Reloading Coated/Plated Bullets for a Model 52-2

[rockquarry]

Stay away from the plated bullets unless your shooting @ 50ft. Even then you'll have uncalled fliers.

The real issue you'll have is finding a soft commercial coated bullet. Softer lead bullets make it a lot easier to find accurate loads.

What most shooters can't seem to grasp/see with coated bullets is that the coating is a jacket. That jacket aids in sealing the bbl from leaking gasses, protects the bbl from leading. Coupled with keeping the bbl/cylinder clean long due to fouling.

Accuracy and accuracy statements are always interesting. At the end of the day a 2 1/2" group @ 50yds is just that. Doesn't matter if you're using traditionally swaged & lubed bullets, cast/lubed bullets or cast coated bullets. Once you've achieved the level of accuracy your trying to find. The bullet type/style/lube/coating/etc. becomes irreverent.

To say any one of those bullets is more accurate than the other would be plain foolish.

To say finding accurate loads is easier with a swaged bullet VS cast/lubed VS cast coated bullets is easy to prove.

To say finding accurate loads over a wide range of pressures/velocities with swaged VS cast/lubed VS coated bullets is extremely easy to prove.

Th op never stated at what distances he'd be shooting.
50ft isn't that picky
25yds starts to get interesting
50yds takes a little work

At the end of the day the hard alloy'd cast/coated bullets are what will hold you back.

I'm certainly in agreement with you on hard alloys as being detrimental to acccuracy in most situations. "Hard cast" has become a fad term and I suspect most people who use the term know little about "hard cast". I think the words sound good to them.

Just a few days ago, I tested linotype .45 ACP target loads. I'd read a number of places where shooters claimed shallow rifling in .45 ACP barrels was more compatible with hard bullets, despite the fact that I've had good results with soft bullets in .45 ACP loads. My conclusion after shooting at 25 yards: Accuracy was the same, but linotype bullets heavily leaded the bore and had to scrubbed out after two magazines. I'll stick with soft.

 

[Forrest r]

The 8/9bhn alloy

It a little harder than swaged bullets but yet soft enough to expand with light (+/- 9,000 psi) loads.

Soft swaged bullets have a pressure threshold and will fail when pushed to max & p+ loads in the 38spl/45acp/etc. And don't stand a chance with mag pressure level loads.

Start pushing 8/9bhn traditionally lubed bullets too hard/too much pressure and they fail (stripping/leading/deforming).

8/9bhn cast/coated bullets using traditional +/- 16,000psi loads.
38spl 6-shot groups @ 50ft

45acp 5-shot groups @ 50ft (same powder/load 3 different bullets)

+/- 25,000psi load using a 9mm 10-shot group @ 50ft.

10 shot group 50yds using +/- 9,000psi load 8# spring 9mm

+/- 30,000psi loads playing around with a scoped 357mag @ 50yds. They are 6-shot groups using mixed range brass and 2 different bullets and a 5.5gr and 6.0gr load of bullseye.

Not very scientific but the worst 50yd load/6-shot group was 2 3/16" outside to outside with blammo ammo range brass.

Anyway a soft alloyed cast bullet and then coating them allows the reloader an extremely wide range of pressures/loads to use the same bullet with to find accurate loads.

You'll be hard pressed to use a swaged lead bullet or a traditionally cast lubed bullet made with the cast alloy and have either preform at the high level the cast coated bullets do in such a wide range of firearm/calibers/pressures.

IMHO:
This is the difference between swaged bullets/traditionally cast & lubed bullets/cast & coated bullets.

It has nothing to do with Accuray and everything to do with their extremely wide range of use. Coupled with they are no less accurate then their counterparts.

 

[BE Mike]

Since none of the responses I saw addressed ammo suitable for the S&W model 52-2, I thought I'd chime in. From what I gather, Bear Creek makes a coated 148 gr. HBWC in .38 SPL caliber. I saw where a precision pistol shooter (formally bullseye pistol) is having luck with this in his model 52. Here's a link for Bear Creek. 38 Secial 148 gr HBWC bullets

 

[venomballistics]

Sorry to hear about your predicament. Possibly not an option in your case, but, personally, I’d just find another range.
What’s the point of their stupid rule? Lead is evil in centerfires, but not evil in rimfires? Or, maybe just a little bit evil in rimfires, therefore it’s OK?

