. I probably shoot more 38s than everything else put together but a Dillon 750 makes loading a lot faster. Notes: Bbl Length: 5.6; primer: Fed. A 158 SWCHP at 850-875 fps from a snub. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. Its hard to find those swaged SWCs and hollow point bullets anyone; it seems everyone is only interested in hard cast for velocity and penetration. Is it considered safe to down load a cartridge that far under starting? 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. Reloading .44 Spl. Current J frame factory grips have similar features and are made of a stiffer compound. * All PLUS P loads for guns designed for it (20,000 PSI), (Cowboy loads shot in 7 1/2 bbl.revolver no need to reduce), ALL THESE LOADS ARE PLUS P, SPECIAL HOT 21,000 PSI. Then duplicate with reloads for practice. )Lastly, the .38 SPL has a very large following and materials can be had readily. Hehe, back before Nick skimmed down. Many people tend to poo-poo .38 Special (standard pressure) for self-defense as being somehow underpowered. 5 are good choices. Bullets are .357 for jacketed and .358 for lead in diameter. (See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.). How does WST compare to Bullseye powder? I'm guessing they still go bang, and leave the gun to go downrange. I can shoot this load at speeds I cant normally reach with .45. Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue. Reloading supplies and load recipes are available everywhere. Each of the classic loads is also economical. How Do I Choose Good Self-Defense Ammo For My Handgun? RN, 158 gr. Have a Tritium sight and laser on it to boot. 594/600 at the real distances of 24 rnds at 50 yds, 24 rnds at 25 yes, and 12 rnds at 7.5 yds. Damn. Bullseye is the classic pistol powder and the backbone of many pet loads. I keep thinking about trading it for a Model 27 or, maybe, one of the new Pythons for extra weight. When you say "not working" can you be more specific? The Charter Arms .44 models are potential CCWs, but are too light to properly handle the .44 spl. Hence the lack of load data from just about anybody. Forget about it. Hollow points are not. I have 4 handguns that will shoot .38. Bullseye and NRA Distinguished Revolver Prefer to use the CT model 305 laser grips in lieu of S&W grips. I started reloading 38 special as my first cartridge 8 years ago when I was 22, soooo.I have an old mans soul? If youre recoil averse (and dont have a disability of some kind), its because you havent shot it enough. Hodgdon's Basic Reloading Manual, (The free one, available for the asking. The only way to shoot both 9mm and .38 special is to have two separate cylinders timed to the revolver. I make a habit of counting the number of reloads I make by keeping a tally of primer and bullet boxes. I have found that some powder coated bullets which are the same weight as lead, feel quite punchy out of the gun. The 4.0 grain load is relatively mild recoil and was accurate. No more lead in the barrel or on my hands. Good shootin! What I learned after 50 years of shooting and reloading 38spl cases some where around 100 thousands rounds. Have you all found different seat depths to work better than what's in the manual? *WAP is not best choice for .38 special, too slow and inconsistent. The same volume of BE will weigh much more than than same volume of WST. Thanks for the excellent article, Josh! SASS# 85224. I was just trying to get a general consensus of what other guys were using. Posted: 4/17/2014 10:53:09 AM EST. Currently using Titegroup, but started out with, and loaded many thousands of rounds, with Bullseye. They have a large selection about the hard cast loads from 90 to 170 gains. But this piece isnt about the gun, but rather the cartridge. Alliant listed 3.6 gr Bullseye as maximum (15000 psi) in 38 Special and 3.8 as max in 38 Special PLUS P (17000 psi) with 158 LSWC bullets. Your previous content has been restored. WST seems like such a good powder in .45 ACP that I thought I might try it. Tim: The Lyman 49th edition lists the accuracy loads for their cast bullets. Even better, is get some 38 S&W brass. A gun on you always works better than the gun left at home. I bet you can find some nice shooting loads with Bullseye. Me too! Boolit Grand Master. Load it in 38 Special dies. Im also impressed by the apparent durability of your Airweight J-frame. Although the .357 cylinders are the same length so they can be timed to a 642. I thought the DR program was NRA, not CMP. This load is in the general velocity bracket with most generic or bulk box 115-grain loads and zings over my chronograph at 1,125 to 1,140 fps from a Glock 17, depending on bullet style. Not in that order. I like the smell of Bullseye, dont mind wiping the handguns down after a range day, and the dark soot that accumulates on my support hand when shooting wheelguns in particular just reminds me to wash up. Despite being well over one hundred years old, it still has perfect relevance for todays shooters, both novice and advanced. These are put into a large hydraulic press and extruded into a continuous coil of wire. Over 20,000 rounds, Ive found that theres rarely a wrong way to do .38 SPL. IIRC, the NRA Action Pistol power floor is a "factor" of 125, which requires a full 1,000 fps for 125-gr bullets. Great gun with the best factory double action trigger Ive ever shot. WC, 158 gr. Most notably the lighter weight bullets. 