Anybody ever load warm 357 plated 148gr DEWC?

[musicman]

I'm going through a bunch of partial boxes of bullets and loading up whatever leftovers I find in what I consider my "spring cleaning" of my reloading area. I've got a bag of maybe 150-200 plated 148gr double ended wadcutters to use up. I've usually loaded them as light target rounds with 3 grs Bullseye and called it a day.

This time though, I want to do something different. I've got plenty of lead HBWCs for plinking. With these being plated, I'm thinking I want to drive them harder and see what they can do on a jug of water or something. I show data for them up to pretty hot 357 levels. I'm thinking about dialing it back just a bit, around 5.0-5.5gr Bullseye... probably around 1250-1400 fps. I've got a 4" Smith 19 and a Marlin 1894 to play with. The Marlin will feed wadcutters in a 357 case, but not in a 38 case.

What say you guys? Any experience loading a more full-powered wadcutter? I don't know why I'm a little apprehensive... I'll load the ever-lovin' dog snot out of a 125 or 158 grain bullet! In fact, I just loaded a box of max power 158gr lswcs over 2400! Should I be worried about doing close to the same with a small plated soda-can of a bullet?

[LngRngShtr]

Most Plated manufacturers will put a velocity ceiling on their bullets at less than magnum velocities

 

that being said I have driven plated bullets out of my 10mm at over 1250 fps without ill accuracy effects out to most IPSC distances 25yds. or so at the club I used to shoot at

 

not sure how they would have fared long distances though I usually shot 155 LSWCs

 

as far as SWC vs. RN vs. DEWC  I guess maybe there might be some yawing issues as the weight is distributed evenly vs. a rear weight bias  but as far as safely shooting throwing them downrange if the data is published and crosschecks as safe I'd try it who knows you might trip over a nice load that should hit pretty hard if you follow the large frontal area theory of hunting bullets ( think a heavy Keith style SWC they are almost a DEWC )

[Jamie Jackson]

While I haven't tried them in .357, I do load plated DEWC 148 gr for my J-Frame S&W.

 

I use 4.2 gr. of AA#2 and get an average chrono velocity of 719 fps.

 

It's a "peppy" J-Frame load based on some Jim Cirrilo  (NYPD Stakeout Squad) data.

 

I don't have any data for Bullseye, but with W 231 and AA#2, these serve my purposes. Hopefully the info can give you a starting point.

[leroy]

Try 5.0 grains of Unique and your DEWCS.... The problem with 'em is that they wont shoot very far before tumbling... At close range they are very powerful... I would guess about 1000 fps out of a 4 inch barrel....

 

Some good reading here:  http://www.handloads.com/articles/default.asp?id=24

 

And here:  http://www.sixguns.com/tests/tt38spcl.htm

 

I like the 158 SWC myself... More stable at long range... Same hole cutting as a full wadcutter....

 

PS-- Our load for j frame smiths for plus p is 5.3 grains of unique and anybody's 158 hard cast swc... About 900 fps out of a 2 inch model 36 barrel... My guess is 1000 fps out of a four incher...

 

Hope this helps...

 

leroy

[musicman]

I think lngrngshtr gets me. I've done all the basic 38 and 38+p stuff... I'm just wanting to goof around and fling a dewc stupid fast! I'd kinda like it if it tumbled and went all erratic... makes for a nifty looking target sheet!

I've got shelves full of plinking ammo, defense ammo, and hunting ammo. I'm just being weird I guess and wanting to go way outside the norm. :-) Lee's data lists a load with Bullseye getting close to 1500 fps. Even taking 10% off the top still gives you one smokin' cartridge! I'm thinking at those velocities, as mentioned, my main safety issue would be bullet integrity. What happens if you push a plated bullet too fast and it peels/sheds/shreds the plating? Is it a dangerous situation or simply bad for accuracy/performance? Anyone with experience in this regard?

I changed my mind tonight and loaded up a bunch of 9mm. I'll continue to think on this... maybe have something worked up before the weekend. Thanks for the replies and sugggestions!