There is a difference in the manufacturing process of swaged bullets. hard cast LSWC's as a target load. I reload a 3 CA Bulldog in .44 with 200 gr wadcutters, to recreate the Man Stopper loads of long ago. Load shot well out of a variety of service handguns. 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!! hebyta 38 Special +P 18,500 (This is prevalent among most aftermarket designs- they are smallest in the longest, strongest finger area, and largest at the bottom pinkie area.). Zero 158 grain swaged SWC, Starline brass, Winchester or Federal primer, 2.8 grains of Bullseye, roll crimp. Wow I learned something vital from this topic. Also, too light loads don't allow the bullet to seal the gases causing problems. HAVE FUN JP. Components add up to far less than even generic grade factory ammo. A handgunner using .38 Specials is set for targets, plinking and small game while .357 Mag. For me, the 32 H&R Mag is my 357 Mag, and the 32 S&W Long is my 38 SPL. My Dad has advanced arthritis and could not longer easily work his auto loaders. It's given me good results in the 2, 3 and 4 inch barreled. Honestly, plated bullets won't give you the level of accuracy needed for bullseye competition, even at 25 yards. IF YOU ARE USING SWAGED 158GR BULLETS 3.1 WILL WORK, IF USING HARD CAST 3.3 IS NEEDED. 3.) Use the lead bullet loads with the plated and you will be fine. ES 56 SD 24 PMC Eldorado Starfire +P 125 gr. Depending on the drill, 200-grain .45s let shooter push faster or use available time to shoot better, with significantly less recoil than hardball. Of course, these will be used in a revolver. LOL. have been factored in, but Looks like starting with roughly 4.2 of W231. 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. I started loading .38s with a Lyman nut cracker and a home made measure for Bullseye over 65 years ago. I once had to quote the South Carolina Supreme Court when they had spelled it loathe., Regards, I was just trying to get a general consensus of what other guys were using. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. Nitpicking is its own reward., I believe the correct spelling is loathe . ,I looked at Speer data, nothing there. Bullseye is primarily associated with .38 and .45after all, it says right on the bottle: Great for .38 Special and .45 Auto target loads. But it is equally at home in high-velocity auto loads. 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. 357 LCR in 3 inch variant. Both are excellent fight stoppers. At 25 you can get away with a lighter load. Hornady Hehe, back before Nick skimmed down. 38 special is a great cartridge. Notes: primer: CCI 500; case: Speer; NOTE: All loads are maximum. Just depends on what kinds of loads you plan to shoot. 2, No. Best to start a little low, and work up slowly with a chrono, though. Yeah, my wifes last gun, with +P it actually HURTS! YMMV. Posted March 19, 2015. Great Cast Lead Bullet for IDPA. The load you use will be up to your gun. I.E. I am using this load in some .38 specials. I just bought a Lyman mold 160 round nose with a crimp groove. Don't know of any bullets like that. 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. I'm seating to what's in my loading manual. NULLI SECUNDUS. 38 special 125gr copper plated HP38 reloading data Therefore, the conventional wisdom is that they must be loaded to a lower velocity. 2.7 gr. At belly button range, very nasty load. This. Thanks for your help. If there is only ONE load, it is MAX. Last I looked still available at Brownells. 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. A circa 1918 Colt gobbled them up, as did several other 1911s that can be particular about bullet profile. I am aware of the plated bullet limitations on BE accuracy and am more interested in them for their "plinkability". 7, No. I have tested both brass and nickel-plated cases using mild loadings and have not yet worn out a case. . Shot many thousands of my bullseye powder reloads with it. Bullseye or Titegroup cover 90% or more of my .38 Special loadings. My best group was .9 inch out of a Model 15. JHP (now discontinued) 5 rounds . Jack it up a notch and go with .327 Federal Magnum. No sh!t. The upside of the grainage is that the small charges mean more loaded rounds per pound of powderhelpful since Bullseye can take a while to reacquire once the container is empty. I estimate that the price for each of the three loads runs between $7 and $8 per box of 50. And I still think a 158 at 600 beats hell out of a 22 magnum of any stripe. The 357 magnum about 45,000 psi and the std 38 special about 17,000 psi. Taurus model 66 38 special/Bullseye/125 berry's bullets load test Battis, if you go to the very bottom of this page you will see Castpics. 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.? New to Reloading-Unique powder recipes for .38 special Thank you. As I researched loads in the meantime, I kept seeing the same several popping up again and again in sources from as recent as yesterday to long out of print books from when air travel was a newfangled wonder. Enter 38 Special. Oh, I practice with it. The Lyman is handy for sizing or priming while youre watching a movie. Upload or insert images from URL. The 125 Hornady XTP, a jacketed hollow point bullet that can easily handle 1500 fps velocities. People who prepare usually tend to focus on the survival basics: security/self-defense, water, food, first aid, sanitation/hygiene, knowing when to get out and when to stay put. I load rounds for my wife to shoot @ Win 231 4.0 to 4.3 gr. Down-loading .38 special It is easy to load in progressive presses and has commercially available options from virtually all modern manufacturers. Hollow points are not. No. Have a Tritium sight and laser on it to boot. Paste as plain text instead, Bonus is that dont need magnum Primers for these reloads. But you guys need to practice more. Unique or Bulseye for .38 special / .357 mag - Cast Bullet Forum The 919 case is tapered and therefore wider at the base than the .38 special is. A .38 Special mystery---what is the reason for this load? In the 1950s, 60s. Anyone know where I can download a chart where all the powders burning rates (regardless of manufacturer) is listed. This is not loaded 9mm ammo. But still nothing under 3.5". Is it more bulky? 