1.455 in. I SEE THAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT USE THE AMMO FOR D/R. 38 Special Loads for Bullseye by GerhardG Sun Jul 17, 2022 11:01 am Greetings, Looking for load suggestions for 38 special LSWC 158 grain SNS bullets, red coated based on the following powders; Bullseye, Unique, N310 and N320. Bullseye or Titegroup cover 90% or more of my .38 Special loadings. I believe this particular bullet is meant for the 9mm,but drops at 358. 2.9 of Clays is soft enough and dead accurate at 50yds. Go figure. 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. I reload a 3 CA Bulldog in .44 with 200 gr wadcutters, to recreate the Man Stopper loads of long ago. Traditionally, the max SAAMI pressures were: 38 S&W 14,500 I bought a Ruger Alaskan in 454 Casull last year ahead of a hunt up in Wyoming. I only wish the brass was more available locally. Different colors can be used to identify different loads and since bottom of each bullet is also powder coated, there is less lead dispersed in the air at the shooting range. And I still think a 158 at 600 beats hell out of a 22 magnum of any stripe. Shoots well in my K-38, 686, and a friend's K-38 at 50 yards in the Ransom rest. Great Cast Lead Bullet for IDPA. . Just got back into reloading 38 special again after a long hiatus with no revolver, and was instantly reminded of what a joy it is to reload. My hand ached for a week. I really enjoy Trail Boss and use it extensively for plain lead and plated bullets. Only need cast when driving up to 1200 fps or so. http://www.adi-powders.com.au/handloaders-guide/equivalents.asp. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. Ideal load in a 2 J Frame .38. The SP101 is far more comfortable to shoot but not so much fun to carry. But, with jacketed bullets that doesn't seen to be working. But still nothing under 3.5". (Inceptor) Diameter: 0.357" Powder: CFE Pistol (Hodgdon) Primer: WIN WSP Case: WIN Trim Length: 1.145" C.O.L. If you have the means, I highly recommend you trying one out. I found it to be a nice blend of accuracy, soft recoil, and sure functioning, with enough spice behind it to reliably topple steel targets. Most modern revolvers chambered for .38 SPL are rated to +P, so there is room for error, but care must still be taken. My experience has always been with bullseye powder. Soft shooting. 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). If you havent taken a look at what the .38 Special offers, youre selling yourself short. @ Grumpy- I tried LOTS of grips on S&W revolvers. Dec 18, 2011. Yeah, my wifes last gun, with +P it actually HURTS! I would say I completely disagree with you on ever even contemplating using a revolver for self defense unless you are a person that has never owned a gun and not likely ever to practice with it. So . Even slower powders may provide more consistent speeds and will be tested in the future (No. NULLI SECUNDUS. That one Ill keep. 11/2/2022. You can't rely on this because not all variables for YOUR cases and chamber and loading length, etc. 358430 (195 grain) round nose bullet that was used in the old 200 grain police loads as there is always interest in these. Would .44 Special be somewhat similar to .38, in terms of ease of reloading, case life, etc.? You have entered an incorrect email address! WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets, Re: WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets. There have been guns Ive bought for the caliber, but the .38 wasnt one of those. I found some data for 148 and 158 gr bullets but no published data on the 125s. THAT TIME IS BETTER SPENT LEARNING HOW TO SHOOT THE REVOLVER IN THE RAPID FIRE PORTION. That being the case, I truly NEED as much ammunition as possible and the ability to defeat soft barriers such as auto windshields, sheet metal, drywall, doors, etc. 4.2 gr. Unlike many other guns Ive owned and carried, this little snubby really cant be modified much beyond factory configuration. is so simple. The pistol or revolver of good quality is vital. Load it using wadcutter specs, and seat the bullet flush, like a wadcutter. My point being is I used the resources I have, looked elsewhere (The High Road, The Firing Line), and wanted to try here. S&W M637-2 2" barrel Yes I do have a few of the older high quality classic revolvers not the current made Cast Iron garbage that is being vomited out today. I have two editions of it from different years that have that data. Here is the dillema: The Lyman manual says starting load is 3.2 grains and MAX. 38 special , bullseye, and 125 grain lead rnfp Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting : The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and . Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. Loath and Loathe are different words that mean different things. https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck. 38 Special 17,000 Larry Gibson "Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing." Nikola Tesla 01-30-2020, 01:43 PM #9 Mr_Flintstone Boolit Buddy Join Date Jan 2020 Location I love a nice, full-size .357 Magnum on the range because it is so easy to train new shooters on. The powder charges used for .38 are forgiving. Thats a pretty clear explanation and comparison of the NEEDS of the strength of the chamber for each caliber. This Cast Reloading Bullet feeds great in automatics and has excellent accuracy in both the 9mm and 38 Super. You can always back off to the .32 S&W Long or .32 H&R Mag if you choose to. Using higher pressure loads will wear brass out faster and it will become brittle with time. I find the Pachmayr Compac grips on my 640 reduce the slap of full-boat .357 to less than that on my 3 M65 (w/ wood Altamont grips) or my 4 686 (Pachmayr Gripper Professional grips.) And, oh yeah. ), 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. Recoil in that gun is less than most 45 ACP 1911s I have shot, and its still got around 500-600ft lbs of energy which is more than enough for feral hogs around the ranch back home. in a belt holster at 4:00. From my Hornady Third Edition manual 38 Special 158 Grain Lead Round Nose #3586 Win 231 3.0 Grains 650 FPS 4.4 Grains 850 FPS Now I will tell you from experience you do NOT want to load Lead Bullets Fast. Others Have reported some success but few have more than one or two loads. It also shows that the loads were established using a 6" barrel, so regardless of what any published data shows, the chances of ever finding published data for the exact projectile and barrel length you are using, as well as the exact conditions you will be shooting in, would be nearly impossible. That for just a nice shooting load one cant beat 148gr wad-cutter for pure fun. There is almost no recoil and the student can increase power level when they feel ready using the same gun. So if you find a "lead" load it is also a plated load. I've been using the same powders forever. .38 will take care of nearly any critter that needs dispatching feral cats, raccoon, armadillo, even wait for it. Most double end wad cutters are 148 grain, and DR bullets must be 158 grain. I don't have a chronograph, but have considered picking one up. hard cast LSWC's as a target load. In a 1909 vintage Smith & Wesson target .38, the 2.7-grain load cut a nearly one-inch cluster, showing that classics go well together. Some medium fast powders would work with lighter weight bullets. The 919 case is tapered and therefore wider at the base than the .38 special is. 300 Blackout Fine-Tuning: Finding the Right Barrel Length for Your Rifle. Paste as plain text instead, each bullet is different for oal due to a crimp groove on most. Recoil is the good kind that reminds the shooter handguns are serious tools but without eliciting a flinch. Designed in 1898, the .38 Smith & Wesson Special cartridge went on . Don't worry too much about lead/coated/plated/jacketed. Ive saved all my .38 brass over the last couple of years for whenever I find time to get into reloading. I started with a Lee Loader for my shiny new Python .357, because all the ammo I could find (in 1968) was lead semiwadcutters, loaded so hot they sloughed off the lead in the bore, so after a box you couldnt see any rifling, it looked like a smoothebore, and lord was it hard to clean!! I estimate that the price for each of the three loads runs between $7 and $8 per box of 50. My sq. BrianEnos.com Just depends on what kinds of loads you plan to shoot. It is also one of the most pleasurable loads a shooter can touch off. If there is only ONE load, it is MAX. 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. accuracy. The reason I love the .38 SPL so much is because its so elastic in function. +P? Ammunition is available everywhere handguns are legal. This pistol uses the .38 Special with a Remington wadcutter bullet seated flush with the case mouth. Wow I learned something vital from this topic. However recoil will be the limiting factor especially for the short line. You can fit 7.1gr of powder under the 125gn JHP bullet? This. The average street punk today has more firepower than the Russian Army did in WWII and trying to re-load a revolver in a fire fight is the best way to commit suicide that I could ever think of. 32 H&R Mag 21,000 My Lyman 49th has data for 125 gr JHP and 120 gr LRN. The .44 spl.