Wadcutter loads for a Smith and Wesson

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Gentlemen
I am trying to research good dependable wadcutter loads for three Smith and Wessons. I have some questions so here goes.
From what I understand the rate of twist is 18 3/4 so what is a good wadcutter bullet 148 gr or 158 gr for a 6'' barrel 357 Mag 27-2? Bullseye match.
For those in the know the same question applies for a 6'' barrel 41 Mag 57 no dash, and 29-2 although I might not shoot the 44 Magnum in bullseye matches with these I would like to know a good bullet weight for these calibers.

27-2 357 Magnum
57-2 41 Magnum
29-2 44 Magnum

Thank you for your patience and thank you for your help.

 

[6string]

I've had very good experience with the 44 mag for Bullseye shooting.
My preferred load is to use the old Lyman 429348 wadcutter, cast a bit soft, lubed with alox. For powder charges, I use 4.5 - 5 gr of bullseye, or 8 - 8.7 gr Unique. The latter seems a bit odd, being a tad warmer than most target loads, but it has been an accurate load for me over many years.

Oh yes, I seat the bullet so the driving bands are in the case,but the nose is out. So, it's not a typical flush seated wadcutter load.
If you don't cast, maybe this is a good source for you:
Lyman #429348 180 gr.

One last thing.... The loads I've listed are a bit outside of those listed in the Lyman Manual. I think I'm a bit on the lighter side with these. So, please use your best judgement.

Best Regards,
Jim

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Usually twist rate does not come into play with handguns like with rifles unless you are going to the extremes with bullet weights.

The classic WC bullet is 148gr and the bullseye guy like them hollow based.

For me a 148gr HBWC over 3.2gr W231 is an extremely accurate and light load. With a 148gr DEWC I up the charge to 3.4gr W231. I use most any .38 Spl brass with CCI-500 primers.

 

[Wise_A]

Check out Bullseye-L for the .38 loads. Start with 2.8-3.0 of Bullseye, or 2.5 of WST, and go from there. You might need to bump up a smidge to account for the .357 cases. It would use a 158 LSWC if I couldn't lay hands on a HBWC.

 

[rwsmith]

I shoot target wadcutters...

...with the usual light load of Bulleye, Titegroup or Red Dot out of my .357 loaded in .357 brass.

Swaged Speer or Hornady swaged wadcutters are excellent at target shooting.

 

[elpac3]

For .38 I have used either the 148 grain Hornady HBWC seated flush with 2.8 grain of Bullseye or a 148 grain DEWC seated to the crimp band with 3.0 grains Bullseye.

For the .44 I have used the 200 grain wadcutter from Rim Rock bullets with 4.5 grain Bullseye or 4.0 grains Red Dot.

 

[gwpercle]

In the 38 special if there is a better load than 2.7 or 2.8 grains of Bullseye with any wadcutter from 140 to 160 grains , I haven't found it in the last 50 years of looking.
I did discover that the discontinued Lyman mould #358432 in the 160 grain weight,(it also came in a 140 grain weight) , shoots a bit more accurately than the 148 grain flush seated wadcutters I cast .
NOE makes this design as NOE-360-160-WC PB (360432). This bullet over 2.8 grains of Bullseye. 15 shoots go into one ragged hole 1 1/4 inches across ...it's spooky how well this combination works.
NOE recently made this same design in a 41 magnum bullet . NOE 413-215-WC-PB , it's just a larger version of the 38 cal. I jumped on a 3 cavity mould. I have cast some and loaded some with every powder I have appropriate for target loads....but haven't made it to the range yet. Some Hurricanes got in the way and then I got sick but on my next free Saturday I'm going target shooting with the model 58 in my avatar. This bullet should be a winner.
No help with 44 magnum , the 41 takes care of my big bore magnum needs.
Gary

 

[rockquarry]

Don't discount a good SWC design, particularly one in the 150-160 grain. In some guns, such a bullet might outshoot the WC. This advice will likely work better for someone who casts and can try different alloy mixes and bullet sizing diameters.

