.358" vs. .357" DEWC bullets for 38sp

Hello All,

I saw advertised two types of DEWC bullets for either my S&W model 52 or my S&W 686 4" revolver.

Everything is the same about them except the diameter. One is .358" and the other is .357". The .357" is being advertised for match barrels.

Is there that much of a difference between .001" diameter. Will they work in my two pistols listed above for bullseye?

Steve

Steve..I use .357 Star or Precision Delta Swaged Hollow Base wadcutters and they shoot really good..I think this is probably the most accurate .38 wadcutter available..I've shot many many in my 686 as well as the 52..I don't think the cast double ended wadcutter will shoot nearly as good..

I tried some .357 dia DEWC from MBC and they were to small and to hard for light loads I had bad leading the .358 dia would work better I think
found out later that the .357 dia was for PPC velocity
has any one tried berrys 148gr HBWC thinking about trying them?

Mark Patterson wrote:Steve..I use .357 Star or Precision Delta Swaged Hollow Base wadcutters and they shoot really good..I think this is probably the most accurate .38 wadcutter available..I've shot many many in my 686 as well as the 52..I don't think the cast double ended wadcutter will shoot nearly as good..

precision delta makes two wadcutters, one with match lube and one without, which one?

Steve

www.castboolits.com

I shoot a full lug S&W model 14 in international centerfire at our club. I've found that .357" diameter swaged hbwc lead my barrel within 15 rounds (2.5 or 2.7 grains bullseye). My groove diameter is .357". These were Precision Delta brand, with "match lube." One way around this was to relube the bullets with Lee liquid alox lube. The "double lube" (original "match" plus the LLA lube) eliminated the leading. I wish the bullets were .358" diameter. I may need to ream my throats open to .358" in the future.

You could try Remington 358 148 grain hbwc bullets (from midway). They are supposed to be larger diameter (approaching .360"ish diameter). I haven't used them. Their lube is evidently gummy -and has caused some frustrations in keeping progressive loaders running, but they are supposed to be VERY accurate.

For what it is worth, I have had excellent results casting with a 6 cavity Lee Precision 358148 double end "tumble lube" wadcutter. I load this over 3.2 -3.4 grains of bullseye in my SW model 14 with 1-2 "rings" out in seating (so the loaded front of the bullet will just touch the cylinder throat-but still drop in the chamber). They (at least my mold) drop "as cast" at .359" from straight wheelweights. I use a liquid alox (like Lee Liquid lube) "tumble lube" system. You can read more about it at castboolits.com. I also shoot an H&G 4 cavity #50 mold (148 grain flat base) that casts in the .359+" range. I run them through my .360" SAECO lubrisizer and lube just the lower lube groove. They shot very well in my .357" throats and .358" bore. No leading. Since it is not a HBWC, I tend to get better accuracy with a touch more powder (3.2 grains of Bullseye rather than 2.7 grains).

If you are loading for a 357 mag SW 686, you may want to seat the bullet out a bit further (~ 4 rings out), and bump up the powder to the 3.2 - 3.5 grains area of bullseye (more interior space due to further seated out bullet causes lower pressure, and more powder may be warranted to make up for loss or pressure/velocity and ultimately accuracy), to just touch the leading edge of your throats. this may help with bullet alignment. it may shoot fine at 3.2 grains, seated out.

You'll have to flush seat your wadcutters for your SW 52.

This may only pertain to my S&W M52s:


The very best and most accurate bullet I have found is also
the least expensive—the Remington 148gn L-HBWC. It has a diameter at the skirt
of 0.360-0.361” and that is the only difference I can find between it and all the
other HBWCs I have tested. The lube has never caused me any problems—I have
never had any build-up and have loaded thousands at a time on my 1050. Of
course, if you running a bullet feeder, then the lube could be a problem—like with
most lead bullet lubes.


Based on that and prior experience, I would tend to want to
go with the 0.358”. However, some revolvers will not shoot an oversized bullet
well and you need to use a bullet that is a SNUG fit in the cylinder’s throats.
Thus, like all such questions, it really DEPENDS ON YOUR GUN.