Made a mistake loading some .38 spcl's -

[randy_68]

It was late and I should have known better but I wanted to load up a few .38's to try out. I had a couple of loads written down for 148 cast wc and 158 cast swc using Red Dot powder. The 148's show using 2.0-2.5 gr and the 158's show 2.8-3.1. Well I finishing flaring the cases and set up my scale for 3.0 grains and started loading some up. I loaded up 17 rounds before I realized I put the 148wc on top of 3.0 grains. It is almost impossible to pull these so I'm not sure if if should shoot them or not. What do you more experienced guys think?

[RickinTN]

From the data you've shown you are over charged. I wouldn't shoot them. From my experience the pressures increase quite a bit with wad cutters and your data reflects such. I think they could be pulled with an inertia bullet puller, and understand why they couldn't with a collet type puller.
Good Luck,
Rick

[1500FPS]

Alliant shows 3.0 grains of Red Dot with a Speer HBWC. As you know that is a hollow base wadcutter. With the Speer 158 grain LSWC it shows 3.4 grains. Now here's the catch. It sounds like from you post that your wadcutter is a solid base. That means there is less case volume then even the hollow base wadcutter. The 158 grain SWC isn't seated as deep as the wadcutters. If it is a good condition strong revolver I would shoot just one and examine the case and primer and see if it shows any high pressure signs. If not shoot them up and next time be more careful.

[Hamish]

Listed as 3.0 for 148 HBWC, Alliant.

IIRC, Lyman shows a load listed at 3.5gr RD.

YMMV, do a Bing search.

[obssd1958]

Pull 'em - don't shoot 'em. Don't play around with what is by all accounts, an overcharge. If you want to save the brass and you can't get them out with an inertia puller, you may have to get creative - (disclaimer: I haven't tried this, I just came up with it while sitting here...) like drilling a small hole in the boolit, then using a sheetrock screw run into the boolit just far enough to get a good purchase. Put the cartridge in the shell holder in the press, with no die in, raise it up to where you can grab the top of the screw with a pair of pliers or side cutters, lower the ram, and the boolit should pop out... at least it sounds like it should work...

Don

[oso]

Ready for a critical question? What is the C.O.L. of those wad cutter loads? I ask in case you were set up to seat 158 gr SWC at 1.42" It seems to me that 148 gr WC @ 1.42" COL would take up less case volume than 158 gr SWC @ 1.42" COL and have lower pressure IFF it would chamber without telescoping shorter.

[HATCH]

according to my RCBS cast bullet manual # 1


148 gr button head WC
red dot = 4.3 grains 960 fps max ~~~~~~~~~~~ starting load is 3.8 grains 843 fps

they don't have a listing for red dot using the 140 flush wc but they show the same data for 700x for both boolits

I guess it depends on what gun you are shooting them. If its a j-frame then pull em. If its a N-frame then they are fine.
You need to get a kinetic energy puller.

[dbosman]

I'll be a bit contrary. If you have a solid modern .357 mag, I'd shoot one and decide on the rest. I would not do that in a .38 special gun.

The more correct answer though, is to toss them, after you gently crush the middle of the case with pliers. So no one else is tempted.

[Larry Gibson]

Go ahead and shoot them....3 gr of RD is not an "overcharge" for either a cast 148 WC or a 158 SWC. The loads you see are predicated on the use of soft swaged lead WCs. A "max" load in manuals does not necessarily mean the load is at max psi. There are other reasons for a "max" load listed and this is one of them.

Lyman #4 CBH lists 3.2 gr RD as "max" for the 150 gr WC and the #3 CBH lists 4.1 gr as max. I'd just shoot them....you may find them to shoot quite well. I've shot a lot of 150 - 158 cast over 3.5 gr RD in 38 SPLs with excellent accuracy and completely safe psi's.

Larry Gibson

[Nickle]

I also say shoot them. Worst possible scenario is you might have to clean leading out of the bore after. If they are hard enough to not lead, they might be accurate.

[repawn]

I have pulled lots of boolits - particularly after late night reloading. My rule of thumb is if I feel the slightest bit funny about a batch I pull them - conveniently I still have both thumbs :)

I would pull them.

[Hardcast416taylor]

Using the Red Dot I got back in 1965 3.0 gr. was the load I used for many K`s of Lyman #358495 button nosed solid based WC bullets cast from straight WW alloy. Robert

[MT Gianni]

If you are using a modern gun I would shoot them. Pre WW1 break action 38 I would get rid of them.

[randy_68]

Thanks for all the fast replies.
Here is some more info --They are the solid base std 148 gr button nose wadcutter from a Lyman mold sized to .358 and lubed with 45/45/10. I set up my press for these but looked at the wrong load charge on my paper. I intended to load these over 2.5 gr. Also I did put a slight crimp on them that's why I thought they may be too hard to pull. It was too late last nite to start banging around and piss the wife off. Plus I was already mad so I just went to bed. I have a S&W 686 5" revolver that I was going to shoot them in and maybe my Marlin 1894 .357.
I thought about just shooting one tonight and see how it looks but it seems there is a lot of mixed views on Red Dot. I used it in my .45 acp with good luck and have a couple pounds to use up so I thought I would try it in some .38's
I may just go in the garage and bang away and get them pulled and be done with it.
Lesson learned---DON'T reload when you're tired!!!
'

[Larry Gibson]

I have a S&W 686 5" revolver

Your loads should not pose any problems.

Larry Gibson

[MT Gianni]

3 gr Red Dot may put the pressures up around 15-17K and velocities near 800 fps.