357--154 Gain HBWC loads??

[FROGO207]

I was recently given a butload of these .357--weight of 153 to154 grain hollow base wad cutters. I find no load info for this weight HBWC in all my data books. Have any of you loaded these and what was the approximate load/propellant you used? I am thinking using the recipe for a 158 HBWC will work OK if no one has used these. They look swaged and molly coated. He did not know what they were and no label/box was known. I figure these were once common and SOMEONE will know.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Heavier data can be used for a lighter bullet as a starting point. I'd guess with such a small weight difference, you won't really be "working" up from standard 158 grain data.

 

[Walkalong]

Back off .1 to .2 Grs from 148 Gr HBWC data and you will be fine. As far as that goes, the 6 Grs of difference might make no difference at all at the low pressure levels HBWC's are loaded to.

 

[FROGO207]

Thank you. I figured as much, but was wondering if anyone had real world data from use.

 

[billybob44]

HBWC Loads??

Are these bullets from a commercial caster? I've not seen that weight before in a HBWC design.
I could understand if they were home-made bullets that were heavy on the pure lead content. May be from a 148gr. mold, and would weigh close to that if the material was close to pure lead??
Most of the HBWC that I have seen have been swaged bullets from Speer+Hornady.

 

[billybob44]

Heavier data can be used for a lighter bullet as a starting point. I'd guess with such a small weight difference, you won't really be "working" up from standard 158 grain data.

You sure don't want to use standard 158gr. data on a HOLLOW BASE WADCUTTER designed bullet! There's a good chance of blowing the head off of the bullet+leaving the skirt of the hollow base in the barrel. Keep these loads on the light side-use the 148gr. HBWC charge data.

 

[pete950]

Show some pics of the bullets

 

[918v]

Use 148gr HBWC data. The weight difference is negligible.

 

[rcmodel]

Use 148gr HBWC data. The weight difference is negligible.

Plus 1!

Just treat them as 148 HBWC.
The only reason they came out of the mold that heavy is due to the almost pure lead alloy the guy cast them from.
The same mold would very likely throw 148 grain HBWC using the proper alloy.

As like billybob44 said: DO NOT use 158 grain SWC or RN data, as some of the data is too hot for a HBWC bullet of any weight.

rc

 

[FROGO207]

Thanks all. I figured someone would know more on this than I did. That was my first thought also but it does pay to ask others when in doubt. 148 grain data it is then.