Easy to reload and it started my reloading experience. The flyers tend to be severe. 2.) May 15, 2012. kc2za said: Hi All, I have been loading .38 spl with 2.7 gr. I am using this load in some .38 specials. Notes: primer: CCI 500; case: Speer; NOTE: All loads are maximum. Enter to win an FN FAL Rifle. For example, a Glock 17 shot the HAP into 1.35 inches and the FMJ into 2.2 inches at 25 yards. Recoil is mild enough that for many years it was the golden choice for the next introductory step for young or new shooters after rimfire. Thank you for the article. Or does the CMP make the rules for DR, and the NRA admins it? 4.) What overal length of the cartridge? Do not use anything but light loads and lead bullets in these older revolvers. These are put into a large hydraulic press and extruded into a continuous coil of wire. I miss those days. There really is a recently developed technology that prevents leading, while eliminating messy lubricants. I'm asking the above questions because I don't want to run too hot of a load, but wasn't sure if it was ok to drop down below 2.8 as far as 2.5. Id pay at least a dollar to see it. I have two editions of it from different years that have that data. My experience has always been with bullseye powder. We've got some great loads for 158 coated and plated semi wadcutters, and we're trying something new. 38 special 125gr copper plated HP38 reloading data The powder charges used for .38 are forgiving. These are the bullets I bought: 158 gr from Roze dist. 9mm 125 grain RN Lead Hard Cast Bullet. I have one that has been loaded about sixty times and it is still in use today. I can get away with using it as cast w/ alox. Thanks for the excellent article, Josh! We look at three classics: one each in .45 ACP, .38 Special, and 9mm. She ran two cylinders of 100 grain wad cutters and gave it back to me. Stylish But Serious: Kimber Super Carry Pro, Survival Savvy: Gearing Up for the Next Level, Force Multiplier: Knife and Gun Integration. At 25 you can get away with a lighter load. Best and most realistic article about the .38 special ive found. 6.) I have found that if you go down too low in charge you will have some ignition issues occasionally. Lord only knows how many cartridge cases I hammered with a plastic mallet into that Lee, it had to be thousands. Ive also switched from lead to Berrys Preferred copper plated bullets. want me to write up an article about 3d printed .38 special bullets that Ive been working? There are so many new powders today, its hard to keep up. I have tested both brass and nickel-plated cases using mild loadings and have not yet worn out a case. I get okay accuracy with 4.4 of W-W 231 and 125s, depending on what bullet is used. Tim: The Lyman 49th edition lists the accuracy loads for their cast bullets. Magtech Sport Shooting, 38 Special, 125 Grain, Full Metal Jacket, Flat, 50 Round Box 38Q Ive been loading 158gr FMJ with Titegroup and the only problem Ive had is getting the seating depth right after the die locknut slipped. Even though the gun was chambered for .357 Magnum, I plinked and practiced with a lot of .38s over the years. You may end up with one "not" clearing the barrel. : 1,266 1,472 Press. Instead, Ive favored things like the K and L frame Smiths (5 screw pre-model 10 and 686 in my case) and Ruger revolvers for higher round count activities. Most of these are at the upper end. This is good, because the snub takes a lot of practice to have a consistent capability. The cases are large enough that they can be easily manipulated by inexperienced hands and yet small enough to not require much force in the sizing stage. In several of the guns, the old standby couldnt quite duplicate the level of precision they exhibit with current production wadcutters from Black Hills or Winchester, but in each case, the load shot close to or right on the sights and nearly held the X ring. 110gr JHP! My usual 38 Spl load is a 125 gr plated bullet over 5 grains of bullseye. . I once had to quote the South Carolina Supreme Court when they had spelled it loathe., Regards, And for 99% of the actual real world needs of a citizen for self defense it will work just fine. Bullseye Handgun Powders Smokeless pistol powder Billions of rounds have been loaded with Bullseye since it was introduced in 1913. Handloading the .38 Special for Snubnose Revolvers The floor does not apply for PPC, or the equivalent match for Action Pistol. I fired 3 Remington 125 SJHP 357s from a 340 and thought i had nerve damage in my hand. Interesting. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. Also some WSF. ), I very much wanted to start with some tried-and-true Bullseye loads, but it took an epic scavenger hunt across many months to find a canister of the elusive classic. (For those who would. In terms of thousands of rounds of range practice, though, that is a definite no-go in my book. My point being is I used the resources I have, looked elsewhere (The High Road, The Firing Line), and wanted to try here. That one Ill keep. Hmm. Send the cylinder out to get cut for moon clips and adapted to 9mm, so you can shoot both 38/357/9mm and use all on moon clips. I tried 10 shots of each: 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7. Since it hit the market 103 years ago, it has been a staple for most handloaders and the backbone of most accuracy loads in the popular calibers. These are light and easy to shoot. You need a .357 Magnum revolver if you want to try a 9MM cylinder. Titegroup and 125gr 38 Special Load Data The .38 Special's MAP is 17,000 psi, whereas for the .38 Special +P it is 20,000 psi. JHP, 158 gr. He loves this gun and keeps it in reach 24/7. Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum (because no 6-inch Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver was on hand). I dont own anything in .38 special yet, but I have plans to buy a .357 magnum revolver in near future, so I already reloaded couple thousands of rounds in .38 and .357. Everyone here who has tried plated bullets including myself, have had disappointing results in accuracy. There is one good reason to use WST. HAVE FUN JP. is so simple. .38 Special - CHUCKHAWKS.COM 1.) All the data says this should be an OK load , even "mid-range" for non +p. Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. I just got some clays which I heard was very clean burning compare to bullseye. Congratulations on spelling loath right. Top .38 Special Loads for Carry - Firearms News Hornady also has load data for the 110-grain .357 XTP for the lower-pressure .38 Automatic. I am way shy of 70 years old and I love me some .38 Special. I'm guessing they still go bang, and leave the gun to go downrange. 4.4 gr. Bullseye and NRA Distinguished Revolver (Note H110 & W296 are the same as of 2008 as is HP-38 & W231), (IMR 4227 is same as H-4227 if made in Australia), * Blackhorn 209 is a black powder substitute with smokeless like qualities. JHP (now discontinued) 5 rounds . Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide 5.0 gr unique with berry's 125gr = .38 Special squibs (solved - AR-15 The .44 spl. My son asked if I wanted him to help, then fired one shot and handed it back. I only wish the brass was more available locally. Thanks to all for the info. I buy 158 SWCHP all the time.my main bullet. I checked out Alliant's website-no data for flat point with the powders I have, but data for Gold Dot HPs for Bullseye and Unique. Haven't tried it in the Colt Officer's Model Match yet. References: Accurate Arms Co. 1996 Reloading booklet Alliant Powder Co. Reloaders Guide (1995) Hodgdons Basic Reloaders Manual (1996) Speer Reloading Manual, #12 Winchester Reloading Components Manual, 14th edition Lyman Piston & Revolver Reloading Handbook, 2nd edition. Seems like everyone is all orgasmic about bigger, faster, more of, etc. 11/2/2022. Your experience is definitely motivation for me to give my J-frame more range time! Good thing I didn't go with the original powder charge I intended to use. Bonus is that dont need magnum Primers for these reloads. With a charge of only 3.1 grains of Winchester 231 powder, velocities run around 750 to 800 fps with good accuracy and mild recoil. Thanks for your help. Paste as plain text instead, Winchester's 231 or WSL are also good powders for the .38 special. But I found 2.4 and 2.7 interesting at 25 yards off the sandbags. AA#2 is about the same burn rate, but burns much cleaner with less smoke in my guns. Im not recommending that you carry the Bullseye load, but dont feel as if you are going to tactical purgatory for enjoying this load, either. A longer case, with have a tighter crimp them a shorter one, what will lead to variations in pressure, and accuracy. 7, No. No benchrest, nothing but two shakey hands holding the pistol. Bullseye or Titegroup cover 90% or more of my .38 Special loadings. Battis, if you go to the very bottom of this page you will see Castpics. http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp. If you're looking for a real light load that's easy to shoot, I'd just use WW's data for the W231 with a 125 gr. I will always love the 38 SPL (never cared much for 357 Mag), but that 3 seven shot Charter with both 32 S&W Long and 32 H&R Mag is truly the bees knees. This 1911 halved its normal so-so accuracy with 200-grain Hornady C/T SWC, shooting this nice two-inch group. And I still think a 158 at 600 beats hell out of a 22 magnum of any stripe. I don't know what bullets you have, but Berry's recommends per their website to use hard cast data for their plated bullets. As a result, Ive been able to spend far more time practicing with it rather than fussing with it. Swaged bullets do not have the hardness of poured (cast) lead. 1.455 in. I carry 38 /357 every day have used them in real world shootings. Using a new 105g bullet and no one has load data for itor do they RN, 158 gr. I once rented a Ruger LCR in .38 Special. I went from 2.7to 4.0 gr and nothing to speak of. it seems awful confusing, but with time you will be able to interpolate the published data into something that will give you good starting points to work up your loads. Berry's bullets and lee chart and 357 load - ArizonaGunOwners.com So, I'm guessing the pressure curve isn't as severe as some of the faster burners. favorite cowboy load (38 spl) - SASS Wire - SASS Wire Forum 2.7 gr. 8.) One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck.. Discussion: Bullseye is a faster burning powder and some people feel better suited for the .38 special. Now theres an old memory. Like the author said, I consider it a garbage disposal round as you can load it with almost anything with good results. Very forgiving with a straight wall case, and tons of bullet variety. I have tested lots and lots of different bullet and found them all to be great. Ive loaded some wadcutters to the point of being flush with the case mouth and big lead bullets almost to the front of the cylinder. Shooter's Reference Load Data for .38 Special Winchester's website has data for W231 and a 125 gr LRNFP, but not plated. 