I have a couple of Lee moulds, both being a 150 grain weight cast SWC bullet for .38/.357. One is a hollowpoint, and I want to load that in a .38 special, but I want to get the bullet near +p velocities as a self defense round for my snubnose. (Like the old FBI +P load) There is lots of load data out there for the .148 wadcutter target load, and the 158 SWC bullet. Unfortunately, there is no load data out the for the 150 gr. bullet.
I currently have a couple cans of Trail Boss, but I'm thinking of also getting a can of Unique as the powder for loading these bullets. It seems Unique works with a wide range of loadings and powder weights.
I want to load safely, but I'm looking for good strong loads on the high end. I do not have a chronograph, so I have to depend on high pressure signs like too tight cases in the cylinder, flattening primers, etc.
If anyone can offer some powder advise for this 150 grain bullet, I would appreciate it.

It's funny ...the 150 grain bullet was one of the most popular bullets for the .38 special for 60 years, now there is nothing to be found .....
Thanks in advance ...
Ohio Rusty ><>
S.E. Ohio

I would feel perfectly safe with the 148 gr info in the loading manuals for 150 gr. As any load you should work up to your desired power and watch for the signs of pressure.

Couple of things from your post. May I suggest a couple of things? First and foremost, if you are going to reload and "experiment" get a chronograph. It/they are only about $100 and invaluable in load development.

Trail Boss is not going to get you into the +P range on any cartridge. It wasn't designed for that. Case fill, that is what it was designed for!

Unique will get you into the +P realm BUT depending on your loading apparatus, it may cause some problems. It doesn't meter the best from most equipment. That can be overcome but it does take some work.

If it was me loading for this bullet, I would use the unsung hero SR4756. It is designed for cast bullets and the pressures it generates are good at the top end of the desired velocity.

Find an older Lyman manual, say the 47th edition or so and see what it has to say. The 48th edition doesn't have a +P loading for this powder BUT I do know that their standard data for the 158gr is consistent with what I have gotten in real life. If it was me, I would use that data for the bullet you have. Those 8gr is not going to make a ton of difference, but that is just me. In fact, I would work up just a tad from there once I checked the velocity. You do as you see fit. The responsibility lays completely on your shoulders, not ours!

I agree that by taking normal precautions the 148 gr. data can be used for the 150 gr. bullet. My choice for +P type loads would be Universal Clays. It has an almost identical burn rate as Unique but meters better. W231/HP38 is another good one for the 38 Special as is the SR4756 Tell Sackett mentioned. Another "unsung hero" for 38 Sp. is SR7625. The thing I like best about Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester powders is the great load charts published online at Hodgdon.com. I favor their powders just because of easy and quick access to up to date factory data.

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Andy

You could use the data for the 158 grain swc.

Don't you just hate it when somebody tells you you're on the wrong track?

I have the same mold, and use the data for a 158gr SWC, but I don't use those powders. HS6 will get the most velocity, but I get better accuracy with HP38. All around, HP38 is good for lead .38 loads, with no fuss and bother. You will find that most data for 148gr .38 are wimp loads for wadcutters.

By the way, by the time you start seeing pressure signs like flattened primers in a .38, you are WAY over pressure. It's not like you are loading a high-pressure bottleneck cartridge. Just stick to published data, and you'll be OK, and using a slightly lighter bullet of the same type is not a problem.

Thanks for the advice all .... I should have mentioned that I don't have a fancy relaoding set up. I have a pair of basic Lee reloading presses (the $25 ones) and one Lee hand press. I clean the cases in a rock tumbler from Harbor freight. I use crushed walnut media with a glob of finish 2000 car wax in the media. I have a Lee hand press and I size and deprime the cases with that. The two simple reloading presses are set up for the other stages seating and crimping. I have a small electronic scale and a dribbler. I have to weigh each powder charge, but the operation goes along pretty smooth. I reload enough rounds for practice, but not enough for any kind of high production.

There are so many different powders, it's kind of confusing as to which one to settle on. Being I am using cast bullets, I'll do some reading up on the powders suggested for lead bullets. I have one old reloading manual ...the very first edition Lee reloading manual with a price tag on it of 95 cents. I don't load for lots of calibers, only .380 and .38/357. I kinda hate putting my money in manuals that have load data for 3000 different rifle and pistol cartridges when I don't need all that data ....