38 Special Pet Loads - 24hourcampfire 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. Shot placement is just as important if not more. Ive done the majority of shooting in .38 Special in my Smith & Wesson 642. IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. 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. Try. Load it like Trail Boss. Although the .357 cylinders are the same length so they can be timed to a 642. Reloading Data .38 Special (Alliant Data) Metallic - Load Data Hi. Too early Are you sure? http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Powder.aspx?powderid=1, I also have the Berry's 125gr plated flat point bullet and I am trying to find a min and max load with unique powder. Give me a .38 Special Recipe Please | Ruger Forum How can I tell if they are cast or swaged? I found some data for 148 and 158 gr bullets but no published data on the 125s. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Does anyone have any luck with Jacked Bullets. i use a Lee mold 150 round nose with 4 grains of bullseye crimped into the crimp groove of the bullet. I'd rather shoot my .45 then. 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. 2 and No. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck.. Wes, SASS Wire rules prohibit posting specific load data on the forum, but it can be passed along via private message or email. I shoot almost exclusively cast lead from my handguns. https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck?highlight=distinguished+++%2Bloads, Load question on Penn Bullets for Distinguished load. In a day you can make over 100,000 bullets. Like almost all pistol cartridges called ".38" the .38 Special actually takes .357" diameter bullets. Hence I carry a semi-auto pistol chambered in .40 S&W. My Lyman 49th has data for 125 gr JHP and 120 gr LRN. 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. These loads are for my wife's revolver. I have a few 30-30 cases modified to shoot singles with a very light load. Did you cross post the bullet weight? Hornady also has load data for the 110-grain .357 XTP for the lower-pressure .38 Automatic. The big medicine was delivered by a 1911, but S&W K frames (favorites were Models 12 & 64) took care of everything else. it seems awful confusing, but with time you will be able to interpolate the published data into something that will give you good starting points to work up your loads. favorite cowboy load (38 spl) - SASS Wire - SASS Wire Forum I thought about trying 2.5 gr. Ive been reloading and shooting for over 40 years and love revolvers but 90% of the time my carry gun is a Sig 365 with a 12 round mag and a spare. I don't completely understand the physics behind it. 4.2 gr. .38 Special - CHUCKHAWKS.COM Below, are three loaded rounds. I will always love the 38 SPL (never cared much for 357 Mag), but that 3 seven shot Charter with both 32 S&W Long and 32 H&R Mag is truly the bees knees. Required fields are marked *. I have experimented with both of Hornadys 200-grain semiwadcutters in this load: the more button-nosed SWC and the longer Combat/Target (C/T) version. Thinking of using it in NRA Action pistol or PPC. Plated bullets are to be loaded as lead bullets. Its the kind of load that will make you fall in love with the 1911 all over again! Classics go well together: circa 1909 S&W .38 Special and traditional 148-grain wadcutter load of 2.7 grains of Bullseye. Dont take this the wrong way; Im guessing the average age of .38 spl fans is about my age (70). I miss those days. in a belt holster at 4:00. 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. Is it considered safe to down load a cartridge that far under starting? 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 will start ouy at the minimum velocity then. 148-grain wadcutter brings accuracy that begs the shooter to test their limits. In 38/357 they don't list 105 gr bullets, but the do list 90's and 125's. Easy enough to extrapolate for a 105 grain . Hit the Bullseye with Bullseye: Classic Loads from a Classic Powder - SWAT Some people then claimed SAAMI raised the 357 Mag to 45,000. 38 special , bullseye, and 125 grain lead rnfp Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting : The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and . Berry's bullets and lee chart and 357 load - ArizonaGunOwners.com Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I have one that has been loaded about sixty times and it is still in use today. 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. All the data says this should be an OK load , even "mid-range" for non +p. Good job on you! Winchester's website has data for W231 and a 125 gr LRNFP, but not plated. This represents a great start, and if thats all you do, youll still be far better off than the majority of the population. with #2 Lyman duplicate. A cold header, at their basic level, are multi ton power presses laying down on their side. 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. 10,870. 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. You are being redirected - Shooters' Forum Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum (because no 6-inch Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver was on hand). As a result, Ive been able to spend far more time practicing with it rather than fussing with it. I get okay accuracy with 4.4 of W-W 231 and 125s, depending on what bullet is used. Each of the classic loads is also economical. I carry my M642 extensively, but I only shoot it occasionally because it is a snappy little b!tch with standard loads. I'd imagine I'm not the first person to use this load, but I have found it is a very sooty/smokey load. Josh Wayner is a Michigan native, active competitor, Grand Valley State University alumni, troublemaker, and fiction author. BTW, I wish I had any one of those three revolvers today. This is good, because the snub takes a lot of practice to have a consistent capability. 