He has taught and been responsible for numerous advanced skills and weapons courses within multiple organizations. I can get away with using it as cast w/ alox. Ive been looking for a reason to get into reloading, and am particularly intrigued by the extremely long case life of .38 Special. You have never indicated what barrel length or brand or frame size you may be using these in. I burned up about 300 of them before giving up. Nice thing about reloading is that loads can be tailored for the gun that you are shooting. 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. That's usually +P power level in .38 Special. They are true classics, and I hope you get as much use out of them! The Internet Pedant My M60 came w/ factory banana grips- open back, long enough for pinkie rest but too small in girth behind the trigger guard. 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. I have found that if you go down too low in charge you will have some ignition issues occasionally. WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets, Re: WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets. And if youre doing that with a snub.let me know I wanna watch you shoot em. Even better, is get some 38 S&W brass. Handload: 158 grain round nose lead /3.8 grains Bullseye MV 775 fps ME 210 ft./lbs. Interesting. Has anyone loaded 38 special with these compoments? Please enable javascript before you are allowed to see this page. 2 and No. My hand ached for a week. BrianEnos.com The Bullseye powder pushed five into two inches flat for another 1911 that is typically a four-inch gun. Your previous content has been restored. Powered by Invision Community, 125 grain plated flat point in 38 Special. Brass collection is easy since it doesnt eject. : 1.475" Powder: 6.0 gr 6.9 gr Vel. 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. .38 Special (Using Hornady Bullets) reloading data with 353 loads. I don't completely understand the physics behind it. Reloading supplies and load recipes are available everywhere. It'll look funky, but it will shoot. You gotta try the S&W M342 Airlight TI. Classic loads are economical. You will find plenty of Red Dot loads there. A Forum dedicated to the sport of Bullseye shooting, Bullseye-L Forum::Ammunition Discussion. Winchester's website has data for W231 and a 125 gr LRNFP, but not plated. Also compared a S&W 638 to the S&W 36. Only need cast when driving up to 1200 fps or so. If you are new to reloading. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. Its like a pellet gun with a little noise and smoke if using black powder. Agree 100% since I reload and shoot it since years, lost count. 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. Hehe, back before Nick skimmed down. We've got some great loads for 158 coated and plated semi wadcutters, and we're trying something new. 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. Boolit Grand Master. And I still think a 158 at 600 beats hell out of a 22 magnum of any stripe. These are the bullets I bought: 158 gr from Roze dist. I estimate that the price for each of the three loads runs between $7 and $8 per box of 50. AA#2 is about the same burn rate, but burns much cleaner with less smoke in my guns. Notes: primer: CCI 500; case: Speer; NOTE: All loads are maximum. That one Ill keep. These loads are for my wife's revolver. For best accuracy in slow fire shooting, you may want to raise gun before every shot. On 7/4/2018 at 11:57 AM, Bill Sahlberg said: There is nothing more accurate at PPC than 148 gr8 HBWC (lead) using 2.8 gr of 231 and a tight crimp with Starline 38 Special brass & a Federal Small pistol primer. So you only hang onto the primer boxes loosely? Three in particular proved as good as their longstanding reputations would indicate. I'd imagine I'm not the first person to use this load, but I have found it is a very sooty/smokey load. The best part about this is that not only do you never really lose your fired cases, but you they are always in great condition. Load shot well out of a variety of service handguns. The range (understandably) insisted you shoot their ammunition and the mildest they had was 158 grain LRN standard pressure. Hodgdons Clays, International, Universal and HP38 are good choices. I get okay accuracy with 4.4 of W-W 231 and 125s, depending on what bullet is used. is a good place to start. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. 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. My experience has always been with bullseye powder. Notes: Bbl Length: 5.6; primer: Fed. You cannot paste images directly. ammunition in the same gun enables that shooter to hunt larger game and to fend off beasts that snarl. Based on this Id load some at 3.3 and 3.5 and see what you get, but Id never exceed 3.8 ever. It would seem that a 125 grain GDHP is of the same weight and would have a similar profile to what you want to use. I have two editions of it from different years that have that data. 100 except where otherwise noted in "remarks" Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data. Thats what the Cavalry Board asked for over a century ago, and thats what weve got. 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. 357 Magnum 35,000 Hornady 115-grain HAPs over 4.4 grains of Bullseye alongside 25-yard timed-fire target. Best and most realistic article about the .38 special ive found. The floor does not apply for PPC, or the equivalent match for Action Pistol. 