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  #1  
Old 08-17-2009, 03:35 PM
Crazy K38 Crazy K38 is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Default what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?

I am getting into handloading finally and I know some .38 loads are great for 4" bbl guns but epically fail in snubbies so what are your tried and true S/D or plinking loads for your little buddy?
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Old 08-17-2009, 03:47 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Two of them I won't mention publicly b/c they're over present-day "maximums."

Only experienced reloaders should ever approach a reloading bench without supervision. What's safe in my guns is not necessarily safe in yours. Start low and work up to any load. *Check this data against published data by the powder manufacturer. I don't warrant anything - who knows what typos may have snuck in here.*

That said, here are two loadings that I shoot a lot in my .38 Special snubs . . . I find them both to be decently accurate and reasonably puissant.

5.1 grains of Unique under a 148-gr hardcast TVB DEWC with a CCI small pistol primer and a firm roll crimp is good for over 900 fps out of a 1 7/8" barrel and is acceptable under the last .38 Special published data that I looked at (Heaven knows that SAAMI may be limiting us even further now, in case someone has managed to re-chamber a zinc-cast cap gun in the formerly Mighty .38 Special ).

6.0 grains of Power Pistol under a 158-gr hardcast TVB LSWC with a CCI small pistol primer and a firm roll crimp is good for over 850 fps from a 1 7/8" barrel and is acceptable under the last .38 Special +P data that I looked at (see caveat supra). This slightly exceeds the velocities produced by factory "FBI Loads" - I use it a lot for practice b/c Power Pistol meters so darn well. I have a Unique load (formerly acceptable under the manufacturer's guidelines but no more ) that duplicates the "FBI Load" that I prefer to use for carry instead of this Power Pistol load because I find PP to be "flashy" in low light.

Read and consider Mas' advice before using handloads for self-defense. You probably know what I do, but that doesn't mean it's right for you.
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Last edited by Erich; 08-17-2009 at 04:17 PM.
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Old 08-17-2009, 04:12 PM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Exclamation 'Pends on what snubbie you are talking about!

Well,
In my M637 I limit myself quite a bit because of it being of an alloy frame.

I have a M60 with a 3" barrel that gets some pretty stout loads though.

Like Erich, some are way over current SAAMI specifications so I won't share them. Needless to say, they are from the Speer #8 and we have had quite a discussion in days past over them!

I have used the gamut of powders and a 158gr LSWC with good success in it though. Powders such as Bullseye and 2400, and everything in between. HP-38/W231 is a good choice too, with a big following.

Personally, I want to start looking at some with Longshot as it meters like a dream and the pressures seem to be on the low side with velocity on the high side. That's a win/win in my book!

Since you are a new reloader let me give you some advice. Stick with current published data. Go to the powder manufacturer's website/manual and start with their low end data and work up.

Do that for a couple of years and get real good at it before venturing into uncharted waters. The waters may have even been charted a long time ago but new "reefs" may have popped up since then, if you get my drift!

There is something to be said for being safe.
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Old 08-17-2009, 04:26 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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I have 2 standard "practice loads" I use for all my .38's, be they snubbies, 4" or 6".

3.0 gr Bullseye
3.2 gr Titegroup

Both under a 158 gr SWC or LRN that I cast from straight wheelweights.
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Old 08-17-2009, 04:53 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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didnt see this was reloading section.
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Old 08-17-2009, 06:21 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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My favorite load for my 642 is a 130 grain cast bullet over 3.6 grains of Titegroup.
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Old 08-17-2009, 06:45 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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I loaded up a bunch of 125 grain RNLs and 4.0 grains of Trail Boss that makes a very pleasant plinking load in the alloy frame snubbies. I just got a Lee 105 grain SWC .358 mold, and I'm in the process of working up a good plinking load using that, my goal also being a nice Airweight plinker.

When it comes to my magnum snubby, the SP101, I like magnums for fun, 13.0 grains of 2400 with a 158 grain SWC.
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Old 08-17-2009, 10:23 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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I've had some confusing results in my .38 special experiments. I was loading Hornady 158 LSWC and Unique (thrown with my Chargemaster 1500), and 4.7 gr was as high as I wanted to go in my 642 - I was getting the cylinder release bite on my thumb.

I later bought the "legendary" Federal FBI load (158 LSWCHP, +P), and in comparison I thought it was rather anemic.

Compared to some of the loads I've read about here, the 4.7 gr Unique load should have been a rather weenie load and the Federal load quite potent.

No chrony, so I have no idea of the velocity of each, but I'm a bit confused with my results.
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Old 08-17-2009, 10:30 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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4.7 of Unique should get you close to the FBI Load, but not quite there. I would not describe the Federal (or any other) FBI Load as "quite potent" - rather, "adequate for social work."

Get a chronograph to back up that reloadin machine.

