The 919 case is tapered and therefore wider at the base than the .38 special is. want me to write up an article about 3d printed .38 special bullets that Ive been working? The Speers do occasionally and the Magnus a little more. With all the loads available, you can surely find one within recoil tolerance. * 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. Also compared a S&W 638 to the S&W 36. Thanks for your help. 148-grain wadcutter brings accuracy that begs the shooter to test their limits. DISTINGUISHED LOADS SUCK - Distinguished Revolver loads that don't suck? 8.) 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company I like Bullseye in the 38 Special, and it was a consistent performer with the 125 grain bullets. 3 1/2" average not included flyers which seem to happen on every group test. I still think highly of the LCR but would shoot only 148 grain wadcutters in .38 Special or .32 H&R Magnums in the .327 Magnum model. Shoots well in my K-38, 686, and a friend's K-38 at 50 yards in the Ransom rest. LRNFP - your load, with a plated bullet should be Very Similar, or slightly slower and safer. 110gr JHP! Where many shooters quickly tire of even standard-pressure .38 in the little five-shooters, the wadcutter invites cylinder after cylinder of practice. How does WST compare to Bullseye powder? of Bullseye, 148 gr lead DEWC and Federal 100 primers. Choosing a bullet You may find it will need to be faster for good 50 yd. For 3 that actually doesnt kick too badly. Unlike many other guns Ive owned and carried, this little snubby really cant be modified much beyond factory configuration. 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). This too is useful information. This post was originally published in 2018. 1.455 in. Hornady also has load data for the 110-grain .357 XTP for the lower-pressure .38 Automatic. Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue. My son asked if I wanted him to help, then fired one shot and handed it back. The beauty of shooting a .38 is that you can easily practice at the ranges you'd fight at using basically any cheap bullet at minimal expense. I only wish the brass was more available locally. If youre recoil averse (and dont have a disability of some kind), its because you havent shot it enough. Now, you have to go to a range or have a membership and pay to fill the backstop with lead. more weight than the similar size CA .44 Bulldog, were available, a lot more people would also like the .44 spl. Normal 38 spell loads for as long as I can remember were never loaded less than 800FPS and I have loaded for revolvers and autos such as my S&W mod 52 that only shoots flush wadcutters. I just bought some 158 gr SWC bullets that are pure lead. I'm seating to what's in my loading manual. That's usually +P power level in .38 Special. Im also impressed by the apparent durability of your Airweight J-frame. Especially if you reload. Most double end wad cutters are 148 grain, and DR bullets must be 158 grain. 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. Anyone that uses a J frame S&W should seriously think about swapping grips, and finding which set works for them. A light target load, which tends to be very accurate, is about 3.1 grains, with a 158 grain bullet. Posted: 4/17/2014 10:53:09 AM EST. It will then fit in your 38 Special gun. Soft shooting. 6.) Is it considered safe to down load a cartridge that far under starting? The only reason that my standard (everyday carry) self-defense handgun is not a .38 Special revolver is because I can conceal a semi-auto better (it isnt as fat as the cylinder on a revolver) and my semi-auto has 15 rounds of hard-hitting 180 grain bullets. Fifty yards of course is the preferred distance. As a young man, I came into a couple of cases of hand-me-down factory mid-range wadcutters. And if youre doing that with a snub.let me know I wanna watch you shoot em. Ethan Johns is a military professional with worldwide experience in specialized units. .38 J frame.) Your previous content has been restored. Starting being near 3gr - ish. 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 better, is get some 38 S&W brass. Click there and go to the load data lookup section . Accurates No. When I finally nabbed my own canisters of Bullseye, the first load I spun up was 2.7 grains under Hornadys hollow-base wadcutters. And for 99% of the actual real world needs of a citizen for self defense it will work just fine. Most of these are at the upper end. YouTube has plenty of reloading channels or the Reloaders Network webpage has more info as well. These are put into a large hydraulic press and extruded into a continuous coil of wire. I don't have a chronograph, but have considered picking one up. To many shooters, .45 ACP means 230-grain hardball at 830 fps. JHP, (WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), (JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet). Times across steel plate racks and many of my standard drills with the 200-grain SWCs rival my best easy-shooting 9mm results. Reducing consumables (and therefore cost) that much more is definitely appealing to me. And if youre doing that [shooting 158 grain bullets at 1200 fps muzzle velocity] with a snub.let me know I wanna watch you shoot em. And it isnt my first rodeo with a J-frame. 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. I am using this load in some .38 specials. Ive also switched from lead to Berrys Preferred copper plated bullets. Enough that the range Officer at my range recognized them because the muzzle blast made a distinctive cat whisker pattern at 8 and 10, and 2 and 4 o clock. You will be, essentially, making 38 Short Colt. Rules say (e) Ammunition- Any safe .38 caliber ammunition using the 158 grain round nose or Semi-Wadcutter bullet only. I've tried Berry's plated as well as Remington. WST is less dense than BE. hebyta Maybe its just my age, but I may never shoot a 38 again after discovering the 32. Dont get me wrong: I think the Smith and Wesson Model 642 Airweight revolver is an outstanding self-defense (concealed carry) revolver and you wont feel/care about how snappy/unpleasant the recoil may be in a real self-defense event. The Model 19 is fine with .38s but mildly uncomfortable with .357s. Dont know where #1 Buckshot can be found, but the Speer shot cups and UNIQUE powder currently easy enough to find. Ive been loading 158gr FMJ with Titegroup and the only problem Ive had is getting the seating depth right after the die locknut slipped. Boolit Grand Master. They are true classics, and I hope you get as much use out of them! Me too! Bullet seating depth is very forgiving. 