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. These are hand loads.. load data was published in Lyman 50th edition.. As for the load ya the 158gr will probably take a little more, but your gun will tell you how much more.. SASS# 85224. 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. 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. 4.0 gr. Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense. The cold header swages a bullet in one or two strokes. I use Bullseye powder but it's about the same burn rate. Regulator, SBSS #2255, Pawnee Station, Ro I & II. 38 spl.s. Would you like to react to this message? IMHO .38 special is just fine for self defense, but just not enough to crack engine blocks. When I finally took the plunge and started handloading (FIRST SHOTS WITH HANDLOADING: How Hard Can It Be? 1.455 in. The big medicine was delivered by a 1911, but S&W K frames (favorites were Models 12 & 64) took care of everything else. (Or so I have heard.). Coming in 30 grains lighter and 80 fps slower than hardball, as well as being lead rather than jacketed, the 200/4.6 SWC is amazingly soft. Would you like to react to this message? I almost spit out my drink when I read your comment. Youre describing Remington Multiball ammunition (R357MB)- I used to carry that stuff decades ago. You may find it will need to be faster for good 50 yd. Use data for weight. This is my plink load for the kids. 3.8 gr. Your email address will not be published. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck. I have not loaded plated bullets in quite some time, since they are not useful for my accuracy needs. I have 4 handguns that will shoot .38. 125: 125: 130: 135: 140: 140: 146: 148: 158: 158: 158: 170 _____ Quick Links Home Load Data Bullet Points: BE SURE TO CHECK OUT & FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM FEED CONNECT WITH THE 1895GUNNER.COM COMMUNITY . Case life is excellent, especially for mild loads. Bullseye Handgun Powders Smokeless pistol powder Billions of rounds have been loaded with Bullseye since it was introduced in 1913. 1.) Great gun with the best factory double action trigger Ive ever shot. more weight than the similar size CA .44 Bulldog, were available, a lot more people would also like the .44 spl. 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. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. The 38 Special Ball round was designed a long time ago to comply with specifications laid down for ammo that was : 1) Compliant with the Hague Accords of 1907 in regard to "unnecessarily" injurious ammunition. Like the author said, I consider it a garbage disposal round as you can load it with almost anything with good results. I will start ouy at the minimum velocity then. There is one good reason to use WST. Agree Problem with the J frame S&W is the grips. Reloading for it came next and it has since become my favorite pistol cartridge. 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. I'm looking for some recipes for 38 special for a 125 grain copper plated (like Berry's) flat point bullet using Unique, Bullseye, or W231. There seems to be a dearth of information using WST powder for the 38 Spl cartridge. (Note: These are near maximum loads (in some cases ARE MAXIMUM), you should use 10%. All newly manufactured .38 Special revolvers must be proof tested to the same higher proof . 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. Think that if a .44 spl. There are so many new powders today, its hard to keep up. Here is the dillema: The Lyman manual says starting load is 3.2 grains and MAX. All the data says this should be an OK load , even "mid-range" for non +p. Ive also switched from lead to Berrys Preferred copper plated bullets. 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 did start out fawning over all of the tactical gear, but once I had that covered my tastes matured I think to love the wood and steel guns. Dennis, I dont reload and Im only 72, but shooting the .38Spl in my 6 S&W 586 is a sublime experience. My usual 38 Spl load is a 125 gr plated bullet over 5 grains of bullseye. The 919 case is tapered and therefore wider at the base than the .38 special is. Reduce by 10% to establish a starting charge weight. 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. Power Pistol won't work for me. Thanks for the start load Power Pistol will run lower pressures for the same velocity than W-W 231. The SP101 is far more comfortable to shoot but not so much fun to carry. Bullseye is one of the oldest smokeless pistol powders and still one of the most popular. I have loaded wadcutters for plinking , Double end 148 grain,, mixed brass over 2.7 gn WST or Bullseye. Javascript is required. However recoil will be the limiting factor especially for the short line. I haven't used any of those powders but I like faster powders in 38 Special like Titegroup and Clays. My other son fired one shot and handed it back. The .327 Fed Mag is IT! 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. Don't know of any bullets like that. Groups with these loads ranged from 1.25 inches to just under two inches at 25 yards across a handful of pistols. For those who have issues using auto pistils, due ti arthritis or other medical issues with the hands an LCR or 642 is a great choice. 