Thanks all for the info and I'll peruse the 'net for load data for the powders suggested. Hopefully, those powders are easy to find.
I use VitaVhouri N310 for my .380. That is a hard powder to get for sure .... Everyone have a real enjoyable Thanksgiving holiday.
Ohio Rusty ><>

Most 148 grain data is for Wadcutters and will not necessarily correlate well to the performance of a 150 SWC . Sinc ethe SWC has less pwder encraoachment it won't likely be dangerous with 148 data but performance will not equal the deeper seated wadcutters with teh same charges. OTOH, I have found that 158 grain data yields virtually identical performance with the 150s. As noted -pressure signs are unreliable at .38 special pressures. Miking max case expansion and comparing to factory loads can yield useful comparative data-Generally sticking with published loads is safe and effective. One of my favorite load swith 150s is 5.0 grains of Unique. If you want about all the speed possible at accepted +P levels 6.0 of Power Pistol will deliver.

Get ahold of the Lyman manual and look at the data they have for their 150gr LSWC bullet. You can also use 158gr +P data and would likely have a bit more velocity with the slightly lighter bullet.

5.2grs of Unique and pushes a 158gr lead bullet to equal Winchester +P data. 4.7grs of W231 does the same.

Rusty,
Here are a few sites to go to for powder info.

Alliant Powders:
Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

Hodgdon/IMR/Winchester Powders:
http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Accurate Powders:
Reloading Data

Vitavourhi Powders:
Lapua: Reloading data

I hope these sites help. The data is available on the web and may require a download of a .pdf file.

The reason for getting a manual though isn't just for the load data. There are tons of articles in them that aid the reloader/handloader.
As for the equipment that gets used, I'm not sure that really matters as long as you are one of us!

You have a good Thanksgiving too!

I agree with Sackett. GET a book. Don't depend solely on internet suggestions on loads that have no safety data backing them up.

As far as setup is concerned, most of experienced reloaders depend on the single stage press for most of our reloading needs.

All that good advice being given, 3.6 grains of Bullseye or 5.0 grains of Unique shoot great in all my .38s.

That bullet with 5.0~5.2 grains of Unique will get you there quite safely if you work up to it. Start at 4.5 grains. I use a Federal 100 primer and a good roll crimp.

Unique does not exhibit a lot of flash from a snub .38-Spl revolver. Here's what the flash looks like a night from my SD load with a DEWC.

I haven't looked for pistol loads but I have several small books that are caliber specific to one caliber. 220 swift and 223 rem are the two I have. I have most of the books but these little ones are handy for quick look ups.
I found one of my caliper specf books. Midway USA sells them and I looked and they have most all of them.

This is older Lyman data so start low & work up . Any sticky extraction , flattened primers &/ or case head impression from firing pin bushing you're too hot back off .
Bullseye 2.8 - 4.0 ( 4.4 +P )
W231 3.5 - 4.7 ( 5.0 +P )
Unique 4.5 - 5.1 ( 5.4 +P )
Universal 4.3 - 4.8 ( 5.1 +P )
2400 7.5 - 8.3 ( 8.8 +P )

Many years ago we used to load the Lyman 358477HP 150gr up with stout 2400 loads . While extremely effective on pests , I'd only shoot them these days in either an N frame Outdoorsman or a 357 . The data is out there , but I'm not going to post it here .Other powders that will do what you want include 4756 , N340 , N350 , HS-6 .

This post brings back old memories...

Old is right.

This post is over 6 years old.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73

Maybe old but the questions are the same and us casual readers don't mind reading good info even it is dated.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

Yep. It's old. But think of how many people, including yours truly, have become "gun enthusiasts" since the OP.

And, not to to be accused of drift (got that handled elsewhere don't we ), data for a heavier, similarly profiled bullet would be a good starting point.

Well, if you want good published data for +P 158 SWC, the best source might be Lyman #46. It has mid-900fps loads (4" universal and he's got a snub) using Bullseye, Unique and 231.

I've not seen data for lead 150 grainers. The only 150s I've seen were jacketed. So if you're molding your own 150s, and want hot loads, data for 158s are your only choice for published loads. I hesitate to post the loads here because the OP was taking the dangerous route of experimenting with really hot loads without a chrono, using only "pressure signs." As someone else noted, by the time you see high pressure signs, you are in dangerous territory. If he is still on this board and still doesn't have a chrono, he can at least get a copy of the Lyman book and start out with starting loads.

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USAF, 69-92
Vietnam, 72-73