Load with 38 S&W data. I can usually keep 1.5" groups with it at 25 yards if I do my part. He loves this gun and keeps it in reach 24/7. My sq. Thanks for the start load Power Pistol will run lower pressures for the same velocity than W-W 231. The .44 spl. 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. Power Pistol won't work for me. Do you folks think a start at 3.0 gr and work up from there with a 125 gr bullet would be a safe load. Starting being near 3gr - ish. Hence the lack of load data from just about anybody. AA#2 is about the same burn rate, but burns much cleaner with less smoke in my guns. Anything goes with bullets. 3.8 gr. of Bullseye, 148 gr lead DEWC and Federal 100 primers. Its just two lubed balls on top of each other with the top ball roll crimped just past the hemisphere. I have a few 30-30 cases modified to shoot singles with a very light load. Extremely light loads for 38 Special revolver - The Firearms Forum This load tends to clock about 670 feet-per-second (fps) give or take 20, depending on the exact brand of wadcutter and the revolver its fired in. Fifty yards of course is the preferred distance. Reloading The .38 Smith & Wesson - Reload Ammo After making a healthy pile of brass with this load, I am unlikely to ever be without a few boxes of it on standby. Very versatile cartridge. This gun now wears factory synthetic grips which are decent but could use more girth behind the trigger guard. YouTube has plenty of reloading channels or the Reloaders Network webpage has more info as well. Depends on what kind of load you're after. .38 Special +P (Alliant Reloaders Guide) - Load Data 9mm 125 gr RN Lead Cast Bullets for Reloading - Stateline Bullets These bullets shot to point of aim in modern S&W snubbies, but the older M10-5 was regulated with 158 grain bullets and 125's shoot low. I'd imagine I'm not the first person to use this load, but I have found it is a very sooty/smokey load. My M60 came w/ factory banana grips- open back, long enough for pinkie rest but too small in girth behind the trigger guard. In fact, Hornady's handloading manual includes .357-inch bullets in the load data for the .38 Super, specifically 125-grain and 140-grain XTP bullets, along with .355-inch bullets, and their one remaining .356-inch bullet, the 125-grain HAP. .38 Special +P Load Data - PowderThrough Don't know of any bullets like that. I keep thinking about trading it for a Model 27 or, maybe, one of the new Pythons for extra weight. swatmag.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. Anyone that uses a J frame S&W should seriously think about swapping grips, and finding which set works for them. I have experimented with both of Hornadys 200-grain semiwadcutters in this load: the more button-nosed SWC and the longer Combat/Target (C/T) version. There is almost no recoil and the student can increase power level when they feel ready using the same gun. Two years into my second century a Colt MK IV Series 80 LTWT Commander 45 ACP still delivers the big medicine, but I have become enthralled with a new wheel gun- a Charter Arms Professional 32 H&R Magnum. Installed some wood boot grips, modified them with grooves at the bottom of each side panel, similar to those on Pach. I went to the grocery store to buy a loath of bread.. Jacketed bullets are not legal for Distinguished Revolver. 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. Too early Are you sure? Content . Ive not had a handgun entirely reject either load, so the recipe seems to be a worthy third alongside the previous .38 and .45. Classics go well together: circa 1909 S&W .38 Special and traditional 148-grain wadcutter load of 2.7 grains of Bullseye. And if youre doing that with a snub.let me know I wanna watch you shoot em. A chameleon depending on your loads and the barrel length or action its fired from. Please enable javascript before you are allowed to see this page. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck. I first started reloading 40+ years ago at a Lee Loader in .38 Special for a brand new Smith & Wesson Model 66 I had just purchased. Nothing, they dont need any. I have read some posts online from people who claim that it makes no difference whether the bullets are swaged or cast; and they can be loaded to the same velocity, but the swaged bullets will lead up a barrel faster because the lead is softer. L6: 1.550 inch = 39.37 mm Barrel Length : 2.0 inch = 50.8 mm Powder : Hodgdon HP38 Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge, incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge. Dennis, I dont reload and Im only 72, but shooting the .38Spl in my 6 S&W 586 is a sublime experience. I am way shy of 70 years old and I love me some .38 Special. Unsurpassed for .45 ACP target loads. But I would only be caught dead with one in my hands if I had to use one for self defense (pun intended). Ethan Johns is a military professional with worldwide experience in specialized units. My personal loads for practice replicate my carry. September 2015 S.W.A.T. Use the lead bullet loads with the plated and you will be fine. Interesting. Red Dot 38 Special - Gunloads.com If you have the means, I highly recommend you trying one out. I soon traded off a Colt Frontier Scout .22 LR for an S&W Model 15 and happily chased all manner of small game and landfill targets with my stash of wadcutters. If you are new to reloading. 7.8 gr Blue Dot 1,170 fps 1.43" Fed 100 Alliant Suggested starting load: 7.0 gr Pressure: 15,700 4.5 gr Bullseye 1,085 fps 1.43" Fed 100 Alliant Suggested starting load: 4.1 gr Pressure: 14,900 (Same issue found with a 12 oz. IIRC, I used 4.5 gr of Bullseye under a 125 gr lead bullet for a light plinker, and 5.6 gr of Bullseye under a 148 gr wadcutter (~815 fps, 4" bbl, probably around 750 fps out of a snub). Reading the "WARNING" on the site, it states to not exceed the loads published and to start 10% below the loads shown and work up from there. Brass collection is easy since it doesnt eject. Best to start a little low, and work up slowly with a chrono, though. 