What is your most accurate .38 special wadcutter ammo recipe?

[Russ57]

Seems like it is getting impossible to buy some of the items that I used to use. I'm seeking suggestions on powders, bullets, and primers that are readily available today.

In the interest of sharing I'm currently using Fiocchi primers, Starline brass, and Brazos BNWC bullets. I'm having the best accuracy with Bullseye and WST which are hard to find.

 

[.38 Special]

In my opinion primers are almost irrelevant to your requirements. Whatever you can find will be as good as anything.

I prefer Bullseye, but as you note, that is not always easy these days. I've had good results with just about any fast powder. Accurate #2 seems widely available and is a wonderful powder for the task.

The key to the kingdom, in my experience, is Hornady's 148 HBWC. It is a perfect bullet - easy to handle, easy to load, and spectacularly accurate. I have found nothing to match it and strongly suspect that it would be difficult to find a powder/primer/brass combo that wouldn't give you exceptional results.

<edit> And perhaps the best news: a quick check shows both the bullet and the powder in stock at most of the usual online places!

 

[Russ57]

If I could find swaged lead HBWC bullets in .359" I'd be a happy man. I'll put Accurate #2 on the list to try.

 

[marchboom]

Speer 148 gr. HBWC, 3.1 gr of Win 231. 11/16" group at 25 yds out of a S&W mod 14, 6".

 

[.38 Special]

If I could find swaged lead HBWC bullets in .359" I'd be a happy man.

I hear you. I suspect, though, that the reason swaged HBWCs are so accurate in so many guns is that the sizing doesn't really matter: the soft skirt will expand to fit the barrel perfectly, even at very low pressure.

 

[Thomasss]

Missouri Bullet Company has a hard cast 150 grain .359 HBHP lubed bullet, 500/$163.99 in stock right now. It was the closest I could find in what you are looking for. I guess I'm lucky in that I bought 500 HBWC from Speer 3 years ago just because they had a rebate on their entire product line. When I run out, I think I will just cast my own.

My loads are either 2.8 grains(3.1 max) Red Dot or 3.0 grains PB with Speer 148 grain HBWC. I haven't tried to load down the PB, being slightly slower than Red Dot. Both loads shoot very well in all my .38s and .357 loaded as .38 Special.

 

[Buzznrose]

If I could find swaged lead HBWC bullets in .359" I'd be a happy man. I'll put Accurate #2 on the list to try.

Like these?

https://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=297

 

[Slamfire]

What I was told by an old Bullseye Pistol shooter was to get the 148's up to 740 fps for 50 yard stability. Too slow and they tumbled. As a rule, a 148 LWC with 2.7 grs Bullseye was the standard. The charge got bumped up depending on the lot burn rate.

Maybe I should have bumped the charge up a tenth or two. I was not shooting this at 50 yards at the time. Shot well at 25 yards.


Colt Python Stainless Steel, 6" Barrel

148 gr LBBWC 2.7 grs Bullseye 38 SPL cases CCI500

24 Sept 1999 T = 78 ° F

Ave Vel = 710
Std Dev = 18
ES = 72.02
High = 746.1
Low = 674
Number rds = 32

 

[hdbiker]

LEE, 150 grain, (old mold) SWC over 3.5 grains of Bullseye

 

[wcwhitey]

Shot Bullseye for many years with 2,7 Grains of Bullseye over Speer or Hornady 148 HBWC’s. A nod to @Slamfire I have seen some bump that up a tenth or two depending on lot. The thing to remember about HBWC’s is they are soft and can burn through if loaded too hot. That can be messy and potentially dangerous. A Lewis Lead remover is a good tool to have if your going to shoot a bunch of swagged Wadcutters. But nothing more accurate once dialed in.

 

[fxvr5]

Missouri Bullet Company has a hard cast 150 grain .359 HBHP lubed bullet, 500/$163.99 in stock right now.

I can't find those on their website. Have a link?

They seem really expensive!

HBHP = hollow base hollow point?

 

[BushMaster-15]

Depends upon the bullet and it's weight I load 158 and 148 along with 125 gr. for the Wife's Model 10 . I've had pretty fair accuracy out to 50 yd. with all weights but 148 seems to group tighter .
With 148 WC Bullseye 3.0gr. Unique 5.0 gr. and Win231 3.0- 3.2gr. with 158 Semi wad cutter Unique 4.6gr. Herco 5.0 gr and . Win 231 4.2 gr. ** Now with #125 gr. HP I load 5.4-5.6gr. Unique Bullseye 5.0gr. Win231 5.6gr.
** are approaching +P ,SO MAKE NOTE OF THAT !.

 

[Russ57]

The smaller diameter bullets were giving me leading problems in the cylinder throats. W231 does well for many but it hasn't for us. Maybe it doesn't like Colts Anyone here tried Silhouette? Another member in one of the other forums said it was best in his tests.

Out of all the forums on THR you guys rock. Quick and helpful answers.

 

[BJung]

My Bullseye might be old so my petload is 2.9gr Bulleseye with the wadcutter seated flush with the mouth. I am surprised that the standard 2.8gr BE petload closely applies to every revolver just as 5.0gr Bullesye works well for my .45acp.

 

[blackhawk44]

Check Zero swaged HBWC from Roze Distribution. Accurate and available.

 

[lightman]

I load the Speer HBWC over 2.8 grains of Winchester 231 and a CCI primer.

