X-treme Copper plated DEWC

[garth64]

I have a bunch of 148gr copper plated DEWC bullets that I'd like to load to close to the max recommended by X-treme; they recommend a max of 1500fps. If I use jacketed bullet data, the recommended COL is 1.535"; is there any problem with seating the WC bullet at this length? Thanks.

 

[Walkalong]

.38 Brass, or .357 brass? It sounds like .357 brass and seated out, not flush. As long as it fits in the cylider, you are good to go. I don't know if you can safely push it 1500 FPS, but 1300 FPS should be doable in .357 brass.

A medium slow to slow pistol powder would be the place to start. What powder/s are you thinking of using?

 

[garth64]

I'll be using 357 brass and HP-38 powder; thanks.

 

[Walkalong]

You won't make 1500, or even 1300 FPS with HP-38, but it will make nice accurate medium power .357 loads. Seated long that way you could safely use 158 Gr data for HP-38. Start low, work up, and watch for signs of trouble.

 

[garth64]

Thanks for the info!

 

[MichaelK]

Hi Garth
You're likely to be disappointed in trying to develop magnum powered loads with plated bullets. Though they eliminate lead fouling the same way jackets do, I don't think the plating can handle velocities greater than about 1200fps, regardless of what they say. With my own loads, accuracy dropped from 2-3 inches at 25 yards to 8-9 inch groups going faster than about 1200fps. You're better off developing a +P .38 special load with plated than you are in a .357.

Good luck,
Michael

 

[garth64]

Thanks for all the great info! I'll probably be cautious and stay below 1200fps.

 

[rcmodel]

I'll be using 357 brass and HP-38 powder;

Wrong powder for magnum velocity loads.

If you want to do what you want to do, you need to use a slower magnum burn rate powder before you shoot your eye out!

There are several powders that will allow you to safely break 1,350 FPS with a 148-150 grain lead bullet, but HP-38 certainly isn't one of them.

Look at Blue Dot, AA #7, AA #9, 2400, H110, WW296, and IMR-4227.

rc

 

[garth64]

Thanks rcmodel!

 

[sargenv]

You also want to be careful crimping these bullets. I found that if you put any kind of crimp on them, they tend to separate and/or tumble badly. I used the 180 RN-FP inmy Para P16 fora few years and found that they were inaccurate with any kind of crimp on them. They were keyholing badly at only about 975 fps.

 

[rcmodel]

I used the 180 RN-FP inmy Para P16

Say what?

I'm thinking a Para P16 is a .40 S&W auto-pistol, and this thread is asking about .357 Magnum revolver ammo.

Of course he will have to crimp them if loaded to .357 Magnum velocity.

rc

 

[Walkalong]

Yep. A light taper crimp is all they need. Just remove the belling using the roll crimp built into your seater, or best, get a taper crimp die and do it in a 4th step.

 

[Walkalong]

If he really wants to load them to magnum velocities with W-296 or similar, he will need to crimp more heavily, but it may be too much for the plated bullets. Only way to see is try. A heavy taper crimp is less likely to damage them than a heavy roll crimp.

For medium loads with his HP-38, a light taper crimp is all he needs.

 

[snuffy]

My experience with extreme bullets,(formerly west coast), is that they have the thickest plating of all the plated bullets. That said, maybe they don't plate a wadcutter bullet as heavily as some that are intended for magnum rounds.

I've used their 165 RNFP in 40, their 200 SWC 45, the 125 and 158 SWC .357 and their 124 RN 9mm. All of them are heavily plated, much heavier than ranier and berry's.