Loads for action shooting

[SkipL]

I have been reloading for a little over a year. what I'm looking for are different opinions on loads for 38 spcl using zero 148 hbwc's using these 3 powders. silhouette right now running 4.7 grains, Bullseye and then titegroup. also have 500 158 grain swc fro Missouri bullet co that are hytek coated. need to make power factor. shooting action pistol. but wanting to keep recoil down. shooting out of S&W 686 competitor. using xl650 dillon and rcbs rockchucker.

[jimbo728]

I have used a 686 in IDPA and made the power factor using
4.8 of 231 with 158gr LSWC`s. It is more of a .38 cal +P load by todays standards but used to be listed as max in older manuals I started with in the late 70`s. .This has, for the most part, been my go to load for my L frame .357`s for effective .38 spl loads.
It has been great on poppers, pins and plates too.
Jim

[Nick B]

If you're talking power factor for IDPA a 158 grain bullet only needs 700 FPS.
The problem with those 148 WC's is they don't speed load very well . You'd be better off with a 158 round nose .

[jimbo728]

I agree with the round nose, being a good bullet to use for speedloader use. Quick reloads with revolvers require a lot of practice
and every edge helps.
To insure knocking out plates and poppers that show up on course stages a .38spl load gives you a better one shot success rate
at at least 800fps.
Jim

[Nevada Ed]

A 158gr lead RN at 800 fps out of a heavy 686 is "Gravy train".

Just find which one of those three powders works the best for you and get lots practice in loading with dummy's. or snap caps.

The swc will do for practice.......... and your left stock may need altering for fast reloads.

Good shooting.

[Forrest r]

Bullseye is the best powder of the 3 you have. 3.5gr of bullseye pushing a 158gr lead bullet has been a standard load for decades that has proven to be extremely accurate.

Lead bullets are faster than jacketed
coated bullets are faster than lead

A couple of 38spl loads for a 686 competitor.



When I load 38spl's for a 357, I like to load the bullets long. The h&g #50 148gr button nosed wc is crimped in the middle lube groove (been doing that since the 80's). And the 640 158gr rfn hp is crimped in the bottom (has 2 crimp grooves) crimp groove.



Coated bullets are also allot cleaner with allot less fouling allowing the user to maintain accuracy longer and keep cleaner hands/less junk when handling the speedloader and cylinder. What the 686 looks like after a typical 200 round range session with the 640/bullseye load.



148gr hbwc's can be used but you have to watch the load/pressure. Too hot and the skirts blow off and stick in the bbl. 2.7gr/2.8gr loads of bullseye have been used for years with hbwc's. Depends on the firearm but typical velocities are around 775fps with that combo. I like to use american select with hbwc's, a little more velocity 800fps+ with less pressure (around 13,500psi). I've cast my own hbwc's and swaged my own hbwc's for decades. This allows me to make them out of harder alloys. Harder alloys ='s more pressure/faster loads.



Another excellent 38spl load is that 3.5gr load of international clays and a 158gr bullet. Pictured above/far right target. It's cleaner burning than bullseye and gets a little more velocity for the same bullet/load combo.

While titegroup is a good powder, it doesn't play well with lead bullets. And it loves coated bullets as much as it loves powder hoppers.

[CheyenneBodie]

I shoot NRA Action Pistol with S&W K frame revolvers. 148 grain wadcutter must go at 815 FPS to make Action Pistol 120 PF. I use Double Ended Wadcutters with Hitek coating. I load 3.2 of Titegroup or 3.2 of Bullseye with a 6 inch barrel revolver I have no problems meeting the PF. Crimp just enough to take the flare out of the case and then chamber check in the cylinder. Recoil is mild, little to no smoke which is important when shooting the Barricade event. On the Moving Target event at 25 yards I do have to hold about 2 to 3 inches off the edge of the target to score tens and X's.