Load recommendations for the Berry’s 38 caliber 148 grain HBWC?

[whatnickname]

I’ve been reloading for better than 50 years. Getting low on 38 Special fodder and decided to try some Berry’s HBWC. Berry’s recommends using the standard load data for the caliber and weight of bullet published in reloading manuals. Only problem is that the data for the 148 grain HBWC is for swaged lead bullets. Berry’s plated bullets are much harder than the pure lead, swaged HBWC…which is why I bought Berry’s hollow base bullets. Hollow base wad cutters are super accurate and the plated bullets will make cleaning my revolvers much easier.

My standard load for swaged lead 148 grain HBWC is 2.8 grains of Bullseye. I’m thinking of going up to 3.2 grains of Bullseye for these plated bullets. Has anyone tried this load? If so, how was the accuracy. Has anyone tried this bullet over 3.5 grains of Bullseye? If so, how was the accuracy? Any problems with skirt separation @ 3.5 grains of Bullseye? Thank you in advance for your comments!

 

[mdi]

Try your Bullseye load for the plated bullet. Don't over think hbwc bullets, in a very forgiving caliber. I have used plain cast bullet data for plated and did a load work up...

 

[AJC1]

I'd start with your favorite 2.8 load and see how they do. Might only need a tenth or maybe not.

 

[rperyam]

Go with 2.8 grains of Bullseye.

 

[fxvr5]

Some HBWCs are super accurate. Others, not much. And guns have preferences.

I don't have Bullseye data but do have 231 data for a comparison. The Berrys 148 WC (not the HB version) bullets were much slower than a swaged Hornady HBWC.

Berry plated WC, 3.4 grains 231 = 675 fps.
Hornady HBWC, 3.2 grains 231 = 750 fps.

 

[Walkalong]

Go with 2.8 grains of Bullseye.

It will take just a little bit more with the plated HBWC because it has more friction.

About 3.5 to 3.8 Grs of Competition or WST will give around 750 to 800 FPS.
depending on seating depth, barrel, etc.

 

[DMW1116]

As luck would have it I just ran out of HBWC. I may have to try these plated ones. Thread followed.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

When I load a 148gr HBWC I charge 3.2gr W231.
When I load a 148gr DEWC I charge 3.4gr W231.

When loading a plated 148gr HBWC I treat it as a DEWC and charge 3.4gr W231.

If you have a favorite load for a DEWC fry that with the Barry's bullets. You will need slightly more powder because of the additional bullet friction as stated above.

Good luck, be safe and don't forget the range report...

 

[mdi]

Since velocity isn't a primary sought after factor when loading wadcutters, start low with the same load that gave you the best accuracy with your gun/bullets/load. I only have two 38 wadcutter loads; 3.0 gr Bullseye for a 150 gr DEWC and max. load of W231 under a 150 gr DEWC for a house gun load...

 

[rfwobbly]

There's no crimp cannelure on the Berry plated bullets, so you'll need a Taper Crimp Die for 38/357.

 

[Jim Watson]

Not if you seat them flush and roll over that big front radius.

The defunct Rainier brand plated wadcutter was wildly inaccurate, surely Berrys are better.

 

[Walkalong]

They are, shoot pretty well. Minute of soda can at the 40 yard berm all day long. I like to bounce them around there.

With some cases if you seat them flush it can bulge down low, only way to know if it's too much is to try, but I like to seat them out a little bit.

 

[Jim Watson]

OK, I just bought that Can o' Lead at the estate sale, so I am fixed for regular swaged wadcutters for a while.
I hope my friends are smart enough to buy the rest.

 

[1KPerDay]

I had some trouble getting the Berry’s plated HBWC to shoot accurately enough in my guns. IMO they are a different kind of bullet compared to traditional soft lead HBWC with thin skirts, and needs more powder behind it to obturate the thicker plated skirt. I won’t tell you my HP-38 charge ended up being but I did find a load that shot well. The charge is over max for any lead HBWC data I could find.

 

[mavracer]

I'd guess someplace between 3.0 and 3.2 will be a happy place. I've never really understood the .05 gr above sticking one in the barrel crowd, live a little.

 

[LV Gun]

I’ve been reloading for better than 50 years. Getting low on 38 Special fodder and decided to try some Berry’s HBWC. Berry’s recommends using the standard load data for the caliber and weight of bullet published in reloading manuals. Only problem is that the data for the 148 grain HBWC is for swaged lead bullets. Berry’s plated bullets are much harder than the pure lead, swaged HBWC…which is why I bought Berry’s hollow base bullets. Hollow base wad cutters are super accurate and the plated bullets will make cleaning my revolvers much easier.

My standard load for swaged lead 148 grain HBWC is 2.8 grains of Bullseye. I’m thinking of going up to 3.2 grains of Bullseye for these plated bullets. Has anyone tried this load? If so, how was the accuracy. Has anyone tried this bullet over 3.5 grains of Bullseye? If so, how was the accuracy? Any problems with skirt separation @ 3.5 grains of Bullseye? Thank you in advance for your comments!

I have used them with W244 powder @ 2.8 grains loaded flush with a very light roll crimp, very accurate load but I still prefer the 148 gr LHBWC from Precision Delta with the same load. I also use a Noe Powder thru HBWC expander die for 38 special but I am just not sure if they really make much difference.. You don’t need to go over recommended load with a HBWC you could get separation of the skirt and they are not meant to shoot fast. I have shot the Berrys with 2.8 of bullseye and they are fine with that load. When Berry’s first came out they always recommended using lead data I still do that today when I use there bullets I have been reloading for 30 years.