38 wadcutter frustration

What gun, have you slugged barrel. Most if not all 38's I have shoot dewc over bullseye very well.

I load Acme coated button nose wadcutters to 3.1gr of bullseye. This is at the top of the currently available data. Shoots well in 4" and 6" revolver. I haven't tried this recipe with a plain cast bullet but no leading with coated.

I have cast hundreds of pounds of lead into lead wadcutters. Just about any fast powder with 3 grains will work. Don't use a factory resizing die, resizing the case will make the bullet undersize. try and load as fat a bullet as will fit into your chambers. Many brands of brass won't permit flush seated bullets. Leave part of the bullet out of the case if the brass is bulging.

You could buy a 100 coated and see how they do.

This is a good read on loading 38 WC bullets and how to identify proper 38 WC brass so you don't get the bulge in the case.

https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/38wadcutterQA.htm

Ratshooter said:

This is a good read on loading 38 WC bullets and how to identify proper 38 WC brass so you don't get the bulge in the case.

https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/38wadcutterQA.htm

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That's a good article.

kidneyboy said:

That's a good article.

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Thanks Chuck. If you get the time have a look around that entire site. CE Harris wrote some good stuff. He has been around and knows what he is talking about. I hope to cast some 30 caliber 170gr bullets this winter to try in my 30-06 and 30-30 and use this article to try a few loads. If you have any interest in cast bullets in rifles its worth your time to read it.

https://www.hensleygibbs.com/edharris/articles/The Load.htm

Walkalong said:

Perhaps, an easy test. Skip it and see.

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Yep, I'm suspecting the FCD may be resizing the bullet in the case too.

Skip the factory crimp die. Roll or taper crimp just enough to remove flare and try some. The FCD I tried sized my cast bullets down .002"...

It’s pretty easy to tell if the FCD carbide insert is causing the issue of swagging the bullet down or not.

brewer12345 said:

Kind of felt like it. Without crimping do I have to worry about bullet jump?

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Most WC loads have enough bullet pull that a heavy crimp is not needed. And with proper WC cases your die shouldn't be sizing the bullet bases down. Look at the link I posted in post #15.

Are you loading these in .38 brass or .357 brass? My 4" Sec. 6 does very well with DEWCs and BNWCs loaded over 2.7-3.0 gr. Bullseye in .357 brass. That, plus seating to the first crimping groove behind the nose means less jump to the rifling.

I do use a magnum primer to make sure things get started OK.

I agree with drop the lee fcd. you can also run the bullseye load down to 2.7 grains. a tenth makes a lot of difference with that powder.

luck,

murf

brewer12345 said:

Using 38 brass

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brewer12345 said:

loading 148 grain dewc

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brewer12345 said:

hp38

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brewer12345 said:

Cast out of clip on wheel weights, about 12 bhn

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Soft , soft ,soft. ADD Linotype.

All I can add is a bit more noise...but I has MASSIVE leading with some silly "laser cast" stuff I bought from Oregon Trail. That's $$ right down the drain, I have no clue what to do with the rest of those.

Either way, moved to hi-tek Missouri PPC #2 and that was that. I've had zero issues shooting them, they're very accurate and have zero leading (shooting from a S&W 627 Pro).