Polymath
03-18-2023, 01:52 PM
Hi Guys.
I've been stewing about this for a couple days and I'm stuck.
I have a project ongoing. Loading 38 S&W in a mark 4 Webley. 4" barrel.
I have cast up some very nice looking Lee 160 gr L2 boolets (the mold throws them at .360 dia) and diluted Alox lube.
I am getting the odd boolets going sideways through the paper. I got 2 on the first string and and on the second string. The ones that go straight are within 4 to 5" spread. It is shooting 6" high at 50 ft.
The charge is 2.2 gr of W231. I checked the case for fill level and it's fine. Just a bit under the base of the bullet. No compression loads.
I belled the mouth enough for a good entry to start the boolet. I hand weighed every charge, used a normal crimp. I am using a magnum primer as I usually do in my 38 SPL. (never see that much difference in my POA on paper.)
New, full sized Starline Brass. I plunk tested every cartridge. Wiped the cartridge when done.
The load sounds and feels normal with no signs of over pressure on the primers or sticking of the the case. The revolver is a tight lock up and functions as normal. Monster double action as per usual, smooth and silky single action. There was some dirty stuff in the barrel after a few strings but normal for starting loads. Brass looked as clean as normal. No smoking the outside of the case, so there was a good seal to cylinder.
I checked for a burr on the crown, nothing, barrel looks like the day it was made. I checked the diameter of the cylinders and only 1 was about a half of 1 thou different. Might be how I measured it too, but nothing out of spec.
I slugged the barrel and it was within specs. Nice sharp lands.
This morning I rechecked the bullets and they are still .360 or within a half a thou.
When I think about keyholing, I check all these things, but if it was a rifle I would say it is a twist issue. Too heavy a bullet for twist. Which means the bullet doesn't stabilize. But these revolvers were designed for weights between 145 (factory) to 200 grs. I can't see that being the issue.
Any of you got any ideas? What is the normal POA for these guns?
I've been stewing about this for a couple days and I'm stuck.
I have a project ongoing. Loading 38 S&W in a mark 4 Webley. 4" barrel.
I have cast up some very nice looking Lee 160 gr L2 boolets (the mold throws them at .360 dia) and diluted Alox lube.
I am getting the odd boolets going sideways through the paper. I got 2 on the first string and and on the second string. The ones that go straight are within 4 to 5" spread. It is shooting 6" high at 50 ft.
The charge is 2.2 gr of W231. I checked the case for fill level and it's fine. Just a bit under the base of the bullet. No compression loads.
I belled the mouth enough for a good entry to start the boolet. I hand weighed every charge, used a normal crimp. I am using a magnum primer as I usually do in my 38 SPL. (never see that much difference in my POA on paper.)
New, full sized Starline Brass. I plunk tested every cartridge. Wiped the cartridge when done.
The load sounds and feels normal with no signs of over pressure on the primers or sticking of the the case. The revolver is a tight lock up and functions as normal. Monster double action as per usual, smooth and silky single action. There was some dirty stuff in the barrel after a few strings but normal for starting loads. Brass looked as clean as normal. No smoking the outside of the case, so there was a good seal to cylinder.
I checked for a burr on the crown, nothing, barrel looks like the day it was made. I checked the diameter of the cylinders and only 1 was about a half of 1 thou different. Might be how I measured it too, but nothing out of spec.
I slugged the barrel and it was within specs. Nice sharp lands.
This morning I rechecked the bullets and they are still .360 or within a half a thou.
When I think about keyholing, I check all these things, but if it was a rifle I would say it is a twist issue. Too heavy a bullet for twist. Which means the bullet doesn't stabilize. But these revolvers were designed for weights between 145 (factory) to 200 grs. I can't see that being the issue.
Any of you got any ideas? What is the normal POA for these guns?