Your Accurate Loads for Lyman 358432?

[PBSmith]

I recently started casting for this heavy 38/357 wadcutter that has received so much praise here and elsewhere for its accuracy potential.

I'll be trying these first in a Colt Officers Model Match .38 Special revolver and would like to learn what others have found to be accurate in their wheelguns of that caliber.

Is this projectile found to be most accurate at slower speeds or up near the max?.

My powder supply includes the old favorites as well as AA@2Improved and Titegroup,

Thanks,
PBSmith

[rintinglen]

I have the 160 grain version and have found nothing better than 3.5 grains of Bullseye. I would expect a load of identical weight in Red Dot or Titegroup to perform about the same. Crimp in the crimp groove and you'll be just about right. 4.0 grain of WW-231 is also very accurate.

[tazman]

I agree with the 3.5 of Bullseye. My revolvers love it.

[PBSmith]

Thanks, lads. I should have said that I have the 160-grain model of this mold. I'll stoke up a few with the powders mentioned.

Sized and lubed a batch over the weekend, applying the old NRA 50/50 to just one groove. Is that going to be adequate lube for the loads suggested?

[tazman]

Thanks, lads. I should have said that I have the 160-grain model of this mold. I'll stoke up a few with the powders mentioned.

Sized and lubed a batch over the weekend, applying the old NRA 50/50 to just one groove. Is that going to be adequate lube for the loads suggested?

Yes. I tumble lubed the ones I have cast but the amount of lube I used really isn't necessary. That NRA 50/50 is what I use for most of my lubrisizer boolits.

[PBSmith]

Good morning Taz,
Thanks for that information. I'll probably try tumble on these as well to see if if makes a difference. I wish Col. Harrison were still around to make the kinds of studies he did decades ago.

You mention that the amount of lube you used really isn't necessary. Did you TL more than one application?

[MT Gianni]

I find most wadcutters work best with traditional lube in only one groove.

[tazman]

Good morning Taz,
Thanks for that information. I'll probably try tumble on these as well to see if if makes a difference. I wish Col. Harrison were still around to make the kinds of studies he did decades ago.

You mention that the amount of lube you used really isn't necessary. Did you TL more than one application?

No. I only do a single tumble lube but I do it rather heavily. I probably get too much on any of them that I tumble.
I use the White Label Xlox.

[gwpercle]

That is one of my favorite accuracy boolits in 38 Special. I have the 160 gr. version also . I haven't found any design that can do better . Here are some of my favorite starting with my all time #1 accuracy target load :

1.) 2.8 grains Bullseye (target load)
2.) 3.5 grains Bullseye = 792 fps
3.) 5.5 grains AA #5 = 850 fps
4.) 3.7 grains HP38 = 750 fps (target load)
5.) 3.8 grains Red Dot = 825 fps
6.) 3.2 grains Titegroup = 815 fps
7.) 3.0 grains 700X = 795 fps.

All boolits sized .357 or .358 and conventional lubricated with Lithi-Bee lube , I fill all the grooves on this one .

My next test will be with AA #2 , but the above loads have all proved accurate .
Hope this helps ,
Gary

[PBSmith]

I find most wadcutters work best with traditional lube in only one groove.

That;s what I remembered from the old Col. Harrison work he reported in the NRA reloading manual. MT, you said 'most wadcutters." Have you found exceptions to this practice of lubing only one groove?

[PBSmith]

That is one of my favorite accuracy boolits in 38 Special. I have the 160 gr. version also . I haven't found any design that can do better . Here are some of my favorite starting with my all time #1 accuracy target load :

1.) 2.8 grains Bullseye (target load)
2.) 3.5 grains Bullseye = 792 fps
3.) 5.5 grains AA #5 = 850 fps
4.) 3.7 grains HP38 = 750 fps (target load)
5.) 3.8 grains Red Dot = 825 fps
6.) 3.2 grains Titegroup = 815 fps
7.) 3.0 grains 700X = 795 fps.

All boolits sized .357 or .358 and conventional lubricated with Lithi-Bee lube , I fill all the grooves on this one .

My next test will be with AA #2 , but the above loads have all proved accurate .
Hope this helps ,
Gary

Thanks Gary. Yes, your post certainly helps. It will probably occupy a major part of my reloading and shooting time for the remainder of the winter and into next spring. Looking forward to this project and appreciate your sharing of experience.

Did you settle on Lithi-Bee after shooting trials with other lubes, or was LB the lube you happened to start with?