Alloy for soft 38spl wadcutter loads?

[Swede 45]

Today I traded in some scrap jackets from my range lead salvation project at the scrapyard..

Got 85lbs pure lead and about 7lbs of tin for it in the trade..
Now.. I shoot alot of wadcutters at low and moderate speeds.
My idea is to mix a dedicated WC alloy.
Would a 40 or 30:1 alloy be a good mix for 38spl WC´s ? Would prolly end up at 8-9 bhn?
I don´t have anything else to mix into this for hardness..

[btreanor]

I think anything soft would work fine for WC velocities, so this alloy sounds fine to me. The main thing to make sure of is a good fit of the boolit and a good loob.

[toallmy]

I cast with plumbers or coww for 38-357 ,9 and 45 auto not to concerned about the mix as long as good fill out some tin fixes it for me.I am not running them hard .but the 9 has been the problem child. The 38-357 are a fun to cast and shoot they just work with everything.

[Nocturnal Stumblebutt]

i get great results from 50/50 COWW and Pure Lead with 2% Tin for my wadcutter loads. I used to use straight COWW +2% and my groups tightened by an inch or so when I switched to a softer alloy.

[Char-Gar]

To directly answer your question 1-30 or 1-40 would do well for your purposes. These were standard alloys for such loads in years gone by.

[Swede 45]

Thanks guys.. of to the mixing pot then !! [smilie=s:

[Outpost75]

1:30 or 1:40 tin/lead is perfect for standard-pressure .38 Special loads.

The 1:30 will stand +P velocities and perform well as hunting alloy.

[40-82 hiker]

I use 19 parts SOFT SOWWs to 1 part tin (very nearly pure lead), with very good results with my Colt Trooper Mk III. I'm sure less tin will work, but I like the fill out I get in my mold with the higher tin content.

[jonp]

I tried 20,30 and 40:1 in both SW 14 and 15 with wc and swc. At the target velocity i was at i didnt notice that much difference but the 20:1 seemed a little better so i settled on that

[bangerjim]

I shoot anything soft-ish! And powder coat them. Not a problem!

banger

[Le Loup Solitaire]

I have always used wheel weights for my 38 special shooting. Sometimes add a touch of tin to keep them a bit sharper. My MV's are always on the low side anyway as I do a lot of target work. I use a lot of 700X especially in my M52. Never a problem with leading or any excess fouling. Lube is the old NRA 50/50 beeswax-alox. LLS

[Tenbender]

My 359 WC's are 9 BHN. Works for me with 2500 lube.