When loading WC's it is best to find / use printed loading data because WC's are so deep seated .
The deep seating takes up case capacity ... which in a long 38/357 mag case isn't a bad thing sometimes but needs to be taken into consideration . A heavy load WC makes for a hard hitting SD round ... I carry 160 gr. Lyman 358432 wadcutter loaded ammo in my Air-Weight 38 Special J-frame , 5.2 grs. Unique = 915 fps is a nice hard hitting load !
The best WC design to use for heavy loads is one with a dedicated crimp groove ... like the button nose or Lyman 358432 ... put a nice roll crimp into the crimp groove and the bullet will not creep forward under recoil . Most double ended WC's do not have a dedicated crimp groove because they are normally not crimped but loaded flush with the case ... I don't like them , I want crimp grooves .
Don't be afraid of the Wadcutter ... Loaded light or heavy ... it's a good bullet for target or critters !
If you have never experienced shooting the 160 gr. Lyman 358432 bullet design , it is a cross between a SWC and a WC design ... the most accurate bullet I have found in under 50 yards shooting ... it is discontinued by Lyman ... but NOE (
www.noebulletmoulds.com ) now makes this design and a 4 cavity NOE mould is a joy to cast with ... they also tweaked the design and made it better ...
NOE # 360-160-WC PB (360432) , if you shoot 38 special / 357 mag and never tried this puppy ...
It's a Winner ... and at NOE you can get them Hollow Pointed ...Wicked To Say the Least !
Gary