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. head I use 3.2gr. Always make sure your lead bullets have been sized and lubricated. I dont miss lubing casescarbide is king! My more serious RN is the 358311 that drops @150 gr. Through the heyday of bullseye shooting over the various match courses of fire, there was probably a Mount Rushmore-sized mountain of powder loaded and combusted 2.7 grains at a time. of Bullseye with Lee's 125gr RN mold in a 38 special with so-so accuracy. Bullseye is the best powder I have found for 38 special. JHP, 125 gr. Im not a hoarder and I dont keep them, but I am detailed in my process. Installed some wood boot grips, modified them with grooves at the bottom of each side panel, similar to those on Pach. May 15, 2012. kc2za said: Hi All, I have been loading .38 spl with 2.7 gr. Thank you. What are YOU shooting? Nitpicking is its own reward., I believe the correct spelling is loathe . You need a .357 Magnum revolver if you want to try a 9MM cylinder. Components add up to far less than even generic grade factory ammo. I use 3 gr. Between that, some other info on other forums, Winchester's data for a lead flat point, and numbers from loaddata.com, I think I have some to start with. .38 Special is a lot more comfortable in a service size revolver like my Model 10. Many reloading manuals also list an estimated pressure with a given load. i use a Lee mold 150 round nose with 4 grains of bullseye crimped into the crimp groove of the bullet. Accurates No. 4.2 gr. I agree, an airweight has snappy recoil. Depends on what kind of load you're after. I load these bullets to the edge of the shoulder and use anywhere from 3-4 grains of TB. A GI surplus 1911 that puts most loads into dinner-plate sized groups cut 3.8 inches with the classic recipewhich is probably the only time Ive gotten excited about an almost four-inch group! I meant to say NRA. June 13, 2016 in 9mm/38 Caliber. 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. Anyway, you are probably right that the revolver guys trend towards the older end of the spectrum, but I think some of the younger guys are starting to catch on to the magic of wheel guns. A longer case, with have a tighter crimp them a shorter one, what will lead to variations in pressure, and accuracy. S&W M637-2 2" barrel It is easy to load in progressive presses and has commercially available options from virtually all modern manufacturers. 357 LCR in 3 inch variant. 38 special , bullseye, and 125 grain lead rnfp Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting : The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and . 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. Love my 642 for concealed carry, but have an SP101 (also a snubby) in .38 special (only) for use on the range. Wow I learned something vital from this topic. 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. Therefore, your platform yields a lot of safety cushion with target loads. Shot many thousands of my bullseye powder reloads with it. If youre recoil averse (and dont have a disability of some kind), its because you havent shot it enough. Robert Frost. Bullseye Select A Caliber or Gauge Below To View Recipes. Enter 38 Special. But its also worth considering that its pushing the same size and weight projectile at the same velocity as the standard Army revolver load during the Civil War. . Bullseye is the classic pistol powder and the backbone of many pet loads. I did 400 rounds in one afternoon on my Hornady progressive. Id pay at least a dollar to see it. 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. Load it using wadcutter specs, and seat the bullet flush, like a wadcutter. The powder charges used for .38 are forgiving. 2.7 GR WST IS TOO LIGHT FOR THE 50 YD LINE. If she had shot more, I would have probably bought another set of dies, to prevent the need for changing adjustments between the two. Using higher pressure loads will wear brass out faster and it will become brittle with time. Really interested in getting the. I tried 10 shots of each: 2.2, 2.4, 2.5, 2.7. My Hornady book says for 158 gr L-SWC, Unique powder, CCI magnum primer the minimum listed (not sure if that's absolute minimum) is 4.3 and maximum is 4.7. I have tested lots and lots of different bullet and found them all to be great. @ Grumpy- I tried LOTS of grips on S&W revolvers. It's given me good results in the 2, 3 and 4 inch barreled. COPYRIGHT 2021, THETRUTHABOUTGUNS.COM. I picked some up from my local Scheels yesterday. Canister Sizes: View All Bullseye Recipes Did you cross post the bullet weight? I reached an interesting number the other day. .38 brass isnt as common as 9, .40, or .45 brass at the range, but of all the revolver brass you can find its the most plentiful. I once had to quote the South Carolina Supreme Court when they had spelled it loathe., Regards, Its the kind of load that will make you fall in love with the 1911 all over again! 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. Soft shooting. Bullseye is a little smoky, a lot sooty, and has a distinct odor. With all the loads available, you can surely find one within recoil tolerance. The Speers do occasionally and the Magnus a little more. The 125 Hornady XTP, a jacketed hollow point bullet that can easily handle 1500 fps velocities. 