Any wheelgun fans?

[broncman]

I know this is a rifle forum, but figured I would ask anyway....

I have been playing some with a premodel 27 S&W in 357 Magnum. Anyone shoot wadcutters care to share their info? I have a bunch of 148 DEWC and a bunch of 38 SPCL cases. Loaded up some with Unique and they are a blast to shoot. No rest, I am getting about 2" groups standing at 25 yards.

Does accuracy suffer much when shooting 38 SPCL in a 357 Magnum chamber?
These are just low velocity target loads that are so fun to shoot!

 

[Lapua40X]

I carried a .357 duty weapon for many years but practiced primarily with Western Super Match Mid-Range .38 Sp. ammo, burning up just enough .357 ammo to maintain proficiency with that much power.
http://www.armslist.com/posts/1053760/oklahoma-city-oklahoma-ammo-for-sale--vintage-western-super-match--38-wadcutter-
I also used that same ammo in PPC competitions so I can verify it's accuracy out to 50 yards; with a couple of trophies to back that up.
The only issue I experienced with the .38 wad cutters was that the cylinder chambers would tend to load up with lead fouling over time and all that needed to be cleaned VERY thoroughly to prevent the .357 cases from sticking in the chambers, making them difficult to eject. I didn't find any more lead in the forcing cone using .38 WC ammo than I did using the .357 Semi WC and, of course, ball .38 Spc. or jacketed .357 ammo all but eliminates that issue altogether.

 

[broncman]

Any EASY way to remove lead ;D

Barrel seems clean, forcing cone and cylinder face show grey splash.

I have a box of that very same ammo in my cartridge collection! Cant shoot it of course..

 

[jonbearman]

Besides 22lr the 38special loadings are a riot.I use a mildly modified model 10 with a bomar rib.It is real accurate out to 50 yds and beyond.I use unique,bullseye,and other powders to just enjoy plinking/ Now that you mentioned this it is time to start loading for it. I also have a colt gold cup conversion in 38 special,it is too much fun.

 

[MrMajestic]

Any EASY way to remove lead ;D

http://choreboyscrubbers.com/en/Products/Ultimate_Scrubbers_Pure_Copper.aspx

 

[357Mag]

Bronc -

Howdy !

Oh yeh... wheel gun all-the-way.

First serious carry gun = 6" M-28.

Then.... on to use of the incomparable 5" M-27.

Last 25+ yr = fixed-sight M-520 w/ custom 4" HB. combat trigger, partial cut-away right side of trigger guard, bobbed hammer,
external metal manganese phosphate coated; Herretts' " Jordan Trooper " Goncalo Alves stocks.

I myself don't shoot full wad cutters and/ or .38Spl grade loads in my .357 Magnum " N"-frame.

For a good time:
14.5gr WW296 ( H110 same stuff ) SP Mag primer under any Lyman .357" cal SWC of 158 - 172gr.

Oh yeh !!


With regards,
357Mag

 

[DCRYDER]

I used to be a 1911 fan but have converted. I have 2 s&w model 686's now. Both are 6", one is a 6 shot the other is a 7 shot Talo.

I shoot a lot of the Speer 148gr HBWC and 2.8gr of Bullseye. I giggle every time I squeeze the trigger!!!

I'm gonna heat it up a little for some silhouette shooting this year. I sold my 8-3/8" model 629 to finance my skeet fetish.

 

[jonbearman]

MrMajestic,would you care to educate us on how you use the choreboy copper scrubbers in a revolver cylinder please.

 

[jr600yd]

Yeah, those were the days. I carried a 6" S/W 28 for over 20 years. Still have it. Your right gotta start loading for it again. I forgot how much fun it is to shoot. Removing lead on the face of the cylinder isn't hard. Use a pencil eraser.

 

[Steve Ladino]

I found that accuracy with speer 148 grain hbwc was excellent in my six inch 586 with 2.7 bullseye out to 50 yds. I used that .357 with .38 special brass for club PPC competition and did pretty good shootin the hbwc, I wouldn't change a thing. Bullseye has changed since then and you may need a couple 10ths. more now.

 

[LCazador]

Just like any rifle chamber, when you lengthen that gap between the end of the cartridge case and the beginning of the lands accuracy will suffer to some extent, IMHO. Besides creating additional lead and powder fouling in the cylinder and forcing cone, a 38 Special in a 357 chamber allows more powder gases to escape and can lead to inconsistent velocities. Some may find accuracy acceptable, while others may not. One reason it may shoot better is that small powder charges fit the smaller capacity 38 Spec. case better. In my hay day, I always shot 700 or 800X which gave better case volume and more consistent velocity.

 

[jonbearman]

I know this is alittle off subject but I have a model 16 in 32H&R Mag and tried shootng 32s&w in it .It ended up being sooty with the shorter brass ,so I bought more 32 h&r brass and loaded my lead in them.By the way the full house loads in this gun equal the 38 special in power and performance.

 

[watercam]

Before MrMajestic brought up the ChoreBoy idea I would have mentioned the brass patch/rod kit specifically for lead removal from pistol barrels. Check with Midway and the like they are common and work well. But the Brass Chore Boy certainly seems like it would work.
MrMajestic?

 

[broncman]

Lewis lead remover is the tool for lead removal. Still a pain.... I use the copper chore boy as well. Tear of a couple strands and wrap the copper brushes with and they do work good on a drill and a rod for cylinder bores.

