kim

So here's the deal, I'm shooting in a big bore league this winter and until my 1911 gets done, I'm shooting a GP100. My fellow shooter made, less than kind, comments in regard to my use of full house .357 loads. Seem the flash and noise was a bit disconcerting. So I ordered some 148 grn BB wadcutters and I'm going to shoot reduced loads in .357 cases, to reduce the bullet jump. I want to use an over the powder wad, probably made from card stock and, since, I've never done this before, I need some guidance.

Gunrunner, if you weigh in on this, I could use another copy of your jerky recipe, please.


Molon Labe

Kim

jimbo1096

Kim, If you are just using reduced powder levels and want consistent performance, why not go to Unique or Bullseye and use a polyester filler? So much easier seems to me. Try 2.8 gr Bullseye or 3.3 gr unique. That gives around 750 fps. Winchester 231 is also good.
What powder were you planning on using?

deputy125

tell you fellow shootist he needs better hearing protection.....

never messed with wadctters in a mag case......but honestly, i don't think you would need a card if using unique powder....

that full wadcutter already takes up a lot of space in the case.

did a litle searching and found this article.
http://www.milesfortis.com/mcump/mc01.htm

are you not going to seat the wadcutter flush with the case mouth?.....or load the wadcutter like a semi-wadcutter and extend well beyond the case mouth?

Machinist

Thank you, Deputy. I used to play around with HB wadcutters in my Ruger Speed Six and that article was excellent!

kim

Thanks Deputy. I am going to seat them flush with the case mouth, but I'm not sure what powder I'm going to use yet. That's some good information and just what I was looking for. As to the idea of better ear protection, 21 grns of H110 under a 125 grn bullet is pretty flashy, kinda like having lightening strike close to you, with the attendent thunder clap. It was causing me some problems too. I'm going to a gun show tomorrow, maybe I can find some powder there.


Molon Labe

Kim

tx gun runner

No wads are needed if you use Unique , it is not powder position or placement sensitive . 2400 and wads in straight wall cases have been known to ring chamber . Reduced loads in 38 spl using Bulleye powder has blown guns up . The NRA has could never prove or duplicate it . Personally I think if you need a wad you have the wrong powder or load . I have loaded 32 cal pistols up to 50-70 with Unique without a wad and have had target accuracy with it . This book has over 250 different cal using Unique powder in reduced loads without wads or filler .. ]

Cruelshoes

This thread and that article are going to come in handy. I have exclusively used H110 and made hot loads for my GP100. I need to work up some softer loads for my SP101 to practice with. I have not yet decided what bullets to use, but am willing to try anything as long as it is likely to also feed well in my lever gun. I really like the molly coated 158 gr semi-wadcutters that I use, but I might try to find another bullet so that it is easily distinguished from my hot load when at the range.

deputy125

wadcutters use to be the cat's meow when it came to target shooting.....cut nice clean holes in the target for scoring and very accurate. Some folks loaded them so light that if the cardboard target backing was tripled, i do believe the bullet would had bounced off.....

you are right....a great visual indicator they are when loaded as to what you got....and loaded mildly, you can get many, many, many reloads out ofyour brass and it is easy on the guns.

tx gun runner

Try nail polish at primer or magic marker on the tip of bullet works good for me over the years ..................

jimbo1096

TGR - while Unique is not position sensitive, when loading down to the 3.3gr level, consistency is improved with filler. IMHO . If you bump the Unique charge up into the 5gr range, or do not need tight groups, best accuracy, then load without filler or wads. I never use wads, too much of a pain, but filler only takes an extra minute and was something I did when looking for best acuracy from a wadcutter.
Actually, I would question more the use of wadcutters instead of LSWC or LRN, mainly from the ease and speed of reloading, if a reload is required at any of the matches.

sheepdog

...my practice load was in a .38 case...3.5gr. Bullseye and a 148gr hbwc...never minded the recoil or noise...I'd be skeered to go lower than that...no packing at all...lotta moccasins wished I hadn't...shooting snakes off the bridges was my practice range at night...miss them days!!!

tx gun runner

I never loaded Unique lower that 4.0 grs , so I have not input on it . I normal would switch to Bulleye powder . The target below is loaded for fps for SASS/CAS not for accuratcy .