 

[Qc Pistolero]

For the .38,I shoot either cast or swaged WC in both configuration,flat or hollow base(I cast and swage my own).I shoot at both 20 and 35 yds and I've found that the 125gr in either form is very accurate.So depending what I've got at hand(125 or 148gr),I may load either one,normally on top of 2.6gr 700X.
For the .44 mag,I've got an old old Ideal mould that throws 180gr wc that,luckily don't need to be sized.LA lubed they're ready to go propelled by 5.0gr of 700X(could substitute Bullseye,Red Dot or Promo)with excellent results.
Sorry for the .41 mag,I don't have a WC mould or the swaging dies but got every reason to believe that it would also be accurate;those magnums are very eager to please accuracywise!
Qc

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

Thank you for the responses. I am sure to be walking on the shoulders of giants and much appreciated.

 

[6string]

Hi,

Attached is a pic of some of my cast Lyman 429348 wadcutters and a couple loaded rounds (in 44 Special).
The load is 4.5 gr Bullseye.
Incidentally, I use this particular load in 44 Special revolvers.
For a 44 magnum, I get best accuracy with magnum brass.

Best Regards
Jim

 

[Forrest r]

The rules are "There are no rules."

wc bullets tend to be the most accurate when their either pc'd (powder coated) or when the bottom 2 lube grooves (h&g #50 or other 3 lube grooved designs) have lube in them and the top lube groove is left empty.

When I use/shoot 38spl's I like to move the bullet out into the taper of the cylinders. Some mihec 640's (left) with the bullet seated in the bottom crimp groove. The h&g #50's (right) are seated/crimped in the middle lube groove. These reloads are used in all my 357's along with a couple 38spl's.

These are not hand picked/cherry picked targets by any means. They are nothing more then the actual test targets used to test those bullets pictured above. 6-shot groups @ 50ft.

Testing target loads for a s&w 624/44spl. The bullet is a 220gr hbwc cast from a custom mold. When I tested the different load/bullet combo's I:
Seated the bullet flush, crimped in the 1st lube groove, crimped int the bottom lube groove (3 different seating depths for the same bullet).
I also lubed the bottom lube groove only, both lube grooves, tumble lubed, both lube grooves and tumble lubed (4 different degree's/more to less lube).

Clays is an excellent powder for target loads in revolvers. Most 180gr to 220gr bullets in 44mag cases using 6.0gr to 6.5gr of clays will get you to the promised land (1 /12" groups @ 25yds/r-ring accuracy). I like to use a 200gr wc bullet in the 44mag/44mag brass. It a bullet cast from a cramer mold. It resembles a lyman 429348 wc bullet. The big differences in the cramer compared to the lyman wc is the lyam is 180gr and the cramer is 200gr with a thicker bullet base. The cramer mold is a nose pour mold meaning perfect bullet bases pour after pour after pour (no spru cut marks). Nothing more than a 25yd test target with a 629/44mag brass/6.0gr clays/cramer 200gr wc.

There's too many excellent bullet designs out there not to find a target load for excellent quality range time.

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I picked up some 148 gr wadcutters and will be playing around with them. I have been trying to use up 8 pounds of Titegroup and will work out a load for the 357.
As for the 41 Magnum I have keith style SWCs.
44 Mag? 240 grain TCFP.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

How about a coated 240gr SWC @~1200 fps for the 44 Magnum?
Missouri Bullet Company
Hodgdon has load data for that load using Titegroup.
Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

 

[U.S.SFC_RET]

I have never been let down by Missouri Bullet Company. Good stuff.

 

[Wise_A]

I like the MBC 240s, but I buy them uncoated. They're rather smokey. I should probably buy a box of coated and a box of regular next time, and just forgo my normal order of 180 RNFPs for light loads.

 

[OLDSTER]

I'm no longer a hand-loader, but know you guys can help. My arthritic wrists take a beating when shooting my 642. What do you recommend for a nice easy shooting factory load for the range. ??

 

[Buzzsaw]

ordered some Bayou Bullets, coated, 148 WC and 158 SWC for my new 586

I have titegroup, 231, bullseye, all my components are on the way from Midway, post results when done,

I will be using .357 Mag cases with SP magnum primers, minimum listed Hogdon load data