getting ready to work up 50yd loads... bullets??

OK, so ive been shooting Lyman 358495 out of my model19 revolver for 50ft indoor, and training. I have a ton of them casted up, but they are a bit undersized at 356.7.... They have been good for practice, but I'm loosing accuracy with them being undersize I feel.   So I'm going to start getting a load worked up for 50 yard shooting, and I plan to try those bullets sized at 358, and also pick up some Magnus HBWC to try. Now Ive read a lot of the posts, but most 38 loads I see are got model52, or 1911 conversions, and I know a revolver is a different animal. Ive also read the posts on DR loads, what are round nose, or SWC loads...  So that being said, along with the WC loads, should I be looking into trying a LRN, or SWC bullet? I have a Lyman 358311 RN mold to try, but no SWC. I know I will be doing lots of load testing, but figured Id ask for advice from others that might have walked this path already. ...  FYI I plan to run the 358495 WC sized at 358, at this time for the short line...  Thanks for any advice.

My model 14 seems to like Zero hbwc and 2.7gr WST.  For distinguished revolver I use Zero 158 swc and 3.7gr WST.

I like the Missouri Bullet 158 RN with 3.4 of HTG. I made Harry Reeves and got 10 DR points with it at Perry last year.

For maximum accuracy i stick to the hbwc.
Magnus, zero, precision Delta.
2.7 wst, 3.1 ww231, 2.5 bullseye.

I use 158 RN for DR only.

Mod14.

james r chapman wrote:For maximum accuracy i stick to the hbwc.
Magnus, zero, precision Delta.
2.7 wst, 3.1 ww231, 2.5 bullseye.

I use 158 RN for DR only.

Mod14.

+1 WST best powder for 38 special, clean and soft. 

Not for target work at 50 yards, 105gn TC bullet over 3.4 vv320 is a very nice round shoots like a 22lr. 

I plan on shooting factory Zeros and Remingtons for DR. 

I have 158 SWC zeros, ready to reload with new Starline cases. If my numbers are correct I think 3.4 gn VV320 (its a cleaner replacement powder for W231). Currently, I am loading 1.46 OAL but I may go a little longer with a nice roll crimp. 

If you are looking for loads for CF bullseye then definitely a good swagged HBWC is the way to go. BE, VV310, and WST are the powders 2.7 gn will shoot under 1 inch groups at 25 yards out of my M19. 

The only thing I would suggest with swagged bullets is to keep the dies clean because they get gummed up by the bullet lube and can mess with your seating.

james r chapman wrote:For maximum accuracy i stick to the hbwc.
Magnus, zero, precision Delta.
2.7 wst, 3.1 ww231, 2.5 bullseye.

I use 158 RN for DR only.

Mod14.

OK, thanks. I figured I would end up sticking with the WC bullets.  Right now I'm running 2.8gr HP38 for my short line load. I figured I would need to bump that up for a 50yd load..  Ive been looking to try some WST also... now that supplies have increased a bit, I might see if I can dig any up.

Thank you all for your help!

OK, so I ordered a few Magnus hbwc bullets.  Ill test them out, and see how they shoot for me. I had a real rough leuge the last few weeks. Not sure if its me or what...  but I'm seeing a ton of flyers from the cast bullets I'm shooting.  We will see how these shoot.

s1120 wrote:OK, so I ordered a few Magnus hbwc bullets.  Ill test them out, and see how they shoot for me. I had a real rough leuge the last few weeks. Not sure if its me or what...  but I'm seeing a ton of flyers from the cast bullets I'm shooting.  We will see how these shoot.

When you see flyers and question a bullet or load benchrest will answer the question.   I had flyers with a 38 load and found out the powder was position sensitive in the case.  Point the gun up before shooting and no flyers.   There is a lot of left over room in a 38 or 357 case depending on the powder used.  I can't find my notes but believe it was TiteGroup in those loads  Don

Magload wrote:

s1120 wrote:OK, so I ordered a few Magnus hbwc bullets.  Ill test them out, and see how they shoot for me. I had a real rough leuge the last few weeks. Not sure if its me or what...  but I'm seeing a ton of flyers from the cast bullets I'm shooting.  We will see how these shoot.

