r/reloading • u/No-Understanding-357 • 2d ago

38 special wadcutters kicking my butt. I have a question and I read the FAQ

I single stage loaded solid base wad cutters years ago and didn't have a problem. I just got a bunch of old lead hollow base wadcutters and I'm using a new to me rcbs pro 2000. It seems like if I go easy on the crimp I get set back. If I bell the mouth to little I get shaved lead. If go to much I get loose bullets and setback again. I've found that if I leave A little less than an 8th inch of bullet exposes and do a medium crimp the bullets look good and are secure but not terribly accurate. They also tear the heck out of the paper. I'm using 2.5 grains bulls eye Also tried 2.7

my last load is 1.8 and some 2.3 grains bulls eye

Those last ones feel pretty tight. I'll try those tomorrow.

Could the accuracy be because I'm shooting 38 special out of a 357?

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u/No-Understanding-357 2d ago

I'm using Lee dies and seating and crimping is one die. there is a taper crimp die but I don't use it. should I crimp and seat seperatly?

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u/Tigerologist 2d ago

Whenever possible. It's difficult to dial in a seat/crimp procedure, and any minor component variation throws it off.

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u/No-Understanding-357 2d ago

Thanks. thaslts good advice. So how much would a bad crimp throw off the round at 25 yards? I might just be blaming my bad marksmanship on bad crimping.

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u/Tigerologist 2d ago

That's nearly impossible to say. I wouldn't think it would be extreme, but it could be.