1950's Pythons

[capstan]

For the 1950's Pythons, is it true that lead bullets were used primarily? I am trying to work up the most accurate load. I have 1 relaoding manual from the early 60's and none from the 50's. The old 60's manual shows all lead bullet loads. Perhaps the python of the 50's was most accurate with lead bullets?

[dfariswheel]

Lead bullets were more common for revolvers back then, but jacketed were available.
Back then, most people shot lead from revolvers, and full metal jacketed through automatics. The modern jacketed hollow point bullets hadn't been developed to the level they are today.

The Python was intended to be a target revolver, sort of a "super" Officer's Model.
Most target revolvers were used with hand loaded 148 grain, lead, wad cutter bullets, loaded to the mid-range of the loading data.
These 148 grain Mid-range loads were noted for being the most accurate revolver loads, and that's what the target shooters used.

The bullets were the full wad cutter type, loaded with the bullet flush with the case mouth.
These were extremely accurate and cut very clean holes in the targets.
The paper the official NRA targets were made from was a special type that allowed the wad cutter bullets to cut those sharp, clean holes.

So, if you're looking for flat out accuracy from a revolver, use 148 grain, lead full wad cutter bullets, and start load development in the mid-range of the loading data. Usually the data will list a 148 grain load as "most accurate" and there's where you start development to fine tune it for your specific gun.

[nightshade2x]

Here's some vintage factory loaded 148 gr. Mid-range match wadcutters as described above, I also hand load a cast 148 gr. DEWC...also pictured is my 8" target Python in .38 Spl.















Have fun and be safe.
Nightshade2x

[capstan]

Thanks Guys. I also load and shoot 38 special wadcutters. My usual load is 2.9 to 3.0 grains of reddot with the 148 grain (Hollow) base wadcutter. I will have to try the plain solid wadcutters and see how they do. Ive been loading the hollow base wadcutters so long that I just never tried solid wadcutters.
I'm wondering if back then, they also mostly shot hard lead bullets in 357 mag through the Pythons . Do you think most Bullseye match shooters shot 38 spl. loads instead of 357mag loads thru the Puthons?
I guess probably 38 special loads would be more accurate in the Pythons. I wonder if there are some good hardcast lead 357 loads that are approaching the accuracy of the 38 spl. loads.
I would like to work up a really accurate hard lead 357 mag load for the Pythons and also use 38 spl. wadcutters for most practice.

[broknaxl]

You can use your wadcutter load in the .357 case. This would work better in your Python.

[z4lunch]

Here's a four shot group at just under 2.5" at 50 yds.(it's ok but will shoot better) I shot last Sunday out of my Python. Boolit is a modified Lyman 358395 with a hollow base, and weighs 154gns with soft lead, ahead of 2.6 grains of Bullseye, seated flush Like Dfariswheel pointed out.
I lightly roll crimp mine so they feed in my S&W 52, and Colt 38 midrange
Steve

My wheel guns and Pistols only get a mild diet of soft lead.

[z4lunch]

Here is some period target ammo... Not sure what period

[capstan]

Z4 Nice group That's real good for 50 yards. Are you using that load with 38 spl. cases or 357 mag cases?

[z4lunch]

38 spl cases...I don't own any 357 cases
Steve

[CO_Kid]

Lead bullets were used by those in the know. Usually a semi-wadcutter. Of the choices, lead round nose, semi-wadcutter, and jacketed round ball ammo, the lead semi-wadcutter had the best stopping power due to the flat nose. If you've ever heard of Kieth style bullet, it was his take on a semi-wadcutter bullet and became very popular.

It wasn't until the early 70's that Lee Jurras founded the Super-vel company and invented a good practical hollow point bullet to sell comercially, leading to the ammo we have today.