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. Any hotter and we get into a recoil issue. Any clues for powder and starting loads???? I tried 10 shots of each: 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7. The plated bullets feed nicely through my bullet feeder. Below, are three loaded rounds. Its worth mentioning that loaders do all kinds of obsessive rituals to squeeze the groups down. Rookie, back in the day when I was reloading I went through a 3 round butt L. Horton special model 24, a 4 24 and a 4 624. Both have fed 100% in a variety of pistols and have shot very well. Horrible 5-12" groups at 25 yds. Many reloading manuals also list an estimated pressure with a given load. I recently picked up a 396 Nightguard and am a convert to the 44 Special! Always make sure your lead bullets have been sized and lubricated. If all you practice with is the easy comfortable stuff, its not really practice. So if you find a "lead" load it is also a plated load. The load is a great learning tool in .45 for beginner and experienced alike. * I wish Id had a commercial version of this load in my ammo allocation when we were tasked with getting classes of students up to special operations standards with the issue custom 1911s. Three in particular proved as good as their longstanding reputations would indicate. I have often thought about reloading .357 brass to .38 special velocities to get around that, but have just never decided to actually do it. Reloading Data for .38 Special - Load Data - 1895Gunner. Hit the Bullseye with Bullseye: Classic Loads from a Classic Powder - SWAT Main fame for the .38 is now the J frame size revolvers, as a CCW gun. Despite being well over one hundred years old, it still has perfect relevance for todays shooters, both novice and advanced. Soft shooting. 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. The big medicine was delivered by a 1911, but S&W K frames (favorites were Models 12 & 64) took care of everything else. I will start ouy at the minimum velocity then. more weight than the similar size CA .44 Bulldog, were available, a lot more people would also like the .44 spl. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Posted: 4/17/2014 10:53:09 AM EST. The cartridge offers a great deal of zest and has thousands of possible load combinations. Unique was a sooty powder so Ive switched to W231. WITH THE SWAGED BULLETS REDDING SELLS A PROFILE CRIMP DIE. VV N320, N330 and N340 are products of VihtaVouri Oy Company Compac for my little finger to wrap around under the butt. PDF Cast Bullets in the .38 Special - Castpics Especially if you reload. A Forum dedicated to the sport of Bullseye shooting, Bullseye-L Forum::Ammunition Discussion, byPacFltShooter Wed Oct 28, 2020 9:00 am, byPacFltShooter Wed Oct 28, 2020 5:36 pm, byPacFltShooter Wed Oct 28, 2020 6:46 pm, byPacFltShooter Wed Oct 28, 2020 8:45 pm, byPacFltShooter Wed Nov 04, 2020 4:50 pm. Only if you see more than one load, is it less than maximum. 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. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck. When you say "not working" can you be more specific? Go figure. In half a dozen different sixguns, it ranged from accurate to spectacular. A significant difference in speeds is usually noted. Thank you for the article. So . Now theres an old memory. Dont take this the wrong way; Im guessing the average age of .38 spl fans is about my age (70). Using bullets from Hornady HP-XTP, Hornady HP-XTP or FP-XTP, Hornady FP-Cowboy, Hornady HBWC, Hornady SWC-HP, SWC or LRN. I am loath to shoot several cylinders of standard pressure/velocity .38 Special 125 grain bullets out of a Smith and Wesson Model 642 revolver (or similar). Canister Sizes: View All Bullseye Recipes 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. Reloading for it came next and it has since become my favorite pistol cartridge. In my area, Bullseye is one of the first powders to disappear from shelves, lasting about a heartbeat longer than an econo bulk box of .22 Long Rifle ammunition. 10. : 13,300 16,800 Starting Powder: 6.0 gr Starting Velocity: 1,266 Just an FYI. I use 3.2 gr Bullseye to push a 125 gr cast along at 750 - 775 fps in the 38 SPL from 5 and 6" barreled revolvers. They all shot horrible at 25 yards. Maybe once a year I would reset everything to load up a few hundred .38 Spl for the wifes Detective Special, then right back to .357. ( customer reviews) $ 10.69 - $ 246.00. That's usually +P power level in .38 Special. Youd just be risking ALOT firing it in a .38 framed revolver. I burned up about 300 of them before giving up. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account. Great Cast Lead Bullet for IDPA. All right are Reserved Reload Ammo, Reloading The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), hi=849 lo=728 ES=122 (powder up and down), hi=821 lo=684 ES=137 (powder up and down), hi=815 lo=637 ES=178 (powder in normal positions), hi=714 lo=549 ES=165 (powder up and down), hi=758 lo=693 ES=65 (powder up and down)(DO NOT USE LESS), Hi=886, Lo=861, ES=25 (This is a Carolina Cast bullet SWC-great cowboy load), hi=859 lo=743 ES=116 *(my personal medium load), hi=875 lo=685 ES=190.2(powder up and down), hi=710 lo=497 ES=213 (powder up and down), hi=791 lo=625 ES=166 (Powder up and down), hi=785 lo=670 ES=115 (powder up and down), hi=801, low=766 ES=35.32 in Contender 14 bbl. THAT TIME IS BETTER SPENT LEARNING HOW TO SHOOT THE REVOLVER IN THE RAPID FIRE PORTION. Bullet seating depth is very forgiving. @ Grumpy- I tried LOTS of grips on S&W revolvers. Ive been shooting them for 50 years. Yeah no. Re: 38 special loads by GrumpyOldMan 11/10/2013, 4:23 pm IIRC, the NRA Action Pistol power floor is a "factor" of 125, which requires a full 1,000 fps for 125-gr bullets.