38 speical cleaner podwer

[flo's boy]

I use 231 Winchester powder I switched to it because I thought it would be a cleaner powder . I shoot steel challenge matches and if you have ever shot a match you know you shoot a lot of rounds to complete a match. by the time I am done with a match my 627 pro series is pretty dirty . between the 231 and 158gr lead round (158 lrn ) nose it pretty dirty . should I clean it during the match, or is there a cleaner powder. any suggestion would be welcome.

p. s. I shoot 38 speical

[Ignatz]

Getting rid of the lead bullets will be your first big improvement. Bayou bullets work great. 105 .358" for steel, 160 .358" for USPSA. I use Winchester WST powder.

[Nevada Ed]

As mentioned, it is the lead bullet's lube that is the culprit.

Pistol with the plated bullets or Coated bullets for revolvers is the new way to a cleaner weapon at the end of the day.

[OKFC05]

As everybody has said, the powder is fine. The mess is coming from the waxy lube on your lead bullets burning.

[oysterer]

I realized unburned powder when loading too light. Increase s but and it should get better. I use xtreme plated wadcutters and love them. 148.

[flo's boy]

thanks everyone, to tell you the truth I did not know about platted
bullets I will check them out

[epj]

Universal Clays is a very clean burning powder, even with lead. Jacketed, plated, or coated bullets will help as well.

[cowboy4evr]

I also use WST for my 38spl load , 158 gr cast bullets . It is my go to powder for 45acp also . I have tried other powders but always come back to WST .

[Eddietruett]

Originally Posted by flo's boy

I use 231 Winchester powder I switched to it because I thought it would be a cleaner powder . I shoot steel challenge matches and if you have ever shot a match you know you shoot a lot of rounds to complete a match. by the time I am done with a match my 627 pro series is pretty dirty . between the 231 and 158gr lead round (158 lrn ) nose it pretty dirty . should I clean it during the match, or is there a cleaner powder. any suggestion would be welcome.

p. s. I shoot 38 speical

I was having the same problem. Switched to plated and problem solved. Btw, I have found Berrys 158gr Target HP to be extremely accurate in everything I shoot regularly. They shoot better for me than the Round Nose. I've been told the HP has something to do with weight distribution but all I know is they are the most accurate 158gr I've found. It seems everyone's de or hb 148gr wadcutters are about equal at least for me

[38SPL HV]

Most likely your lube. I like Bayou Hi-Tek coated bullets. Speer lead bullets and their lube are clean as well. I like Power Pistol powder and find it clean burning. Universal is also clean burning but at its upper limit. Your WW231 should be fine with the bullets I just mentioned (just keep the Speer lead below 1,000 fps to avoid leading).

[scooter123]

Originally Posted by flo's boy

thanks everyone, to tell you the truth I did not know about platted
bullets I will check them out

You may find that plated bullets won't be allowed in a steel challenge match. Because you really cannot differentiate jacketed from plated with a visual inspection and most steel matches won't permit the use of jacketed ammo due to the potential for ricochet's and possible injuries.

What will work is the new polymer or powder coated bullets because a relatively soft plastic wont ricochet or cause injury. So pay attention to that recommendation for Bayou Bullets.

[Rule3]

The Polymer coated bullets are much cleaner. No lube or lead.

That said HP38/Win 231 is a very sooty powder when used at the low end of the load data. I believe it has a nickname of Ole Smoky

I use a lot of it in many calibers. It is my go to for most anything. 380, 9mm, 38 special 45 acp, 45 colt.

Missouri Bullet Company

[rwsmith]

Use coated or plated bullets. I tried shooting lead indoors and the smoke was awful. If that doesn't fix it the Vihtovuori powders are expensive but clean. I like the Accurate powders myself. Whichever powder you use, most burn best more toward max load than in lighter loads. AA #2 is supposed to be a clean powder that is close to 231 in properties. I haven't tried #2 but I know that their other powders are very good.

[ArchAngelCD]

W231 is a clean powder in the .38 Special, the lube on the lead bullets is not clean.

Like said, change your bullets. Stick with W231 and load coated bullets like those sold by Missouri Bullets. They use no lube and will clean up your gun a lot.

[Forrest r]

Never used any plated bullets, shot 1000's of coated bullets in several different calibers. I coat my own cast bullets shooting around 300# of bullets a year. Here's what a 686 looks like after shooting 200 rounds of 38spl. The load was a 185gr hp/3.5gr of bullseye/federal sp primers. It's nothing to shoot 700/800 rounds of the load above in any of my revolvers before they need cleaned. The bbl's take 1 wet patch/1 dry patch to clean (no brush). The cylinders start to form a carbon ring in them and hoppe's #9 and a couple quick brush strokes take car of them.

[at_liberty]

With a gun as large as the 627 shooting 38 Special, you should be experimenting with heavier powder charges to clean things up and not get recoil that should be a bother. I don't know HP-38/W231 to be known as a dirty burning powder, but light loads with anything can be sooty.

[jag22]

38 special will always be a little smokey. I tried Accurate # 5 and think it's a little better. Also try your loads at least mid range and up, that will help some too.

[minconrevo]

Clays burns very clean just don't try to magnumize it. Accurate #2 also quite clean and extremely good-shooting in target velocity loadings. The new Alliant American Select works well too.