38 special Hollow Base Wadcutter

Colduglandon · December 13, 2005, 11:32 PM

Just picked up a box of these bullets, the price was right. Its been over 20 years since I loaded this type of bullet. At the time I was reloading at a friend's house. Don't recall whether we used a special seating die for this bullet. Is that the case?

somerled · December 14, 2005, 12:08 AM

It is best to get the proper seating plug so bullet seating depth is consistent. MidwayUSA can get one to you in two or three days and they aren't expensive. You can just switch the plugs in your current seating die.

BillCA · December 14, 2005, 12:12 AM

Ha! I've got you beat Paul! It's been 30 years since I loaded HBWC .38's.

As I recall, being poor at the time (spending my spare money on ammo) we used a SWC seating die and adjusted it to seat the bullet flush with the case mouth. Because ours were softer lead, we used a fairly light crimp too IIRC. Mostly that was to extend the life of the case mouth.

Leftoverdj · December 14, 2005, 02:05 PM

SWC plug has always worked fine for me. Have to use that on some WCs that have a nipple on the front. A slight marking on the front flat harms nothing.

.45 Vet · December 15, 2005, 04:25 PM

Still using the SWC seater plug, but I prefer to leave them about 1/16" over flush. All of the swagged HBWC's I've used are very soft, but very accurate with the old Bulls-eye target loads. Very mild recoil/report, and great to get the ladys and kids started on center-fire hand-guns.

.45 Vet · December 15, 2005, 04:32 PM

Still using the SWC seater plug, but I prefer to leave them about 1/16" over flush. All of the swagged HBWC's I've used are very soft, but very accurate with the old Bulls-eye target loads. Very mild recoil/report, and great to get the ladys and kids started on center-fire hand-guns.

G56 · December 15, 2005, 04:33 PM

The bullet seater for SWC is designed for a bullet with a rim around the outside diameter of the bullet, the HBSWC has the same ring, so a SWC bullet seater should work perfectly.

Russ5924 · December 15, 2005, 07:31 PM

I just use standard Lee dies and have never had a problem . I also seat them with just about a 1/16 showing,only reason being I can easily identify the ones not fired.You also can't reload them hot they will split or the upper part will separate and leave the hollow base in the barrel.I have had them split in two but have never seen the other problem

T. O'Heir · December 16, 2005, 01:00 AM

2.7 grains of Bullseye, seated flush with the case mouth and no crimp. The SWC seater should work nicely. Mind you, I set my dies up over 25 years ago, so I may have a WC seater in my die. I do find .357 cases with the same load eliminates the crud build up in the cylinder of my GP 100.

JJB2 · December 21, 2005, 02:28 AM

i use 3 gr. of bullseye under the hbwc loads in .38 spl. or .357 mag cases.... i ordered a special seater from lee to go in my speed die and i use a lee factory crimp die to make wonderfully accurate 148 gr. hbwc ammo......

LIFE IS SHORT........

MADISON · December 21, 2005, 08:38 AM

Loads for Hollow Based Wadcutters:
I load either 148 to 150 grain bullets.

Hollow Based Cadcutter--3.0 grains of Winchester 231
If you go any higher they will tumble and go in sideways.

Bevel Base Wadcutter--4.0 grains of Winchester 231
It will not tumblle with this load.

rbwillnj · December 22, 2005, 12:52 PM

38 HBWCs, seat them flush with a moderate roll crimp (gives more consistant velocities).

2.7 Bullseye
3.1 W231
2.7 700X (my favorite)

Colduglandon · December 27, 2005, 10:34 PM

Now that Christmas is over, its time to get to the reloading bench. Thanks for all the ideas. I will let you know how I made out.

December 13, 2005, 11:32 PM	#1
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	38 special Hollow Base Wadcutter Just picked up a box of these bullets, the price was right. Its been over 20 years since I loaded this type of bullet. At the time I was reloading at a friend's house. Don't recall whether we used a special seating die for this bullet. Is that the case?

