The Internet Pedant Times across steel plate racks and many of my standard drills with the 200-grain SWCs rival my best easy-shooting 9mm results. I did find a 145 grain Lead HP with a rounded ogive (like the last NyClad) on Gunbroker that opens really well if you get above 800 fps. When I finally took the plunge and started handloading (FIRST SHOTS WITH HANDLOADING: How Hard Can It Be? I am way shy of 70 years old and I love me some .38 Special. I haven't used any of those powders but I like faster powders in 38 Special like Titegroup and Clays. My Lyman 49th has data for 125 gr JHP and 120 gr LRN. I load a hard cast 125gn for my 38 special all the time. I will start ouy at the minimum velocity then. Only need cast when driving up to 1200 fps or so. 300 Blackout Fine-Tuning: Finding the Right Barrel Length for Your Rifle. Posted March 2, 2013. You may find it will need to be faster for good 50 yd. Last I looked still available at Brownells. 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. Great gun with the best factory double action trigger Ive ever shot. My experience has always been with bullseye powder. All newly manufactured .38 Special revolvers must be proof tested to the same higher proof . ES 56 SD 24 PMC Eldorado Starfire +P 125 gr. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. My Reloading Manual for .38 Special has plenty of data for 125 gr JHP, and 125 gr JFP for Scot Powders/Vhitavuori, but nothing for Unique/W231/Bullseye. Last time we took it to the range, I was trying to cycle the old +P ammo to load standard Lehigh ammo, I fired one shot, put the gun down and cursed while shaking my hand. 9mm 125 grain RN Lead Hard Cast Bullet. Left to right:148 gr. for 38 special Don't worry too much about lead/coated/plated/jacketed. 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. I dont see much conversation on these specifics but I think Its all about the size of the explosion in the chamber. Where many shooters quickly tire of even standard-pressure .38 in the little five-shooters, the wadcutter invites cylinder after cylinder of practice. If you have a lightweight .38 or older gun, you may want to start with 10% less than max amounts listed above, and work up to the full loads. Loads for .38 S&W: This short, little cartridge has been around since the 1870's and was most common in the "break-top" models. Recoil is subjective and I feel no difference between that and an 750-775 fps load. Insufficient crimping ) ARCHIVED. Currently using Titegroup, but started out with, and loaded many thousands of rounds, with Bullseye. The 9mm Bullseye load is a good stand-in for either training or match ammo, with the velocity putting the power factor comfortably over the minimum for action sports without too much extra oomph. Best to start a little low, and work up slowly with a chrono, though. Have a Tritium sight and laser on it to boot. Did you cross post the bullet weight? If there is a search function for these forums (didn't see one) I'd be happy to use that too Go to the Alliant website and find the data for Unique and Bullseye. Everyone here who has tried plated bullets including myself, have had disappointing results in accuracy. Thank you. 9 mm, .40 sw, 45 acp, .44 mag. Powder coating. Load it in 38 Special dies. A Tyler T grip would have helped here, but is incompatible w/ factory grips. Jacketed bullets are not legal for Distinguished Revolver. Power Pistol won't work for me. Great gun. WAP, WMR, WSF, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div. Required fields are marked *. Disclaimer, I own or owned all the super calibers out there except the casull, theyre all fun and quite useful in some scenarios, but dont discount the old timer. The .327 Fed Mag is IT! RN, 158 gr. WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets, Re: WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets. Both are excellent fight stoppers. Hi. On my J frame S&W without the CT #305 Laser Grips, I swapped out to a Hoque set. Even slower powders may provide more consistent speeds and will be tested in the future (No. Depending on the drill, 200-grain .45s let shooter push faster or use available time to shoot better, with significantly less recoil than hardball. That blunt-ended bullet cut a clean hole all the way through whatever its modest velocity allowed it to penetrate. These are light and easy to shoot. I have 4 handguns that will shoot .38. It seems to burn completely in the .38 and is not as critical as the faster powders like Bullseye. She ran two cylinders of 100 grain wad cutters and gave it back to me. 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. Bonus is that dont need magnum Primers for these reloads. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck.. Very forgiving with a straight wall case, and tons of bullet variety. We've got some great loads for 158 coated and plated semi wadcutters, and we're trying something new. Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 9 customer ratings. 