I've settled on 5.6 grs Power Pistol and Speer's 158 gr LSWCHP, loaded in 38 Spl +P cases.

I recall velocities from 6 inch Model 10 was approximately 975 fps, duplicating the velocity +/- of Remington, Winchester and Federal FBI loadings.

Makes a great range and field load as well.

Power Pistol excels in 158 gr lead 38 Spl +P loadings in my humble opinion. Speer has ample 38 Spl +P data with their bullets. Alliant uses Speer's 158 gr SWC + P loading, Max 6.0 grs Power Pistol yielding 1,037 fps (great load in its own right).

While I've never tried power pistol, my carry load is:

38 special case
federal magnum primer
Speer 158 LSWCHP
12.0 grains IMR 4227

This is more a light magnum than a 38 +P, but it works wonders in my 686. I get around 900fps from a 3" barrel (it might be a tough higher my data is home).

Most important to me: 1- I have zero leading, 2- Its super accurate, and 3- There is very minimal low light flash.

The downside is it will not mushroom over the edges of the SWCHP until I push it closer to or over 1000fps, but then I get a touch of leading and more recoil. At my speeds in water the HP will open up to the diameter of the ball or slightly over.

My favorite FBI load consists of one of these 2 bullets that I cast:


Both are 158gr hollowpoints, and the load is either:
6.4gr AA#5 or 7.0gr HS-6.

Don

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How much unburned powder do you get with this load? Ive found that powder likes lots of pressure.

In a 38 case with a 158gr Lswc at 1.48 oal, my lot of IMR4227 powder
at 11.8grs is a light compressed loading........ at 922 to 949 per the temperature outside.
Pretty good accuracy and shoots clean out of a 6" barrel.

In my J frame snub nose, 10grs does 571fps and is so dirty it jams the cylinder.
HS-6 is as slow as I go with powders in the little 2" barrel, now.

A 6" barrel with IMR4227 and the Speer 135gr Gold Dot will do under one inch
with a full load of powder, for me, if I do my part.
Later.

I tend to treat Xtreme plated bullets, of which I have many, like lead bullets even though I know don't have to. In you opinion do you think a heavy plated .357" bullet would cause dangerous pressure with 11.8-12gr of IMR4227?

Not that much, I am using a good roll crimp and a 38 special case. The reduction in case volume bumps the pressure a bit and I think helps with a cleaner burn. After 50 rounds I can see a few unburnt grains but its not enough to much up the works.

Whenever possible I try to run the smallest case that I can in order to minimize the dead space between the powder and ball and I have been very happy with the results.

Without a doubt the Buffalo Bore #20A 158 grain LSWCHP-GC +P. IMO the BEST .38 Special for HD/SD.

IMO the runner up is the Speer 135 grain short barrel Gold Dot JGD +P for carry Snubby's.


Heavy .38 Special +P Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

This is the reloading forum and the OP is asking about handloads, not factory ammo.

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SWCA #3437

Myself and a handful of others a few years ago bounced the numbers around from several sources and we came up with a GUESS my 7.0gr load would generate between 19,400 PSI and 19,800 PSI. (including Quick Load software) This data is above current data but not above some older data that lists 7.2gr HS-6 as the max. I'm not telling anyone to use this data, it's just what I use.

Here's the load:
Winchester .38 Special +P case
158gr Hornady LSWC/HP
CCI 550 Primer (Magnum primer on this load)
7.0gr HS-6
COL 1.475"
4" M686 ---- 2" M640
927.0 -- AV --- 888.9
955.1 --- H --- 897.1
905.4 --- L ---- 876.6
49.7 ---- ES --- 20.5
20.7 ---- SD ---- 7.9
17.0 ---- AD ---- 5.9

This load is very accurate in every revolver I shoot it from including my current carry J frame, a S&W M442.

Note, there is a large thread discussing this and the work we did somewhere on this forum.

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SWCA #3437

OOPPPSSSS! My error! I apologize.

The FBI used a 158 lead hollow point, semi-wadcutter 38 special for years. After shot placement everything pales in importance.

FBI Load Results:



Bullet in middle: 6.4gr AA#5, velocity 845fps.
Bullet on right: ArchAngelCD's load of 7.0gr HS-6, 945fps.

Don

__________________
NRA Cert. Reloading Instructor

FPS of a 158gr lead bullet must be put into perspective.

In a heavy 6" revolver, 975fps is a standard load for most.

930fps in a 4" revolver is also bearable for most shooters.

900fps in a 3" S&W steel revolver will test some shooters.

In a J frame S&W snub nose revolver...........
a 158gr lead bullet at 888 to 850fps is a big handful of +P power.

Not all "FBI" loads are created equal.................

Fun if you can handle it, though.

My FBI Load generates an AV of 889 from a 2" J frame and I don't find it at all difficult to shoot. Then again I also shoot 145gr Winchester Silvertip .357 Magnum ammo from the same revolver with no problems either.

Felt recoil in very different to different shooters so your generalizations on velocities and tolerance are just guesses and probably inaccurate.

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SWCA #3437

That is much faster than Rem/Win/Fed loadings - nice load!

I may try HS6 someday but found Power Pistol to do the same or more at least in 38 Spl +P. But HS6 would be a great powder for 357 Mag 158 gr cast loads and could fill the need if you needed "just one powder" for both 38 Spl +P and 357 Magnum.

Thank you to those that developed these FBI loads. They represent the zenith of loads made up for the 38 Special and what works with the equipment that most folks use for protecting themselves and their families. Snub nosed and service revolvers were hamstrung for decades with the ubiquitous 158 Round nose bullets that did not get the job done like the LSWCHP loads will do if loaded properly and if the shots are placed where they need to be. Cheers.

Yes, I agree. The careful, thoughtful handloaders on this forum spending their time and money to share accuracy and chrono data with us is a big help.

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dd884
JMHO-YMMV

My +P .38 Special load is 158SWC-HP and 5.4 grains Unique. Does well in all of my revolvers. Recoil is sharp but controllable in a medium or large frame revolver. In the J-frames (M36, M37, M60, etc) I find this load to be uncomfortable due to recoil and blast. In the K-frames (M64, M66, M19) it is noticeably stout but not harsh.