I was being facetious and hoped someone had a less time consuming method!.

I have shot a lot of lead in my 45's but just getting started in the wheel gun. On my second box of 500 DEWC. loaded some in 357 but the 38's are a lot more fun for some reason....

Crazy me is thinking a short barreld 357/38 rifle now!

I did look at a Ruger 77/357 bolt action.... Heck , my 38 loads right now are cheaper than 22LR!

 

[bheadboy]

uh huh!!

first was k22 at 12 birthday,
then 4" 19, - used 38 brass, lyman 148 dewc and 2.7 bull, cleaned lead out of force cone often,

then 45lc colt sa 6 " used 240 Hensley Gibbs keith style, 7.5 gr uniq or 16 gr 2400, took first deer with pistol with this load,

lots of 44 sspcl, 44ms using h/G cast 240 and 17gr #9 great load very accurate.

686 smith 6 1/2" cast 429421 lyman and 8.6 gr uniq, great load
45 acp, and lots of ipsc shooting cast 200 h/g kieth style, at 900fps.
bob

 

[Bindi2]

I know this is a rifle forum, but figured I would ask anyway....

I have been playing some with a premodel 27 S&W in 357 Magnum. Anyone shoot wadcutters care to share their info? I have a bunch of 148 DEWC and a bunch of 38 SPCL cases. Loaded up some with Unique and they are a blast to shoot. No rest, I am getting about 2" groups standing at 25 yards.

Does accuracy suffer much when shooting 38 SPCL in a 357 Magnum chamber?
These are just low velocity target loads that are so fun to shoot!

I started in the early 70s with a model 19 using wadcuttes in 38spl brass in fact i have almost only ever use 38spl brass even in my 586 and 686s.Find a load that is accurate then play with a taper crimp die to tighen it up. I also use 138gn button nose wadcutters with a velocity 900fps to 940fps for action match power factor. The only issues i have ever had was when the powder manufacturer changed their powder without telling any body and we were melting the *** out of the projectiles fully leading barrells in less than 40 rounds couldnt finish a match of 48 rounds.
38spl in 357mag in AUSSIE is a fairly standard practice in pistol shooting.
Poof pills a load for 25yd matches is 90/100 gn dewc down inside the case with just enough powder to make 25yds and go through the target. Now that is a hoot 6 shots in 4 seconds hands from shoulder height no recoil that is none at all

 

[MrMajestic]

Jon, Cut a section from the Copper Chore Boy and wrap it around a copper brush to make a tight fit and push it through the cylinder or bore. Strips the lead way quick and easy. The old timers would fill the bore with Mercury to remove lead and although it works very well somebody figured out that playing with Mercury wasn't really healthy!

 

[Outrider27]

We've accumulated a bunch of wheel guns over the years, and like them all. The favorite is still the 6" blued Colt Python .357 mag I bought in 1970. We've put a gazillion 148 grain wadcutters in front of 2.7 grains of Bullseye in various headstamp GI 38 special brass through it, but mostly use .357 mag brass now just because we're lazier about cleaning the cylinder than we were in our youth. The Chief Gunners Mate at the Navy range I used then gave me a little over half a brown paper shopping bag full of once fired GI 38 special brass and I won't wear it all out in my lifetime with those mild loads, lol. He did me the same favor with GI headstamp .45 ACP brass, too. Bless you Chief, wherever you are.

We'll pass that Python on to one of my grandchildren.

 

[watercam]

Ahhh! Humor! That's a different category....

 

[K22]

Been shooting wheel guns since the 60's. My all time favorite is the Model 17, Smith and Wesson, 22 long rifle in 6" barrel. I've shot bullseye competition with it (qualified distinguished expert), hunter pistol silouette (qualified AAA), and used for small game hunting. I have over 100,000 rounds through mine and it still shoots better than I can. Best pistol I've ever own and I've own a bunch.

As far as centerfire, I've shot and loaded the 44 magnum, 357 magnum, and 38 special. My favorite target pistol is the Model 14, S&W, 38 special in 6" barrel. My favorite carry gun is the Model 19, S&W, 4" barrel loaded with 38+P's in 125 grain XTP's and my favorite heavy duty pistol is the Model 586, S&W, in 6" barrel loaded with 140 grain XTP with 2400 powder. For big game hunting the S&W Model 29, 44 magnum in 240 grain soft points with 2400 powder is the excellent.

If you're looking for the ultimate target load in 38 special, the 148 grain swaged hollow base wadcutter behind either bullseye or 231 in a 38 special case is the way to go. Loaded at target velocities, i.e. 750 to 800 ft/sec., it is capbale of X ring accuracy at 50 yards and it will not lead your barrel. I shot the S&W Model 14, 6" barrel 38 special for many years in competition and it is capable of such accuracy. I did use special custom grips with a recoil horn to control the pistol in time and rapid fire.

I've not noticed a significant drop off in accuracy shooting 38 special reloads in a 357 chamber but would not recommend this for bullseye shooting but who shoot a revolver in bullseye anymore; probably no one.

For high terminal performance, the Hornady XTP's are very good especially when loaded to 357 magnum velocity with 2400 powder.

Another excellent bullet for general shooting and target practice is the Oregon Trail Laser Cast bullets. Very accurate and will not significantly lead the barrel when loaded to moderate velocities.

Hope this is helpful.