Seating depth .38 Spcl.

[buggybuilder]

I have a .38 Spcl S&W and have acquired a wad-cutter mould. Are wadcutters suppose to be loaded even with the case mouth or loaded longer as a regular reload? Non of my manuals address waddcutters. Thanks for any help.

[Larry Gibson]

Some do seat that way, some don't....what mould?

Larry Gibson

[bangerjim]

Yes, as Larry sez, we need your mold model.

I have some 38WC's that stick out (have a crimp groove) and some that go all the way in.

They will all shoot in my 38 revolvers but will NOT cycle in my lever action rifle.

Let us know.

banger

[buggybuilder]

I am casting with an Ideal mould 152 gr. #358495

[Le Loup Solitaire]

Wadcutter molds in the 38 special an be loaded using the crimp (groove) so that a short portion of the bullet is outside the case mouth, or the bullet can be seated flush with the case mouth. If you use the latter mode you might have to reduce the charge a bit as the deeper seat will diminish the air space and raise the pressure a bit and change the performance of the loaded round. Not a critical issue, but does have an effect on the grouping/accuracy. If one uses a S&W Model 52 then a seating of the bullet flush with the case mouth is a must. LLS

[uscra112]

And watch your cases if you seat deep. Some get thicker toward the bottom and will size down your boolit when you seat it. I've gone over to selecting only the cases with the proper cannelure for my wadcutter loads. Made a significant difference in my old Colt O.M.

[6bg6ga]

I have a Magma mold and it has a seat groove. I go to the groove. I don't expect they will feed correctly in a lever action because there isn't enough sticking out and secondly because the end is blunt instead of rounded like the SWC or RN bullet.

[Wayne Smith]

Buggybuilder, I have a 147gr mold and a 160gr mold. The first I load even with the case mouth, the second I load exposed. It is a boolit length in the case issue.

[Larry Gibson]

I am casting with an Ideal mould 152 gr. #358495

Seat to the crimp groove and use a very mild roll crimp. If using light target loads a taper crimp is mort desirable. Shot lots of those as the LE agency I worked for had a 4 cavity mould for them. It is a good bullet for 38 SPL target loads. I used the standard 2.7 gr Bullseye load.

Larry Gibson