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 went to the grocery store to buy a loath of bread.. .38 Special (Alliant Data) Warning! That's usually +P power level in .38 Special. Nickle cases look pretty but dont seem to take the number of resizings that plain brass cases do. accuracy. I routinely use only two powders: Trail Boss and Titegroup. I load it almost exclusively though with either a powder coated or plated 125 grn bullet. 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. Their biggest use is in making screws and small bolts. A 158 SWCHP at 850-875 fps from a snub. Berry says load plated bullets to mid-range jacketed bullets of same profile and weight or equal to hard cast. Most starting .357 reloading powder levels will fall in this .38 +P+ type reload, and the powder being used can be selected (faster or slower) based on barrel length. With the powders you listed I would try Bullseye, 231, and Unique in that order. butt 686 shipped w/ Hogue monogrips, discarded immediately due to pronounced finger grooves. You can fit 7.1gr of powder under the 125gn JHP bullet? * The covered blackstrap and extended length Compac design I reckon are major factors in reducing perceived recoil. Most DNR (Do Not Reduce) loads are well over 900-fps. There are many fun uses for buckshot. 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. If all you practice with is the easy comfortable stuff, its not really practice. 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. The manufacturing process of swaged bullets requires relatively soft lead for two reasons. I use 3.2 gr Bullseye to push a 125 gr cast along at 750 - 775 fps in the 38 SPL from 5 and 6" barreled revolvers. 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. It seems to burn completely in the .38 and is not as critical as the faster powders like Bullseye. They are true classics, and I hope you get as much use out of them! Would you like to react to this message? accuracy. Powders include IMR, Hodgdon, Alliant, Vihtavuori, Winchester, Accurate The swaged bullets are soft enough that they expand even at mild velocities where a JHP or hard cast cant. Posted: 4/17/2014 10:53:09 AM EST. (Or so I have heard.). Also some WSF. I load my own, 130 gr RNFP using Win 231 powder a little over the mid point in the published load data. Accurate, powder-puff recoil, and serious power all in one. Not all guns are created equal. Three in particular proved as good as their longstanding reputations would indicate. Times across steel plate racks and many of my standard drills with the 200-grain SWCs rival my best easy-shooting 9mm results. Im also impressed by the apparent durability of your Airweight J-frame. 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. Not in that order. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Unique was a sooty powder so Ive switched to W231. *WAP is not best choice for .38 special, too slow and inconsistent. All newly manufactured .38 Special revolvers must be proof tested to the same higher proof . .38 will take care of nearly any critter that needs dispatching feral cats, raccoon, armadillo, even wait for it. You have never indicated what barrel length or brand or frame size you may be using these in. 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. It will then fit in your 38 Special gun. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Most notably the lighter weight bullets. 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). What I learned after 50 years of shooting and reloading 38spl cases some where around 100 thousands rounds. Alliant Powder - Bullseye What overal length of the cartridge? I have tried several different grips before finding the one that worked for me. I have the shrouded hammer version, the 638, and have been wary of training much with it because of its aluminum frame. Fast burning and consistent Economical and accurate Principal Purpose: Handgun loads Remarks: America's best known pistol powder. Think that if a .44 spl. .38 Special +P (Alliant Reloaders Guide) Warning! Display as a link instead, 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. For 3 that actually doesnt kick too badly. I believe this particular bullet is meant for the 9mm,but drops at 358. It seems to burn completely in the .38 and is not as critical as the faster powders like Bullseye. 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. Its like a pellet gun with a little noise and smoke if using black powder. The Bullseye powder pushed five into two inches flat for another 1911 that is typically a four-inch gun. Handload: 158 grain round nose lead /3.8 grains Bullseye MV 775 fps ME 210 ft./lbs. 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 email address will not be published. 125 gr plated or 125 gr lead RN. 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 . After making a healthy pile of brass with this load, I am unlikely to ever be without a few boxes of it on standby. But I think I was still loading the cases from that first box when I quit loading 18 years later! My brother put CT laser grips on his wifes M36. 594/600 at the real distances of 24 rnds at 50 yds, 24 rnds at 25 yes, and 12 rnds at 7.5 yds. Unsurpassed for .45 ACP target loads. 158 gr. 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. Soft shooting. Anyone else using Bullseye for .38 Spl - Taurus Firearm Forum The other .38 Special is a 4 Colt Diamondback. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. swatmag.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. And.those Hornady 158 HPs are easy to reload but I have never had one open up in a varmint of any sort. Use data for weight. VV N320, N330 and N340 are products of VihtaVouri Oy Company