When you see flyers and question a bullet or load benchrest will answer the question.   I had flyers with a 38 load and found out the powder was position sensitive in the case.  Point the gun up before shooting and no flyers.   There is a lot of left over room in a 38 or 357 case depending on the powder used.  I can't find my notes but believe it was TiteGroup in those loads  Don

I haven't thought of that. I'm shooting 2.8gr of BE now. I guess it cant hurt to try.

Magload wrote:

s1120 wrote:OK, so I ordered a few Magnus hbwc bullets.  Ill test them out, and see how they shoot for me. I had a real rough leuge the last few weeks. Not sure if its me or what...  but I'm seeing a ton of flyers from the cast bullets I'm shooting.  We will see how these shoot.

When you see flyers and question a bullet or load benchrest will answer the question.   I had flyers with a 38 load and found out the powder was position sensitive in the case.  Point the gun up before shooting and no flyers.   There is a lot of left over room in a 38 or 357 case depending on the powder used.  I can't find my notes but believe it was TiteGroup in those loads  Don

OK, so I mistyped my last post... I'm running 2.8 gr of HP38. 

I was mindfull this weekend at my shoot, to settle the powder in the rear of the case.. I did shoot much better, and had less flyers.. Granted I also had my best ever .22 scores, so it might of just been a good day. Ill keep trying that, and see if I keep showing the improved scores. I still had some flyers... but I'm still shooting the undersized cast WC bullets, and also, I throw a flyer once in a wile even in 22....  Thanks for the tip.

OK, so I got my shipment of the HBWC, and I'm going to start working up a load for it. Anyone that has shot these before, is there any reason to load less then the 2.8 of HP38 I'm running with the cast WC? I see lots of loads for BE powder, but not much for HP38. As of now I'm going to do a 2.8, 3.0 of hp38, and also of BE powder. I'm also going to try to find some WST to try, but so far no local source.  Any reason to go lower for the 25yd line? I don't want to stick a bullet..

2.8 of HP38/win231 is really weak, I wouldn't go any lower. Probably around 670 fps. Most target loads I've seen were either 2.9 or 3.1 (with hp38). Many say the sweet spot is 690-710fps. For 50 yards, I think you may be better with a heavier charge. Extra velocity means faster spin, and better stabilization. But I have no experiment/data to share backing that up.

WST is fantastic. I stopped using HP38 when I tried it.

desben wrote:2.8 of HP38/win231 is really weak, I wouldn't go any lower. Probably around 670 fps. Most target loads I've seen were either 2.9 or 3.1 (with hp38). Many say the sweet spot is 690-710fps. For 50 yards, I think you may be better with a heavier charge. Extra velocity means faster spin, and better stabilization. But I have no experiment/data to share backing that up.

WST is fantastic. I stopped using HP38 when I tried it.

I have heard that about WST, I just have not gotten any yet. I will when I find some though. 

I had the best grouping with my cast with that 2.8gr load, but the bullets I have are also a little undersized. So I know I'm working with a clean slate. Ill start with that, and work up a bit. ...I do plan on starting with a higher charge when I work up my 50yd loads.  and keep looking for WST...

I'd start at 3.0 of 231/ HP38.  2.8 is weak.  

As for 50 yard line loads....good luck.   I've never found one that didn't use almost all of the ten ring.

Wobbley wrote:I'd start at 3.0 of 231/ HP38.  2.8 is weak.  

As for 50 yard line loads....good luck.   I've never found one that didn't use almost all of the ten ring.

I'm still a "lets try to get them all in the black" shooter... So manly to me a good load is not having flyers all over the place..