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Old 08-17-2009, 10:35 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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My standard 38 load is 4.5 of 231 and a 158 gr cast swc. I have a snub 19 and don't care for magnum loads in it.
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Old 08-17-2009, 11:13 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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For my old Rossi J frame I load lots of Lyman 358425 Wadcutters over 3.7 grains Red dot for practice and over 5.1 of Unique for serious use. This is nominally a 112 grain button nose wadcutter but drops 115 grains from my mold. The Unique load is under max standard pressure but does over 1000fps .
My favorite plinking load in other 38s is a 158SWC over 3.6 of PB-low recoil and very clean.
My +P load is very close to Erich's-I load 5.9 grains of Power Pistol under an Ideal 358432-an ancient wadcutter design that predates the doulble ended cylinder wadcutter concept. Instead it has a crimp groove that allows seating at the same depth as common 158 gr SWCs and a slightly reduced diameter wadcutting nose that protrudes from the case. It was made in both 148 grain and 160grain versions-I have the 148 which drops at 150 with my alloy and can be loaded using 158grain SWC data. That loading exits a four inch barrel at 980fps and is an honest +P but NOT +P+

BTW, Whie it is true that there are jacketed bullets that may expand at 4inch barrel velocities and not do so from a snub I'm not sure that I agree with the premise that a load can work from a 4" but fail froma 2"------but I'm an old fuddy duddy who thinks that jacketed bullets are an ill conceived abomination in revolver cartridges.

Last edited by Treeman; 08-18-2009 at 12:22 AM.
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Old 08-17-2009, 11:56 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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In my experience, 4.8 grains (just a whisker more than Erich's 4.7 grains) of Unique will propel a 158 grain SWC to 858 fps from a 4-inch barrel and 806 fps from a 2-inch barrel. I've found that most +P 158 SWC-HP factory loads gen up about 75 fps to 100 fps more velocity from both 2-inch barrels and 4-inch barrels than this 4.8 grain hand load.

This 4.8 grain load has been my general purpose load for plinking and field use for over 30 years. It used to be a middle-of-the-road load but is now considered excessive in some modern manuals.

The maximum listed charge weight for Unique and the 158 grain lead SWC bullet as published in the Lyman 46th manual duplicates the velocities of "FBI load" for me and shoots very well in the 2-inch and 4-inch K-Frame Smith & Wesson revolvers that I use. This old standard maximum for Unique used to be common in several manuals from days gone by.

I like the ballistics of the "FBI load" or similar hand loads for self defense use in .38 Special guns of all barrel lengths. Firing such loads won't make the sky cloud up and rain nor will it burst revolvers but it is a very sensible choice for serious social purposes.

Though it is advertised to be "cleaner" I don't happen to believe that Unique has been reformulated to burn any "differently" than "old" Unique. At least not an any more so than reasonable lot to lot differences and these are allowances for which a wise hand loader should make when working up maximum loads with any newly opened can of powder of a different lot. I haven't seen any evidence of velocity disparities or pressure signs when using "new" Alliant Unique side by side with old lots of Hercules Unique. This is only my personal view of the matter.

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Old 08-18-2009, 04:52 AM
Skip Sackett Skip Sackett is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Question Does it look like this?

Quote:
Originally Posted by Treeman View Post
Ideal 358432-an ancient wadcutter design that predates the doulble ended cylinder wadcutter concept. Instead it has a crimp groove that allows seating at the same depth as common 158 gr SWCs and a slightly reduced diameter wadcutting nose that protrudes from the case. It was made in both 148 grain and 160grain versions-I have the 148 which drops at 150 with my alloy
I have the 160gr mold but it is made by Modern Bond and looks like this:


Just recently there have been some tests with this bullet from shorter barrels with good results. I have only pushed these at lower velocities myself. I did push some to 357mag velocities but had the wrong alloy and it wasn't pretty. Looks like I have to revive testing these!
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Old 08-18-2009, 07:25 AM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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For target shooting I like a 148gr hbwc over 3.0 grains of Winchester 231 with a light crimp.
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Old 08-18-2009, 07:31 AM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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For the record, 4.7 grains of Unique under a 158-grainer is only a load that I've used: it's not one that I'm recommending or that I use a lot. I only discussed it in my 8:30 post last night in response to someone else who'd mentioned it.
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Old 08-18-2009, 07:51 AM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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I usually use 5 gn of Unique behind a 158 gn cast. Always been a good load with good accuracy.
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Old 08-18-2009, 09:49 AM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Erich View Post
4.7 of Unique should get you close to the FBI Load, but not quite there. I would not describe the Federal (or any other) FBI Load as "quite potent" - rather, "adequate for social work."

Get a chronograph to back up that reloadin machine.


Hmm... 18.0 gr of something in a .38 special?
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Old 08-18-2009, 11:08 AM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Erich View Post
5.1 grains of Unique under a 148-gr hardcast TVB DEWC with a CCI small pistol primer and a firm roll crimp is good for over 900 fps out of a 1 7/8" barrel and is acceptable under the last .38 Special published data that I looked at (Heaven knows that SAAMI may be limiting us even further now, in case someone has managed to re-chamber a zinc-cast cap gun in the formerly Mighty .38 Special ).
+1 on this load- 962 fps avg @ 15' out of my 642. It's a handful in that gun- but is accurate.
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Old 08-18-2009, 11:12 AM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Great load, isn't it, acl? I find it reasonably easy to shoot, but then I'm comparing it to 195-grainers and THE LOAD.