Even with swaged lead bullets, M52 barrels can wear out! There’s a good bit of demand these days for aftermarket M52 replacement barrels. That’s remarkable for a long discontinued gun.
Who knows what impact coatings or plating will have on your pistol?
About 20-25 years ago, moly coated bullets were hyped as the best thing since smokeless powder. “It extends the life of your barrel, reduces or eliminates fouling, and enhances accuracy”, or so we were told. Then, it was found that even trace amounts of residue could trap moisture in the barrel causing extremely bad pitting.
So, in true gun press style, all the hyperbole was quickly memory-holed, faster than the Ministry of Truth in Orwell’s 1984.

I don’t use plated or coated bullets in anything. I’m pretty sure I’ve read that the USAMU and/or other service branch marksmanship units have thoroughly tested this stuff, with no advantages found.

Best wishes!

You're right about moly. That stuff aged like a milkshake.
The "new" (they aren't) poly coatings are a different matter.
if we take the way back machine to the era of the fabled "cop killer teflon" bullet and the NyClad of lore, we have two examples of coated bullets dating back some 30 - 40 years now.
Teflon was little more than a means to protect the firearm from the ravages of certain AP bullet materials. Likely still in use. because it worked.
NyClad ... that's probably one of the first commercially successful examples of our current coatings.

What you've read about it was far from thorough.
If they didn't test to 2700 FPS with plain base cast rifle bullets as I have, and didn't find the lack of leading to be an advantage. I question the study.

 

[rockquarry]

Since none of the responses I saw addressed ammo suitable for the S&W model 52-2, I thought I'd chime in. From what I gather, Bear Creek makes a coated 148 gr. HBWC in .38 SPL caliber. I saw where a precision pistol shooter (formally bullseye pistol) is having luck with this in his model 52. Here's a link for Bear Creek. 38 Secial 148 gr HBWC bullets

I apologize. My comment on load development earlier was in regards to a Model 52 even if I failed to mention the gun it was used in. I found 2.5 grs. Bullseye with a 148 grain WC cast from an H&G #50 mould shot more accurately than heavier charges. Many assume 2.7 grs. Bullseye is always the best for the 52 and revolvers. It might be, but I would never count on it.

 

[BE Mike]

I apologize. My comment on load development earlier was in regards to a Model 52 even if I failed to mention the gun it was used in. I found 2.5 grs. Bullseye with a 148 grain WC cast from an H&G #50 mould shot more accurately than heavier charges. Many assume 2.7 grs. Bullseye is always the best for the 52 and revolvers. It might be, but I would never count on it.

Most consider a 148 gr. HBWC superior to a solid WC in the accuracy department, as far as, the S&W model 52 is concerned. When I was much, much younger, I shot these targets. I was shooting one-handed, unsupported (bullseye pistol), with a S&W model 52-1, and using factory match .38 SPL ammo (148 gr. HBWC). The match was the centerfire stage (5 shots in 20 seconds at 25 yards). Now, I'm just an old "has been"!

 

[rockquarry]

I'm aware the HBWC is considered more accurate and I'll go along with that as I've never used them and can't argue one way or the other. I just happened to have the H&G #50 mould so those are the bullets I always used. I no longer have a 52 and seldom shoot WC ammo in any of my revolvers.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

To the OP:

Summers Enterprises has a HiTech coated 148gr standard (aka, double ended) wadcutter @ $40 for 500#.

I have loaded and shot them using the "standard" Bullseye load, WIN 231 & Unique and other powders. As far as insuring that ANY load will somehow insure "good functioning" and/or be acceptably accurate in a Model 52...?

That's entirely up to you.

Regardless of what bullet (or bullets?) you choose, determining as to how much (or little?) powder will reliably work the action is pretty easy: only ought to take a couple magazines to find out. As far as determining the BEST, MOST ACCURATE LOAD for YOUR Model 52, that's probably going to take a little more experimentation to work up (or down?) to...

Good Luck! Let us know how it works out, please.

Cheers!

P.S. The OP indicated he has (at least?) two other firearms that don't REQUIRE the use of wadcutters: as such, info given regarding other bullet designs seems, at least to me, to be relevant.