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. I think you will find since the .38 special is headspaced on the rim your case length is very important to achieve your best accuracy. .38 J frame.) It would have been too hot. These were one each in .45 ACP, .38 Special, and 9mm. Since we are working with a gun that doesnt have a magazine, we can afford to mess with this dimension at will. This is not loaded 9mm ammo. Groups with these loads ranged from 1.25 inches to just under two inches at 25 yards across a handful of pistols. This. It'll look funky, but it will shoot. Thanks to all for the info. And Vihtavouris N320 and N321 fall in this range for burning times. Would you like to react to this message? 1995-2022. I have the shrouded hammer version, the 638, and have been wary of training much with it because of its aluminum frame. All three of those powders have published load data for that weight bullet in .38 Special. My best group was .9 inch out of a Model 15. 2, No. IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. I am aware of the plated bullet limitations on BE accuracy and am more interested in them for their "plinkability". Ive been shooting them for 50 years. Ideal load in a 2 J Frame .38. Reloading supplies and load recipes are available everywhere. If youre recoil averse (and dont have a disability of some kind), its because you havent shot it enough. Thinking of using it in NRA Action pistol or PPC. Your email address will not be published. It is easy to load in progressive presses and has commercially available options from virtually all modern manufacturers. The more serious concern for some loaders is that the small charges of fast-burning powder take up little room in the case, making it possible to double charge a cartridge and exceed safe pressure. 32 H&R Mag 21,000 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. Magnum 44 S&W Special 45 Colt 45 Auto 45 G.A.P 9mm Luger 9x18mm Makarov 32 S&W Long (Cowboy Action) 32-20 Win. 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. Even at hot .44 mag velocities my Super Redhawk has shiny bore with zero leading. 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. It has been many years since I used a Lee Loader and a wooden mallet to reload 8mm Mauser. Load it using wadcutter specs, and seat the bullet flush, like a wadcutter. would also bridge the gap that the .38 versus .357 have in defensive loads. 4.2 gr. Many reloading manuals also list an estimated pressure with a given load. 6.) Thank you for the article. So . https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck?highlight=distinguished+++%2Bloads, Load question on Penn Bullets for Distinguished load. These are hand loads.. load data was published in Lyman 50th edition.. These have a good profile- longer at the top where the middle finger rides, and shorter where the pinkie rests. This 1911 halved its normal so-so accuracy with 200-grain Hornady C/T SWC, shooting this nice two-inch group. 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. I buy 158 SWCHP all the time.my main bullet. Now, you have to go to a range or have a membership and pay to fill the backstop with lead. They have a large selection about the hard cast loads from 90 to 170 gains. Reducing consumables (and therefore cost) that much more is definitely appealing to me. 4.) Really important to have a chrono if you're going to work up loads When I first bought my chrono, I was amazed at how HOT my loads were - unnecessarily. Is it considered safe to down load a cartridge that far under starting? 3 gr of WST in a 38 spl case with 125 gr plated bullet is a very light load. They are low because of swaged bullets. Red Dot work fine for most 38 Special loads. Not sure how that translates to Bullseye powder. Pasted as rich text. Just want to state for the record, that with one of the more heavy duty Corbin presses it is possible to easily swage some hard cast bullets. Enter 38 Special. Maybe its just me, but having that tiny bit of extra length and weight in the cylinder that I was never going to use just kinda bothered me. And I still think a 158 at 600 beats hell out of a 22 magnum of any stripe. I agree, an airweight has snappy recoil. At belly button range, very nasty load. Canister Sizes: View All Bullseye Recipes I have a long way to go before I'm ready to compete, but enjoy plinking and hand loading. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Hodgdon - 700-X: 125 gr. Ive tried full metal jacket and the Hornady Action Pistol (HAP) match hollow point in this load, and both ranged from good to great in my nines. Wadcutters are tailor made for lightweight snubbie practice, allowing shooters to enjoy shooting the pocket guns. Proof of concept with .38 first, then on to 9mm where we have to actually cycle a slide but I think Ive got that problem solved. Ethan Johns is a military professional with worldwide experience in specialized units. Shoots well in my K-38, 686, and a friend's K-38 at 50 yards in the Ransom rest. Great article & thread!!! As a young man, I came into a couple of cases of hand-me-down factory mid-range wadcutters. I just bought some 158 gr SWC bullets that are pure lead. When using a 158 gr. I started loading .38s with a Lyman nut cracker and a home made measure for Bullseye over 65 years ago. Good job on you! Congratulations on spelling loath right. It was introduced in 1902 by Smith & Wesson, and has since become a worldwide cartridge. I bet you can find some nice shooting loads with Bullseye. Each of the classic loads is also economical. The .38 Special remains very popular for personal protection and Michelle Hamilton shares her thoughts on the top loads for concealed carry, like this 158-grain SWCHP FBI Load, based on her testing. Its the kind of load that will make you fall in love with the 1911 all over again! 