360 150, blackpowder 38 S&W loads

Sorry, no pics.

Today I did a mild torture test with a Webley .38 Mk.IV with blackpowder 360 150gn bullets.

Bullets were as-cast (.361″), 50:1 alloy (BHN 7), seated to half way down the front driving band, so ignoring the crimp groove. Lube was home-made 1 part beeswax 1 part alox 1/2 part anhydrous lanolin 1/8 part olive oil. Even seating like this means that the bullet is seated deeper than with the original profile bullet.

Load was 11gn Swiss No.2. Half had a card wad, half nothing. The card wad is counterproductive – it has little effect on anything ballistically, but results in deforming the bullets on seating.

Groups were, well, Webley Mk.IV sized (a touch better than the black on the 25m ISSF target), and held up throughout the 50 rounds with no swabbing. Interestingly, it seems to shoot better with black than with smokeless, which is interesting.

Velocities were 670 fps (if anything slightly higher without the wad, although there’s basically nothing in it), and point of impact was only about 3-4″ low at 25m.

The single lube groove certainly holds enough lube, as the muzzle was nice and greasy.

All in all, excellent results!