Load for S&W airweight

[Rex]

Any recommendations for a practice load for a S&W 638 airweight?
Thanks a Million,
Rex

[Casting Timmy]

148gr wad cutter with the starting grains for 231. That's what I use when I shot 38.

[Dale53]

My carry gun is a 642. I shoot H&G Dbl Ended W/C's (not all that different from most 148 gr w/c's) ahead of 3.5 grs of Bullseye for practice. I carry the FBI load (Federal in my case) for "business" use.

I cast my own w/c's, and seat them sprue out, taper crimping on the back end of the first band. Sprue out guarantees perfect bases (this is also my Bullseye load for revolvers) and seating a band out of the case helps to line up the front of the cartridge with the cylinder throat.

I load these in volume, so I ALWAYS have practice loads on hand.

FWIW
Dale53

[dualsport]

You're saying you load the WCs in backwards? Or am I misunderstanding that?

[ghh3rd]

148 gr wadcutter with 2.7 gr Bullseye. Good for point of aim at 10 yards, and very accurate in my S&W 642. I have been told that this is the 'standard' load for 148gr .38 wadcutters, and I've been very satisfied with it.

Randy

[Dale53]

dualsport;
I use the H&G #251 double ended wadcutter (they are the same on either end). By seating them "backwards" with the sprue end showing, I get perfect "bases". It is a bit "ugly" but they maximize the accuracy potential.

Dale53

[dubber123]

148 gr wadcutter with 2.7 gr Bullseye. Good for point of aim at 10 yards, and very accurate in my S&W 642. I have been told that this is the 'standard' load for 148gr .38 wadcutters, and I've been very satisfied with it.

Randy

I tried a cylinder full in my Mod. 60 that had been rattling around in the car for a year or so. Very similar, but I believe mine were 2.8 grains of Bullseye. I was surprised they shot right to the sights in my gun, and very mild. Good for practice.

[jdgabbard]

Try 4.2g of Unique under a 158g SWC... I like the Lee TL version, but I'd also take the 358477 any day...

[Rex]

Thanks guys. I have never fooled with an aloy frame revolver before and they worry me a little.
Rex

[Recluse]

I bought the Lee .358 105SWC mould--and it's turned out to be one of my favorite all-time boolits as versatile as it is.

For my wife's AW 38, I load up the 105SWC boolits in front of 2.8 grains of Bullseye pushed by a standard Winchester small pistol primer.

This gives her a round she can run two or three cylinders through with without fearing of loosening up the gun.

[helice]

My help probably wont be help but ---. I shoot a 150 grain LBT Ogival Wadcutter in a Model 85 Taurus over the lightest load recommended for 231 W. I realize that I am in agreement with Casting Timmy here but in my opinion that powder is very clean. I think you'll like it if you give it a try.