 

[Walter Rego]

I think the issue at the range is environmental, maybe the cost of dealing with lead as far as disposal is high or maybe the maintenance of their air filtration system. I don't know but it's the rules. Easy enough for people to say find another range. But the next closest range is about a 140 mile round trip.

What I'd really like to do is come as close as possible to the performance of the factory match grade 148 gr. HBWC loads. It sounds like coated bullets will be the best bet rather than plated. I'll start with experimenting with the Model 52-2. The Bear Creek offering looks good. If they shoot well in the 52-2 I suspect they will shoot equally well in the K-38 Masterpiece and Officers Model Match.

I also shoot .44-40, .44 Special and .45 Colt in single actions and jacketed bullets are expensive and not really needed. I think finding good coated bullet loads in those calibers will be a lot easier.

 

[venomballistics]

I think the issue at the range is environmental, maybe the cost of dealing with lead as far as disposal is high or maybe the maintenance of their air filtration system. I don't know but it's the rules. Easy enough for people to say find another range. But the next closest range is about a 140 mile round trip.

What I'd really like to do is come as close as possible to the performance of the factory match grade 148 gr. HBWC loads. It sounds like coated bullets will be the best bet rather than plated. I'll start with experimenting with the Model 52-2. The Bear Creek offering looks good. If they shoot well in the 52-2 I suspect they will shoot equally well in the K-38 Masterpiece and Officers Model Match.

I also shoot .44-40, .44 Special and .45 Colt in single actions and jacketed bullets are expensive and not really needed. I think finding good coated bullet loads in those calibers will be a lot easier.

By the sounds of this, you will soon be casting and coating your own. Embrace this eventuality.
I used to load WC in 44 magnum. A somewhat frustrating proposition. One of the leading frustrations was how the lube would migrate and build up in the die. Given how its a flat punch meeting a nearly flat bullet nose, all available space would be quickly occupied by lube and jack up the seating depth. All designs will do this, but WC happens the fastest.
sometimes as few as 15 rounds before I had to scrape crud.
since coatings ... no such issue remains.

 

[rockquarry]

By the sounds of this, you will soon be casting and coating your own. Embrace this eventuality.
I used to load WC in 44 magnum. A somewhat frustrating proposition. One of the leading frustrations was how the lube would migrate and build up in the die. Given how its a flat punch meeting a nearly flat bullet nose, all available space would be quickly occupied by lube and jack up the seating depth. All designs will do this, but WC happens the fastest.
sometimes as few as 15 rounds before I had to scrape crud.
since coatings ... no such issue remains.

If you're doing everything right, lube buildup in dies will be minimal and not enough to affect anything adversely until you've done many, many hundreds of rounds.

 

[venomballistics]

If you're doing everything right, lube buildup in dies will be minimal and not enough to affect anything adversely until you've done many, many hundreds of rounds.

Yeah .....
About that .....
Dillon Carbide Pistol Dies | 3 Die Set

 

[rockquarry]

Yeah .....
About that .....
Dillon Carbide Pistol Dies | 3 Die Set

I didn't read the ink; my response was based entirely on my experience. I loaded over 500 rounds of .45 ACP with cast lead bullets over the weekend. Cleaned the dies when I finished. Some lube buildup in seating die and taper crimp die, but not nearly enough to affect anything. I probably could have loaded another 500 or more rounds or so before any cleaning was required.

I was using a standard Redding seating die and a standard Redding taper crimp die.

 

[venomballistics]

I didn't read the ink; my response was based entirely on my experience. I loaded over 500 rounds of .45 ACP with cast lead bullets over the weekend. Cleaned the dies when I finished. Some lube buildup in seating die and taper crimp die, but not nearly enough to affect anything. I probably could have loaded another 500 or more rounds or so before any cleaning was required.

I was using a standard Redding seating die and a standard Redding taper crimp die.

It's a link to the Dillon die set, which includes a rapid disassembley feature to clean out cast bullet lube, without screwing up adjustment.
It is a thing

 

[rockquarry]

It's a link to the Dillon die set, which includes a rapid disassembley feature to clean out cast bullet lube, without screwing up adjustment.
It is a thing

I'm not sure what a "thing" is but my Redding dies work fine. You can clean a seating die without removing the stem and messing up the adjustment. I haven't seen lubricant migrate past the stem, but it may happen with some dies I'm unfamiliar with, though I think I have most of the brands.