I used to load my 38 spl. (S&W #52) with inverted, hollow-base wadcutters. It'll do the job, especially for a pistol that was made to shoot "paper"!
Good luck with your experiment, Capt. Chris

yep....that's the bullet!!!
I guess it's hard to improve a hole in paper....
:-)Rocky

Rocky,
Trail Boss is not designed for full power loads. When you get near the top of the spectrum,pressures and velocities are erradic.

Maybe Unique might be a better choice???

Wayne

Wayne,
The stated pressure is around 16,000-16,500 with a MV of around 760-780 FPS...it is .2grn higher than what is stated, however I do not believe it to be too high....however, as the amount of powder has increased it has become less attractive...just mess'n around...thought it would out, however it appears that it just my not...it's also a .357, coated, and not the typical .358 lead bullet, and the barrel has been moly coated
It just my be that there is not enough pressure being created to cycle the action
Thanks for the advise

:-)Rocky

Rocky,
The late Skeeter Skeleton used 38 spl cases in his 357 magnum revolvers. His load was 13.5 gr of 2400 with a 158 gr lead gas checked bullet.

In my opinion that is a might too high and I would fear that those rounds got mixed in with rounds for the 38 spl revolvers which could lead to some trouble.

Wayne

Wayne,
Well, my .2 grn over load failed to cycle the action as well, so, Trail Boss appears to NOT be a powder for the 52....just having some fun. I'll go back the load I was using before....A fellow has to try....if not, you don't know.
back to the "fun" part of this thread....cleared out a few hogs this weekend....not me, but the younger folks...too hot down here for the old folks to put out too much effort....we just provide back up....
:-)Rocky

Rocky,
Being that the 52 can only use flush seated wadcutters,I would say that the only tried and true load would be 2.7 gr of Bullseye with a 148 gr double ended wadcutter.

That was the basic load that the 52 was designed around.

Wayne

Wayne...
Thanks....I've not done the Bullseye, however I'm sure it's as you describe....actually I have no plans to load for this gun at this moment, I'm just going to pack it back up....I never shot it that much anyway, and probably will not get back to it for a while...I'm loading some Trail Boss, and just got off on a thought....
:-)Rocky

Rocky,
Back in the mid 60s,just after S&W came out with the Model 52,Gil Hebard of Gil Hebard Guns in Knoxville,IL did a test on the Model 52.

Machine rest groups at 50 yards with the Remington factory wadcutter loads were less than one inch!!!

Some holes showed some signs of tipping but that is common with wadcutter bullets.

It is a shame that the gun was not more popular with the National Match competitors as it was a great piece.

Wayne

Wayne,
It was great that...back in the day....we had gun manufactures actually competing to build better, more competitive guns. This does not happen today. When shooting competitive trap, Winchester, Remington, Federal, and maybe more, than I cannot remember, were all represented at the big shoots....not today. People that you knew, and people that were there to advance their product....Colt and Smith went head to head, to build the most accurate firearm...now, its the after market gunsmiths that are doing just that....today, Colt is going to give you a good product, however, if you want it to shoot better, you are going to have to go to an after market source.
guess that's it...still, few factory made guns today are in the class of the 52. wad cutter or not, if you want a gun that shots, right of the box, a 52 will take you there!!
:-)Rocky