Load for .358” 148 gr LHBWC in .38 S&W (shorts?)

[woad_yurt]

Seeing as .360” bullets are uncommon, I want to develop a load for the .358” 148 gr LHBWCs but that bullet takes up a lot of space in the case so I'm leery of pressure spikes. But, that hollow base will grab the rifling well....

I'd also like to use this bullet because it's all I use with my .38 SPLs. It would be nice to need only one type of bullet.

Anyway, does anyone have any info regarding a load with that bullet in a .38 S&W round?

 

[Black Dime]

You probably won't need powder.

In cowboy, the really, really gamers have used a 95gr bullet with a Mag primer. We just need to ring steel.

Never heard of it but I might try it in a Ruger (tank). I think you will have problems metering the assumed very small amout of powder. Probably by hand. Might be nice for an experiment, but too much trouble.

If you are plinking, get some .38 round ball. When rim of the case is just barely past center mass, apply light crimp.

http://www.reloadammo.com/38sw.htm

 

[rcmodel]

Speer #13 has 38 S&W load data for the 148 BBWC.
How that translates to HBWC in the short case I'm not real sure.
I'd just seat them a little longer and Gofer It.

Start & MAXIMUM LOADS:
Red Dot = 2.7 - 3.0
Unique = 3.1 - 3.4
Bullseye = 2.5 - 2.7
Herco = 3.2 - 3.5
WW231 = 2.5 - 2.8

rc

 

[woad_yurt]

Since my girlfriend is a nurse, I guess I could ask for a syringe so I could find out the actual space (volume) taken up by the base of a LHBWC, a la Archimedes. Then, I could seat the thing leaving the same volume empty in the case as I would with a regularly bottomed bullet.

If the empty volume was kept the same, that should preclude any pressure problems.

I really wanna shoot the same bullets in my .38 SPLs and .38 shorts as those wadcutters are the best defense choice for slow-moving calibers. Plus, that hollow base will grab the .38 S&Ws slightly larger bores just fine. My MKIII is too good of a shooter to sit idle as much as it does. I love shooting that thing. It’s time….

Thanks for the feedback so far, folks.

 

[Old Fuff]

Since nobody else has ask, I will...

What make and model revolver are you going to use these cartridges in? It could make a big difference.

 

[woad_yurt]

There are two, a Webley MK III and a large framed Iver Johnson hammerless .38. They’re both in good, solid mechanical condition. The Iver, in particular, is as tight as they day it was made. It was barely used at all before I got it.

Note: I’m not trying to work up some hot loads here, just normal ones.

 

[Old Fuff]

The Webley doesn't bother me, but the Iver Johnson could. Iver Johnson top-break .38 hammerless revolvers originated during the 1880's and were made as late as the about 1940. The ones made previous to about 1905 were intended to be used with black powder only. Do a quick check by removing the grips and looking to see if it has a coil or flat mainspring. I would consider (depending on condition) shooting one with a coil mainspring using a light smokeless load. Those with flat mainsprings should be considered to be artifacts. It's not so much a case of how well they look, or how tightly they lock up, but the quality of the steel that they used to make them. If it has a flat mainspring it is probably over 100 years old.

 

[woad_yurt]

Mine's one of the later ones, made in between World Wars I & II. I shoot Magtechs with it all the time.

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