Hollow Based Bullets

Roundsworth · February 14, 2022, 09:09:58 AM

Hi everybody! Has anyone here tried using hollow based wadcutters in their 38 Long Colt loads? I need a hollow based bullet for my 1851 Navy conversion, and have been waiting for over a year from one particular retailer for 'proper' 38 Colt HB bullets. Particularly, the Speer and Hornady wadcutters are the two I am considering. Thanks for any input. Cheers!

Reverend P. Babcock Chase · February 14, 2022, 09:52:40 AM

Howdy Roundsworth,

I have been experimenting with HB 148gr. bullets in an 1851 conversion. I have found that once you get a load with enough pressure to expand the base, they can shoot very well. My very old conversion is a press frame chambered in .38 S&W. I slowly worked up loads. Once I hit the right pressure, the results (accuracy) were dramatic. I can't give you an exact load, but start low and work up, keeping an eye on the data for your cartridge. Obviously, you should never exceed max loads.

Rev. Chase

River City John · February 14, 2022, 10:13:21 AM

Barrel length is a factor. Unbobbed length or there isn't enough barrel to allow full expansion to grip grooves. (And I question whether there is all that much ability to bump up from .358 to .375 before the slug is out the barrel anyway.)

At the typical distances we shoot our steel, I've shot matches using solid base .38 down a cap 'n' ball barrel and they all seem to hit. If you're shooting long distance pistol targets then the advantage of using pure lead hollow-base may help.

Abilene · February 14, 2022, 11:12:58 AM

Quote from: River City John on February 14, 2022, 10:13:21 AM
...At the typical distances we shoot our steel, I've shot matches using solid base .38 down a cap 'n' ball barrel and they all seem to hit. If you're shooting long distance pistol targets then the advantage of using pure lead hollow-base may help.

"typical distances". Typical today is bigger than typical 20 years ago.

So far I have only shot 170 rounds through my unlined '61 with Kirst Konverter, but I have not yet missed with standard 38 ammo. But that is SASS. I would not chance it at an NCOWS match.

But I can certainly understand the desire to get max accuracy out of any gun. If I cast or had a cheap source of those hollow base wadcutters, I would use them. Bear Creek has an inexpensive hollow base bullet but the skirts are thick and they said those would not obturate. The reason those are hollow is to make a little more bearing surface with a light bullet.

Roundsworth · February 14, 2022, 02:20:59 PM

The 150 grain hollow based roundnose bullets from Buffalo Arms worked quite well in my Uberti Navy. Recovered bullets showed plenty of obturation and the skirt of the bullet was nicely engraved by the rifling. Unfortunately, B. Arms has had those bullets on back order for eons. I found a link to Old West Bullets and saw they had a HB bullet, unlubed. I will give them a try. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. Cheers!

Coffinmaker · February 15, 2022, 09:14:41 AM

Roundsworth

Allow me to stick my toe inna water or wade in as it twer. I have been shooting 148Gr Hollow Base Wadcutters through my Pietta '51s for several years. My guns are the Capt. Schaeffer replicants with 4 inch barrels. Accuracy is quite good. I have not bothered to recover any fired bullets for inspection, but I don't miss any targets.

You will want swaged HB Wadcutters or Cast HB Wadcutters cast from dead soft lead.

In my experience, cast bullets DO NOT bump up. Once a solid bullet is sized to a certain diameter, that remains it's diameter. .358 bullets WILL upset in the bore and acquire a wonky spin but will not be long distance accurate.

Play Safe Out There 'cause People Are Hazardous to Yer Health

boilerplatejackson · February 19, 2022, 02:19:03 AM

I have had good luck loading the Eras Gone 36 colt cast bullet from their mold. The bullet is a heeled bullet. I have drilled out a hole in a pair of wire strippers to .3/8 inch to crimp the bullet into the case.

Montana Slim · February 22, 2022, 09:24:34 AM

I don't recall whether Speer or Hornady brand, but I've seen HB wadcutters perform well in converted reproduction & original .375 bore revolvers. Recovered a few of the fired projectiles & all had bumped up to bore size & well engraved by rifling. Powder used was a light charge of Clays with 38 spl brass.

Coffinmaker · February 23, 2022, 08:14:30 AM

Yep. completely agree with Montana Slim. While as I posted above, I have not recovered any of my fired bullets, it is my very strong thought that .357 Swaged and Soft Cast Hollow Base Wadcutters expand well to 375 Bore diameter. My own results show very good accuracy. Way too good to be an undersize bullet rattling down the bore.

Play Safe Out There and Avoid People. They're Hazardous to Yer Health.