38 special 125gr copper plated HP38 reloading data Ive saved all my .38 brass over the last couple of years for whenever I find time to get into reloading. Components add up to far less than even generic grade factory ammo. You cannot paste images directly. 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. Speer .38 shot cup, 5 grains of UNIQUE, and (3) #1 Buckshot pellets dates back to the 70s as a Junk Yard Dog load. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. So . Here is the dillema: The Lyman manual says starting load is 3.2 grains and MAX. 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.
The All-American .38 Special | Load Data Article I'm not looking to blow up my old model 10.
Just look for a lead remover tool with bronze screens. 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. I was hoping I could use this combo to make use of available components. Have you all found different seat depths to work better than what's in the manual? I have some W231 that I use for my .38 super. 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. May 15, 2012. kc2za said: Hi All, I have been loading .38 spl with 2.7 gr. Bullseye Select A Caliber or Gauge Below To View Recipes. This is not loaded 9mm ammo. Over 20,000 rounds, Ive found that theres rarely a wrong way to do .38 SPL. 38 special , bullseye, and 125 grain lead rnfp Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting : The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and . 3.) 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.
Down-loading .38 special I have the shrouded hammer version, the 638, and have been wary of training much with it because of its aluminum frame. In a day you can make over 100,000 bullets. .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). The 38 Special, practically snubnose 38 Specials, seem to do their best work with bullets right around the 155-160 grain range. Bullets are .357 for jacketed and .358 for lead in diameter. Unique was a sooty powder so Ive switched to W231. They are reliable accurate and deadly. The stuff you learn shooting 20,000 reloads (on top of thousands of rounds of factory ammo) can be pretty interesting and I feel that Ive got a very good picture of what the .38 Special. . 358430 (195 grain) round nose bullet that was used in the old 200 grain police loads as there is always interest in these. Jack it up a notch and go with .327 Federal Magnum. 9.) We look at three classics: one each in .45 ACP, .38 Special, and 9mm. Maybe its just my age, but I may never shoot a 38 again after discovering the 32. 38 spl.s. A longer case, with have a tighter crimp them a shorter one, what will lead to variations in pressure, and accuracy. .38 Special is a lot more comfortable in a service size revolver like my Model 10. Powder coating. The cartridge offers a great deal of zest and has thousands of possible load combinations. 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. (Or so I have heard.). That for just a nice shooting load one cant beat 148gr wad-cutter for pure fun. Thank you. Which left me with the last two. When I finally nabbed my own canisters of Bullseye, the first load I spun up was 2.7 grains under Hornadys hollow-base wadcutters. 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. The 357 magnum about 45,000 psi and the std 38 special about 17,000 psi. And, oh yeah. JHP, 125 gr. Since we are working with a gun that doesnt have a magazine, we can afford to mess with this dimension at will. I just bought some 158 gr SWC bullets that are pure lead. No more lead in the barrel or on my hands. I never enjoyed touching off a 357 Mag in a K frame, and I cannot imagine the discomfort of firing it in anything smaller or lighter. 4.) I reload a 3 CA Bulldog in .44 with 200 gr wadcutters, to recreate the Man Stopper loads of long ago. Load it like Trail Boss. . You are absolutely correct. Ive been loading 158gr FMJ with Titegroup and the only problem Ive had is getting the seating depth right after the die locknut slipped. Ideal load in a 2 J Frame .38. Content . I shoot a Glock 21, and had a great time shooting some poly coated 230 grain round noses today. Required fields are marked *. Load it using wadcutter specs, and seat the bullet flush, like a wadcutter. are you loading .38 special brass, or .357 magnum brass? * 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. Winchester only published load for WST in 38 special using lead bullets if you look at the data for the 158 data the start load goes from 3.3 Gr and a max load of 3.7 Gr. Ethan Johns is a military professional with worldwide experience in specialized units. 2.9 of Clays is soft enough and dead accurate at 50yds. In fact, in the past I specifically sought out revolvers chambered in 38 SPL only, knowing I would never be putting a 357 Mag in it (I carried a 4 GP100 chambered in 38 SPL as a duty sidearm in the early 90s). I have loaded wadcutters for plinking , Double end 148 grain,, mixed brass over 2.7 gn WST or Bullseye. Bullseye is the classic pistol powder and the backbone of many pet loads. 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. 1.) A 4 inch barrel would be my choice as well.
