I just purchased a barrel to convert my Sig 40S&W cal, Classic target 1911 to 38 Super. ( I had a a few thousand 125gr LSWC and 130 gr PRN berry's 38 super bullets laying around needing purpose.)
I'm now looking for some good range loads for general use. Don't necessarily need blistering speed but do want accuracy.
I know I could start with my "go to" 9mm loads and bump them up but was wondering if anyone had a pet recipe to share.

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Dave

I probably load my .38 Super ammo for the same purpose as you, punching paper. I use 125-grain Missouri Bullets' coated 9mm SWC or the uncoated IPD #6 over 6.0 grains of AutoComp powder in Starline cases. They shoot cleanly and accurately without excessive recoil and cycle the action of my S&W and Kimber 1911s.

Ed

Here's a great .38 Super site. On the big bullet on the right is the handloading section.

38 Super

Most anything you stick in a Super is going to be accurate....

My favorite is 6.0 grains of Unique with a Berry's plated 124 Flat-Point/Hollow-Base or if you want a jacketed bullet the Hornady HAP. Velocity will be in the 1200s....

Bob

I have wanted a 38 Super ever since I learned of this cartridge.(many, many years ago) Lately, the 38 super fever has really grabbed me good(or bad??). This page you so graciously shared, I think has put me over the edge. A note for the op: if or when I get to load for my 38 Super, I will be loading toward the top end. I've got plenty of 9s for shooting"softball " loads.

I shoot bullets from .355" through .357" diameter.

I use a standard weight 14lb recoil spring. My most used bullet weights are 124 and 147. Most used powder, a midrange dose of Universal.

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GOA
USA Shooting Supporter

"This page you so graciously shared, I think has put me over the edge."

I'm not sure if you owe me a finders fee, or if I owe you for making you spend more money.

They are no longer made...but if you can find a good used Kimber Stainless Tareget II you will be pleased... Almost all my Supers are Colts but with the Kimber I have to admit it was one of the best out-of-the-box guns I have ever had... Good used ones will be in the $750-900 area... They have a supported barrel for top end loads and has digested everything I've fed it...

Trail gun perfection: Kimber's .38 super stainless target II. - Free Online Library

Bob

Corbon

38 Super Load Data - Handloads.Com

If you want HOT loads, you are aware that you can fire 9x23mm Winchester through any .38 Super. However, 9x23 cases may be a little hard to come by today. but you can order 9mm SuperComp brass from Starline, and Starline says they are fine for use with 9x23-level loads. My hottest 9x23 loads use 8.7 grains of AA#5 with small rifle primers, and 124 grain FMJ bullets - should give you 1450+ ft/sec MV. You will also need a heavy recoil spring.

9x23 Winchester brass was made to be shot in non-ramped barrels...Starline brass is not and will bulge well before Winchester will.

A flat bottomed firing pin stop is also a nice addition for hot Super and 9x23 loads to further retard slide opening...

Bob

To be clear, I have 500 pieces of Starline 38 Super +P nickle brass. I also have 1000 each of 130 gr berries plated round nose bullets and 125 gr lswc Missourri 28 super bullets to experiment with. I have no need for hot loads but won't shy away if they turn out the best accuracy. I don't see me going to 9x23 any time soon.
For powder I have most of the usual's. Clays, Bullseye, HP-38/W231,Unique,BlueDot, Red dot, Green Dot, Tightgroup,lilgun..... I'll buy another brand if needed but it's looking like Unique should work well.
Guns will be a full Kimber Classic Target 1911 and a RIA 1911-a1 FS

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Dave

I shoot 3.3gr Bullseye under 147gr and 150gr lead. Under the Missouri 125gr LSWC I run 3.5gr Bullseye...

You will DEFINITELY need a lighter spring, AND quite possibly a large radius FPS.

These loads run right at 1000fps from a 6" with almost no recoil, and sub 1" groups at 25yds.

Firing pin stops (FPS) are REALLY easy to fit, and inexpensive. Your Super very well might have a large enough radius already!!

W-H...most any of those powders will work. I have used 231/Unique/Blue Dot over the years but now use Unique for almost everything.

If you don't belong to LoadData.com you may want to join...they have loads for just about any round one can reload and lots of great loads for the .38 Super...

Bob

All of my .38 Supers are accurate. All of my 9x19s are pathetic.
Hornady 121gn JHP Match does well with 4.7-5.7gn of 231/HP38, 5.6-6.8gn of Silhouette, and 6.7-7.7gn of True Blue (but it does the best with 10.0gn of AA7 for sub-inch groups at 25 yards with most of my .38 Supers.
My favorite bullet is the Zero 121gn 38 Super JHP that does well with 4.3-5.3gn of 231/HP38, 4.7-5.3gn of AA2, 5.9-6.5gn of AA5, 9.6-9.9gn of AA7, 6.7-7.5gn of Silhouette, 7.3-8.3gn of True Blue, and 5.3-6.8gn of WSF.
If you want to try something off-the-wall, I tried the Hornady Cowboy 140gn swaged L-RNFP and it did great with 3.5-4.1gn of 231/HP38, with the 4.1gn load often being less than 1" at 25 yards with no leading.

...I've always found the heavy, slow bullet in combination with a fast to medium burning powder to get the best accuracy. I made some 9mm cartridges with a 147 gr. bullet and was advised to try Acc #7 for soft-recoiling. Not only were they soft on the recoil, they were surprisingly accurate.

I'm not sure that the burn rate of the powder is necessarily the key to target loads, but the CONSISTENCY of burn, which faster burning powders are inherently good at. But it doesn't mean a slower powder can't be just as consistent or that a fast powder isn't automatically a great target load.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"

I use 7.8 grains of blue dot with 147gr hp rainier for bowling pins, its very accurate out of my 38 super Springfield armory factory comp 1911.

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Always look for the Blue Box