What do you consider the most accurate 38 Special factory target ammo? I want to purchase a box or two to establish a baseline for a couple of my revolvers.

Others here will have had more experience than me, but with the caveat that you wont know unless you actually test your particular gun with a variety of likely choices I'd try Winchester 148 and 158gr wadcutters, Remington 148gr WC and Black Hills 148gr WC. From a ransom rest, two different days, my M14 and 686 performed best with these.

Thanks, I have a 10-6 and a 14-3 that seems to shoot well EXCEPT that I get these flyers. It's frustrating to have 4 shots touching and 2 shots opening the group up to 3 or 4 inches. Could be me, could be my reloads, could be the guns. I want to try some factory ammo and a rest to eliminate two of the factors as much as possible.

walnutred - two consistent flyers for every group sounds mechanical, not human induced (but you never know). Pay close attention to which chamber is delivering the flyers, and you may have found your problem.

But let's hope it's you, because out of the two, you are much easier and cheaper to fix

I suspect it is ether me or my reloads. For two revolvers to act similarly would seem an odd coincidence. I may not be screening my cast bullets well enough.

Remington 148 gr wadcutters are the most accurate in my .38/.357 guns, but are getting hard to find.

MOONDAWG

By far the most accurate .38 ammo I've found for my revolvers in the past few years is the old standard 158 gr. RNL Remington/UMC load for sale at WalMart. Phenomenal accuracy in several J, K, and N frames, just doesn't cut the nice round hole of a wadcutter.

Remington 148gr WC.

Thanks, I'll be driving by a major hunting and fishing store tomorrow, maybe I can find the Remington ammo there.

Have to agree that the 148gr LWC loads seem to be the most accurate. However, I stopped shooting lead bullets a long time ago (do not like all the cleaning). I have shot many one hole clusters with Win USA and Rem UMC 130gr FMJ ammo. CCI Lawman 38 Special 158 gr TMJ is also good.

I went bu t gun shops and a Wally world this weekend and found NO 38 Special wad cuter ammo!!!! Found 158gn RN and a variety of +P defense loadings.

So I bought a box of 500, 148 gn swagged DEWC bullets. I'll load up a couple boxed using the old 2.8gn Bullseye load and see what they do.

Shooting with both the AMU (Army Marksmanship Unit) and the LAPD Pistol Team I found that lot after lot, Federal is the most consistant 148 gr WC made. And that's out of an M52 and several different PPC revolvers, at 50 yds. Remington makes .38 WC that's called "Green Tag" that is usually not available across the counter but will consistantly shoot 12-shot 1.5" groups at 50 yds. Winchester ammo had flyers and sometimes bullet separation. Federal was the most accurate, from lot to lot, of all the ammo tested. This was for ammo that MUST shoot into the x-ring at 50 yds. Hope this helps.
Bob

OIF2, I was wondering if you have ever tried the Black Hills Match Grade 38 WC?
I know when people talk about factory ammo, alot of us don't consider Black Hills since they started off making reloads. Their match ammo uses virgin brass and is excellent.
Never a hitch in our teams 52s or Colt 38 Match autos.
Stay safe in LA.

Hi Moosedog
Funny that you should ask- I just got a case of .38 Black Hills WC to test...haven't tried it yet, but so far the Black Hills stuff I've shot is AWESOME. I still shoot with the USAR Service Pistol Team and we use a special, down-loaded 230 gr .45 ball load that Black Hills loads for us. It shoots into 2" at 50 yards from a Ransom rest. I have no doubt the .38 is as good.
Bob

My 6" 586 likes the Remington match 148 gr WC. I can find them... but they are expensive! about $31/box.