38 spcl Meister 158 SWC Load

[CIG]

I'm loading Remington 38 spcl cases, CCI Primers, W231 Powder, and Miester 158 grain SWC.  Anyone have a good start to max load data?  I'm shooting this through a 6 inch Ruger Security Six Bull Barrel with red dot scope.  I was having good luck with 148 grain Hornady hollow base wad cutters, but wanted something that had better groups at 50 yards.  Speer #13 gave me load data and each of those from start to max did not give good groups.  3 to 4 inches best at 25 yards.  I was getting 1.5 to 2 inches with the Hornady wad cutters.

[Mikey]

CIG:  my Winchester reloading data lists just one load for the 158 gn rn or swc bullet in 38 spl - it is 4.3 of 231 for 865'/sec at 15,500 psi.  In your Security Six this should be a good load.  HTH.  Mikey.

[CIG]

Well I loaded and shot 4.3, 4.4, and 4.5 grains and still large groups.  Would it be helpful to more fully bell the cases and/or crimp tighter for more complete burn?  I thought I would try both of these and then test each powder charge again.  Any thoughts if this would help or should I start swapping components, like primers, powder or go to mag cases?  

Any thoughts?  Thanks.

[Castaway]

Just curious, are you resting on sand bags?

[CIG]

Yes, I'm shooting from a bench on sandbags.  I get 3 shot groups with full bore 357 mags at 50 yards, of about an inch.  I don't think the technique is the problem or the gun.  I never loaded SWC before, so I'm not sure how much to crimp these.  The WC I give a pretty good crimp over the top of it and I belled it alot.  I'm thinking a tighter crimp might give better burn.  I assume if I had a chronagraph I could confirm this???