38 special reloaders | The Firearms Forum June 13, 2016 in 9mm/38 Caliber. 594/600 at the real distances of 24 rnds at 50 yds, 24 rnds at 25 yes, and 12 rnds at 7.5 yds. Winchester's 231 or WSL are also good powders for the .38 special. The Speers do occasionally and the Magnus a little more. The .44 spl. Ive long since changed to a press, but that Lee Loader in its cardboard box is still in a storage box for obsolescent reloading gear. Jacketed bullets are not legal for Distinguished Revolver.
Reloading Data for .38 Special - Load Data - 1895Gunner 158 gr. 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 During my first half century on this planet, my caliber of choice for defense was 45 ACP- but for everything else it was always 38 SPL. 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. The Internet Pedant To many shooters, .45 ACP means 230-grain hardball at 830 fps. 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. Ready to load some Berry's148 gr plated DE wadcutters with Bullseye. Hmm. But I think I was still loading the cases from that first box when I quit loading 18 years later! This represents a great start, and if thats all you do, youll still be far better off than the majority of the population.
Give me a .38 Special Recipe Please | Ruger Forum (Same issue found with a 12 oz. I thought about trying 2.5 gr. (Note: These are near maximum loads (in some cases ARE MAXIMUM), you should use 10%. Classics go well together: circa 1909 S&W .38 Special and traditional 148-grain wadcutter load of 2.7 grains of Bullseye. I fired 3 Remington 125 SJHP 357s from a 340 and thought i had nerve damage in my hand. for 38 special Like the author said, I consider it a garbage disposal round as you can load it with almost anything with good results. At 25 you can get away with a lighter load. I load it almost exclusively though with either a powder coated or plated 125 grn bullet. 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. Insufficient crimping ) ARCHIVED. Im also impressed by the apparent durability of your Airweight J-frame. .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.
Reloading Data .38 Special (Using Hornady Bullets) Metallic 3.8 gr. Thanks for the guidance and suggestions. That revolver is aluminum and cannot handle the pressure of 9MM. Modern .38 spl std HP load is more than enough, dont over think it. Home About Partners Contact. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck.. What are YOU shooting? 5.)
Berry's bullets and lee chart and 357 load - ArizonaGunOwners.com The .38 with careful selection of components can be the cats as* for almost any shooter. LRNFP - your load, with a plated bullet should be Very Similar, or slightly slower and safer. .38 special has got to be one of the best calibers there is . (Patrick Sweeney photo) September 15, 2021 By Michelle Hamilton, Field Editor.
The swaged bullets are soft enough that they expand even at mild velocities where a JHP or hard cast cant. I keep it under my seat in case I get an unwanted intruder and I cant get to my IWB semi auto. You can fit 7.1gr of powder under the 125gn JHP bullet? 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.