38 Special 158gr. JHP Load? | Glock Talk I reached an interesting number the other day. Here is the dillema: The Lyman manual says starting load is 3.2 grains and MAX. Interestingly, I had pistols that would shoot one well and the other impressively, but have not yet had one pistol do magic with both. of Bullseye with Lee's 125gr RN mold in a 38 special with so-so accuracy. .38 Special Montana Gold 125 FMJ Power Pistol 6.1 COL 1.417 Tested with a S&W-686-3, 6", ambient temperature about 32 degrees, no wind, target posted at 25 feet (hey, I'm testing handloads for use, not my long range bear killing skills, defensive only). In my time spent with the .38, I have come to greatly appreciate it for what it is and does. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. They all shot horrible at 25 yards. 100 except where otherwise noted in "remarks" Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data. Plated bullets are to be loaded as lead bullets. However recoil will be the limiting factor especially for the short line. Because we have no action to cycle, the novice reloader can afford to be off a bit if they have an entry-level scale or powder dispenser. It'll look funky, but it will shoot. 7.) The 4.0 grain load is relatively mild recoil and was accurate. Bullets are .357 for jacketed and .358 for lead in diameter. RN, 160 gr. I cannot begin to fathom shooting 20,000 rounds out of that revolver! On my J frame S&W without the CT #305 Laser Grips, I swapped out to a Hoque set. Maybe its just my age, but I may never shoot a 38 again after discovering the 32. How Do I Choose Good Self-Defense Ammo For My Handgun? Reloading Data .38 Special (Alliant Data) Metallic - Load Data Hollow points are not. My more serious RN is the 358311 that drops @150 gr. A handgunner using .38 Specials is set for targets, plinking and small game while .357 Mag. I'm not looking to blow up my old model 10. Always make sure your lead bullets have been sized and lubricated. 4.0 gr. Thinking of using it in NRA Action pistol or PPC. Any discussion of Bullseye is incomplete without mentioning a few of the downsides. Generally, I'm looking for a load that produces accuracy from approx. Would you like to react to this message? Agree 100% since I reload and shoot it since years, lost count. Currently using Titegroup, but started out with, and loaded many thousands of rounds, with Bullseye. This is an easy-shooting load that can cause some power-philes to tusk-tusk and comment. .38 Special Bullseye/148gr Berrys wadcutter???? - 24hourcampfire Note: More and more test are conducted with all rounds fired with powder UP against the primer for each shot, or DOWN on the bullet for each shot, then gently bring to horizontal to shoot. Im new to loading the 38 for accuracy, but the biggest issue I found with case length is your crimp. Nice thing about reloading is that loads can be tailored for the gun that you are shooting. 38 special , bullseye, and 125 grain lead rnfp - The Firing Line Accurate's No. Bullseye 3.2gr / 763fps --> 4.2gr / 892fps (max), Unique 4.3gr / 773fps --> 5.3gr / 944fps (max), 231 3.9gr / 733fps --> 4.8gr / 896pfs (max). But I think I was still loading the cases from that first box when I quit loading 18 years later! Compac for my little finger to wrap around under the butt. Reloading Data for .38 Special - Load Data - 1895Gunner Beginners to shooting can use a full size revolver or their carry gun with light to mild loads to become confident and familiar with marksmanship and trigger control. I can not be held responsible for. It would have been too hot. Ethan Johns is a military professional with worldwide experience in specialized units. TITEGROUP AND 125GR 38 SPECIAL LOAD DATA Ammunition-Gunsmithing Reloading Forum Register Notices Consider Becoming A Supporting Member Click HERE For The Benefits Reloading All Reloading Topics Go Here Thread Tools Display Modes # 1 01-24-2016, 05:38 AM RONALD HENSLEY Member Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: Waynesville NC Posts: 114 Likes: 12 WST is less dense than BE. SWC+GC, That isnt unique to Bullseye, but is certainly more pronounced with the relatively small charges required. 38 special reloaders | The Firearms Forum I dont bother polishing my .38 brass because I just dont let it fall in the mud or dirt. 6.) Go figure. You are spot on about Trail Boss, that stuff is magical with cast reloads. They are low because of swaged bullets. Load manuals often advise against downloading .38 Special jacketed loads to prevent squibs, especially the 110 and 125 grain bullets. 