.38 Special
- Thread starter Bolt93
- Start date
The Vihtavouri site has data for the LWC.
Bullet Powder Starting load Maximum load
Weight Type Mfg C.O.L Type Weight Velocity Weight Velocity
148 LWC Sako 30,0 1.181 N350 0,27 4.1 255 835 0,30 4.6 294 964
You shooting from a Wheel gun or lever?
Bullet Powder Starting load Maximum load
Weight Type Mfg C.O.L Type Weight Velocity Weight Velocity
148 LWC Sako 30,0 1.181 N350 0,27 4.1 255 835 0,30 4.6 294 964
You shooting from a Wheel gun or lever?
Last edited:
Tuning it is different then looking for specific load data from a book.
A revolver that is setup for 357mag (That also shoots 38) can take a crazy wide range of 38. Remember that for a revolver there is no action that is getting actuated by the recoil or gasses. Meaning you need just enough power to get out from the barrel. (Very dangerous if it gets lodged). A 357 revolver load data for the same LWC bullet is 7.9-8.7 meaning the gun could take a double charged 38. (Again other factors come into play but you get the point I am making)
This is why I was asking which gun you are pushing these pills from.
The short story is that if your using a modern 38/357 revolver. Start with the load Data that is really close or you can extrapolate a safe starting point. Chrono it to make sure it is as expected. Then "tune" from there.
A revolver that is setup for 357mag (That also shoots 38) can take a crazy wide range of 38. Remember that for a revolver there is no action that is getting actuated by the recoil or gasses. Meaning you need just enough power to get out from the barrel. (Very dangerous if it gets lodged). A 357 revolver load data for the same LWC bullet is 7.9-8.7 meaning the gun could take a double charged 38. (Again other factors come into play but you get the point I am making)
This is why I was asking which gun you are pushing these pills from.
The short story is that if your using a modern 38/357 revolver. Start with the load Data that is really close or you can extrapolate a safe starting point. Chrono it to make sure it is as expected. Then "tune" from there.
I personally have never worked with that powder so I am going to shutup now and let someone else pipe in. If it was a powder that I personally use I would give you reference to how low I have gone on 38. (Special loads for CAS matches)
The HBWC is a target bullet and almost always loaded with a fast powder, like VHT 310 and N320, with 2.7 gr of Bullseye being the old standby.
N350 is a slow powder used for high velocity/high pressure loads. I would use it for a hot load with 158SWCs. I don't see it as a good accuracy load powder for 148s.
But if you want to explore hot 148 loads, go for it. I would consider 4.5 to be max.
N350 is a slow powder used for high velocity/high pressure loads. I would use it for a hot load with 158SWCs. I don't see it as a good accuracy load powder for 148s.
But if you want to explore hot 148 loads, go for it. I would consider 4.5 to be max.
Yeah I'm only using n350 since I had some left, and my buddy gave me a bunch of those 148 gr HBWC. I had seen loads for other bullet weights and projectiles with N350 and wasn't sure what I could pull off with it. Now these arnt seated flush, the overall length is 1.265, and I don't want to do hot loads. So I should stay away from that 4.5?
The Start load will go bang and make a good plinker. If you want to use up the powder and the bullets, load up 4.2 gr and carry on.
Because the powder does not burn well at the low pressure you are loading, accuracy would not be as good as if you used N320.
If you load max I would think there is a good chance of blowing the skirt off that hollow base bullet, so for a good plinker, try 4.2.
Try a few of the 4.2s before loading up a bunch, in case that blows off the skirt. I don't know at what point the skirt blows off. I have never done it. I have loaded to 900 fps and all was well.
Because the powder does not burn well at the low pressure you are loading, accuracy would not be as good as if you used N320.
If you load max I would think there is a good chance of blowing the skirt off that hollow base bullet, so for a good plinker, try 4.2.
Try a few of the 4.2s before loading up a bunch, in case that blows off the skirt. I don't know at what point the skirt blows off. I have never done it. I have loaded to 900 fps and all was well.