PDF Cast Bullets in the .38 Special - Castpics Use data for weight. Using bullets from Hornady HP-XTP, Hornady HP-XTP or FP-XTP, Hornady FP-Cowboy, Hornady HBWC, Hornady SWC-HP, SWC or LRN. Loath and Loathe are different words that mean different things. They all shot horrible at 25 yards. "Berry's Superior Plated Bullets are the finest bonded copper-jacketed bullets available today.." ?. 44 Rem Mag 36,000. Any discussion of Bullseye is incomplete without mentioning a few of the downsides. I haven't used any of those powders but I like faster powders in 38 Special like Titegroup and Clays. In terms of thousands of rounds of range practice, though, that is a definite no-go in my book. 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. My brother put CT laser grips on his wifes M36. Discussion: Bullseye is a faster burning powder and some people feel better suited for the .38 special. Berry says load plated bullets to mid-range jacketed bullets of same profile and weight or equal to hard cast. 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. In the 1950s, 60s. accuracy. I was just trying to get a general consensus of what other guys were using. As an old bullseye guy I've stuck with Bullseye powder for almost 30yearsusing lead bullets. The gun has appeared on TTAG before and has remained unchanged as far as accessories. Hornady also has load data for the 110-grain .357 XTP for the lower-pressure .38 Automatic. Rules say (e) Ammunition- Any safe .38 caliber ammunition using the 158 grain round nose or Semi-Wadcutter bullet only. I have tested both brass and nickel-plated cases using mild loadings and have not yet worn out a case. Depending on the drill, 200-grain .45s let shooter push faster or use available time to shoot better, with significantly less recoil than hardball. 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. The powder charges used for .38 are forgiving. 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. 357 LCR in 3 inch variant. Hodgdon's Basic Reloading Manual, (The free one, available for the asking. 5 are good choices. Then duplicate with reloads for practice. (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. Forgive me my nonsense, as I also forgive the nonsense of those that think they talk sense. There have been guns Ive bought for the caliber, but the .38 wasnt one of those. Where many shooters quickly tire of even standard-pressure .38 in the little five-shooters, the wadcutter invites cylinder after cylinder of practice. Depends on what kind of load you're after. BTW, I wish I had any one of those three revolvers today. So if you find a "lead" load it is also a plated load. I have several manuals and some say that this load is a low +p, some say it is not, but it is very accurate. I probably shoot more 38s than everything else put together but a Dillon 750 makes loading a lot faster. When I teach other people the basics of reloading, I teach them on the .38 SPL. It is less of an issue on a progressive press, but still requires attention. Their biggest use is in making screws and small bolts. That blunt-ended bullet cut a clean hole all the way through whatever its modest velocity allowed it to penetrate. Haven't tried it in the Colt Officer's Model Match yet. 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. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. You need a .357 Magnum revolver if you want to try a 9MM cylinder. 110gr JHP!
Loading 38 special for best accuracy - Revolver Forum - Brian Enos's +P? I have two editions of it from different years that have that data. Main fame for the .38 is now the J frame size revolvers, as a CCW gun. I love a nice, full-size .357 Magnum on the range because it is so easy to train new shooters on.
Anyone else using Bullseye for .38 Spl - Taurus Firearm Forum The Lyman is handy for sizing or priming while youre watching a movie. It'll look funky, but it will shoot. You have entered an incorrect email address! You can't rely on this because not all variables for YOUR cases and chamber and loading length, etc. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. YouTube has plenty of reloading channels or the Reloaders Network webpage has more info as well. It is always higher when powder is next to primer. There is a difference in the manufacturing process of swaged bullets. Notes: Bbl Length: 5.6; primer: Fed. Winchesters 231 or WSL are also good powders for the .38 special. I have one that has been loaded about sixty times and it is still in use today. 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. Have not confirmed the difference with a chronograph.
38 Special 125 gr XTP - Hornady Manufacturing, Inc Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue. However recoil will be the limiting factor especially for the short line. Good thing I didn't go with the original powder charge I intended to use. Great article & thread!!! 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. 9 and others like 2400 that are generally used for magnums). Magtech Sport Shooting, 38 Special, 125 Grain, Full Metal Jacket, Flat, 50 Round Box 38Q YOU WOULD BE WASTING YOUR TIME TRIMMING THE BRASS. 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.
.38 Special: What I've Learned After 20,000 Rounds These are hand loads.. load data was published in Lyman 50th edition.. Like almost all pistol cartridges called ".38" the .38 Special actually takes .357" diameter bullets. Red Dot work fine for most 38 Special loads. The use of .38 +P+ level (25,000 27,500 psi) type reloads, in .357 brass. I use CCI Snake shot for two and Buffalo Bore short Barrel 130 gr. 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. Display as a link instead,
.38 Special - CHUCKHAWKS.COM It doesnt appear like there is much of an advantage in using WST with lighter weight bullets. 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. That sounds. The .38 Special is the most popular of all centerfire revolver cartridges. butt 686 shipped w/ Hogue monogrips, discarded immediately due to pronounced finger grooves. Now, you have to go to a range or have a membership and pay to fill the backstop with lead. Therefore, .38 Special +P ammo can be as much as 17.5 percent hotter than standard .38 Special. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. 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. Great Cast Lead Bullet for IDPA.
