nitroexpress
Member
- Joined
- Sep 4, 2011
- Messages
- 28
I was searching for some insight into loading the 38 HBWC and quite often I came upon the advice not to FL resize. Well not in the conventional manner anyways.
This seemed to make sense, so I tried it. For the first batch I "sized" with the LEE Factory Crimping die before loading the powder and bullet. On the second batch I just let the LFC die do it's thing after seating the bullet.
For my application, a low pressure load in 38 LC brass, case expansion is so minimal if at all, I don't think it matters.
What this accomplishes, it minimizes the amount that the bullet base is swaged down. The base of the bullet is about 0.362", and most FL sizing dies size the brass so that a 0.357", or slightly smaller bullet is sufficiently gripped.
My thanks to the post quoted below:
"This is the most accurate component HBWC bullet currently available now that you cannot buy Winchester wadcutters anymore. For best accuracy do not full length resize fired brass, but decap using a universal decapper, inside mouth deburr, flare and prime with a "soft" primer such as Remington 1-1/2. The bullet base is .362 diameter and is a snug fit in unsized brass. Seat bullets flush and full length resize loaded rounds to ensure easy chambering by using the Lee Factory crimp die or Redding profile die. Use only enough taper crimp to remove all mouth flare. Excessive crimp or forcing a soft bullet base into a too-tight case neck is what destroys accuracy. Properly loaded these bullets will consistently shoot 1-1/2" six-shot groups at 50 yards consistently from a custom PPC revolver and will do this for ten-shot groups in a T/C Contender or custom single-shot rifle such as a BSA Cadet with Green Mountain barrel, Unertl small game scope and .38AMU style chamber."
I'd like to credit "By Ed, From Fairfax, VA". The above quote is his comment about the bullet on the Midway USA site.
This seemed to make sense, so I tried it. For the first batch I "sized" with the LEE Factory Crimping die before loading the powder and bullet. On the second batch I just let the LFC die do it's thing after seating the bullet.
For my application, a low pressure load in 38 LC brass, case expansion is so minimal if at all, I don't think it matters.
What this accomplishes, it minimizes the amount that the bullet base is swaged down. The base of the bullet is about 0.362", and most FL sizing dies size the brass so that a 0.357", or slightly smaller bullet is sufficiently gripped.
My thanks to the post quoted below:
"This is the most accurate component HBWC bullet currently available now that you cannot buy Winchester wadcutters anymore. For best accuracy do not full length resize fired brass, but decap using a universal decapper, inside mouth deburr, flare and prime with a "soft" primer such as Remington 1-1/2. The bullet base is .362 diameter and is a snug fit in unsized brass. Seat bullets flush and full length resize loaded rounds to ensure easy chambering by using the Lee Factory crimp die or Redding profile die. Use only enough taper crimp to remove all mouth flare. Excessive crimp or forcing a soft bullet base into a too-tight case neck is what destroys accuracy. Properly loaded these bullets will consistently shoot 1-1/2" six-shot groups at 50 yards consistently from a custom PPC revolver and will do this for ten-shot groups in a T/C Contender or custom single-shot rifle such as a BSA Cadet with Green Mountain barrel, Unertl small game scope and .38AMU style chamber."
I'd like to credit "By Ed, From Fairfax, VA". The above quote is his comment about the bullet on the Midway USA site.
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