Is this load any good?

[ADAMH]

Hi Guys,

made my first 38spl loads.. (using in a 357 gun)

cam pro 148g HBWC bullets (flat nose bullets with cone rear)

5grains bullseye powder

med crimp, 1.470 OAL

I had to guess a bit on how much powder since my book did not have this specific bullet..however the bullet box said it needed min 800fps and had to be crimped.

please advise
thanks
Adam

 

[ADAMH]

will this be enough to get the rear cone to expand into the lands?

the MFG website is useless and has no load information

 

[Cherokee]

I think that will do it and then some. Hornady only recommends 3.0 gr max @ 750 fps for their HBWC.

 

[icanthitabarn]

/\ what he said.

 

[Mike 27]

Where did you find your data? My Lyman 3rd pistol and revolver has some data for a similar wt lynotype cast (not WC), within those specs. I would get a slower powder for .357 but according to the book sited it is within published. I did not see a WC data and bullseye is a fast powder and can get you into pressure issues very fast so be careful.

 

[56hawk]

Are you using 38 or 357 brass? Your OAL sounds really long for a WC bullet. I also think 5 grains is way too much for a 38. 3 grains should be enough.

 

[ADAMH]

My Lyman book has a simular weight bullet at 4.3grains of bullseye, however it was listed only at 715fps... so I figured the extra .7 grains would get it up to at least 800fps..

it might be in the +P load range..however I am using it in a .357 gun

 

[mbopp]

There's a reason loading manuals stop at 3gr of Bullseye or so - the skirt on a hollow base wadcutter (HBWC) can separate and become lodged in the bore. 5gr won't over-pressure a 357 but I don't think I'd shoot them without checking the bore after every shot (PIA.)
Now a cast wadcutter will tolerate 5gr of Bullseye but that's probably more powder than you need for optimum accuracy.

 

[ADAMH]

using 38brass

I got the OAL from the lyman book for a round nose 148gr bullet ..it lists 4.3grains of bullseye for the 148gr round nose bullet but only gets it to 715fps

 

[340PD]

I have used 2.8 gr. Bullseye under a 148 hollow base and bevel base WC for years. Very accurate and low leading load

 

[ADAMH]

these bullets are copper plated...

any other ideas?

should I lower the grains to 4.3 maybe as the book says?

 

[56hawk]

Your OAL should be determined by where the crimping groove is in the bullet you are using. A round nose bullet will most likely be seated much farther out than a wad cutter. The further out the bullet is seated the more powder will be required for the same pressure or velocity. I don't know which Lyman manual you are using, but the 49th edition lists a 150 grain wad cutter OAL 1.317, max load 3.5 grains of Bullseye at 925 fps.

 

[ADAMH]

these bullets don't have a crimping groove?

 

[56hawk]

these bullets don't have a crimping groove?

Oh, that's odd for a revolver bullet. Usually with a roll crimp the brass needs somewhere to go. Unless they expect you to crimp over the top of the bullet. Do you have a picture of the bullets?

 

[LiveLife]

148g HBWC bullets (flat nose bullets with cone rear) bullseye powder ... these bullets don't have a crimping groove ... the MFG website is useless and has no load information.

How about using load data for 148 gr LWC bullet from 2004 Alliant loda data? - http://glarp.atk.com/2004/2004Catalogs/2004AlliantPowderSM.pdf

The case mouth is right where the full diameter stopped. I could have roll crimped over it, but I chose to seat them to there and apply a very light taper crimp.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?p=6284607#post6284607

 

[snuffy]

Quote:
Originally Posted by ADAMH View Post
these bullets don't have a crimping groove?
Oh, that's odd for a revolver bullet. Usually with a roll crimp the brass needs somewhere to go. Unless they expect you to crimp over the top of the bullet. Do you have a picture of the bullets?

Hawk, maybe you should KNOW, or have experience loading the exact load the OP is talking about before you give advice?

Wadcutter bullets are normally seated flush with the case mouth, then a slight roll crimp over the bullet is applied. It doesn't matter if the case used is 38 or .357, you would still seat flush with the case mouth. It DOES matter what load level you use if loading in 38 special, .357 brass. The 357 could take more powder while giving the same velocity,(more room in the .357 case).

A HBWC bullet is a much longer bullet than a cast wadcutter, the hollow base takes up more room than a solid WC. So therefore, the HBWC will run at higher pressure for the same powder charge. Less combustion space under the longer bullet, raises pressure a lot.

 

[56hawk]

Hawk, maybe you should KNOW, or have experience loading the exact load the OP is talking about before you give advice?

No, I have never even heard of that company before. I have however loaded tens of thousands of rounds of 38 special. Most of them with Bullseye.

A HBWC bullet is a much longer bullet than a cast wadcutter, the hollow base takes up more room than a solid WC. So therefore, the HBWC will run at higher pressure for the same powder charge. Less combustion space under the longer bullet, raises pressure a lot.

Wouldn't the actual volume be the same though since the hollow base is against the powder?

 

[ADAMH]

ok..will toss first 50 I made..

and lower powder charge and reseat lower

 

[Josh45]

Don't need to toss them. Just pull them.
Redo them with a lower charge. And work your way up there.