38 S&W Webley IV and HBWC

[mj2evans]

OK, I have a Webley IV 38 S&W coming and want to shoot it. Don't have a proper mold for it yet (getting in on group buy) but have ordered dies, brass, and Speer 148gr HBWC to shoot for now. My question is seating the bullet - should I seat flush at the case mouth and crimp over it? Load I found was 2.2 to 2.6gr of W231 (2.6 seems a little much). Also read 2.0gr of Bullseye. Anyone got a recommendation for Blue Dot or Unique?

[klcarroll]

The hollow base of the HBWC will "upset" nicely to fill the Webley's "oversize" throats and bore.

I always seated that boolit with at least 30% exposed. (Some of the newer .38 S&W brass can give you trouble with internal clearances.)

With the HBWC, I would recomend staying with the loads that are in the "2.0 Bullseye" catagory.

For more of a "service load", a 158 grain SWC on top of 2.8 grains of Unique will generally give you a solid 750 fps load.

The military duplication load is a 200 grain RNL on top of 2.8 grains of Unique. This load strolls along at 630 fps.

.....And as "leisurely" as these loads may seem, ......I have yet to find anyone willing to hold targets!

Kent

[9.3X62AL]

The Webley revolvers are rather strong examples in this caliber. I had good results using Hornady 148 HBWC loaded to the same OAL as a 38 Special flush-seated wadcutter--1.150". Powder weight was the same as the 38 WC, 2.7 grains of Bullseye or 3.0 grains of WW-231 for about 775 fps.

[Combat Diver]

I haven't reloaded for this round in decades. Just remember the Webely has a very short cylinder. I also had a Mk IV in Germany during the late 80s and would reload it using 158 gr SWC and 125 JSPs with some French BA powders. Still a common gun I used to find in Iraq.

http://www.hunt101.com/data/500/medium/P3200176_British_revolvers_rz.JPG

Enfield No2 Mk1 in .380/200 British (.38 S&W) made in 1932
Nickled Webley MkIV in .380/200 British
Webley MkVI in .455 Webley made in 1923

CD

[rond]

http://www.missouribullet.com/results.php?category=5&secondary=29

I haven't loaded any of these yet but have had good results with some of their other bullets.