LynnMassGuy
Member
I was wondering. When loading 148 grain wadcutters in .38 special is there any harm in not seating the bullet so deeply? (Flush or almost flush.)
Regards
John
Regards
John
Wadcutter seat
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Quantrill
Member
The Smith and Wesson model 52, one of the most accurate .38 specials ever made, will only feed flush seated wadcutters. Quantrill
LynnMassGuy
Member
Interesting bit of trivia! 
Jet22
Member
I think what Quantrill means to say is that this is the reason the factorys only load wadcutters flush. The Model 52 and the Colt National Match 38 Special will only feed flush seated wadcutters. Go to Camp Perry and see how many guys are shooting 52's. These guys are the market for factory wadcutters.
As far as do you need to? No. Should you? Depends what your gun likes. Some guns like them seated out, some don't. When you seat them deeper there is less space in the shell and they seem to shoot more consistant for me. I do have some older Lyman moulds that cast bullets has heavy as 160 grains and these are seated out a bit. I recently sold my 52 so don't have to seat flush anymore. It was a pain anyway because I needed to get the bullet below the case mouth and then put a slight roll crimp on them to get them to feed. I don't like to crimp most wadcutters. Experimentation is the key.
I will warn you that a few years back a bullet maker using Bullseye powder was able to triple pressures by simply seating the wadcutters deeper in the case. I would also be carefull not to use thicker +P cases if seating deep.
As far as do you need to? No. Should you? Depends what your gun likes. Some guns like them seated out, some don't. When you seat them deeper there is less space in the shell and they seem to shoot more consistant for me. I do have some older Lyman moulds that cast bullets has heavy as 160 grains and these are seated out a bit. I recently sold my 52 so don't have to seat flush anymore. It was a pain anyway because I needed to get the bullet below the case mouth and then put a slight roll crimp on them to get them to feed. I don't like to crimp most wadcutters. Experimentation is the key.
I will warn you that a few years back a bullet maker using Bullseye powder was able to triple pressures by simply seating the wadcutters deeper in the case. I would also be carefull not to use thicker +P cases if seating deep.
LynnMassGuy
Member
Good to know as I'm using bullseye. Thanks.
Regards
John
fecmech
Member
Jet22--Your info on the deep seating is not quite right see the scan from the HP white lab. Any powder reacts the same as Bullseye to deep seating, they all go up in pressure. You really have to work at it to tripple pressures, it either takes a double charge of powder or seating the bullet considerably deeper than 1/8". Nick
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Jet22
Member
Not quite right?
Looks close enough to me! I would like to see the 2.7 load with the bullet seated deep enough to compress the powder. Bet that would make a bang!
I don't remember who did the experiment but I do remember the results...very similar to what your test results show. That is, you can take a safe load of Bullseye and make it dangerous simply by seating the bullet deeper in the case.
A side note: Bullseye (or HP38) can be detonated. This is not the forum to be giving instructions on "how to", but just ask Hodgdons or Fred Sinclair...if you can get them to talk about it!
Looks close enough to me! I would like to see the 2.7 load with the bullet seated deep enough to compress the powder. Bet that would make a bang!
I don't remember who did the experiment but I do remember the results...very similar to what your test results show. That is, you can take a safe load of Bullseye and make it dangerous simply by seating the bullet deeper in the case.
A side note: Bullseye (or HP38) can be detonated. This is not the forum to be giving instructions on "how to", but just ask Hodgdons or Fred Sinclair...if you can get them to talk about it!
fecmech
Member
Jet--You can make any safe load dangerous with any powder just by seating it deeper in the case! The whole thrust of this test from the HP White lab was that you could NOT detonate Bullseye ! The pressures went up in pretty much a normal predictable fashion in relationship to charge weight and case capacity. If you are interested I can scan and email or fax you the whole article. Nick
Jet22
Member
Its good to know that they did not get Bullseye to detonate in a lab. In the real world other things can happen, quite by accident. Like I said, ask the above sources if they want to talk about it. A full container of it can make for one hell of an explosion. 
PS: Thanks for the post; I think all reloaders should be aware of how dangerous it can be to change seating depth without backing off the load and starting over.
PS: Thanks for the post; I think all reloaders should be aware of how dangerous it can be to change seating depth without backing off the load and starting over.
BluesBear
member
Back to the original question.
The major ammo companies didn't always load their wadcutter ammunition flush. But then they used to have a standard load and not just the mid-range loads we have today.
If you notice some brands of wadcutters have a lube groove in the center but they have a crimp groove that will allow the bullet to protrude from the case about 3/16".
That's where I crimp my personal wadcutter ammo.
I think it helps thebullet get through the chamber throat a little better.
The major ammo companies didn't always load their wadcutter ammunition flush. But then they used to have a standard load and not just the mid-range loads we have today.
If you notice some brands of wadcutters have a lube groove in the center but they have a crimp groove that will allow the bullet to protrude from the case about 3/16".
That's where I crimp my personal wadcutter ammo.
I think it helps thebullet get through the chamber throat a little better.
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