 

[DMW1116]

I use the Hornady wadcutters. They shoot very well over 3 grains of W231 or the Hodgden minimum charge of CFE-Pistol. I think it’s 3.4 grains but whatever the charge minimum is off their website shoots just as well as the W231 load. Note these are out of 357 cases for my 357 Mag Blackhawk. Hornady says to use 38 Special charges in 357 Magnum cases for their HBWC. I couldn’t get them to shoot that well out of the 38 cases. I assume it’s something to do with the extra jump to the cone but could be way off.

 

[Slamfire]

My Bullseye might be old so my petload is 2.9gr Bulleseye with the wadcutter seated flush with the mouth. I am surprised that the standard 2.8gr BE petload closely applies to every revolver just as 5.0gr Bullesye works well for my .45acp.

Why re invent the wheel? The original, 1910 vintage 45 ACP ammunition used in the troop trails that culminated in the selection of the 1910/1911 Colt over the Savage pistol was a 230 FMJ with 5.0 grains Bullseye. And the 148 gr wadcutter load has to go back before WW2. The most accurate loads in 38 Special and 45 ACP were determined decades, if not a century ago.

 

[Show Me]

Depending on coffee intake.148gr 2.8 of titegroup

 

[Seedy Character]

Interesting

I have been finding Bullseye and AA#2 regularly. Unique is unobtanium.

3.0 Bullseye
5.0 Unique and 148 gr wadcutters has been a a fairly standard target load for many years.

I load more 125 gr, than 148 or 158. Herco is a good substitute. I like 700X, too.

For years, Unique was a major part of my loading. The shortages has created a necessity to learn other powders and find some equally accurate loads.

Just a reason to shoot more and stock up.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Have never tried any wadcutters for some reason. I'd like to give it a go. In .38 or .357 cases, do you seat the bullet flush with the case mouth? Light to medium roll crimp I'm thinking. Thanks guys. This looks interesting.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Have never tried any wadcutters for some reason. I'd like to give it a go. In .38 or .357 cases, do you seat the bullet flush with the case mouth? Light to medium roll crimp I'm thinking. Thanks guys. This looks interesting.

Mine have just a teeny tiny bit of lead popping out of the case. Like 1/32 on an inch. I run them in a S&W 14-4 and a Colt Super 38 1911 converted to shoot HBWC 38 Specials.

 

[Riomouse911]

Have never tried any wadcutters for some reason. I'd like to give it a go. In .38 or .357 cases, do you seat the bullet flush with the case mouth? Light to medium roll crimp I'm thinking. Thanks guys. This looks interesting.

Like BigBlue94, I keep a smidge of bullet nose exposed with my 2.8 gr Bullseye and 148 gr dewc loads. (Top 2 below.)



With plated bullets the roll crimp should be light, or a taper crimp used, to prevent cutting the plating. The plating on the nose will separate if its cut by the crimp, making the bullet inaccurate.

As for accurate bullets, these Brazos “long nosed” 150 gr .358” SWC in both .38 Spl and .357 Mag are accurate with just about any powder amount and revolver I have shot them in.



In .44 Spl or Mag, the Brazos 215 gr “short nosed” SWC is another stellar performer for me through my .44 caliber guns.

Stay safe.

 

[BushMaster-15]

Interesting

I have been finding Bullseye and AA#2 regularly. Unique is unobtanium.

3.0 Bullseye
5.0 Unique and 148 gr wadcutters has been a a fairly standard target load for many years.

I load more 125 gr, than 148 or 158. Herco is a good substitute. I like 700X, too.

For years, Unique was a major part of my loading. The shortages has created a necessity to learn other powders and find some equally accurate loads.

Just a reason to shoot more and stock up.

Is Unique difficult to find Now or before the plandemic started ?. Curious as I have more than I should ,as it was always easy to obtain and inexpensive comparatively speaking .

This Might be of interest to some of you ,as to wadcutter performance and velocity : https://www.luckygunner.com/lounge/wadcutter-ammo-self-defense/

Have never tried any wadcutters for some reason. I'd like to give it a go. In .38 or .357 cases, do you seat the bullet flush with the case mouth? Light to medium roll crimp I'm thinking. Thanks guys. This looks interesting.

Just MY personal opinion on Wadcutters ,they're GOOD paper cutters 7-15 yd. especially ,although many shooters use them at 25 yd. also and I'll NOT argue their scores they speak for themselves .
Decades ago LEO backup pistols would regularly have them on board ,Not sure anymore but doubtful given the current environment . Note factory loads have slugs slightly inset ,with a slight crimp roll edge .See Luckygunner link .
That's the way I make the Wife's in 148 gr. . Main reason I started doing that was and old timer who was an Ex State pistol champion ,when revolvers were King ,loaded his that way . Iron Grip Jack later became an instructor ,specializing in PISTOL . Matter of fact in the mid 80's MY Wife was one of his students . FYI : I Now instruct all disciplines of firearm including CCW enhanced . Jack did for MY Wife in #3 weeks ,what I was unable to do for 10 years , make her one hell of a GOOD shot . MY regret is I never found or took the time to take Iron Jacks course !.

 

[.38 Special]

Have never tried any wadcutters for some reason. I'd like to give it a go. In .38 or .357 cases, do you seat the bullet flush with the case mouth? Light to medium roll crimp I'm thinking. Thanks guys. This looks interesting.

The traditional way to do it is flush seating, with a light roll crimp over the top.

I generally don't use wadcutters with crimp grooves, but when I do, I crimp in the groove.