Hodgdon's vs. Hornady data

[ferggie]

I am a little nervous when I compare the Hodgdon's data to Hornady's with regards to 38 special 148gr DEWC.

WIN 231

Hornady: 2.2(min) - 3.5(max), COL - 1.180

Hodgdon: 3.5(min) - 4.0(max), COL - 1.160

I know many will say use the load data from the powder mfg. but does anyone have any idea why they are so far apart?

Thanks for the help.

 

[rcmodel]

The devil is in the details.

Hodgdon data is for a Hornady hollow-base wad cutter.
And so is Hornadys data.

That bullet is a soft swaged hollow-base bullet.
And velocity is the limiting factor, not pressure.

The DEWC you are loading is a harder cast bullet, and can be driven as fast as you want to drive it, depending on the hardness of the alloy it is cast from.

Hodgdon tests in a pressure test barrel.
Hornady tests in a S&W Model 15 revolver..

But regardless of that, Hornady has always been on the low side compared to other test data.

Don't worry about it.

rc

 

[ferggie]

Do you think I will be fine if I load some test samples at ?:

2.8, 3.0, 3.2 & 3.4

 

[Haxby]

Hornady Third manual shows 4.2 gr 231 with a 148 gr HBWC.
Speer #13 shows 3.3 gr for the HBWC and 4.7 for the solid base. These are at standard (not +P) pressure, which means they're pussycats.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Do you think I will be fine if I load some test samples at ?:

2.8, 3.0, 3.2 & 3.4

IMO only the 3.2gr and 3.4gr loads you listed is worth loading. I usually load a 148gr DEWC over 3.4gr W231 and that's one of my favorite loads. When I go lighter on my charge weights the velocity get erratic and the accuracy falls off. The lighter loads just don't build enough pressure.

 

[ReloaderFred]

If you load too light, the primers will back out and lock up your cylinder. There is always the possibility of sticking a bullet in the barrel with a load that is too light, too. The DEWC has a lot of bearing surface. If the loads you listed were with Bullseye, then I'd say you were ok, but with Winchester 231, you're too light in my opinion.

Hope this helps.

Fred

 

[dirtengineer]

Do you think I will be fine if I load some test samples at ?:

2.8, 3.0, 3.2 & 3.4

I think you have a good plan. I might even go higher than 3.4 if there are no signs of excess pressure and you have a modern firearm. If the accuracy drops off, your barrel is leading, or if you are seeing bullet instability, then you are too high.

The other thing I would do is get more sources if available. I have a load book for every caliber I reload.

 

[chhodge69]

There is some DEWC data on this page:
Handloads.com

 

[Walkalong]

Listen to rc, Fred and ArchAngelCD.