Loading wadcutters...

crimsondave · October 12, 2009, 12:07 PM

Just got some wadcutters in from Midway. Anything special I need to do to load these other than put on a good roll crimp? Never loaded any WC or SWC for that matter.

.38 sp, 148 gr WC.

RamSlammer · October 12, 2009, 12:15 PM

Easy bullet to reload, just watch your seating depth. Err on the high side depth wise if anything to avoid pressure spikes due to seating too deep.

**Unclenick** · October 12, 2009, 12:29 PM

Some let you roll the crimp into a crimp groove, some don't. The main thing is not to let the roll crimp push the bullet deep into the case, as that quickly increases pressure. The small available powder volume under the cases means the small recommended charges, such as the old standby of 2.7 grains of Bullseye, need to be adhered to.

I prefer to use a taper crimp with these loads. Unless the gun you fire them in is a feather weight, the recoil won't be enough to pull them. The taper crimp extends case life because it works the mouth less dramatically. If you seat the bullet about 0.020" out beyond the case mouth, it will bite lightly into the lead prevent seating too deep, and also prevents pull at the light recoil level these loads have.

crimsondave · October 12, 2009, 12:48 PM

I'm firing them out of a SW 686 357 mag.

wncchester · October 12, 2009, 01:16 PM

Wadcutters are made for light target loads. They are usually quite soft and really don't need much of a crimp. In fact, a deep crimp can easily impead accuracy by scraping the bullet walls excessivly. In a .357 case I perfer 3/Bullseye, 2.7 in a .38 case.

crimsondave · October 12, 2009, 01:19 PM

I'm loading in the 38 sp case. I like Bullseye in my 45, so I'll try that powder first.

reloader28 · October 15, 2009, 10:15 PM

I've made and shot lots of wc and use 3 gr clays or 3.4 gr greendot and dont really crimp at all just take the flare off the case mouth . Their accurate enough to shoot pop cans at 30 yds in a .38 cases from a 357

Sevens · October 16, 2009, 10:08 AM

My two suggestions would be to flare the case mouths a little more than usual and bring your revolver to the bench to test-chamber a small handful of the loaded rounds in to each chamber.

.38 Special wadcutters end up a little thicker in the waist or mid-case region than most loaded rounds and some tight chambers in some revolvers will offer a bit of resistance when chambering them. Nothing major, but you'll want to know at the bench after 10 loaded rounds RATHER than finding out at the range with 300 loaded rounds!

kraigwy · October 16, 2009, 10:49 AM

Wadcutters do take a bit of care. Depending on the gun. in my Model 52 smith they have to be loaded flush with the mouth of the case.

Another problem with WCs is in crimping, the 'roll' crimp often catches the top of the bullet, causing wrinkles near the bottom of the bullet. This causes feeding problems or makes is difficult to get the shell into the chamber.

I use to use a Taper Crimp on wad cutters for my Model 52, but have switched to the Lee Factory Crimp carbide die. What I like about the Lee die, is the carbide ring at the bottow of the die that totally resizes the case as you pull it out of the die, making for smooth chambering both in the semi auto (Model 52) and the chambers of revolvers.

After the luck I had with the lee factory crimp carbide die in my 38s I went to their crimp die for all my straight wall cases. Makes for some nice ammo.

crimsondave · October 16, 2009, 10:54 AM

All I use for any pistol caliber is Lee Carbide 4 die sets.

October 12, 2009, 12:07 PM	#1
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	Loading wadcutters... Just got some wadcutters in from Midway. Anything special I need to do to load these other than put on a good roll crimp? Never loaded any WC or SWC for that matter. .38 sp, 148 gr WC.

October 12, 2009, 12:29 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,063	Some let you roll the crimp into a crimp groove, some don't. The main thing is not to let the roll crimp push the bullet deep into the case, as that quickly increases pressure. The small available powder volume under the cases means the small recommended charges, such as the old standby of 2.7 grains of Bullseye, need to be adhered to. I prefer to use a taper crimp with these loads. Unless the gun you fire them in is a feather weight, the recoil won't be enough to pull them. The taper crimp extends case life because it works the mouth less dramatically. If you seat the bullet about 0.020" out beyond the case mouth, it will bite lightly into the lead prevent seating too deep, and also prevents pull at the light recoil level these loads have. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

October 15, 2009, 10:15 PM	#7
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I've made and shot lots of wc and use 3 gr clays or 3.4 gr greendot and dont really crimp at all just take the flare off the case mouth . Their accurate enough to shoot pop cans at 30 yds in a .38 cases from a 357 Last edited by reloader28; October 17, 2009 at 02:27 PM.

October 16, 2009, 10:08 AM	#8
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	My two suggestions would be to flare the case mouths a little more than usual and bring your revolver to the bench to test-chamber a small handful of the loaded rounds in to each chamber. .38 Special wadcutters end up a little thicker in the waist or mid-case region than most loaded rounds and some tight chambers in some revolvers will offer a bit of resistance when chambering them. Nothing major, but you'll want to know at the bench after 10 loaded rounds RATHER than finding out at the range with 300 loaded rounds! __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

October 16, 2009, 10:49 AM	#9
kraigwy Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2008 Location: Wyoming Posts: 11,061	Wadcutters do take a bit of care. Depending on the gun. in my Model 52 smith they have to be loaded flush with the mouth of the case. Another problem with WCs is in crimping, the 'roll' crimp often catches the top of the bullet, causing wrinkles near the bottom of the bullet. This causes feeding problems or makes is difficult to get the shell into the chamber. I use to use a Taper Crimp on wad cutters for my Model 52, but have switched to the Lee Factory Crimp carbide die. What I like about the Lee die, is the carbide ring at the bottow of the die that totally resizes the case as you pull it out of the die, making for smooth chambering both in the semi auto (Model 52) and the chambers of revolvers. After the luck I had with the lee factory crimp carbide die in my 38s I went to their crimp die for all my straight wall cases. Makes for some nice ammo. __________________ Kraig Stuart CPT USAR Ret USAMU Sniper School Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071

October 12, 2009, 12:15 PM	#2
RamSlammer Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	Easy bullet to reload, just watch your seating depth. Err on the high side depth wise if anything to avoid pressure spikes due to seating too deep.

October 12, 2009, 12:48 PM	#4
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	I'm firing them out of a SW 686 357 mag.

October 12, 2009, 01:16 PM	#5
wncchester Senior Member Join Date: December 1, 2002 Posts: 2,832	Wadcutters are made for light target loads. They are usually quite soft and really don't need much of a crimp. In fact, a deep crimp can easily impead accuracy by scraping the bullet walls excessivly. In a .357 case I perfer 3/Bullseye, 2.7 in a .38 case.

October 12, 2009, 01:19 PM	#6
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	I'm loading in the 38 sp case. I like Bullseye in my 45, so I'll try that powder first.

October 16, 2009, 10:54 AM	#10
crimsondave Senior Member Join Date: September 30, 2009 Location: North Augusta, SC Posts: 490	All I use for any pistol caliber is Lee Carbide 4 die sets.