Winchester Super-Lite WSL - 38/357 rifle loads? - Some results

kjohn

kjohn

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I have 3 unopened 1 lb. cans of the a/n powder. Not a lot of info available any more. The burn rate is near Alliant Unique. I would like to use it up in 38 Special/357 loads for my Rossi lever with cast bullets. Not looking for maximum barrel burners or long range elephant hunting, just plinking loads.

Does anyone have loads or a source for info. I did find one post on another site where the fellow used it in .40 cal pistol loads.

Thanks in advance for any help. :)
 
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Hodgdon's website should have load data for it. If there's no specific loads listed for a particular caliber, there may be a reason for it.....
 
The only handgun loads I see listed for WSL, is in the Winchester Reloader's Manual 15th edition. It has a few for 9mm and 10mm, .45ACP and .40 Smiff.

Auggie D.
 
The 2019 Hodgdon Annual reloading manual shows zero recipes using WSL for any .357 magnum bullet combinations.
Additionally, WSL didn’t even make it on the Relative Burn Rate chart on page 67. Perhaps Winchester powders are not producing it anymore?
Here’s an idea: post a WTS / WTT ad in the EE for reloading. Someone out there wants it, sell it or trade it.
 
I've got 4lb of Win AA Plus I bought during the powder shortage a few years ago. Says it's good for a wide range of pistol loads but, like yours, there's pretty well zero information. Was only made for a year or two and they never published pistol data.

I did find a couple burn rate charts and carefully worked up a loads for a few cartridges. It's possible but you want a good understanding of how to proceed. A chronograph helps too.
 
I've found a wee bit of info here and there. It seems that around 4.0 gr. would work with a 158 gr. cast bullet.
 
Further to the WSL1 matter. I did find some info, thanks to the members on CGN. I ended up loading some 38 Special cases with 4.7 gr. of WSL1 and topped it off with a Cactus Plains 158 gr. RN, Winchester small pistol primers.

I fired about 20 in my Rossi lever this afternoon. While not a scientific test by any stretch, I was quite pleased. Just using my elbows on the shooting table, I was getting reasonable results at 40 yds. I even managed to hit the 1' sq. gong at 100 yds. a couple of times offhand. Nice load to shoot out of a rifle, but I won't be using them in my revolvers. Fired casings looked normal, no flat primers, etc..

I will use up that powder for that load and rifle. At 4.7 gr. per round, I'll have enough with the three pounds to last for a wee while. The RN load nice and slick in the Rossi. Only problem is that the rear sight is a bit blurry. They must use cheap metal in those sights. :p
 
BTW, the "1" in WSL1 just refers to a 1lb. can. I had a 3lb can that was WSL3.

Also, your rear sight is fuzzy because it is wearing out. I have the same problem with the sights on most of my guns too.

Auggie D.
 
Auggie Doggie said:
BTW, the "1" in WSL1 just refers to a 1lb. can. I had a 3lb can that was WSL3.

Also, your rear sight is fuzzy because it is wearing out. I have the same problem with the sights on most of my guns too.

Auggie D.
Click to expand...

That's it!! Although, methinks it might be something a bit farther back that's wearing out. :p

Edit: I knew about the 1 and 3 business, just neglected to drop the 1.
 
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.38 Special loaded with lead bullets and fired in a .357 is so forgiving that one almost doesn't need load data. Virtually any powder with a burn rate between Bullseye and Unique can be used with reasonable results, and that definitely includes WSL. Start with about 3 grains and work up to the velocity you want, it's virtually impossible to get into danger territory.
 
^^ Yes. I have used several flake powders with success in 38 Special cases in my revolvers. WSL is called a ball powder, so wanted to tread softly. 4.7 gr. is nice to shoot in a 20" carbine, that's for sure.

Next, I will chrono those loads, more to satisfy my curiosity than anything. I will also lay out the sandbags and do some "serious" target shooting to see if there is consistency in clocked speed and accuracy. I only shoot for fun and the pleasure of shooting, so whether the load actually turns out good or not isn't much of a worry to me. I am a lot less tolerant of full house loads in my other rifles, 308, 30-06, 8x57, etc.. It comes with growing older.
 
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