Hollow base WC in S&W 686 using 357 Magnum and 38 Special brass

You would need to use 38 special cases, but those bullets should not be used at that velocity. That do better between 600 to 700 fps, a SWC or DEWC would work better at 820 fps or better.

The problem with a hollow base is the base is soft and will expand to much at 820 fps causing you leading problems.

Because a DEWC or SWC doesn't have the hollow base you can run them faster.

38 special case have less volume that 357 magnum with WC's and give better ignition of the small powder charge.

38 special SWC from last night average 902 fps 50 rounds 15 yards

The case debate (38 special or 357 magnum) as be going from 1935 onwards. Because all I load is 38 caliber rounds 144,209 so far, I have never gotten the same accuracy with a 357 magnum case as with a 38 special with any full wadcutter. Wish I could I have about 5,000 new 357 cases.

I shot a National Record in PPC competition in 1998 with my 2.5” Model 686 using 158gr SWC in .38spl cases. Hasn’t been bested since..
so there’s that!

IMO, length of the case is irrelevant.
Fit of the bullet to throat is critical!

The plain-lead hollow base 148 gr WC had a reputation of being finicky at higher speeds, both with barrel leading and even coming apart as the skirt gets separated from the body. While I never personally experienced these issues, I will admit that all the ones I loaded I kept well under 800 fps, usually with 2.7 gr Bullseye at about 750 fps.

For faster WC loads I go with coated or plated solid base wadcutters (Double end or button nose styles) that I can run at higher speeds if I wanted to.

For an 850 fps minimum, personally I would run coated-plated DEWC’s, they are accurate as heck and super easy to load. YMMV

Stay safe.

I've been shooting HBWC in .38 Special cases at 725 fps in a 4 inch Model 10 and also shooting them in a 586, 6 inch with out much luck improving my scores.
A THR member suggested on another thread, my 586 would do much better with 158 LSWC due to the S&W rifling. I did shoot some 158 SWC in both guns and I did better and even better when I upped the charge in the .357mag case in the 586.
Now I have heard two concepts on .38 Special HBWC;
1) There is a trick to loading for shooting them, and I don't know what the "trick" is. 2) you can blow the skirt off them with a heavier .38 case load. I don't know what that might be. I've loaded 2.7 to 3 grains of Bullseye, Red or PB w/o any major difference. I do seem to do better when I load them toward max., but some members swear to load them down to 2.6 grains.
Note: H&N appears to also have powder coat HBWC and their hollow bases don't appear as deep as Hornady or Speer HBWC.

Long ago I shot Speer 148gr HBWC from a S&W Model 19 using 357 brass and Bullseye powder. Data was in the Speer #9 book. It shot very nice, was accurate and fun. I used 357 brass because I didn't like the carbon fouling left by the 38 brass.

I tried Hornady HBWC from both cases. I couldn’t get the 38 cases to shoot worth much from my Blackhawk. The 357 cases are very nice but I use a minimum charge of Winchester 231 powder. They did worse the more I put in the case. CFE Pistol did just as well but the minimum charge is a little more.

The one's I cast do well; not going to win any awards but fun to shoot
NOE 148 HBWC

Onty said:

Also, local rules require minimum 250 m/s (820 fps) velocity, so I would like to have something like 850 fps, just to be on safe side.

I have 357 Magnum and 38 Special brass, and would like to try both. I would appreciate if you can provide accuracy and velocities. Thanks

Click to expand...

A 38 Spc case with 4.0 grains of CFE Pistol over a MBC 148 gr DEWC Hi-Tek at OAL 1.25” exits my 6” barrel 586 at 820 fps. Lee factory crimp.

6” = 820
3” = 760

It’s consistent and accurate. Not position sensitive.