Super-Accurate .38 Super Loads - Shooting Times For 3 that actually doesnt kick too badly. That isnt unique to Bullseye, but is certainly more pronounced with the relatively small charges required. 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. Hence the lack of load data from just about anybody. She ran two cylinders of 100 grain wad cutters and gave it back to me. I load rounds for my wife to shoot @ Win 231 4.0 to 4.3 gr. The fast powders, W231, HP38, Bullseye would go over pressure very quickly with any slight changes, in seating depth or primer change. 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. And it isnt my first rodeo with a J-frame. It seems to burn completely in the .38 and is not as critical as the faster powders like Bullseye. I use Bullseye powder but it's about the same burn rate. 357 Magnum 35,000 As I said I am not familiar with your frame and suspect it is one of the latest models out by Smith.
Load data to make power factor 38 special - Revolver Forum - Brian Enos Nickle cases look pretty but dont seem to take the number of resizings that plain brass cases do. I carry my M642 extensively, but I only shoot it occasionally because it is a snappy little b!tch with standard loads.
Midwest Supply Group. CORBON 38SPL+P 125GR JHP 20/500 Titegroup and 125gr 38 Special Load Data 750-850fps. I can not be held responsible for. I'm still hunting for a DR load for my S&W M19-5. Thats what the Cavalry Board asked for over a century ago, and thats what weve got. The majority of my shooting with .38 has taken place with soft lead bullets. Most of these are at the upper end. But this piece isnt about the gun, but rather the cartridge. You may find it will need to be faster for good 50 yd. Each of the classic loads is also economical.
Reloading The .38 Special - Reload Ammo 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. 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.
38 Special 158gr. JHP Load? | Glock Talk Robert Frost. Choosing a bullet Your email address will not be published. Does anyone have any luck with Jacked Bullets. The same volume of BE will weigh much more than than same volume of WST. Lucky me. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5.0 gr unique with berry's 125gr = .38 Special squibs (solved ! I just dont like practicing with it. 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. Now theres an old memory. My experience has always been with bullseye powder. Did you cross post the bullet weight? Despite being well over one hundred years old, it still has perfect relevance for todays shooters, both novice and advanced. : 1,266 1,472 Press. I dont own anything in .38 special yet, but I have plans to buy a .357 magnum revolver in near future, so I already reloaded couple thousands of rounds in .38 and .357. I miss those days. The range (understandably) insisted you shoot their ammunition and the mildest they had was 158 grain LRN standard pressure. Interesting. 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 recently picked up a 396 Nightguard and am a convert to the 44 Special!
Eventually somebody introduced me to tungsten carbide resizing dies, after which case life became near indefinite. Use the lead bullet loads with the plated and you will be fine. I have tried several different grips before finding the one that worked for me. 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. Agree 100% since I reload and shoot it since years, lost count. is limited to either the various Charter Arms models, or as a training/target load in a .44 magnum size handguns. Nitpicking is its own reward., I believe the correct spelling is loathe . 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). I never really set my sights, in a manner of speaking, on the .38 cartridge like I did other rounds. 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. 9 mm, .40 sw, 45 acp, .44 mag. My J frame S&Ws are all older models, and came with the small grips that are still on some models. I load a hard cast 125gn for my 38 special all the time. Testing out some bullseye with 125 berry's bullets.. Youre describing Remington Multiball ammunition (R357MB)- I used to carry that stuff decades ago. (This is prevalent among most aftermarket designs- they are smallest in the longest, strongest finger area, and largest at the bottom pinkie area.). . 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.) Thanks for the excellent article, Josh! I am aware of the plated bullet limitations on BE accuracy and am more interested in them for their "plinkability". Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. Most notably the lighter weight bullets. 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.
Shooter's Reference Load Data for .38 Special Many of these men had no real experience with the handgun, and we had but a few weeks to get them up to very high standards that most shooters will never reach. 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. 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. 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).