Plated 148 gr wadcutters

[scottyp99]

Hi guys and gals, I've got some plated 148 gr wadcutters that I'd like to send downrange at about 1100 fps from a 4" .357 Magnum revolver using HS-6 powder and 357 brass. It's really tough to find data for wadcutters at this level, so I'd like it if someone could give me some idea on where to start regarding the powder charge, and maybe a max to stay below, too. Thanks,

Scotty

 

[JB4570]

| Hodgdon Reloading

 

[robertrwalsh]

If you push hollow base that fast it will probably-maybe blow the skirts off. DEWC no problem there obviously. You also might get trouble with the plating stripping off at that speed. Let us know how it works for you.

 

[Engineer1911]

DON'T DO THAT

I had a box of plated double ended wadcutter bullets that I loaded with 4.3 grains of Red Dot in 38 Spl cases. Wadcutters don't perform at all at supersonic velocity. My groups were 14" at 14 yards and 20"+ at 25 yards. About 1/3 of the holes were rectangles, even at 14 yards.

Use target velocity loads and your will enjoy the accuracy.

 

[scottyp99]

| Hodgdon Reloading

HS-6, I said. There is no data for 148 gr bullets in 357 Magnum using HS-6 on Hodgdon's site. I would use it if there were.

Strangely enough, they do for 38 Special. Maybe I'll just start off with the max 38 Special data and work up from there. Thanks for nothing.

Scotty

 

[scottyp99]

If you push hollow base that fast it will probably-maybe blow the skirts off. DEWC no problem there obviously. You also might get trouble with the plating stripping off at that speed. Let us know how it works for you.

Yeah, these are DEWC. I have seen plated HBWC though, I wonder if the plating would help them hold together a bit better. I'll let ya know how it goes, might be a week or two though.

Scotty

 

[ontargetagain]

I see that Berry's Bullets 148gr DEWC's are good up to 1250fps. Hoepfully you have plated ones that are rated correctly for your 1100fps +/-?

At Hodgdon website what about starting with the 158 LSWC data and working up from there? They show an HS6 load w/7.0grs max pushing the 158 to 1106fps?
Karl

 

[Nevada Ed]

I did 150 lead in my 357 case with HS-6 but I got better accuracy with the 158gr Lswc at 1108fps.

Lyman starting HS-6 load for a lead 150gr is 9.0grs, 1100fpf at 32CUP.

I do not load plated, non-crimp bullets in my 38 or 357 revolvers.

Good luck.

 

[scottyp99]

Hey, guys, we're talking about wadcutters here. You can't just go by the weight of the bullet. A wadcutter leaves quite a bit less space in the case than a conventional bullet design. It may as well be a completely different cartridge at that point.

Scotty

 

[Nevada Ed]

Yes, I know.......

That 150 was a wad cutter bullet.

Sorrry, I don't usually give out loading data.
Good day.

 

[scottyp99]

Well, I'll come up with something. I'll work up a load and post my results here. Then, around 87 people will post with their own recipe.

Scotty

 

[scottyp99]

Yes, I know.......

That 150 was a wad cutter bullet.

Sorrry, I don't usually give out loading data.
Good day.

#358477? Sorry, but that is definitely NOT a wadcutter bullet, at least not according to MY Lyman manual. If you're talking about #358091, my Lyman manual doesn't even give a loading for it in 357 Magnum. This is exactly what I'm talking about.

Scotty

 

[Skeet 028]

You are asking a kind of inane question. Wadcutters aren't generally pushed to such velocities so not going to be many good answers for you. I have had some plated DE Wadcutters with the box marked 900 FPS max and there is a dearth of higher end velocity loads in the 357 mag with wadcutters anyway. Using loads for other bullets(heavier) just try seating the WCs out and taper crimping a bit. They will work just fine. Work your loads up to suit you. I tried some plated wadcutters in upper end velocity 38 sp and they didn't work so well.

 

[Calliope]

When I wanted to shoot 148 Rainier & Berry's plated DEWC's in my 357, I loaded them long, way out to 1.430" OAL. That put the base of the bullet in the same spot as the base of a 158 JHP.
Then I used 158 JHP starting data and worked up. I never got near max loads, just enough to get around 1000 fps.

 

[scottyp99]

Alright folks, I had some time to load up a few rounds and send them over the chrono. Winchester .357 Magnum brass, HS-6 powder, CCI 550 primer, (I always use a magnum primer with HS-6) Xtreme plated 148 gr. wadcutter (double-ended with a cannelure on each end) C.O.A.L.-1.355", light roll crimp into the cannelure. Fired from my Ruger GP100 w/ 4.2" barrel.

7.0 gr. HS-6
Avg. vel. 1013 fps
SD 13.6

7.5 gr. HS-6
Avg. vel. 1076 fps
SD 13.3

8.0 gr. HS-6
Avg. vel. 1144 fps
SD 16.2

A 148 gr. projectile moving at 1144 fps delivers 430 ft.-lbs. of energy.....that's not too shabby. I just loaded up 6 rounds of each for chrono testing, so I haven't done any accuracy testing, but I'll let ya know how it shoots pretty soon, so stay tuned.

Scotty

 

[gwpercle]

Following the accuracy test closely.... interesting test .
I'm right in the middle of reading an article by Ed Harris : " Revisiting The Full Charge Wadcutter " in which he experiments with heavier loadings with the 38 wadcutter bullet for improved performance , only he didn't have any plated bullets to work with , only cast .
Gary

 

[Calliope]

The cast DEWC with crimp grooves is an excellent bullet.
The crimp grooves seat the bullet to the same depth as a 158 LSWC.
I have data that takes cast DEWC's to over 1300 fps in 357 brass.
The Penn 148 DEWC is the most accurate lead bullet in my revolver.

 

[gwpercle]

The cast DEWC with crimp grooves is an excellent bullet.
The crimp grooves seat the bullet to the same depth as a 158 LSWC.
I have data that takes cast DEWC's to over 1300 fps in 357 brass.
The Penn 148 DEWC is the most accurate lead bullet in my revolver.

Another wadcutter that would work well in this application is the Lyman #358432(160 gr.) , now discontinued , but still produced by NOE Bullet Moulds as their 360-160-WC . Both are 160 grain wadcutter designs with a crimp groove .250 below the flat nose.
This design has proven in my testing to be the most accurate wadcutter than any other . I cast them of wheel weight and scrap lead 50/50 and size to .358 or .357 .
The beauty of the weight is it shoots to the fixed sights of both my K frame and J frame 38 specials .
I'm thinking 38 special +P velocity 900 to 950 fps would be interesting and useful load...the flat points hit hard .
Gary

 

[scottyp99]

Well, I tried 'em out at the range, and to be honest, I think I'd have trouble shooting myself in the foot with these things. I'll probably keep tinkering with it, but it doesn't look promising.

On the other hand, I tried some out with 4, 4.5, and 5 grains of HP-38, and it looks like these guys don't like to go more than about 800 fps. The 4 gr. loading gave an average of 786 fps through my 4.2" GP100 and was very accurate. The 4.5 gr. loading gave 862 fps and was just a teeny bit less accurate, and the 5 gr. loading gave 937 fps and was even a little less accurate, but still not bad. I'll probably try 4.2 gr. next.

Scotty

 

[rockquarry]

Some of the very worst accuracy I've seen was with plated wadcutters. A gunsmith friend gave me fifty or a hundred about ten years ago. He couldn't get them to shoot either.