594/600 at the real distances of 24 rnds at 50 yds, 24 rnds at 25 yes, and 12 rnds at 7.5 yds. My brother put CT laser grips on his wifes M36. Reloading for it came next and it has since become my favorite pistol cartridge. If you have the means, I highly recommend you trying one out. The mention of a Lee Loader somewhere above took me back to the good-old days. LOL. ammunition in the same gun enables that shooter to hunt larger game and to fend off beasts that snarl. That's usually +P power level in .38 Special. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5.0 gr unique with berry's 125gr = .38 Special squibs (solved ! I went from 2.7to 4.0 gr and nothing to speak of. i use a Lee mold 150 round nose with 4 grains of bullseye crimped into the crimp groove of the bullet. You can always back off to the .32 S&W Long or .32 H&R Mag if you choose to. I'd rather shoot my .45 then. Jacketed bullets create a bit more wear on the rifling, but its better than trying to wire brush out a bunch of lead build up. I really enjoy Trail Boss and use it extensively for plain lead and plated bullets. There is almost no recoil and the student can increase power level when they feel ready using the same gun. Load it like Trail Boss. Start conservative if you wish. But for plinking, they'd be fine. As anyone learns quickly, first thing that needs to be done is to replace the small factory S&W grips (I use Hogue) so you can hold onto the gun. 3.7gr WST with Zero 158 SWC did the job for me. Brass collection is easy since it doesnt eject. . Ok, will the bullet easily pass thru the cylinder throat, if so, you need the next larger size bullet dia. And, oh yeah. For best accuracy in slow fire shooting, you may want to raise gun before every shot. When I teach other people the basics of reloading, I teach them on the .38 SPL. When I finally got my hands on a pound of Bullseye, I naturally started with some of these loads. WST seems like such a good powder in .45 ACP that I thought I might try it. Bullseye is a little smoky, a lot sooty, and has a distinct odor. .38 Special: What Ive Learned After 20,000 Rounds, Stacey Abrams Whopper: No one believes in eroding the Second Amendment, Scottsdale Home Owner Uses Shotgun to Stop Naked Home Invader Caught in His Childs Room [VIDEO], Liberty Ammunitions Innovative Personal Defense Rounds are Lighter, Go Faster, and Hit Harder. After making a healthy pile of brass with this load, I am unlikely to ever be without a few boxes of it on standby. The beauty of shooting a .38 is that you can easily practice at the ranges youd fight at using basically any cheap bullet at minimal expense. I here from quite a few that 3.5 gr of bullseye is a good load for 158 gr lead Bullets for bullseye shooting. 110gr JHP! My other son fired one shot and handed it back. .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). Unlike the author, I did *not* keep records, I cant even imagine how many rounds I loaded, almost 100% .357 magnum, since that was all I shot. When I say that theres rarely a wrong way to do it, I really mean it. I dont mind it at all, though others do and look to similar performing powders that address these things. If you, I took the vow not to buy any more AR-15s a couple of years ago. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. Paste as plain text instead, I have done it with 38 special and 44 Mag, only to have a lead coated bore that looked like a rusty old drain pipe. I thought the DR program was NRA, not CMP. I use 2.8-3.0 grains of Bullseye or AA#2 with 158 gr. Lucky me. I think you will find since the .38 special is headspaced on the rim your case length is very important to achieve your best accuracy. Try. Do not use anything but light loads and lead bullets in these older revolvers. My hand ached for a week. It's given me good results in the 2, 3 and 4 inch barreled. 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. Similarly on drills with set times such as firing five shots in five seconds onto a bull at ten yards, the Bullseye load allows a little more time per shot to take advantage of a great 1911 trigger and lets the shooter nearly push shots into the same hole. I once had to quote the South Carolina Supreme Court when they had spelled it loathe., Regards, I picked some up from my local Scheels yesterday. Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. You can post now and register later. Dec 18, 2011. Im also impressed by the apparent durability of your Airweight J-frame. 357 LCR in 3 inch variant. Therefore, .38 Special +P ammo can be as much as 17.5 percent hotter than standard .38 Special. Hodgdon's Basic Reloading Manual, (The free one, available for the asking. Going up to 3.9 Gr for +P. But, with jacketed bullets that doesn't seen to be working. While I do have a GP100 in .357 magnum, I dont like shooting .38 special ammo out of it, because cleaning powder residue out of the longer chambers is a real bitch. These are put into a large hydraulic press and extruded into a continuous coil of wire.