38 spcl 148gr hbwc

[Guest Jamesmb]

Can these be bought at WalMart or at some of the ranges here? I have been buying only the standard ammo in 38 size, whatever WalMart sells for target shooting at the ranges here, but want to try a wadcutter type cartridge to see how they are for accuracy. I see a few places on the internet I can buy them but don't want to wait for them to arrive. Might go out today at Coal Creek or Gunny's, guess I should just call em and ask.

James

[The Rabbi]

Now you're talking dirty to me.

The 148gr HBWC is really one of my favorite loads for .38spc. Incredibly mild and it makes a great round hole in the target, like a paper punch.

S&B makes them as do a few others.

Not a bad defense round if you really needed one either.

[Guest Todd@CIS]

Now you're talking dirty to me.

The 148gr HBWC is really one of my favorite loads for .38spc. Incredibly mild and it makes a great round hole in the target, like a paper punch.

S&B makes them as do a few others.

Not a bad defense round if you really needed one either.

+1

A strong argument can be made for this round being used for defense.

-Accurate

-Very low recoil for fast follow-up shots

-Low muzzle flash

-Cuts a full diameter hole (many popular .38 JHPs don't expand reliably anyway).

-Practice and carry round is the same

[VERO1]

Back in the old days we used to load them with the cavity forward. Would sometimes tumble a little, but boy did they expand well! We called them poor boy hollow points.

[strob2000]

like Jamesmb said, anybody know where you could buy some already loaded for those of us who don't reload (yet)?

[Guest Todd@CIS]

like Jamesmb said, anybody know where you could buy some already loaded for those of us who don't reload (yet)?

Most every ammo company makes this round.

Try www.ammunitiontogo.com among others.

[Mike.357]

I am unsure of that acronym, but I love wadcutters. I load semi wadcutters in .38special, .357mag and .45ACP

Nothing like the neat, precise, simple hole in the target. And if for some reason it had to be used in self defense it will leave them same holes in the bg.

Nothing like shooting lead.

[I_Like_Pie]

Not sure if it still holds true as there are fewer target revolver competitions, but for a loooong time the 148 DEWC was "the" most accurate revolver bullet made. They wouldn't be great for home defense because they are loaded quite slow (600-700 fps)

I can attest that mastercast.net casts and reloads very good bullets and I recommend them highly. I reload and use the 100 grain DEWC under 3.0 grains of bullseye for easy 1 hole groups at 15 yards. They sell loaded ammo also...might want to check them out as the prices are very reasonable and they are a top notch operation. Have shot many, many thousands of their bullets.

http://mastercast.net/amo.htm

[Guest Jamesmb]

Not sure if it still holds true as there are fewer target revolver competitions, but for a loooong time the 148 DEWC was "the" most accurate revolver bullet made. http://mastercast.net/amo.htm

Well I just ordered the following from mastercast website, will see how they compare. All reloaded.

38 Spl 148 Gr TCJ/DEWC

38 Spl 148 Gr DEWC (Cast)

38 Spl 148 Gr HBWC (Swaged)

357 Magnum 158 Gr HPHV

[Guest BG38357]

Let us know how they were.

[Guest Jamesmb]

Hi Rabbi,

I was wondering about these 357 mag 158gr High Velocity ammo I just ordered, I remember reading alot about the 125 or 110 grain ammo being a problem on the forcing cone of a model 19 Smith and Wesson, would this be the same problem? They are rated at 1285 FPS this high velocity 158grain, too hot? http://mastercast.net/amo.htm

[I_Like_Pie]

Well I just ordered the following from mastercast website, will see how they compare. All reloaded.

If you shoot a lot and do not reload you can take advantage of a decent discount by sending the spent brass back to them. 1 or 2 boxes and you about break even on the postage, but any more than that you will start saving a good bit of money.

If you shoot more than say 250 or so a month...you can really save by getting an lee anniversary kit, set of dies, powder and primer for about $150 OTD.If you need the brass I will send you some free of charge to help. In about 30 minutes you can crank out those loads listed above for about $4.00 a box. 38 special is by far the easiest cartridge to reload due to low pressures and astounding array of powder/bullets available.

Good luck on the order...hope you enjoy them as much as I do!

[Guest Jamesmb]

If you shoot a lot and do not reload you can take advantage of a decent discount by sending the spent brass back to them. 1 or 2 boxes and you about break even on the postage, but any more than that you will start saving a good bit of money

I had tried a Lee handloading kit 357 magnum before but was not too crazy about it. Think I will leave that to the pros. Lately too not been shooting much at all. When I did reload I had bought some Zero bullets at a Knoxville gunshow and see that they are sold through Roze Distribution, http://www.rozedist.com had thought about buying some bulk ammo from them but that mastercast had their price beat by a little. Think though they will ship for free if you order over 500 rounds at a time.

Edited June 19, 2008 by Jamesmb

[nolo]

I bought some federal .38 WC at walmart in Clinton. I think it was around $12/box. They had a whole shelf full when I was there.

[glockster157]

I was wondering about these 357 mag 158gr High Velocity ammo I just ordered, I remember reading alot about the 125 or 110 grain ammo being a problem on the forcing cone of a model 19 Smith and Wesson, would this be the same problem? They are rated at 1285 FPS this high velocity 158grain, too hot? amo

The problem with the forcing cones cracking on the M19/66 was the 125 grain bullets were jumping into the forcing with such force and velocity it was crystallizing the metal. I never heard of this problem with the 158's because the entry velocity into the forcing cone was not that high. A steady diet of magnum loads in a K frame will cause it to shoot loose quicker, most folks shoot 38's(+P's are fine also) and just shoot mags occasionally. I save most of my mag loads for the 686's, GP100's, N frames and single actions.