December 14, 2005, 12:12 AM	#3
BillCA Senior Member Join Date: November 28, 2004 Location: Silicon Valley, Ca Posts: 7,117	Ha! I've got you beat Paul! It's been 30 years since I loaded HBWC .38's. As I recall, being poor at the time (spending my spare money on ammo) we used a SWC seating die and adjusted it to seat the bullet flush with the case mouth. Because ours were softer lead, we used a fairly light crimp too IIRC. Mostly that was to extend the life of the case mouth. __________________ BillCA in CA (Unfortunately)

December 15, 2005, 04:25 PM	#5
.45 Vet Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Western Penn. Posts: 387	Still using the SWC seater plug, but I prefer to leave them about 1/16" over flush. All of the swagged HBWC's I've used are very soft, but very accurate with the old Bulls-eye target loads. Very mild recoil/report, and great to get the ladys and kids started on center-fire hand-guns. __________________ For those who've never fought for it, the price of freedom shall never be known...

December 15, 2005, 04:32 PM	#6
.45 Vet Senior Member Join Date: May 21, 2004 Location: Western Penn. Posts: 387	Still using the SWC seater plug, but I prefer to leave them about 1/16" over flush. All of the swagged HBWC's I've used are very soft, but very accurate with the old Bulls-eye target loads. Very mild recoil/report, and great to get the ladys and kids started on center-fire hand-guns. __________________ For those who've never fought for it, the price of freedom shall never be known... Last edited by .45 Vet; December 17, 2005 at 05:46 PM. Reason: Double post, please delete...

December 15, 2005, 04:33 PM	#7
G56 Senior Member Join Date: June 10, 2004 Location: Oklahoma Posts: 302	The bullet seater for SWC is designed for a bullet with a rim around the outside diameter of the bullet, the HBSWC has the same ring, so a SWC bullet seater should work perfectly. __________________ John

December 14, 2005, 12:08 AM	#2
somerled Senior Member Join Date: June 11, 2005 Location: eastern Kansas Posts: 603	It is best to get the proper seating plug so bullet seating depth is consistent. MidwayUSA can get one to you in two or three days and they aren't expensive. You can just switch the plugs in your current seating die.

December 14, 2005, 02:05 PM	#4
Leftoverdj Senior Member Join Date: October 15, 2004 Posts: 934	SWC plug has always worked fine for me. Have to use that on some WCs that have a nipple on the front. A slight marking on the front flat harms nothing.

December 15, 2005, 07:31 PM	#8
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	I just use standard Lee dies and have never had a problem . I also seat them with just about a 1/16 showing,only reason being I can easily identify the ones not fired.You also can't reload them hot they will split or the upper part will separate and leave the hollow base in the barrel.I have had them split in two but have never seen the other problem __________________ Russ5924

December 16, 2005, 01:00 AM	#9
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	2.7 grains of Bullseye, seated flush with the case mouth and no crimp. The SWC seater should work nicely. Mind you, I set my dies up over 25 years ago, so I may have a WC seater in my die. I do find .357 cases with the same load eliminates the crud build up in the cylinder of my GP 100.

December 21, 2005, 02:28 AM	#10
JJB2 Junior member Join Date: December 14, 2005 Posts: 558	i use 3 gr. of bullseye under the hbwc loads in .38 spl. or .357 mag cases.... i ordered a special seater from lee to go in my speed die and i use a lee factory crimp die to make wonderfully accurate 148 gr. hbwc ammo...... LIFE IS SHORT........

December 21, 2005, 08:38 AM	#11
MADISON Senior Member Join Date: January 1, 2000 Location: Roanoke, Virginia Posts: 2,678	Loads for Hollow Based Wadcutters Loads for Hollow Based Wadcutters: I load either 148 to 150 grain bullets. Hollow Based Cadcutter--3.0 grains of Winchester 231 If you go any higher they will tumble and go in sideways. Bevel Base Wadcutter--4.0 grains of Winchester 231 It will not tumblle with this load.

December 22, 2005, 12:52 PM	#12
rbwillnj Member Join Date: December 14, 2004 Location: Northwest NJ Posts: 38	38 HBWCs, seat them flush with a moderate roll crimp (gives more consistant velocities). 2.7 Bullseye 3.1 W231 2.7 700X (my favorite)

December 27, 2005, 10:34 PM	#13
Colduglandon Senior Member Join Date: March 5, 1999 Location: Mass Posts: 493	Now that Christmas is over, its time to get to the reloading bench. Thanks for all the ideas. I will let you know how I made out.