.38 special wadcutter loads

[BehindBlueI's]

148 gr lead wadcutters loaded in mixed brass .38.
Winchester SPP
1.175 OAL




6 shots
4" Match Champion:
CFE - 3.9 gr


804
843
808
819
809
849




Acc #5 - 3.9 gr


703
672
689
689
731
705




Titegroup - 3.2 gr


902
933
888
881
861
866




2" Detective Special




CFE - 3.9 gr


665
670
735
688
717
685


Acc #5 - 3.9 gr


626
602
558
603
619
591


Titegroup - 3.2 gr


840
800
735
783
799
809


2" LCR




CFE - 3.9 gr


Not tested (didn't load enough to test in all 3 guns)


Acc #5 - 3.9 gr


609
594
643
625
620


Titegroup - 3.2 gr


808
810
802
807
810


WOW consistency in gun and ammo on that one.


Comparison - factory PDX-1 .38+P load in LCR, approximately 1 year old carry ammo:
953
857
880
864
894




Observations:
CFE was the least smoky and was the middle for recoil.


Acc #5 was lowest recoil and middle for smoke.


Titegroup was heaviest recoil and most smoke.


All loads were accurate enough and deviations were well within my range of personal error. I found the CFE quite easy to shoot well and the Titegroup was easier in the Rugers than the Colt.


Here's the CFE load out of the Match Champion:

The top two shots were covering the black dot with the fiber optic. I then covered the black dot with the top of the front sight blade and shot the remaining four. I'm pretty happy with that performance.


The circled ones are the same load with the Detective Special

I blame me for the hitting high. I really need to paint the front sight on the DS as I'm not getting the front sight level with the rear sight, it's a bit high once I really see it.

 

[VERT]

I love me some 148 grain Wadcutters! My current load is the plated Xtremes over 3.7 grains of HP-38

 

[Cynical]

Nice groups and data. I finally talked my fourteen year old daughter into shooting Thursday night steel with me and the CFE seems encouraging. I've been loading cream puffs with unique but didn't know data existed for lead and CFE . Will give it a try out of my 15 and 19 and see what happens.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Nice groups and data. I finally talked my fourteen year old daughter into shooting Thursday night steel with me and the CFE seems encouraging. I've been loading cream puffs with unique but didn't know data existed for lead and CFE . Will give it a try out of my 15 and 19 and see what happens.

Yeah, it's on their web site. 3.5gr starting load. 3.9gr max. Winchester spp. 1.160" cartridge length.

 

[Leadeye]

Good data, I'll try those in the Colt Officers model.

 

[BehindBlueI's]

I love me some 148 grain Wadcutters! My current load is the plated Xtremes over 3.7 grains of HP-38

I ordered lead during the 20% sale. I think I'm going to try the coated ones next go round. These shoot real nice, but they sure make the gun dirty. Plus the smoke is going to be a bit much for indoor range use.

 

[CCC]

I have been loading wadcutters in .357. Really like them, thanks for sharing your info.

I can confirm your thoughts of Titegroup. I find it to have a snappy recoil in 9mm. And lead bullets do not work well with this powder for me.