"105 grain wadcutters..."

[exile]

I am unable to find any load data for 105 grain wadcutters. My plan is to load them with 3.5 grains of Unique, leaving a small portion of the boolit exposed at the end. Does anyone see any problems with that? Thanks.

exile

[dubber123]

I'd be more inclined towards using Bullseye. That 105 won't like to build much pressure, and you'll prolly get some unburned flakes. Plenty safe though.

[HORNET]

What cartridge?

[dubber123]

What cartridge?


;-) Yeah, I guess that should have been my first question.... I ASSumed .38 spl. Lets see....

[Wally]

Is this using the Lee 105 SWC in the .38 Caliber/Special--If so I can give you some stats..

[lwknight]

Sounds like a good plinker to me. No dangers involved anyway.
I think bullseye will burn cleaner.

[exile]

Sorry, I was not specific enough. These are 105 grain double-ended bevel base wadcutters, .38 special. I was trying to approximate from the information I found in my Lyman cast boolit manual. Someone gave me a few, so I thought I would try them in my 686. Thanks.

Wally, I will check my Lee manual for data for the 105 grain sem- wadcutter, maybe that will help too since I do not plan on seating these flush with the case mouth. Thanks.

exile

[jdgabbard]

Use bullseye. I think you'll be happier. Save the unique for the heavier boolits.

[exile]

Using Bullseye would 3.5 grains be appropriate? I will check my manuals again for approximation but I thought I would ask. Thanks.

exile

[deltaenterprizes]

3.5 gr Bullseye should be a sweet load for under 25 yds.

[exile]

Thanks, thats probably what I will go with then.

exile

[garandsrus]

Exile,

I shoot a bunch of the 105gr WC with 3.2 gr W231 for indoor PPC matches. I seat the boolit flush with the case. This is more powder than I use for a 148gr WC. I tried lower powder charges but they didn't shoot as accurately.

John

[exile]

Thanks. More great input.

exile

[mooman76]

I shoot it alot in 38 and 357. Good little accurate plinker.

[Buckshot]

............I was in on the Lee 6 cav GB for a 100gr DEWC and agree with the others that Bullseye would be the way to go, only because there isn't anything FASTER.

The first pistol I tried it in was a 6" bbl'd K38 and used Bullseye. I started with 2.0grs and increased charges by 2/10ths to 2.8grs with 10 rounds of each load for 50 rnds fired benched at 25 yards. They were cast of pure lead and were TL'd and shot 'As Cast' at .359". Loaded flush with the casemouth and the faint flare at the casemouth was turned 'just' in a bit.

The first load of 2.0grs was pretty darn poor. Poor as in random and about 5". Each succeeding load became better then the previous. The groups were becomeing round and drawing tighter and tighter together as the loads increased. The last (2.8gr) group was the best with 10 rnds @ 2" with a velocity of 834 fps, but the ES was 75 fps.

I then tried the exact same load in my M67 Smith with 4" bbl and the loads tracked the results with the K38 except the velocity was lower by an average of 60 fps. The M67's best was 2.42" for 10 rnds @ 2.8 grs. After 50 rounds through each revolver there wasn't the slightest sign of leading except a bit of flash in the forcing cone.

It would be interesting to see just how far only a primer would drive the little slug? I think casting some up with WW alloy and having more of an actual crimp would probably be beneficial. I also think that if you're going to be increasing loads by only 0.2 grns at a time that weighing each one would be the way to go.

...............Buckshot

[lwknight]

I had some hard cast 100 grain wadcutters that I sized to 357 for my 356 bore gp-100 and with 2.0 grains bullseye the velocity was fairly steady around 550 when the gun was freshly cleaned. Did not get real involved in accuracy check yet.

Buckshot, I'm pretty sure that a primer only would have just stuck the bullet in the barrel.

[exile]

Great input, Thanks. Maybe I will start with 2.8 grains. I still need to go down and check my manuals for Bullseye with 148 grain wadcutters for comparison, but I am too lazy this morning. I wonder why my manuals have no published load data for the 105 grain wadcutter (Lee, Lyman (2), Hornady, Speer). Seems like an omission to me. As always, I am grateful for the advice given here and for all of you guys. Have a safe and Merry Christmas.

exile