Model 52 load question

Hi~

The gal from whom I bought my fantastic new (to me) S & W Model 52 loaded 3.0gr of BE under 148gr DEWC. I have Titegroup powder and would like to know if there is an equivalent weight? 

Other shooters who shared their pet revolver loads have used 2.8-2.9gr of Titegroup with a 148g DEWC. Would this load cycle in a Model 52?

Thanks!

Val

Ed Harris used 2.6 - 2.7 gr of TiteGroup under Remington 148gr. HBWC.  My friend re-tested same load and confirmed "extreme" accuracy.  I suggest using this as a starting load for DEWC as well, and increase if necessary and based on your accuracy testing for your pistol.  It should cycle M52 without issue.

AP

I’d just load the normal loads which are 2.7 to 3.0. Keep your velocity to 825 or less and go play.

Federal lists the velocity of their .38 Special 148 grain hollow base wadcutter round at 690 fps. Remington lists theirs at 710 fps. My personal load of 2.8 grains of Alliant Bullseye chrono'd at 755 fps out of my S&W model 52-1. I'd aim for a velocity in those lower ranges if using 148 grain hollow base wadcutter bullets. Alliant Bullseye or Winchester 231 (HP-38) are proven performers for the 148 gr. HBWC bullet, but since this is 2020, I understand that you might have to use what ya got! I've read where 2.5 grains of Titegroup might get you in the ballpark of those factory match velocities. At least, it might be a starting point to work up from.

This was the results of a chrono session using a 10 inch Contender single shot.  From a Quickload analysis comparison subtract 100 fps from these to get velocity from a 5 inch barrel.  In this chart there is a 3.1 grain load for RedDot powder.  This IS OVER MAXIMUM for HBWC.  
So don’t use it.  2.9 Red Dot is Max and it shoots very well at 25y.  

While 452AA is no longer available, I lucked into some quantity for a decent price so I’m using that as it also shoots VERY well.  WST is close but it wasn’t tested in this session.  

2.8 of TG is almost invisible...Hard to measure.
l like bigger powder volumes

Keep velocity under 800 fps.
625-725fps is about optimum.
I did not have success with TiteGroup in my three M52s, where Bullseye, Red Dot, AA2, and 231/HP38 were by far the best. Of course, the Remington 148gn HBWC was the ONLY bullet I tested that gave GREAT accuracy. When I run out, I'll have to try Zero and Magnus. All cast wadcutters were a waste of money and time.
Tips:
1) unsized cases produce smaller groups than sized cases
2) roll crimping with a Redding Profile Crimp die gives better accuracy than a Lee FCD (with carbide ring removed), which gives better accuracy than any other roll crimp die I tried (and I tried all I could find).
3) Just barely roll the case over the bullet meplat so feeding is case-against-feed ramp.