Lee Loader

Here's a bright idea - not!

The setup is for S&W 38 SPL.
So, I've read in a few places on Internet (the source of all truth ), that you could just press your Round-nose bullet backwards (round side into the casing) to get a nice wad cutter bullet. Just watch not to compress the powder, but that was no issue since I'm using TiteGroup (3.2 grn)

Being the wiser, I've loaded a batch of just 20 of those using minimum powder load. And they looked right too.
Took them to the range and gave them some fire at 10 yards...
I never claim to be a great shot, but out of those 20, about 10 landed somewhere on the 8.5x11 sheet.

On the bright side, they did make a nice round holes...

I was skeptical to start with, especially with the base of the bullet being now round - what happens to the distribution of pressure in the case? It is no longer downwards towards the base of the case, but instead spread around the walls. I think I'm onto something here - one of the cases split at the top.

That made my decision to purchase Lee SWC mold much easier...

I've read it but never had the need to try it. You saved me the trouble should the need ever arise.

I have also seen this on the internet. Thank you for trying it, now I don't have to. Why the SWC and not the full wad cutter?

Why SWC instead of WC? Want to go with lighter bullet, Lee has WC at 158 grn and SWC at 105 grn. My hope is that the lighter projectile will have lesser kick - I'm using S&W J-frame revolver. With 158 grn bullet the wrist starts to hurt after 50 rounds affecting the accuracy; after 100 it's quite painful. OK, so I'm a wimp.
I'm looking at 3.0-3.2 grn of TiteGroup powder to start with.

jloader wrote:Why SWC instead of WC? Want to go with lighter bullet, Lee has WC at 158 grn and SWC at 105 grn. My hope is that the lighter projectile will have lesser kick - I'm using S&W J-frame revolver. With 158 grn bullet the wrist starts to hurt after 50 rounds affecting the accuracy; after 100 it's quite painful. OK, so I'm a wimp.
I'm looking at 3.0-3.2 grn of TiteGroup powder to start with.

are you sure about those dropped bullet weights from the Lee molds?


just asking.


jd

jloader wrote:Why SWC instead of WC? Want to go with lighter bullet, Lee has WC at 158 grn and SWC at 105 grn. My hope is that the lighter projectile will have lesser kick - I'm using S&W J-frame revolver. With 158 grn bullet the wrist starts to hurt after 50 rounds affecting the accuracy; after 100 it's quite painful. OK, so I'm a wimp.
I'm looking at 3.0-3.2 grn of TiteGroup powder to start with.

A lighter projectile will need more powder . Wouldn't that be more kick? I also have a J frame 3" bbl and shoot it S/A using 158 gr SWC - Bullseye Powder in low 3 gr area and doesn't hurt at all PLUS better accuracy. Try it

Poppop wrote:

jloader wrote:Why SWC instead of WC? Want to go with lighter bullet, Lee has WC at 158 grn and SWC at 105 grn. My hope is that the lighter projectile will have lesser kick - I'm using S&W J-frame revolver. With 158 grn bullet the wrist starts to hurt after 50 rounds affecting the accuracy; after 100 it's quite painful. OK, so I'm a wimp.
I'm looking at 3.0-3.2 grn of TiteGroup powder to start with.

A lighter projectile will need more powder . Wouldn't that be more kick? I also have a J frame 3" bbl and shoot it S/A using 158 gr SWC - Bullseye Powder in low 3 gr area and doesn't hurt at all PLUS better accuracy. Try it

This^

Also a 125 gr with a little more Bullseye also works well, no kick from my snubby M88.

A grain or two of powder hardly maters in the scheme of things recoil wise it's the extra velocity that may even things out. Sometimes changing the grip will make all the difference in the world as to felt recoil. I've long been a fan of Pachmeyer DeCelerators particularly on the boomers.

Make smoke, comfortably,

I'll never put something so ugly as aftermarket pistol grips on. To each his own.

Poppop wrote:

jloader wrote:Why SWC instead of WC? Want to go with lighter bullet, Lee has WC at 158 grn and SWC at 105 grn. My hope is that the lighter projectile will have lesser kick - I'm using S&W J-frame revolver. With 158 grn bullet the wrist starts to hurt after 50 rounds affecting the accuracy; after 100 it's quite painful. OK, so I'm a wimp.
I'm looking at 3.0-3.2 grn of TiteGroup powder to start with.

A lighter projectile will need more powder . Wouldn't that be more kick? I also have a J frame 3" bbl and shoot it S/A using 158 gr SWC - Bullseye Powder in low 3 gr area and doesn't hurt at all PLUS better accuracy. Try it

No a lighter bullet will give you less kick. I was using a 160 grain Lee 452-160-RF with very little recoil that even my Wife would shoot it. after going with the Lee 452-200-RF and less powder the recoil went up. I was able to drop the charge of Bullseye by 1.4 grains. Guess it takes more energy to get the heavier bullet moving.

Oh and the Wife refuses to shoot it now.