very hot and leads worse than the others.

That is the same charge of W231 I use with a 148gr HBWC. When I load a DEWC I up the charge to 3.4gr W231.