Reloading advice for the Distinguished Revolver Match

I'm looking to begin loading for the NRA's Distinguished Revolver matches.

Any advice on what type powder, how much, recommended primers, brass and 158 gr bullets, plus any other loading considerations are much appreciated.

Thanks,

Ted

I used WST and Zero 158 gr SWC bullets.  My revolver liked 3.2 grs WST.  You will have to find out the charge your revolver likes best.
Phil

WST, Titegroup, or Bullseye anywhere from 3-3.5ish. Zero RN/SWC or Brazos RN. Federal primers are typically preferred, brass doesn’t really matter too much, I prefer to pick one make and run with it.

If you don't have those powders you can use flaming dirt, I mean Unique.

Hard cast seem to prefer heavier loads in Unique while others like Jason Gregoire had great luck with soft swaged and light loads. You'll have to try different things...

Got mine with 3.0gr WST under a Zero 158gr SWC 1.445 COL medium crimp Starline brass and Winchester small primers for the short line. Federal American Eagle 158gr RN for the long line. I used 2 S&W M14's. A -1 and a -3.

Ted you need to try a lot of different loads to find out what your pistol likes. The loads you see here are a good starting point. You also have to find out which chambers of your cylinder perform best and mark them. See you at the range! L.

i'm also starting to load 38 for my revolver.  Someone on this forum suggested to crimp the daylights out them, so I got a Redding Profile Crimp die.  It can put heavy roll crimp on them, like the factory.  I haven't had a chance to test them outdoors yet, but at 50 feet they shoot well.

If they have a crimp groove, roll crimp. If not, then taper!

Dave

There are a lot of threads on this.  The Search function has not been working well for me lately, but I believe this is the best of the threads on this:  
https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck?highlight=38+loads+that+don+t+suck

2.7grs of Ramshot Competition, Win small pistol primers, Zero 158 SWC or my own cast with hi-tek, mixed brass. This was good enough to get distinguished with. I didn't even check chambers on the cylinder like a lot of people do. Off of bags with 2x scope it shot right at 2". 

GW

gweber wrote:2.7grs of Ramshot Competition, Win small pistol primers, Zero 158 SWC or my own cast with hi-tek, mixed brass. This was good enough to get distinguished with. I didn't even check chambers on the cylinder like a lot of people do. Off of bags with 2x scope it shot right at 2". 

GW

Was that a 10 shot group at 50 yards that produced the 2" group?

BE Mike wrote:

gweber wrote:2.7grs of Ramshot Competition, Win small pistol primers, Zero 158 SWC or my own cast with hi-tek, mixed brass. This was good enough to get distinguished with. I didn't even check chambers on the cylinder like a lot of people do. Off of bags with 2x scope it shot right at 2". 

GW

Was that a 10 shot group at 50 yards that produced the 2" group?

 Yes. actually it was 7 shots as I messed up 3 shots. wasn't the best setup but I could see that the crosshair wasn't in the same spot and they went exactly where the crosshairs were. Was using a spotting scope to confirm what I was seeing as well. 

GW

I legged with cast 158 RN from a magma mold and 4gr unique. Brazos sells the same bullet.

Magtech 158 RN lead bullet with 4.2 grns. Unique…..ugly bullet but shoots really well. Or If shooting commercial ammo - American Eagle 158 Lead RN….I used that ammo for DR. Best I know, the commercial AE ammo uses the Magtech bullet.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1657113562

TonyH wrote:Magtech 158 RN lead bullet with 4.2 grns. Unique…..ugly bullet but shoots really well. Or If shooting commercial ammo - American Eagle 158 Lead RN….I used that ammo for DR. Best I know, the commercial AE ammo uses the Magtech bullet.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1657113562

If reloading I would recommend Federal primers as they are more reliable in a revolver (thinner cup).

If buying factory ammo, the post quoted above agrees with my testing at the time DR matches began and we were required to use "Factory ammo." 

I just read thru the rules and it doesn't say "158gr lead" in the description, so it appears you can use jacketed bullets now. Jacketed can be more accurate.
Am I wrong?

I found 3.5 g. of WST behind my cast 158 SWC shot at 50 yards 2 1/4" consistently. I am using a S&W model 14-6 with Winchester primers.
I found 4.6g of WW231 shot 1 5/8" but that was too hot for Timed and rapid.