HELP with leading in Model 52-2 barrel

First topic message reminder :

Does anyone have a load for the 148g HBWC that does not cause leading in model 52-2 barrel?   I have tried everything I can think of to stop the leading and nothing is working.  I have read every post on loading the 148g HBWC and tried many of the suggestions yet nothing I try seems to help.  The lead starts at the case mouth and goes onto the rifling. My most recent attempt is with a new expanding die.  It loads perfectly but I still get leading.  I am using a cheap bore scope to check for leading.  Perhaps looking too closely is the problem?


 I have tried lubing my zero bullets with "White ALOX" and that did not fix the problem.
  
I have tried unsized cases and was able to push the bullets in all the way (and sometimes too far) by hand.  I consider that unsafe and did not fire those.

I also tried sizing with a 38 auto die.  Again the bullet pushed in too far by hand.

I am using zero bullets.  I tried lubing with White ALOX with no improvement in leading.

My process is
1.  Wet clean in tumbler with soap and no pins.
2.  de-prime and size case
3.  Tumble with pins and soap and lemi shine, then allow to dry.
4.  Expand with 38special die
5.  powder drop
6.  powder check
7.  insert with Redding micrometer die
8.  Profile crimp with Redding micrometer die.

Any help or comments would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Doug W.

Hello
I had the same issues with my 52 with leading I am using Bear Creek Hollow based Wadcutters and no more issues

Dave Glenn wrote:Sounds like you changed everything but the bullet. I've had good luck with " Extreme 148 copper plated wad cutter ".

Dave,
Interesting thought.  Most people that shoot the SW model 52 have the best luck with a lead HBWC.  I see the extreme copper plated is a DEWC.  When i first accuired my model 52 I tried a DEWC and the 25 yard bench rest groups went from about 1" to 4".  But If I dont solve this leading problem I may take a look at the copper plated bullet.
Thanks,
Doug

Speed1935 wrote:Hello
I had the same issues with my 52 with leading I am using Bear Creek Hollow based Wadcutters and no more issues

 
What brand bullet were you using before you switched to Bear Creek?
Doug

Well a Bear Creek or even Speer might help.  These two brands are coated with a dry-film coating so might be better than a grease lubed bullet.

My 52 didn't like the dewc bullets much.
It shoots quite well with berry's plated 148 hbwc bullets- with no leading. I'm not shooting matches or anything, but it'll shoot as well as I can.

I used Hornady frontier HBWC 
I had to clean the barrel every 10 to 20 rounds
I tried Penn bullets DEWC and Mastercast DEWC but they did not give as nice a group
I also tried 3-D bullets HBWC but they leaded up quickly also
Once I started using the Bear Creek HBWC 148 grain I have had no problems at all with very good groups at 25 yards
2.7 gn Bullseye

Wobbley wrote:Well a Bear Creek or even Speer might help.  These two brands are coated with a dry-film coating so might be better than a grease lubed bullet.

I have a few more things to try.   I will add the dry lube bullets to my list.  A better/different lube might be the answer.

Right now I am working on slugging my barrels. 
I don't have the correct size round ball so I have slugged with the large Remington bullets (from the chamber end because that is the only place where leading occurs).  One barrel measures .3535" and the other .3530".  Both seem small for this caliper. If those numbers are correct then my .358 Zero bullets may be too big.  

 Even though the Remington bullets may be too big I will try them next to eliminate the need for a larger bullet.   Next I will try some of the large diameter Remington bullets. 
Doug

I use H&N  Copper Plated 357 WC/148 grains . Powder N310 2,7 grains on my S&W 52-1 with best results no leading.

Some targets 

Wobbley,
Nice targets!  And no leading.  I am jealous of both  
Doug

I decided to break into my stash of Remington bullets (I was saving them for when my scores improve   ) to see if they lead my model 52.  I shot 30 rounds at last weeks match and there was very little leading.  I needed my bore scope to see it.  The leading was very smooth and was located just after the case mouth and stopped before the rifling.  I don't consider this a problem. 
So, why does this very large diameter bullet not only shoot accurately but it dosent deposit much lead?  I can think of three possibilities:
1.  The "nasty" lubricant they use.
2.  The bullets are tapered.  They measure about .348" at the nose and about .362" at the hollow base.  The Zero bullet I use is the same .358" diameter its entire length.  Does anyone know if any other manufactures make tapered 148g HBWC bullets?  I would expect that a tapered bullet would cause less leading than one that is the same diameter.  Trying to ram a .358" bullet into a .353" barrel has got to cause some lead shaving.
3.  The combination of 1 & 2 above.


Doug