9 and others like 2400 that are generally used for magnums). Initially I shot them out of my Dads prized Smith & Wesson 686 and learned a great deal about double-action shooting and what a truly accurate handgun can do with a wadcutter. In a day you can make over 100,000 bullets. 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. 3.) There seems to be a dearth of information using WST powder for the 38 Spl cartridge. These types of guns are not as strong as more modern solid frame revolvers. 38 Special 17,000 Also some WSF. Upload or insert images from URL. Use the lead bullet loads with the plated and you will be fine. I was hoping I could use this combo to make use of available components. Bullseye is the best powder I have found for 38 special. These were one each in .45 ACP, .38 Special, and 9mm. WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets, Re: WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets. Their biggest use is in making screws and small bolts. I had enough, The Model 1911 pistol will officially turn 100 years old on May 5, 2011. 750-850fps. 32 H&R Mag 21,000 Please enable javascript before you are allowed to see this page. No matter where you look, the first mention in classic loads for the .38 Special is a 148-grain wadcutter over 2.7 grains of Bullseye. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. Ive not had a handgun entirely reject either load, so the recipe seems to be a worthy third alongside the previous .38 and .45. The .44 spl. An early Les Baer .45 knotted a group of the lead SWCs into a tight 1.3-inch group, while an M&P .45 did 1.25 inches. 3 gr of WST in a 38 spl case with 125 gr plated bullet is a very light load. Not in that order. Your email address will not be published. When I say that theres rarely a wrong way to do it, I really mean it. That for just a nice shooting load one cant beat 148gr wad-cutter for pure fun. The reason I love the .38 SPL so much is because its so elastic in function. 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. 4.2 gr. This represents a great start, and if thats all you do, youll still be far better off than the majority of the population. I'm new to reloading, starting off with a single stage Lee press reloading .38 special and .357 magnum with Lee's 4 die carbide set. https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck?highlight=distinguished+++%2Bloads, Load question on Penn Bullets for Distinguished load. Anyone know where I can download a chart where all the powders burning rates (regardless of manufacturer) is listed. I have loaded wadcutters for plinking , Double end 148 grain,, mixed brass over 2.7 gn WST or Bullseye. Shoot cast and coated bullets and you can go much higher in load and velocity. 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. I dont see much conversation on these specifics but I think Its all about the size of the explosion in the chamber. Horrible 5-12" groups at 25 yds. 9mm 125 grain RN Lead Hard Cast Bullet. My experience has always been with bullseye powder. I could knock out a pretty substantial chunk of my shooting needs with only these three loads. Youd just be risking ALOT firing it in a .38 framed revolver. Has anyone loaded 38 special with these compoments? Jack it up a notch and go with .327 Federal Magnum. My best group was .9 inch out of a Model 15. Would you like to react to this message? Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue. Reduce by 10% to establish a starting charge weight. defensive ammo. A revolver shooting .38 SPL only requires the power of your finger to make it fire and can thus be loaded with ammo that is extremely mild or hotter than hot. The least is usually supplied as a large cylindrical billet weighing several hundred pounds. Powder coating. After making a healthy pile of brass with this load, I am unlikely to ever be without a few boxes of it on standby. 2.9 of Clays is soft enough and dead accurate at 50yds. That's usually +P power level in .38 Special. The Charter Arms .44 models are potential CCWs, but are too light to properly handle the .44 spl. 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. I tried 10 shots of each: 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7. I just got some clays which I heard was very clean burning compare to bullseye. I use Bullseye powder but it's about the same burn rate. Some people then claimed SAAMI raised the 357 Mag to 45,000. AA#2 is about the same burn rate, but burns much cleaner with less smoke in my guns. 44 Rem Mag 36,000. I stopped handloading around 1985, so Im not certain how much technology has changed in that area, but in general it sounds like our experiences are similar. Ammunition is available everywhere handguns are legal. Good shootin! You can post now and register later. This is good, because the snub takes a lot of practice to have a consistent capability. Think a lot of people would find that a .44 special or .45 Colt, in a decent revolver, a viable alternate to a pistol. Required fields are marked *. Magtech Sport Shooting, 38 Special, 125 Grain, Full Metal Jacket, Flat, 50 Round Box 38Q In my time spent with the .38, I have come to greatly appreciate it for what it is and does. I did 400 rounds in one afternoon on my Hornady progressive. Im a big fan of .32 revolvers, I do think they are a superior choice for carrying and shooting than .38 is, but that doesnt mean I think .38 or .357 sucks, I just dont think theyre the best choices for a small frame revolver. There is almost no recoil and the student can increase power level when they feel ready using the same gun. I'm going to start with 3.8 grains. I just bought a Lyman mold 160 round nose with a crimp groove. The trigger has smoothed out over time. Unsurpassed for .45 ACP target loads. 