4.2 gr. If she had shot more, I would have probably bought another set of dies, to prevent the need for changing adjustments between the two. The Charter Arms .44 models are potential CCWs, but are too light to properly handle the .44 spl. Not in that order. Click there and go to the load data lookup section . The design of this modern revolver makes the SW guns seem archaic. Going up to 3.9 Gr for +P. Great to get the Mrs out there! https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck?highlight=distinguished+++%2Bloads, Load question on Penn Bullets for Distinguished load. My sq. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. 9 and others like 2400 that are generally used for magnums). Canister Sizes: View All Bullseye Recipes The 38 Special, practically snubnose 38 Specials, seem to do their best work with bullets right around the 155-160 grain range. I never enjoyed touching off a 357 Mag in a K frame, and I cannot imagine the discomfort of firing it in anything smaller or lighter. Each of the classic loads is also economical. As example, 5.8 6.0 grains UNIQUE with a 125 grain HP in a snub nose .357 revolver. I have found that some powder coated bullets which are the same weight as lead, feel quite punchy out of the gun. Only need cast when driving up to 1200 fps or so. I can shoot this load at speeds I cant normally reach with .45. I here from quite a few that 3.5 gr of bullseye is a good load for 158 gr lead Bullets for bullseye shooting. Yeah no. : 1.475" Powder: 6.0 gr 6.9 gr Vel. I have loaded wadcutters for plinking , Double end 148 grain,, mixed brass over 2.7 gn WST or Bullseye. As a young man, I came into a couple of cases of hand-me-down factory mid-range wadcutters. 38 Special 125 gr XTP American Gunner Item #90324 | 25/Box The American Gunner line of ammunition is a collection of tried-and-true, versatile loads that are popular with shooters for their target shooting, hunting or self-defense needs. I bought him as a gift a 642 with the black rubber grips, a few speedloaders w/big knob tops, and Hornady 125 grain FTX loads. 110gr JHP! The mild recoil of the mid-range load is a perfect mate to the .38s that most shooters own these daysthe airweight J-Frame or equivalent. Javascript is required. I SEE THAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT USE THE AMMO FOR D/R. For me, the 32 H&R Mag is my 357 Mag, and the 32 S&W Long is my 38 SPL. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. I dont see much conversation on these specifics but I think Its all about the size of the explosion in the chamber. *WAP is not best choice for .38 special, too slow and inconsistent. .38 Special 148 Lead DEWC w/Bullseye smokey load | 1911Forum I've tried 2.8, 3.0, and 3.2. accuracy. Allgoodhits Posts : 726 Join date : 2017-09-17 Location : Northern Virginia Like document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Pick up any current gun magazine and youll be inundated with images of sexy black rifles. 5 are good choices. June 13, 2016 in 9mm/38 Caliber. I load my 38 target ammo to 3.5 grainsand my self defense 38 to 3.8 grains, when using 158 grain bullets (and Bullseye). Never got around to trying the T grips. I carry my M642 extensively, but I only shoot it occasionally because it is a snappy little b!tch with standard loads. In my time with the cartridge, I have come to appreciate the mid to low end of the power spectrum and thus have made extensive use of Trail Boss powder and bullets such as Hornadys .358 158gr SWC. Designed in 1898, the .38 Smith & Wesson Special cartridge went on . That revolver is aluminum and cannot handle the pressure of 9MM. In one or two strokes, the bullet is formed ready for dip lubing. 38 special loads - Bullseye Forum 38 Special +P 18,500 Main issue is that the .44 spl. Yeah, my wifes last gun, with +P it actually HURTS! IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. You have never indicated what barrel length or brand or frame size you may be using these in. In terms of the best stopping power for .38 Special, I personally like 150 grain full wadcutters or 158 grain hollowpoint semi-wadcutters. The .38 Special is the most popular of all centerfire revolver cartridges. 38 special is a great cartridge. As an old bullseye guy I've stuck with Bullseye powder for almost 30yearsusing lead bullets. Posted March 2, 2013. The covered blackstrap and extended length Compac design I reckon are major factors in reducing perceived recoil. Interesting. Jack it up a notch and go with .327 Federal Magnum. I just bought some 158 gr SWC bullets that are pure lead. I load it almost exclusively though with either a powder coated or plated 125 grn bullet. A light target load, which tends to be very accurate, is about 3.1 grains, with a 158 grain bullet. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. ( customer reviews) $ 10.69 - $ 246.00. The 125 Hornady XTP, a jacketed hollow point bullet that can easily handle 1500 fps velocities. Since we are working with a gun that doesnt have a magazine, we can afford to mess with this dimension at will. Bullseye is the classic pistol powder and the backbone of many pet loads. How can I tell if they are cast or swaged? Anyone that uses a J frame S&W should seriously think about swapping grips, and finding which set works for them. You will be, essentially, making 38 Short Colt.