looking for loading data 38 special wadcutters

TIPPY91

TIPPY91

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hello everybody

i'm going to be loading some 38 special wadcutters for a smith and wesson model 52-2 semi auto pistol.

the bullets going to be are campro 38cal 148gr hbwc plated and CCI small pistol primers.

not really sure on powder since the stuff is really hard to come by think of bullseye,W231,700x.

any help with powder choice and or load data for this pistol

thanks jason
 
silverfoxdj said:
I use 2.7 gr of Bullseye it's been the standard target load for many years
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The 2.7-2.8 gr. of Bullseye load with 148 gr. bullet is a classic wadcutter load. A word of caution on the bullets, however. I haven't used the Campro 148 gr. HBWC bullets but I have used the Berry's equivalent and Berry' recommends the bullets be travelling a minimum of 800 fps. Maybe it has something to do with the harder plated bullets not expanding as easily as lead WC bullets but that's what they recommend. 2.7 gr. of Bullseye probably won't give you 800 fps.
 
the 3.1 of 231 or 2.7 of bullseye are longtime favorites for a reason they work.
That said most guys with smith 52's have to go a little hotter to make them function correctly like 2.9 bullseye and 3.3 of 231
best to start low and test what works in your gun
 
ted_dent said:
The 2.7-2.8 gr. of Bullseye load with 148 gr. bullet is a classic wadcutter load. A word of caution on the bullets, however. I haven't used the Campro 148 gr. HBWC bullets but I have used the Berry's equivalent and Berry' recommends the bullets be travelling a minimum of 800 fps. Maybe it has something to do with the harder plated bullets not expanding as easily as lead WC bullets but that's what they recommend. 2.7 gr. of Bullseye probably won't give you 800 fps.
Click to expand...

Never heard of the 800 minimum before maybe this would be my rational for a Chrono..:)
 
148 grain WC's, plated or otherwise don't need to expand. Nor is expansion desired. The base might not expand quite right though.
Work up the load using 2.5 to 2.8 of Bullseye. Smith 52's(nice!) were made to use that load range with HBWC's or DEWC's.
 
Speer loading manual ... get it ... read it ... follow the suggestions given what powder you have or can still find ... do it ... find out which loading gives best accuracy for YOUR gun ... THEN you've answered your own question ... and gained some knowledge, experience and confidence.
 
Just a note here, the load recommendations from the shooters with experience with 52's and loading a little hotter to make the gun run smoothly sound right. I use 2.6 of bullseye for my revolver loads. Not sure what Sunray is talking about regarding expansion, the HBWC are designed to allow the projectile to obdurate as it travels down the barrel. Maybe he is thinking of expansion on impact? I used the Campro plated 148 HBWC for a brief tme (maybe 2k rounds worth). I switched back to plain lead (speers) projectiles due to very measurable accuracy issues. YMMV with your gun.
 
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coldestcanuck said:
Just a note here, the load recommendations from the shooters with experience with 52's and loading a little hotter to make the gun run smoothly sound right. I use 2.6 of bullseye for my revolver loads. Not sure what Sunray is talking about regarding expansion, the HBWC are designed to allow the projectile to obdurate as it travels down the barrel. Maybe he is thinking of expansion on impact? I used the Campro plated 148 HBWC for a brief tme (maybe 2k rounds worth). I switched back to plain lead (speers) projectiles due to very measurable accuracy issues. YMMV with your gun.
Click to expand...

I shoot Lee cast 148 gr. tumble lube wadcutters over 2.8 grains of Bullseye out of my Model 52. I have never had to exceed 2.9 gr. of Bullseye to get the gun to function reliably. As long as the gun is clean this load is absolutely dependable. And you are correct...the hollow base is designed to expand to give a complete gas seal. A friend of mine used the Berry's HBWC bullets at low velocities with mediocre results so there seems to be some validity to the advise to keep the velocities above 800 fps.
 
coldestcanuck said:
Just a note here, the load recommendations from the shooters with experience with 52's and loading a little hotter to make the gun run smoothly sound right. I use 2.6 of bullseye for my revolver loads. Not sure what Sunray is talking about regarding expansion, the HBWC are designed to allow the projectile to obdurate as it travels down the barrel. Maybe he is thinking of expansion on impact? I used the Campro plated 148 HBWC for a brief tme (maybe 2k rounds worth). I switched back to plain lead (speers) projectiles due to very measurable accuracy issues. YMMV with your gun.
Click to expand...

No one knows what sunray is talking about and yet he still posts. Some of his stuff is correct most is nonsense though.
 
700x will work fine , but i can't remember the weight , if you have any feeding probs , check the brass for loa & try trimming .010" under factory , & seat the bullets flush .
as above 2.6/2.8 of BE is the normal best bet .
 
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