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. Which left me with the last two. LOL. Therefore, the conventional wisdom is that they must be loaded to a lower velocity. 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 With the powders you listed I would try Bullseye, 231, and Unique in that order. That one Ill keep. I bet you can find some nice shooting loads with Bullseye. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Accurate, powder-puff recoil, and serious power all in one. 6.) These are light and easy to shoot. There is one good reason to use WST. Agree 100% since I reload and shoot it since years, lost count. 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. Hodgdon gives starting load of 4.0 grains and 4.4 grains MAX. JHP, 158 gr. My Dad has advanced arthritis and could not longer easily work his auto loaders. I believe this particular bullet is meant for the 9mm,but drops at 358. I guess its out of production now- I havent seen it (or heard of it) in years. The range (understandably) insisted you shoot their ammunition and the mildest they had was 158 grain LRN standard pressure. 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. 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. 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. 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. https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck. Word to the wise: all handgun cartridges (with the likely exception of .44 Magnum and maybe even .357 Magnum) are underpowered for self-defense. My Hornady 11th edition shows this for 38 Special 158 gr lead RN, LSWCHP and LSWC. Just dont shoot a rabbit with this load if you want to be able to eat any of it. Yeah, my wifes last gun, with +P it actually HURTS! Going up to 3.9 Gr for +P. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. Easiest way is casting lines and a sprue mark on nose or base. Case life is excellent, especially for mild loads. Winchester 231 is between Bullseye and Unique for the .38 special (see my personal load above). I use CCI Snake shot for two and Buffalo Bore short Barrel 130 gr. 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. Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. You can't rely on this because not all variables for YOUR cases and chamber and loading length, etc. Powered by Invision Community, 125 grain plated flat point in 38 Special. If you can follow simple instructions, you can safely load this cartridge. Therefore, your platform yields a lot of safety cushion with target loads. So if you find a "lead" load it is also a plated load. I wanted a good carry gun that was light and reliable, so I decided that the .38 would fit and I just went with it. accuracy. Nitpicking is its own reward., I believe the correct spelling is loathe . *WAP is not best choice for .38 special, too slow and inconsistent. 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. I burned up about 300 of them before giving up. Also, too light loads don't allow the bullet to seal the gases causing problems. Interesting. hard cast LSWC's as a target load. I completely understand the respect for the performance of the 327 Fed, but not being a big fan of the 357 Mag (or 38 SPL plus P for that matter) I havent been drawn to the 327. 594/600 at the real distances of 24 rnds at 50 yds, 24 rnds at 25 yes, and 12 rnds at 7.5 yds. I have one that has been loaded about sixty times and it is still in use today. Regulator, SBSS #2255, Pawnee Station, Ro I & II. Super cheap and easy to make and would likely be a very effective defense ammo against wildlife that might be a threat to me as the two balls will spread an inch or two from each other at close range. Posted March 2, 2013. ( customer reviews) $ 10.69 - $ 246.00. 9.) Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense. Power Pistols works well in short auto cartridges and higher pressure cartridges but no so well with a 158 grain bullets in 38 Special. I go with the cheap and easy shake and bake technique that requires only plastic Glad container with a lid, handful of black 6mm BBs and old toaster owen. Just look for a lead remover tool with bronze screens. Rated 5.00 out of 5 based on 9 customer ratings. At belly button range, very nasty load. RN, 158 gr. 100 except where otherwise noted in "remarks" Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data. Its worth mentioning that loaders do all kinds of obsessive rituals to squeeze the groups down. 32 S&W Long 15,000 These loads are for my wife's revolver. Any discussion of Bullseye is incomplete without mentioning a few of the downsides. While I wish I could carry a 5 .45 WITNESS with several 10 round mags, as a senior citizen, the S&W J frame is my user friendly alternate. Load with 38 S&W data. But, with jacketed bullets that doesn't seen to be working. 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. Over 20,000 rounds, Ive found that theres rarely a wrong way to do .38 SPL. I routinely use only two powders: Trail Boss and Titegroup. That blunt-ended bullet cut a clean hole all the way through whatever its modest velocity allowed it to penetrate. Main fame for the .38 is now the J frame size revolvers, as a CCW gun. (This is prevalent among most aftermarket designs- they are smallest in the longest, strongest finger area, and largest at the bottom pinkie area.). accuracy. Any hotter and we get into a recoil issue. Winchester's website has data for W231 and a 125 gr LRNFP, but not plated. The 4.0 grain load is relatively mild recoil and was accurate. Interesting. 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. Power Pistol won't work for me. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Hodgdon - 700-X: 125 gr. The majority of my shooting with .38 has taken place with soft lead bullets. These are hand loads.. load data was published in Lyman 50th edition.. Do not use anything but light loads and lead bullets in these older revolvers. "Berry's Superior Plated Bullets are the finest bonded copper-jacketed bullets available today.." ?. I've been using the same powders forever. WITH THE SWAGED BULLETS REDDING SELLS A PROFILE CRIMP DIE.