.38 Special Inaccurate!

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308sc

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So I tired out my second batch of reloads today:

5.1 Unique

125 Grain HP (plated)

Magtech Primers

So I go to shoot them, At 25 yards they where all over the target....I know, "the one who is holding the gun, is your problem" , well I loaded up with some Winchester white box 115 FMJ and shot 2 shots in 1 hole, and another real close by. Why are my reloaded rounds so much more inaccurate? I do have a pretty heavy crimp on them from my Lee FCD, If that could be doing it. Or the loads could be too hot for maximum accuracy? The gun is a Ruger GP100 4 inch barrel, if that helps, So can someone recommend how to get my reloads more accurate?
 
I've had some pretty bad plated bullets. There are decent ones out there, but an awful lot of crap. That'd be the first suspect I'd look at.

I also strongly dislike the FCD. IMO you might be starting with bad bullets and then thoroughly ruining them with the Lee die. There will be, however, someone who will shortly arrive to tell you that I am full of beans and that the FCD is the best thing since sliced bread. So there you go.
 
bullet dia of .357? ( 9mm is a .355 and not really interchangeable with 38 spc). crimp too tight and cutting the platting? good luck
 
May be too light.

Hey there:
My Speer loading manual shows 5.7 as starting load and 6.0 as a max laod for the 125 JHP.
Those are +P loads.
It also show 5.7 as the lowest load and says "Do not reduce".....
Your loads may be running too slow.
True that slower loads are generally more accuarte, but too low can create PSI problems and likely grouping issues along with that.
They do show these coming out of a 6" barrel but I guess I would move up to the 5.7 grains and see if there is some better results. That crimp should not be an issue at all.
I have use 125 grainers in my .357 but not as .38 loads. The 158 grain Bevel base semi wad cutters toss very tight groups from my 6" as .38s or .357s.
 
Claude where did you get 9mm from? crimp is not cutting the plating, I pulled a few to make sure!

Wildfire: Thanks for the tips!, in my book it says 5.3 is max for .38 special in FMJ, so I can push the plated higher?
 
Plated?????

Hey :
Just noticed you said plated.... NO No no...
None of those things work good. Go to real jacketed rounds or cast lead.
 
I've gotten excellent accuracy with plated bullets in 9x19, 9x21, .38 Super, .38 Special, .357 Magnum, 357 Sig, .40 S&W, 10mm, .41 Magnum, .45 acp and .45-70, so I know they'll shoot well. Those who don't get good results with them don't understand them, and try to load them like jacketed bullets, which they aren't. I only use Berry's Plated Bullets, so I can't attest to the accuracy of other brands, but I've literally fired thousands of the Berry's, and they will shoot.

With that said, you have to load them like plated bullets, using some of the same techniques used for loading cast or swaged lead bullets, and appropriate powder charges. The crimp is very important, not too tight and not too loose. If you over crimp, you'll cut through the plating and won't get any accuracy at all. Also, if you attempt to drive them faster than about 1250 fps for handgun rounds, they will tumble, though I've gotten nearly 1350 fps before they tumbled.

It doesn't sound like you have much experience loading plated bullets, and some of the advice you're getting is also from folks who don't have a lot of experience with them. They are a different beast, but are capable of very good accuracy, if loaded correctly.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
IMO plated bullets are so expensive these days you might as well buy jacketed bullets.

For the .38 Special there's no reason to buy anything but lead bullets since you will rarely push a .38 Special over 1000 fps. Lead is still a little cheaper and easy to load. I shoot only 148gr DEWC and 158gr LSWC bullets in my .38 Special rounds. There are some very good lead bullets out there that can be had for under $50/1000. All bullets are not made alike. There are good and bad bullets of all kinds and if you are using plated bullets from a company who doesn't make good bullets nothing you do will make them shoot accurately.

Sorry I can't help you with your current problem since there are so many variable it's hard to pinpoint one without knowing what bullets you are using and without seeing how you reload. Like ReloaderFred said, you can get accuracy from plated bullets but if done wrong accuracy is only a dream. (that's why I think lead is better)

Good luck finding the solution to this problem...
 
My .38/357 revolvers shoot the best groups with 148/158gr bullet weights. The 125s just don't shoot as well for me.

I'm with Archangel - I haven't been thrilled with the performance of plated bullets, and a lead 148gr WC or 158gr SWC is all you'll really ever need for target shooting in the .38 special. They are cheaper, seem to perform better, and they'll have a crimping groove for better consistency.

Unique is well suited for medium power level loads in the .38, not as well for lighter ones. I use Bullseye for that, 3-3.5 grains for the bullets above makes an easy shooting and very accurate load. Just be careful not to double charge a case.
 
Hey :
Just noticed you said plated.... NO No no...
None of those things work good. Go to real jacketed rounds or cast lead.
Click to expand...
Malarky

I have shot a few thousand plated bullets in 9MM, .38, .40, & .45 (mostly 9MM & .45)

They shoot great.

I experimented with some plated 148 gr DEWC's by taper crimping some, and roll crimping over the shoulder of some, all using the same load. The taper crimped ones shot real well while the roll crimped ones shot very poorly. It is easy to ruin a plated bullet with to much crimp, even too much taper crimp.

Just play around with your powder charge and your crimp. I am sure you will find a happy spot.

Another thought. Was your barrel clean? No lead fouling from previous rounds?
 
I use 125 grain and 158 grain hard cast lead semi wadcutters in my .38 Spl. Very accurate and it leaves a nice round hole in the target.
 
308sc...Nothing wrong with the Lee FCD...However you may be putting too much crimp on those plated bullets and distorting them. Lighten up the crimp and try again.

I've been playing with plated bullets (Rainier) for the past few months and have found them to be quite accurate.
 
FWIW 125 gr. Winchester HP's (bulk packaged from Midway or Cabela's) over H-110 shoot fan-freakin-tastic in my S&W Highway Patrol. (These are 357 rds but still). It might just not like those bullets.
 
I have had good plated bullets and bad plated bullets. Unlike jacketed bullets, I have used an awful lot of bad plated bullets. Berry's have all been good, in my experience.

I think the FCD is a bad idea with plated bullets. Few plated bullets have crimp grooves, because plating is easy to damage when the manufacturer tries to add a crimp groove. So trying to make one -- whether by accident or intent -- with the FCD is liable to end badly.
 
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