38 spl loads?

[fourrobert13]

I am using Bullseye and 158gr Hornady SWCHP. My problem is this, yesterday I went to the range to shoot a new to me S&W M65-4 357 mag. I loaded up 200 rounds of the above mentioned bullet with loads from start to max. No round I fired hit where I aimed. They were either 8" high from where I aimed to 6" low. For a control, I had some factory PMC 158gr FMJ and some other reloads of mine using 125gr FP, and those were dead on. Maybe the gun just doesn't like the bullet. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks

[nitesite]

Practically any good revolver should love that bullet.

Did you use a Lee factory crimp die as a 4th step?

What do the bullets mic at before loading them?

Can you pull one of your loaded rounds and mic it as well?

Are you loading really light, and the bullet is not obturating against the bore?

Just random thoughts....

[fourrobert13]

Practically any good revolver should love that bullet.

Did you use a Lee factory crimp die as a 4th step?

What do the bullets mic at before loading them?

Can you pull one of your loaded rounds and mic it as well?

Are you loading really light, and the bullet is not obturating against the bore?

Just random thoughts....

Yes I used the FCD in step 4 on my turret press. I weighed and mic the bullets prior to loading and all were good to go with no real diferrences. I started at the start load per the Hornady 7th of 2.8gr of Bullseye, and then worked the load up to 3.6. The heavier the charge, the higher the bullet impacted and the lower the charge, the lower the impact. I must be missing something. All bullets were seated to 1.455. I have another 400 of these to load up, and would like these bullets to work, because I can get them cheap here locally.

[nitesite]

May I suggest still pulling one of the bullets and taking a measurement of its diameter? Did it change at all from the unloaded lot of bullets? Is it smaller after the LFCD?

If your swaged LSWC is smaller than .358" after running thru the LFCD that may be part of your problem.

You might try one more thing; don't use the LFCD with your swaged lead bullets. Make up a couple dozen using the bullet seating die (properly adjusted) to make a slight roll crimp.

And you might measure your chamber throats while you're thinking of a solution.

What's weird is the fast loads hitting high and the slow loads hitting low. Am I reading you correctly that you're unable to get anything to shoot a group? Or are you shooting groups, but they are hitting either high or low to your POI?

[fourrobert13]

I would pull a bullet, but I shot them all. I can't get nothing to group. Basically, high or low, the POI is all over the place, but it's either 8" high or 6" low. Factory ammo and my 125gr loads are dead on where I am. I used the FCD with the 125gr loads and as I have said, no problems with them. I have some different powders that I will try, and I may also try the roll crimp. If that doesn't work, I will stick to what does.

[AdamN]

Like NS mentioned, check the FCD. Load up a single dummy round, FCD die and everything. Then pull the bullet and compare the diameter to a new bullet.

Then report back