After something like 30 years I'm getting back into reloading.
Starting simple - 38 Special, 158 grain, lead + Bullseye.
Using this bullet I'm crimping at about the top set of lube *dents*, giving me an OAL of 1.460"
There is no cannelure (my computer says it should be *no cannoli* - which is true )
Is this OK?

After reading and reading, I'm using 3.0 grains of Bullseye which a lot of guys seem to be using and like.
I also intend to load another batch with 3.5g BE and try them...

BUT

My Speer Reloading Manual #11 gives a starting load of 3.8 for 801 fps and a max load of 4.2 @ 888.

So - Am I using too little Bullseye for this bullet?

I loaded 22 of each - 12 for my M10 and 10 for my M49 to see how each load groups. I'm not concerned with speed, just POI=POA

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In dog years I'm dead.

Lyman 46 Shows 2.8-4.2 gr of BE

Hornady 8th lists a projectile that looks like what you've illustrated.

158 Grain SWC, using Bullseye:

Starting: 2.8 gr.

Max: 3.7 gr.

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-John

It looks to me like you are inside the range where everybody overlaps.

Sorry, I don't use Bullseye for my .38 Special ammo, I use W231/HP-38.
Lyman's 4th Edition Cast Bullet Handbook lists a charge range of 3.0gr to 3.4gr BE with a 158gr LSWC bullet with an OAL of 1.445". That bullet comes from a Lyman mold and Lyman #2 Alloy. It's not a swaged bullet like the Hornady bullet you're loading.

Alliant's load data using a Speer 158gr LSWC bullet which is also swaged like the Hornady bullet lists a Max charge of 3.5gr Bullseye with an OAL of 1.440". The starting charge will be 10% less, 3.1gr which is very close to the current Lyman data.

Those are good bullets. I'm sure your ammo will be accurate using that bullet. I use that very same Hornady bullet for my FBI replica load. For building a .38 Special +P load with that bullet I use HS-6.

Please don't forget the range report when you shoot them. Welcome back to reloading...

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SWCA #3437

If I were loading a swaged SWC like those I would seat the bullet a
little deeper and roll crimp over the shoulder rather than into the side
of the bullet as you say you are doing. I use Bullseye for plinking loads
some times but tend to use other powders more often because of the
filthy residue it deposits on my guns and hands. 3.0 grs is a pretty
light load with 158 gr swaged bullets and in my experience using
158 gr cast bullets better accuracy is obtained at 3.3 - 3.4 grs.

If your goal is light & fairly clean burning loads with lead bullets try Tail Boss powder.

My snub nosed 38s are very inaccurate at 3.0 grains or less of bulleye. If I up it to 3.3 then they are very accurate. Longer barrels seem to do ok with the 3.0 load. I think the snubbies just don't produce enough velocity to stabilize with the very light loads.

I have read that the first .38 Special smokeless loads, ca 1902, were 158 gr lead + 3.5 gr Bullseye. Why reinvent the wheel?

Those swaged bullets are pretty soft and starting low is a good idea. Go ahead with the 3.0 gr. Bullseye load and see if a) it's accurate and b) it leads your barrel and c) that the bullet gets all the way out of the barrel.

I've loaded that same Hornady 158gr with a COL of 1.455 and had good results. I now use 3.5 to 3.6 gr W231, nice and mild for all my guns, including an old 14-3 and 36. When I used BE I loaded 3.1 / 3.2 gr with the same results. Chief38 put me onto the Hornday 158 gr LRN, they both shoot well and virtually no leading. And FWIW, I've also tried the Hornady 140 gr FP with 3.6 gr W231 and liked it. With their HBWC I use 2.9gr W231 but in the past used 2.7 BE which, while dirty, seemed more accurate (you can probably tell I like Hornady bullets).

I'll second the opinion to crimp over the forward shoulder, and to increase to about 3.5 gr. BE. This will raise pressures slightly, which Bullseye seems to like. Remember that this bullet is soft and won't like a lot of velocity. And yes, please do remember a range report.

Larry

I use 3.2 grains of Bullseye and the same bullet with nice results. Smooth shooting and accurate in a Model 27 with a 5 inch barrel.

One of my favorite loads is 3.3 Bullseye and a Col of 1.45. Very accurate and light shooting round. Love the Hornady swaged bullets.

My 14-4 shoots 2.7-2.8 gr. Bullseye really well with the swaged Zero 159 gr. SWC bullet. I used to use 3.1 but found it to shoot much better when the bullet was slowed down.

Sorry to disagree with you but I push those bullets to just under 900 fps without any leading at all. They are not as soft as you may think...

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Freedom is never free!!
SWCA #3437