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). Going up to 3.9 Gr for +P. 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 teach other people the basics of reloading, I teach them on the .38 SPL. This post was originally published in 2018. have been factored in, but Looks like starting with roughly 4.2 of W231. They have a large selection about the hard cast loads from 90 to 170 gains. 300 Blackout Fine-Tuning: Finding the Right Barrel Length for Your Rifle. Like almost all pistol cartridges called ".38" the .38 Special actually takes .357" diameter bullets. (For those who would. At one time or another, I also owned and shot a M38 Bodyguard (nka the 638), a M37 Chiefs Special (now the 637), a M60 (which is a tad heavier but no more user-friendly), and a couple of others. If you can follow simple instructions, you can safely load this cartridge. Not in that order. load is 4.4 grains for 38 special and 5.0 grains is a +P load. In a nutshell & I mean very short version. HAVE FUN JP. This load chugs downrange at 750 feet each second and functions standard recoil springs with no issue. Of course, these will be used in a revolver. The trigger has smoothed out over time. butt 686 shipped w/ Hogue monogrips, discarded immediately due to pronounced finger grooves. 8.) I do this for my .357s but this article is about .38 Special loads. The 38 Special, practically snubnose 38 Specials, seem to do their best work with bullets right around the 155-160 grain range. Wife handled it with no problem, those 5 Super Vel had been in the gun probably over 5 years by then, she bought it to CARRY, not to shoot, if she needed to fire it to save her life it would be fine. I've been reading about this. Hodgdon gives starting load of 4.0 grains and 4.4 grains MAX. Its the only gun that has appreciated in value (as long as you ignore inflation). Think a lot of people would find that a .44 special or .45 Colt, in a decent revolver, a viable alternate to a pistol. How can I tell if they are cast or swaged? Each of the classic loads is also economical. I am way shy of 70 years old and I love me some .38 Special. My J frame S&Ws are all older models, and came with the small grips that are still on some models. Not all guns are created equal. .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). I use 2.8-3.0 grains of Bullseye or AA#2 with 158 gr. I recently picked up a 396 Nightguard and am a convert to the 44 Special! Current J frame factory grips have similar features and are made of a stiffer compound. It will then fit in your 38 Special gun. Ive done the majority of shooting in .38 Special in my Smith & Wesson 642. Not sure how that translates to Bullseye powder. Honestly, plated bullets won't give you the level of accuracy needed for bullseye competition, even at 25 yards. .38 will take care of nearly any critter that needs dispatching feral cats, raccoon, armadillo, even wait for it. accuracy. Using bullets from Hornady HP-XTP, Hornady HP-XTP or FP-XTP, Hornady FP-Cowboy, Hornady HBWC, Hornady SWC-HP, SWC or LRN. This too is useful information. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck.. ,I looked at Speer data, nothing there. 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. 5 are good choices. As I said I am not familiar with your frame and suspect it is one of the latest models out by Smith. Ive played with several that I like, but the classic in 9mm is 4.4 grains driving a 115-grain jacketed bullet. hard cast LSWC's as a target load. Below, are three loaded rounds. Fifty yards of course is the preferred distance. I found some data for 148 and 158 gr bullets but no published data on the 125s. Power Pistols works well in short auto cartridges and higher pressure cartridges but no so well with a 158 grain bullets in 38 Special. 38 Special 17,000 Does anyone have experience with loading WST for 125 gr plates bullets or a place to start the research/testing? I have 100% confidence in my ability to shoot quickly, accurately, and comfortably with the 32, and I also have confidence that, if needed, my 32 H&R loads from Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap are quite capable of doing the job they are asked to do. Enter to win an FN FAL Rifle. Very little recoil, and grouped acceptably out to 15 yards or so. I make a habit of counting the number of reloads I make by keeping a tally of primer and bullet boxes. By Only the Model 60 sometimes have factory installed grips that are not worthless. Hence the lack of load data from just about anybody. I have one that has been loaded about sixty times and it is still in use today. Most of these are at the upper end. 4.) 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. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Hodgdon - 700-X: 125 gr. Bullseye and NRA Distinguished Revolver Or does the CMP make the rules for DR, and the NRA admins it? Unsurpassed for .45 ACP target loads. I buy 158 SWCHP all the time.my main bullet. Powder coating. Starting being near 3gr - ish. (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. I realized that I had hit a very special count for a very special cartridge: 20,000 rounds of .38 Special. And for 99% of the actual real world needs of a citizen for self defense it will work just fine. 38 Special, all bullet weights Bullet Powder Weight Powder Velocity OAL Primer Source 110gr JHP!