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Thought I would share some findings regarding loading for the 38 S&W cartridge (Not 38 Special). I have a Webley Mk IV chambered in the 38 S&W caliber. As many of you know, it has a .360 diameter barrel, not .357 diameter like the 38 special and 357 mag. Also, the original loading used a 200 grain bullet. I've bought .361 diameter bullets in the 146 grain weight which are fairly easy to find, but are costly. I had difficulty finding 200 gr bullets .361. I've loaded the 146, and since they are much lighter than the original 200gr they shoot about 4" low at 25 yards. I've been experimenting with available weights, slowing them down to achieve a closer point of aim, point of impact, with no luck. Finally, I decided to try the heaviest bullet I could find in .358 diameter. What ended up working, was the BearCreek moly lube 180gr RNFP. I settled on 2.4gr WW231 powder. WOW! it worked out much better than I expected. With factory ammo, 25 yard groups averaged 3 1/2" to 4". With my load groups are 1" to 1 1'2". Best of all, they shoot point of aim, point of impact.
By the way, you can now get 38 S&W brass from Starline. It's in stock for .15 cents a piece, $152.00 per M.
I am looking forward to having some great fun shooting this old revolver. Shooting is so much more fun when the guns shoot where you point them, are reasonably accurate, and don't cost very much to shoot.
You will notice in the accompanying photo, the bullet is almost as long as the cartridge case. That's different.
The one thing that was very surprising to me after 40 plus years of reloading, was that an undersized bullet would shoot as well as it did. Many times, I have used larger diameter bullets to obtain accuracy. This is the first time I have ever gone in the other direction.
The next thing I need to do, is tear apart this gun and work on that trigger. The single action pull is in excess of 12 lbs. Makes it hard to shoot well.
By the way, you can now get 38 S&W brass from Starline. It's in stock for .15 cents a piece, $152.00 per M.
I am looking forward to having some great fun shooting this old revolver. Shooting is so much more fun when the guns shoot where you point them, are reasonably accurate, and don't cost very much to shoot.
You will notice in the accompanying photo, the bullet is almost as long as the cartridge case. That's different.
The one thing that was very surprising to me after 40 plus years of reloading, was that an undersized bullet would shoot as well as it did. Many times, I have used larger diameter bullets to obtain accuracy. This is the first time I have ever gone in the other direction.
The next thing I need to do, is tear apart this gun and work on that trigger. The single action pull is in excess of 12 lbs. Makes it hard to shoot well.
