.38 SPL - 158gr LSWC. What do you like?

[gwalchmai]

I need a few hundred middlin range loads. I've been using Titegroup but I thought I might try something else to see how it does.

I have Unique, HS-6, 2400, AA #5, Clays, Solo-1000, and Universal on hand.

Thanks!

[alwslate]

My favorite powder for midrange 38 spl loads is the long gone Win 452.
Any out there for sale? Of the powders you list Titegroup is the only
one I have used with any success. I like 3.4 grs.with 158 gr. cast
bullets. 3.4 grs. Bullseye and 3.8 grs. 700X have also given good
accuracy for me.

[Skip Sackett]

Originally Posted by gwalchmai

I need a few hundred middlin range loads. I've been using Titegroup but I thought I might try something else to see how it does.

I have Unique, HS-6, 2400, AA #5, Clays, Solo-1000, and Universal on hand.

Thanks!

Remove the HS-6, 2400 and the AA#5 from that list right away. None of them perform worth a hoot at midrange levels. Clays and Solo are too fast to develop anything too hot with. So, believe it or not, I'm saying USE UNIQUE!

For a midrange load I would use between 4.0gr and 4.5gr with a firm crimp and a 158gr LSWC.

[TSQUARED]

Of the powders you have on hand Unique would be the one to choose. However for nice plinking loads I prefer Trail Boss. Check out the Trail Boss data on Hodgdon's website.

[David LaPell]

My favorite 158 grain SWC load in .38 Special is 3.8 grains of Winchester 231. I haven't checked the velocities, but in my 4-inch M & P it is very pleasant and very accurate.

[Steel609]

158gr SWC or RNFP behind an even 4.0gr W231 is an extremely accurate and pussy cat gentle load through my 4" 686 or GP100.

I get similar results using 4.0gr Bullseye also.

[Mule88]

I use 5 gn. of universal with great results. accurate and burns cleaner than unique.

[cp1969]

I thought Winchester 452 was now called Winchester Super Target? Am I wrong?

Anyway, WST, Unique, or Universal Clays all work well. I can attest to that.

[medic15al]

5.2 Unique is a decent load, working up to 6.0 in my .357 magnum to duplicate the old 38/44 loads. 5.2 grains is mild in my Model 66 and cases fall out with no assistance from ejector rod.

2.7 Bullseye under 158 SWC are very accurate in my BodyGuard, and 4.5 Bullseye cut one hole groups at 25 yds, again in my 4 in M-66

[imakmst]

3.3gr HP-38, 158 gr LSWC.

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree W231/HP-38 is probably your best bet even though you don't have any. My very favorite 158gr LSWC load is 4.0gr W231... It's accurate and clean.

Of the powders you have Unique or Universal are probably the best choices for a mid-range .38 Special load. Like said above HS-6, AA#5 and 2400 are just too slow for efficient mid-range loads.

[Crabtree]

4.7 - 4.8 grains of Unique under a Missouri Bullet 158gr LSWC .... OAL of 1.45 works good for me.

[bgrafsr]

I just loaded and shot yesterday, some .38 Spl 158 grain cast SWC using 5.0 grains of W-W 231. I shot them in my .38-44 Heavy Duty and they were very accurate, with not much recoil with the big gun. I am going to try 5.5 grains of 231, using a gas checked cast 158 grain SWC next.

By the way, the cases nearly fell out of the cylinder when I started to eject and the primers were not flattened at all.

[bmcgilvray]

Originally Posted by R Crabtree

4.7 - 4.8 grains of Unique under a Missouri Bullet 158gr LSWC .... OAL of 1.45 works good for me.

More rounds of .38 Special fueled with 4.8 grains of Unique have been fired in my .38 revolvers than anything else since 1976. With quality bullets, it is a good, accurate general purpose load. Serves well in the field or for plinking.

10 rounds of this load fired over the chronograph average 858 fps from a 4-inch barrel.

[zercool]

Originally Posted by TSQUARED

Of the powders you have on hand Unique would be the one to choose. However for nice plinking loads I prefer Trail Boss. Check out the Trail Boss data on Hodgdon's website.

Consider this another vote for Trail Boss. I use 3.5-3.6gr behind either a 158 LSWC or 158 LRNFP with excellent results. Nice mild load, clean, no leading.

[alwslate]

Originally Posted by cp1969

I thought Winchester 452 was now called Winchester Super Target? Am I wrong?

Anyway, WST, Unique, or Universal Clays all work well. I can attest to that.

WST and 452 are very different powders. WST replaced 452
in Winchester's line up. Both are mainly shotshell powders.
The story was that 452 is so fine grained that it tended to
leak from the charge bars of shotshell loaders. I have both
powders and for hand gun loads WST is a poor subsitute for
452 in my opinion.

[Last of the Mohicans]

I use 4 grains of Unique for general plinking rounds at the range.

[Forester]

I agree with Skip and others above. I like 4.5 grains of Unique for that bullet. Shoots good in anything I have tried it out of.

[BUCKAWHO]

With 3 gr. Bullseye and Speer bullets out of a 4" barrel. Accurate and fun. BT

[bill skebeck]

I load 3g of bullseye 158g MBC R.N. at 25yds they perform great. 4in. & 6in BAR. M14 38-44 C.M. M.P TRY IT YOU WILL LIKE IT.

[AzShooter]

Found another load that my 627 likes, 5 grains of Unique with a 158 grain LRN OAL 1.60. Velocity 925 fps.

1 inch groups at 25 yards from a bench rest.

A little on the stout side but sure is accurate.

[Wayne Dobbs]

I've shot a metric buttload of 158 cast SWCs over 4.0 231/HP-38 and it's really hard to beat. Another one I've shot a bunch of lately (including about 200 today!) is the 158 SWC (or the 148 DEWC) over 3.0 grains of Clays. Shoots great!

It doesn't get more fun than shootin' a great .38 Special load!

[lmcgust]

158 gr SWC (Precision Delta) with 3.8 gr W231. Love those bullets, very popular over here for the Distinguished PPC matches. When W231 runs out, I will try Titegroup for the next PPC season.

BR,
Guy -

[LuddhaBuddha]

I like 6.2gr of AA #5, it's a max load for standard pressures, but I get an ES of 8 with it, I use it for carry ammo in my .38 specials.

[CCV]

Originally Posted by Wayne Dobbs

I've shot a metric buttload of 158 cast SWCs over 4.0 231/HP-38 and it's really hard to beat. Another one I've shot a bunch of lately (including about 200 today!) is the 158 SWC (or the 148 DEWC) over 3.0 grains of Clays. Shoots great!

It doesn't get more fun than shootin' a great .38 Special load!

3.0 Grains of CLAYS is an excellent load for the .38 Spcl. I also like 3.3 grains of WST under a 158 grain swaged bullet (currently using the Speer 158 LSWC HP)

[mawnlake]

158 grain lead s/w 2.9 bullseye, accurate for all distances of PPC, 7, 15, 25 AND 50 yards, I`ve used the same load for 40 years never a problem, 2.7 bullseye under the 148 grain w/c excellent accuracy.
jaydeee