Load for DRG Bullets 357-148g-WCDBB

mrq5daw

mrq5daw

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I could not wait to cast my own bullets, because I do not know where to buy the lead (I have another thread for that) so i went to the store and found this DRG Bullets 38-148g-WCDBB, I will use it for my Ruger GP100 357 magnum I also pick up Blue Dot Smokeless Magnum Powder, Winchester Primers for large Pistol Magnum Loads, I only have the Lee Classic Loader (Manual) the million question is do I have the right stuff? what load to start.. WCDBB?? Wad Cutter what on earth is DBB?? please help I am very new to this..:onCrack:
 
For the wc 148gr I suggest a load of 2.9grs of Bullseye and if you are serious about casting and reloading I would suggest a press over the Lee pound and prey kits. The press will pay for itself in no time. Casting your own is another way to bring your cost per round way down.

For example, loaded some cast 158gr SWC bullets done with the Lee mould in .38 special cases over bullseye and small pistol primers for my 6" GP100. They shot great, I would suggest that mould for anyone wanting to cast .357 or .38sp.

OP, I suggest you load .38sp, more rounds per pound. I loaded 3.5gr of Bullseye for the swcs cast from wheel weights and 2.9gr for the Horniday 148gr HBWC. Both were excellent in my gun.

For paper punching at 10-50 yards a Mag load just costs more per shot.

For my .38sp loads the costs are

Cast SWC no cost just time
Cases Free Traded a friend some 9mm brass for .38sp brass
primers .04
Powder .02

.06/round X 50 = 3.00/box. Factory S&B 148gr .38sp=25.00/box Saved 22.00 per box. All costs and prices before taxes.

Cactus
 
mrq5daw said:
I could not wait to cast my own bullets, because I do not know where to buy the lead (I have another thread for that) so i went to the store and found this DRG Bullets 38-148g-WCDBB, I will use it for my Ruger GP100 357 magnum I also pick up Blue Dot Smokeless Magnum Powder, Winchester Primers for large Pistol Magnum Loads, I only have the Lee Classic Loader (Manual) the million question is do I have the right stuff? what load to start.. WCDBB?? Wad Cutter what on earth is DBB?? please help I am very new to this..:onCrack:
Click to expand...

No, you do not have the right stuff.
If you want to make light target ammunition the bullets will be great. There is lots of load data for 148 grain cast WC or 148 grain swaged Hollow Base WC (HBWC). I suspect none of it uses Blue Dot as a preferred powder.
As already mentioned, Large Pistol is wrong for both the .357 and the .38 Special.
Nothing wrong with the lee classic.
So, do you have .357 cases or .38 Special cases? Then look up some target loads, and consider getting bullseye, or 231, or 700-x or Red Dot, or something similar to make target ammunition, which can be put up in either the .357 cases or .38 Special cases.
If you want to load .357, you could use Blue Dot to get close to maximum velocities, but you would want another bullet for the higher velocities. Either a jacketed 158 grain bullet, or cast 158 grain bullet would be a good choice for .357 loads.
 
Thanks Bro..yes I have 357 cases and I shoot at 25 yards, means I can use my blue dot powder, right?. Now can I use the large pistol primers for this? what will happen if I used large primers instead of small hand gun primers..
 
First off just try and seat one ! (Make sure) there are no other primers or powder in the area (room) And I would strongly sgest wearing eye and ear protection when you do it , And a change of shorts wouldn't hurt either ! In case you haven't picked up on the sarcasm ( just another service that I offer ) They will not fit the small primer pockets on .357 brass Find a reputable source of data and or someone that is experienced to mentor for the first hundred or so rounds that you load (not the guy that sold you blue dot and LPP . JMHO. Best of luck with the loading adventure , Once you have the hang of it you'll make yourself broke trying to keep up with new toys !!!!
 
mrq5daw said:
I could not wait to cast my own bullets, because I do not know where to buy the lead (I have another thread for that) so i went to the store and found this DRG Bullets 38-148g-WCDBB, I will use it for my Ruger GP100 357 magnum I also pick up Blue Dot Smokeless Magnum Powder, Winchester Primers for large Pistol Magnum Loads, I only have the Lee Classic Loader (Manual) the million question is do I have the right stuff? what load to start.. WCDBB?? Wad Cutter what on earth is DBB?? please help I am very new to this..:onCrack:
Click to expand...

I have used that same bullet (bullets that i got were in my opinion a bit small in diameter .3575 Ok in size by the numbers
(but small for my cylinder and real light loads leaded the cyl & barrel) med and hot loads that were worked up were ok

it is a double crimp (one in each end but i found that it was better to load them all the same way or the crimp was wrong ( handle on press required exta pressure )
it just felt wrong to be loading and get the odd one that was hard to seat

I loaded them so the sprune cut off was up and every pull of the handle was the same

you need small pistol primers

you can use any reliable data for a wad cutter in the 148- 150 g
so you can pick any of the 20- 30 powders in this speed range that you can find data for

most of the powder manufactures have online data that you can use

just work up a load

some of them are
Win 231
WST
Unique
bullseye
hp38
red dot
the list goes on and on
 
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