38/200 for Webley

[DonMountain]

I have a couple of Webley's chambered in 38/200 S&W. Not having a mold for these since they are larger in size (0.361") than the nominal size for 38 special and 357 Mag., I chose to purchase a few boolets from Matts Bullets in Arkansas to try out. The MKI boolet I tried can be seen here: http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=308
He also has a 38/200 boolet a little bit different and shown as the MKII boolet: http://www.mattsbullets.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=72&products_id=283
Has anybody tried both of these to see what different results you would get? And if so, purchased a mold to copy that boolet? I am thinking I am going to try to find a mold and purchase a proper sizer for my LAM-II to start making my own, but can't decide which one might be the best. Although I guess I could order a box of each and try them. But I was wondering what others might have tried. Right now I am shooting the MK I 38/200 boolet from Matts Bullets in R-P cases using CCI 400 small rifle primers and 2.5 grains of Unique powder with pretty good range and accuracy.

[Outpost75]

You need to determine for sure which bullet weight your revolver is targeted with. In my Webley Mark 4 the 200-grain bullets shoot high and I stayed with the Accurate 36-155D bullet. Accurate also makes a 178-grain rounded flatnose bullet which matches the weight of WW2-era Mark 2 ammunition, but with a more blunt bullet shape, as well as a 193-grain version.

172873172874172875172876172877

[Bigslug]

Looks like Matts is using the NOE molds: http://noebulletmolds.com/NV/index.php?cPath=38&osCsid=da7kjck0nog37gq4hu74o3tq56

If you're looking for max authenticity, the blunter nose is the way to go.

I ended up with the more conical 200 grainer which came out earlier. It shoots to point of aim in my MKIV, so I don't see much reason to branch out. I'd suggest you check your sights against the available store-boughts like Outpost says, and choose your weight accordingly.

I would also suggest - at least if you aren't after historically-correct slugs - that you go with one of the flat nosed options in the desired weight. Target disruption ain't much with the RNs at those speeds.

[DonMountain]

You need to determine for sure which bullet weight your revolver is targeted with. In my Webley Mark 4 the 200-grain bullets shoot high and I stayed with the Accurate 36-155D bullet. Accurate also makes a 178-grain rounded flatnose bullet which matches the weight of WW2-era Mark 2 ammunition, but with a more blunt bullet shape, as well as a 193-grain version.

172873172874172875172876172877

One of mine shooting the MK-I 38/200 grain boolet from Matts with 2.5 grains of Unique hits spot-on with this load at about 15 yards. So, I think the 200 grain boolet is correct. I tried 158 grain boolets and the sites made it hard to even find the target. I can't remember if they went way over the target or way under now since I did it several years ago. But the 200 grain boolets are right on the sites and I got a pretty good group with them also.

[Oyeboten]

Ahhhh...

.361 Diameter Bullet then, for the old Webleys.

Would this tend to hold true for the Colt and S & W Revolvers ( solid Frame Models ) in 38/200 as well?

[Outpost75]

Ahhhh...

.361 Diameter Bullet then, for the old Webleys.

Would this tend to hold true for the Colt and S & W Revolvers ( solid Frame Models ) in 38/200 as well?

My Colt Police Positive in .38 Colt New Police has .359" cylinder throats and .354" barrel groove diameter. I shoot Accurate 36-155D which drops from the mold in Roto Metals 1:40 tin-lead alloy at .359

[Oyeboten]

My Colt Police Positive in .38 Colt New Police has .359" cylinder throats and .354" barrel groove diameter. I shoot Accurate 36-155D which drops from the mold in Roto Metals 1:40 tin-lead alloy at .359


That's a little bit of a squeeze down then.

I wonder if there was any difference Cylinder Bore and Barrel Bore, between the various S & W and Colt Revolvers of normal produciton, vis a vie, those which were made for the UK for the .38/200 as such, for use in the 1939 to 1945 War.

I have a nice Police Positive in .38 New Police ( circa 1907 though, so, long before WWII )...I will go measure it, see what it has.

[9.3X62AL]

I have a Colt Police Positive x 4" in 38 New Police/S&W, throats run .359" and grooves are about .356"-.3565". It gets Lyman #358477 @ .359" and 3.0 grains of Unique for about 725 FPS and hit where the sights look at 25 yards. A few jackrabbits have learned to their permanent chagrin that these loads hit at 40-65 yards and turn them into Purina Coyote Bait quite well.

My Webley-Enfield has throats at .362"-.363", my S&W M&P Lend Lease return has throats at .363". These get NEI #169A (close look-alike to the second of Matt's Bullets the OP listed), and 3.3 grains of Herco gives 675 FPS. These hit where the sights look at 25 yards, bullet weight in WW metal is 202 grains. Curiously, NEI #169A is longer at .810" than the case it fits into (.775").

I don't run the 202 grainers through the Colt PP.