Question about a classic 38spl revolver load

[Lefty Trigger]

+1 to matching velocity to brinell.

2.8gr is working well with the Missouri bullet company 148 DEWC.

Seems to me that cast cast bullet loading techniques are getting lost. Diameter matters, velocity matters and both affect accuracy and leading. Needs enough pressure to obturate the bullet to barrel to make a seal, but not so much as to cause bullet remains to stay behind.

Personally, I too tried the 148 DEWC, but found a 158 SWC to be easier to load for with bullseye.

-Mac

Is this with Bullseye powder??

 

[Longtrain]

Way back in my LEO days, for practice, I used 2.8 Bullseye over the 148 WC, but had great accuracy with 3.2 grains of WW231 and the 148WC. Semi's weren't used by LEO in those days, mostly S&W model 19's. 38's for practice, 357's for duty.

 

[243Mendoza]

That model 52 is tough to compete against, our club president shoots one in our local league and it shoots damn good. I think there is only one other guy shooting revolver besides me and not tooting my own horn but I do really well with them against the modern semi-autos and I don't have to chase my brass....

What technique do you use for the rapid fire portion of the match?

 

[Lefty Trigger]

What technique do you use for the rapid fire portion of the match?

Well it aint pretty and is actually my weakest point but I run single action and try to keep on target as best as possible. Working on the timing to make use of all the time given.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Way back in my LEO days, for practice, I used 2.8 Bullseye over the 148 WC, but had great accuracy with 3.2 grains of WW231 and the 148WC. Semi's weren't used by LEO in those days, mostly S&W model 19's. 38's for practice, 357's for duty.

I'm getting ready to try 231 this weekend, tried loading Bullseye at 2.6 2.8 and 3.0 and all my velocities are coming in high between 825 and 1000fps. I'm thinking these bullets should be around 650-750fps.

 

[riflewoman]

In this image Hercules (Alliant) lists 2.6 gr Bullseye as giving 775. This is probably from a 6 inch barrel. This is 1987 data but so far as I know still seems to be valid. At 20 fps per 0.1 gr, a 2.7 gr charge would be 800 fps or so.

http://castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Alliant/Hercules_1987.pdf

 

[powderbrake]

148 Gr Hollow Base Wadcutter over 2.9 gr Bullseye works in both my Model 52 and my Model 28.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

After trying several powders and several loads for each it looks like Titegroup is the winner. I ran Win 231, Bullseye, AA#2 and Titegroup and Titegroup ended up with the... tightest group. I'm shooting a Smith Performance Center 686 5 inch and 2.6gr of Titegroup netted a velocity of 737. I had this load dialed in and shot tonight and made a huge mistake and changed primers and threw everything off. Changed from CCI primers to Remington and the load just seemed "hotter" and the grouping was wild. Going to have to run them past my LabRadar and see what changed.

 

[rr2030]

What technique do you use for the rapid fire portion of the match?

Try holding the revolver as you would a pistol, both thumbs(or one if shooting bullseye) pointing straight down the line of the barrel, no thumb pressure, back-strap seated tightly against your hand. With an EMPTY revolver practice finding the sweet spot where the front sight does not move when you pull the trigger DOUBLE ACTION. When you find the sweet spot for your grip, practice until muscle memory places you there automatically. Then try live rounds.

This is one technique and just a suggestion, but it works for me and many others. A grip change(type, size, style) may be necessary to perfect this technique.

 

[Lefty Trigger]

Try holding the revolver as you would a pistol, both thumbs(or one if shooting bullseye) pointing straight down the line of the barrel, no thumb pressure, back-strap seated tightly against your hand. With an EMPTY revolver practice finding the sweet spot where the front sight does not move when you pull the trigger DOUBLE ACTION. When you find the sweet spot for your grip, practice until muscle memory places you there automatically. Then try live rounds.

This is one technique and just a suggestion, but it works for me and many others. A grip change(type, size, style) may be necessary to perfect this technique.

Bullseye is one hand shooting...

 

[rr2030]

Bullseye is one hand shooting...

I mentioned one hand if shooting bullseye. It may be necessary to go to a smaller grip to double-action shoot one handed.