Lead Hollow Base Wadcutters in .357 mag?

[Richard.Howe]

I just bought 500 of these at Midway:

Speer Bullets 38 Special (358 Diameter) 148 Grain Lead Hollow Base Wadcutter Box of 500 (item 599723).

Just noticed that they specifically mention 38 Special in the item description -- does this mean I should not load them into .357 mag cartriges?

Any special precautions when loading this bullet at higher velocities?

Thanks all,
Rich

 

[HankB]

The Speer HBWC bullets are swaged out of relatively soft lead, and will not do well if loaded to maximum .357 levels. Moreover, there's a chance that the center section might get blown out leaving essentially a hollow cylinder stuck somewhere in the barrel. Though I've NEVER actually seen this phenomenon myself - and I've loaded some pretty warm HBWCs - this would be bad if it happened and another round was fired.

In addition to target loads, HBWC bullets loaded backwards were long a mainstay of reloaders looking for improved performance before the days of well designed commercial JHPs. I still think - purely from a terminal ballistics standpoint - the idea has merit. But I'd be uncomfortable loading them to full Magnum levels.

I'd reserve these for target/plinking/small game loads, and not try to "magnumize" them beyond the level of, say, a +P .38 Special.

 

[stans]

You can certainly load them into 357 Magnum cases and you may wish to increase the listed loads for 38 Special by about 0.5 grains. You do not want to try to propell swaged lead hollow base wadcutters at more than about 800 or so fps, the hollow bases have been known to separate from the rest of the bullet at high velocity and remain lodged in the barrel. These bullets are soft and work best at velocities of 750 fps or less. Standard primers are best and stick with fast burning powders like Bullseye, AA#2, W-231 and HP-38. They should be seated so the bullet is flush with the case mouth and a very gently taper or roll crimp applied.

 

[Richard.Howe]

Thanks for the responses!

So, I could load them into .357-length cases, but loaded mildly to about a warm 38 Special level. Is this correct?

I ask because I have 1000s of .357 cases but no .38 brass. I'm working up some light plinking loads for my dad.

 

[Wil Terry]

FOR NEARLY 35 YEARS NOW I HAVE BEEN LOADING 38 WADCUTTER BULLETS IN 357MAG CARTRIDGES

As a matter of fact I have a special lot of HERTER's 357MAG brass just for such loads. I selected this brass as it is a touch thinner than most 357MAG brass.
After testing 231, HP38, 452AA, W-W WST, RED DOT, GREEN DOT, #2, BULLSEYE, and UNIQUE in loads from mid-range to full charge, I settled on a charge of 4.0GR of BULLSEYE as the one that shot the best in all my 357MAG sixguns.The velocity of this load is around 850fps from most all 357MAG sixguns.
The bullets included SPEER 148 HBWC and BBWC, ZERO 148 HBWC, HORNADY 148HBWC, BULL-X 148DEWC, BULL-X 148HBWC, BULL-X 148 BNWC, LYMAN #50 cast WC bullets, and several others.
The guns included S&W 4" M19, a 6" M19, an 8 3/8" M586, a 5" M27, a RUGER 4/58" BLACKHAWK, a COLT 6" PYTHON, and several others.
All told the project consumed well over 5000 primers and a hell of a lot of time.

 

[stans]

I have used 4.0 grains of Bullseye in Midway brand 357 brass, CCI 500 primer, Bull-X 148 grain hard cast lead double ended wadcutter. These hummers clocked 949 feet per second out of my Ruger GP-100 six inch barrel. As I remember, they were also very accurate.

 

[Richard.Howe]

Speer Official Response

I got this email from Speer regarding this topic:

------------------------

The lead wadcutter bullets are most commonly used in target 38 Special
loads. They may be used in 357 Magnum cases, but staying with light target
loads. They are not suitable for velocities above about 1000 fps and likely
will do best at more like 900 fps maximum.

Use the loads shown for the 38 Special, even if using 357 Magnum cases. The
bullet is seated so that it is flush with the case mouth.

CCI-Speer Technical Services
866-286-7436