Heads up - .360" 200 grain bullets for Webleys & the like.

[jmoore]

As regards the No.2, yes they were supposed to have had the front sights replaced w/ a re-regulated blade. However, most of mine still seem to shoot a tad low when using the 178gr bullets. Might just be the operator, though!

[jmoore]

Started loading- Still can't find most of my .38 S&W brass!




A puzzlement:

The nickel plated Winchester cases have good bullet retention, almost too thick towards the base, but the Remington cases only retain the bullet by the crimp. In fact, the bullets can be rotated without undue force. (No "wiggle", though.)

Obviously the Rem. cases are thinner, but does it really matter? If the bullets don't pull out of the cases under recoil, what would be the downside?

BTW: The Lyman Manual "starting load" and "max load" are only 0.2 gr apart! Jeepers!

[jmoore]

Got to do a function test! The operator's accuracy level is well off, but tests were done at 25 and 50 yards, regardless. Need new glasse and a lot more trigger time to see if the extra effort is really worth it.




Time for new glasses? Lens are starting to "craze".


25 (left) and 50 yd (right) targets


Steel Challenge DA only Model 17 used for base line shooting- Definitely off my game!





The barely retained Remington cased ammo worked OK, even when shot out of the S&W Terrier- bullets did not jump their crimp enough to jepordize function. A little more crimp (which I tend to make as conservative as possible to maximize case life) should do the trick. It WAS noted, however, that the bullets from the "loose" cases hit rather lower at 50 yards. Maybe 4-6"?

Conversely, more of the misses at 50yards occurred with the tight Winchester cases. Not conclusively worse, but 3 of the 5 misses (out of 18 rounds) were Winchester cases, and the other two were Remington cases that had been "neck" sized using .38spl/.357mag dies. If I was shooting better, it would be way easier to tell, though, as even the .22 was showing poor results. (Had to fire L/H but RIGHT eye to be consistant! Dominant eye (LH) isn't focusing properly on the front sight- note the "two group" syndrome outlined in red below:


Typical example: Double action .22 groups at 25yds. Green-right eye, Red-left eye

Otherwise, shooting impressions were favorable! Cases expanded properly (no soot on ODs), primers well indented and shoed NO pressure signs, recoil felt the same as regular .38S&W. No leading in the bores.

[jmoore]

As for power, well I'm wondering if the tales of bullets being stopped by heavy German winter clothing might not have a little merit!


Grazing hit at 50yds into the 2x4 upright (fronted by some distressed strand boarding)






A little digging, and- Ta-da!, a "re-usable" bullet!!!

It's NOT pretty, but here's the first 18 rounds fired at 50 yards...only 13 hits, and few good ones at that! I'm NOT blaming the Enfield, just myself!



I mean, good grief, the .22 did this:



It ought to be about a third the size of group. Too much working, not enough shooting.

[chartreuse]

BTW: The Lyman Manual "starting load" and "max load" are only 0.2 gr apart! Jeepers!

Yes, that's one reason I'm holding out for finding some True Blue (I think a store nearby may have some - need to check). The spread with that is 0.4 gr - not much, but twice that for Unique!

[Amatikulu]

I bought the mold last week from Midway and cast 100 or so bullets this week end, I used a .360 Lyman sizing die to lube them but need to find the right powder........................So, hurry up jmoore and tell me the ideal powder , please

[chartreuse]

I bought the mold last week from Midway and cast 100 or so bullets this week end, I used a .360 Lyman sizing die to lube them but need to find the right powder........................So, hurry up jmoore and tell me the ideal powder , please

The Lyman book lists Ramshot True Blue as the most accurate. A store 60 or so miles from us has some, so if the roads ever unfreeze, I'll try to get some later this week.

[jmoore]

Yes, that's one reason I'm holding out for finding some True Blue (I think a store nearby may have some - need to check). The spread with that is 0.4 gr - not much, but twice that for Unique!

 

As it turned out, my old Hornady powder dispenser had no trouble maintaining less than a 0.1gr spread, so I quit trickling the last little bit. Did weigh each and every one, though! Also, to prevent possible double charges, a bullet was seated immediately after dispensing the powder into the case. Slow going, but I don't expect to do a thousand or two at a time, like 9mm or .45 ACP.

As for the "best" powder, I'd reckon Trail Boss would be it, but no data.

[chartreuse]

I started some today, using Remington brass, but I found they gripped the bullet tightly with no crimp to speak of. I'm using the Lee carbide .38 S&W set.

I notice that one of your pics shows a couple of different seating depths. I didn't have much time today, so just put a dozen together with 2.2 gr of True Blue seated to the OAL in the book of 1.175", but that leaves a good 1.8" clearance in the chamber, so I was thinking of doing a few 1/2 doz batches at 0.1 gr increments, with a couple of different seating depths, then sticking the Webley in a vice and firing it single action, to see how the groups compare.

[jmoore]

I started some today, using Remington brass, but I found they gripped the bullet tightly with no crimp to speak of. I'm using the Lee carbide .38 S&W set.

 

I notice that one of your pics shows a couple of different seating depths.

 

Different dies might solve the brass thickness issue- just use whatever works best.

The differences in length are not from seating, but from shooting! The long one is the last of a cylinder full, as described above. Bullet shifted, but not a lot.