First time loading Wadcutters

Do Lee dies come exchangeable seating stems?

Lee Q. Loader said:

Yes they do. As a matter of fact I have 2 seater plugs. One is for round nose bullets and the other has a deep conical shape, I got it from Lee because the original round plug was smashing the lead on Semi-JHP I was loading in .357 mag.

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Can you get a flat one for wadcutters?

I’ve loaded a bunch of various brands of 148 gr hbwc and sbwc bullets with my Lee die set. I’ve never had any problems with wadcutters except a light little ring around the bullet nose that doesn’t affect functionality. Now, if you planned to load hbwc backward, you would need the flat seating plug. 2.7 gr Bullseye sounds about right. Should put you right about 650 FPS depending on barrel length.

You might want to flare the case just a little extra because the bullet seats so deep. I usually crimp at the top ring (if the bullet has one), or about leave about 1/16 inch of the bullet protruding if it doesn’t. Some people, though, prefer to seat flush.

There are several good choices of HBWC and DEWCs available:

Magnus Bullets - Terry the owner is a champion Bullseye shooter and is always happy to help with and loading or powder questions. You can order his HBWCs or DEWCs directly from him or through Midsouth Shooters Supply

http://saas.shopsite.com/magnusbullets/store/page11.html

Zero bullets are also a favorite of bullseye shooters. You can order them directly from Roze Distributors or Powder Valley

http://www.rozedist.com/mm5/merchan...RZD&Product_Code=R120-A&Category_Code=ZSB-38S

Xtreme Bullets and Berry's bullets both have plated DEWCs which are easier to load than softer swagged lead bullets until you have more experience loading wade cutters. They are also readily available through Extreme or most LGS.

https://www.xtremebullets.com/38-148-WC-p/xc38-148wc-b0500.htm

2.7 gr of Bullseye and 148 gr DEWC or HBWC is a classic load that will shoot well in just about any 38 revolver. If you decide to load the plated wad cutters than you might need to bump up your powder charge to 3.0 gr. and crimp at cannelure. Otherwise, you can seat the swagged wad cutters flush with the case with just a slight crimp to prevent bullet setback. See the Federal Gold Medal Match WCs below:



Hope this information helps.

If your seater has enough of an ledge to capture the edge of the wadcutter I would give it a try. Another option is to fill the cavity of one with hot glue (clean it first). The glue can be pulled out if you need the seater for its intended bullet.

Another option for bullets is missouribullet.com. I would recommend buying coated bullets, usually lower cost than plated or jackets.

Choose whatever bullets you want to try and when see how loading them goes. I’m guessing the Lee dies will working just fine as is. Mine do.

If the Lee dies don’t work then go from there.

Jack B. said:

Can you get a flat one for wadcutters?

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just flip the setting plug

Jack B. said:

Can you get a flat one for wadcutters?

Click to expand...

Just grind the end flat, or fill the cavity with hot glue or epoxy as another member recommended. Seat the bullet flush with the case mouth and put on a light roll crimp. I use HP-38 but either Universal or Titegroup should give similarly good results.

I’ve loaded up an entire .30 cal ammo can full of lead DEWC and plated DEWC with 3.0 Bullseye. I leave about 1/16” sticking out of the case, and all were loaded using stock Lee carbide .38-.357 dies with no issues at all.

I do flare them a tad more with lead and plated bullets when compared to jacketed bullets because lead can shave or the thin copper plating can get caught on the sharp case mouth and peel off and wrinkle the case mouth. I finish with a slight roll crimp to prevent any chance of bullet jump in airweight Smiths.

You can’t go wrong with Bullseye and the 2.7 to 3.0 load range powering wadcutter bullets. Accurate, easy shooting and cheap to whip up!

Stay safe!

I've seated many wadcutters in 38 Special with Lee dies for many years. At first (1971?) I tried hollow base wadcutters with low charges of Bullseye, but have since gone to using a cast 148 gr DEWC (150 actual weight). The Lyman wadcutter bullet I cast has a crimp groove so I just seat the bullet to the groove and lightly roll crimp. None of my bullets are marred/damaged by the seating plug in my Lee dies.

Some types of 38SPL will bulge and prevent chambering if your seat your WC flush. Some manufacturers used to make special brass for WC bullets.
You can run them through the LEE factory die to resize them, but this may give you a under size bullet.
I have found leaving the bullet a little bit 1/8-3/16 outside the case worked best for me. Double ended bullets are easy to deal with.

I prefer the 148gr double ended WC from Missouri Bullet Co available with the red HiTek coating. The reason is these allow you to seat in a crimp grove with about 0.08" of bullet showing, or seat flush. Having the option is nice.

The reason you want this option is that some seating stems will not allow you to seat flush. In order to seat flush and then roll crimp successfully, the seating stem must be small enough to enter the case mouth and push the bullet to about 0.006" below flush. Then the roll crimp is folded over the bullet's meplat to make the bullet flush in the finished cartridge ! In other words, a tiny bit of extra case material needs to be showing above the bullet to be available for folding over during the crimp and thus become "flush". This small diameter stem also allows for greater variation in case length.

On my flat 38/357 Dillon seating stem, I cut a small step to make this possible. I get perfect crimps, with zero distorted cases.



Just my 2 cents.

My 38/357 Lee dies came with only 1 seating plug. I have loaded countless 148gr DEWC and HBWC bullets without issues. No reason to buy a different crimp die either. Just load them up and go shooting.

Be safe and have fun.

Just a note, if driven too fast, hollow base wadcutters (HBWC) can shed their skirts which then get lodged in the barrel. Follow the loading data more closely for them. Double ended wadcutters (DEWC) are more flexible.

I enjoy shooting 38 Special wadcutters in my revolvers chambered for 38 Special.

I have a box of DEWC and have had awesome fun with them using trailboss, red dot and win 231.
I have the lee die set and a rcbs die set. I have the lee set up for my 38 loading and the rcbs for 357 mag on separate die heads.
I'd suggest giving a few rounds of 38 a go with the seating die as it is. if you don't like the results then flip the seating die plug as suggested by troy fairweather.

I am loading Hornady's swaged 148HBWC and 2.7 of Bullseye was not as good as 2.9; best results came from my 4" 66. Even loaded a few reversed and they still cut nice round holes