.38 spl Wadcutters

[MoreIsLess]

I just bought a revolver that will shoot .357/.38spl. I want to reload .38spl wadcutters. Do I need a special die or would a standard Lee .38 spl die do the job. How about cases? Will a standard .38 spl case work or are special cases recquired for wascutters?

Where's a good place to get wadcutter bullets

 

[beatledog7]

Standard dies and cases will work no matter what bullet you choose. The only possible variation is the seated die/crimping die. Make sure you get one that applies a roll crimp and has inserts for both round-nose and flat-nose bullets. For SWCs use the flat nose insert.

A lot of folks will likely suggest bullet sources--I like Missouri Bullet Company.

 

[mbopp]

I think most die sets now work for 38 SPL and 357 mag. If you're going to switch between the 2 cases consider getting a .135" washer to go under the die for use with 357 cases, it saves resetting the lock rings.
I haven't tried Missouri's wadcutters but I've had good luck with Berrys plated bullets and the Dardas H&G design.

 

[cfullgraf]

38 Spl/357 Mag combo die sets have been available since at least 1980, maybe earlier. You either need to re-adjust them between the different cases or some came with a spacer ring to use when working with 357 Magnum. The resize die will work with either without changing.

The seater plug might be the only issue, but a minor one. A particular seater plug may deform the end of the wadcutter, but maybe night. You could fill the cavity with epoxy, JB Weld or something similar to make a flat seater if the seater does not work as is.

 

[dardascastbullets]

The Hensley & Gibbs #50 cherry is and always will be the ultimate .38 wadcutter. Perfect scores can be and are attained using this bullet. We have an 8 mould set cut from a genuine H&G #50 cherry. You need to obtain a set of Lyman dies that include the Lyman 2 Step M Expander Die along with the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook 4th Edition. (The Lyman Corporation are the pioneers in cast bullet reloading). Cast bullets need to be treated kindly when being seated - especially the H&G wadcutters. The Lyman M Die will allow your wadcutters to be inserted into the case mouth without tipping. The bullet will slip into the case mouth like a glove. It is imperative that the bullet be seated properly (using the M die) to ensure a perfect bullet/case alignment.

I trust that this information will help you.

 

[Clark]

For my brother's Colt Python, I just bought the wadcutter brass off an auction, Rem 148 gr, and Lee dies per Ed Harris posts:
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=496743

Looks like I missed dardascastbullets' comment about the M die.

 

[918v]

It depends on the type of wadcutter you use. Hollow base wadcutters are longer than solids. Their bases seat deeper and get distorted by the case's internal taper. Therefore, using specialty wadcutter brass is always better for this application. Another thing that you may want to consider is using an oversize sizer die. Standard dies size the case to hold a .357" jacketed bullet with .002" case tension. Pure lead is soft, and wadcutters are swaged down when seated in these cases. Lee oversized dies are designed to size the case .002"-.003" less than standard, hence they will hold a .358" wadcutters with minimum tension and will not distort their diameter. They will shoot more accurately and your cases will last longer because you are sizing and belling less.

 

[StrawHat]

For all the years I shot PPC competitively, I used standard dies and the standard Bullseye charge. I bought HBWCs for matches and shot solid based wadcutters froma pair of molds, for practice. After two seasons my practice scores equalled my match scores so I stopped using the HBWC and bought a pair of six cavity molds for the 148 WC bullet. Still used 2.8 grains of Bullseye and won my share of matches. I have since stopped competition but have a press set up specifically for 2.8 and the 148 solid WC. If you cast and size your own bullets, use as little lube on the bullets as you need. I found they only needed the first lube groove filled.

Also, if you cast your bullets a bit harder and load them to 900 fps, they make great small game loads.

918v, I never knew there were WC cases developed. Who makes them? It would seem if the lead were soft enough to deform, it would obturate to the bore after getting swatted by the powder charge.

 

[loadedround]

Cfullgraf had mentioned filling the seater plug with an epoxy if wad cutter bullets were being distorted. Back in my bullseye shooting days, many of us filled the seating plug with either modeling clay or candle wax. It worked for several hundred rounds and was fairly easy to remove.

 

[ljnowell]

I load a couple thousand of the Missouri Bullet 148gr DEWC. They are very accurate, I doubt you would find any better for that application.

 

[918v]

918v, I never knew there were WC cases developed. Who makes them? It would seem if the lead were soft enough to deform, it would obturate to the bore after getting swatted by the powder charge.

Remington and Winchester made wadcutter brass. Federal still loads HBWC in their GM line and from what I can see, those cases do not distort the skirt.

You are correct about obturation with respect to leading. They do obturate and seal the bore, but accuracy still suffers. The very end of the skirt does not obturate. What ends up happening is a step forms at the end of the skirt and there isn't enough pressure to restore the skirt's original shape. There was an article in Shooting Times or Guns and Ammo about using these for self defense. The author shot them into water jugs to measure penetration. The recovered bullets showed the deformation of the skirt caused by the case innards.

These bullets shoot best as is, i. e. unsized. People go as far as using unsized fired brass and or seating them out farther to avoid distorting the skirts. As far as accuracy goes, I found 231 to shoot better than Bullseye. Hell, Trail Boss shoots better too. I'm about ready to try N32c. I'll let everyone know how that turns out.

 

[Walkalong]

I'm about ready to try N32c. I'll let everyone know how that turns out.

I have been thinking of trying some of it for some time. I am hoping it is bulkier and less position sensitive than N320, but haven't tried any yet. I almost included some with my last Powder Valley order. N320 is great stuff, but no less position sensitive than many commonly used powders.

 

[918v]

From what I can tell with QL, N32c gives you 80-90% load density to N320's 50-60% with 38 Special HBWC. Position sensitivity will not be an issue. The big question is accuracy.