Johngalt, that's actually 18.0 grains of something (Lil' Gun) in a .357 Magnum case . . . . I just wanted to put up a pic of the 1500, and that was handy.
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Old 08-18-2009, 11:55 AM
dennis40x dennis40x is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Wink This makes any load in the Speer #8 look rather mild.

I use an R&P case that I’ve had for the last 45 plus years, small rifle primer, 2 ½ t spoons of SR4756 compressed, and a 327gr hard cast bullet. The muzzle flash is a sight to be hold, the concussive wave well knock your socks off and recoil is not for those that are timid. This makes any load in the Speer #8 look rather mild. A bunch of sissies wrote that book. Their all weak knee sissies’ now, manly manuals are no longer written.
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Old 08-18-2009, 12:02 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Mercy, Dennis!

By the way, has anyone heard from Clark lately?
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Old 08-18-2009, 12:47 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dennis40x View Post
I use an R&P case that I’ve had for the last 45 plus years, small rifle primer, 2 ½ t spoons of SR4756 compressed, and a 327gr hard cast bullet. The muzzle flash is a sight to be hold, the concussive wave well knock your socks off and recoil is not for those that are timid. This makes any load in the Speer #8 look rather mild. A bunch of sissies wrote that book. Their all weak knee sissies’ now, manly manuals are no longer written.
LOL!!!

Erich- It is an excellent load. A belated thanks for sharing it with me (via gil on the Proguns board). I've actually done a load work-up using Universal Clays to (almost) duplicate it. Not quite the same velocity, similar accuracy but quicker loading because my powder measure likes Universal better.
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Old 08-18-2009, 01:30 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Yeah, Unique is a hassle in measures. I like the powder a whole lot, but have found myself looking to find equivalent loads with 7625 and Power Pistol because (like your Universal) they meter so much better.
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Old 08-18-2009, 02:57 PM
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Perhaps more to the point.....Is there any possibility that Clark has heard anything lately? ;^)
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Old 08-18-2009, 03:04 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Quote:
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4.7 of Unique should get you close to the FBI Load, but not quite there. I would not describe the Federal (or any other) FBI Load as "quite potent" - rather, "adequate for social work."

Get a chronograph to back up that reloadin machine.
Good advice, Erich. As Erich knows, I recently chronoed some actual Federal FBI load, given to me by an actual FBI FTO, through my Colt Magnum Carry. It clocked a whopping 770 fps. I don't want to stand in front of it, but it doesn't register as "potent" on my (jaded, curmudgeonly) scale.
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Old 08-18-2009, 05:51 PM
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I like erichs load so far and I was thinking about starting out with unique powder anyway, keep em comin, I am likeing what I see
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Old 08-18-2009, 09:13 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Hey Erich,
Can you let me know what kind of loads your look at with the 7625.
if you don't want to post them how a bout an e-mail
[email protected]
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Old 08-18-2009, 09:49 PM
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Notwithstanding a dive in some published loading levels with Unique for MANY years much heavier charges were listed. NOT just in old manuals where actual lab tested pressures weren't published but in manuals with actual pressure averages published or one where "These loads do not exceed X pressure" was specified. For MANY years seperate labs were arriving at loads only a tenth or two apart with lead bullets in various cases with various primers. For 158 grain lead bullets 5.1 grains of Unique (give or take that tenth) was a top standard pressure load and 5.4 a +P max. Alliant went through a period of publishing utterly pathetic .38 special loads but since they have become a sister company of Speer their data has jumped back up part way toward the old standards. Currently they spec 5.2 as +P under a LSWC. I wouldn't hesitate to work up to there for any sound .38 special..........and I don't think that Unique has changed making 5.4 an overpressure load. They (SAAMI)keep changing the pressure spec AND the testing parameters.

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Old 08-18-2009, 09:57 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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My SD load in a 442 is 4.8~5.0-gr of Unique under a cast BBDEWC and a Fed 100.

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Old 08-19-2009, 05:27 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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How about a stout load for Red Dot users and 125 grain bullets??? I'll be firing from a 357 (S&W 65), but 38 brass. I have Red Dot, I have 125gr JHPs, and I want something that will give some recoil to allow for some degree of practicing similar to hotter factory loads. How hot can I load with Red Dot and a 125gr JHP???

4.5 grains?
4.9 grains?
5.2 grains?
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Old 08-19-2009, 07:33 PM
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Originally Posted by FHBrumb View Post
How about a stout load for Red Dot users and 125 grain bullets??? I'll be firing from a 357 (S&W 65), but 38 brass. I have Red Dot, I have 125gr JHPs, and I want something that will give some recoil to allow for some degree of practicing similar to hotter factory loads. How hot can I load with Red Dot and a 125gr JHP???

4.5 grains?
4.9 grains?
5.2 grains?
I'm told anything above 4.1 is pretty much suicide...
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Old 08-19-2009, 07:59 PM
Dale53 Dale53 is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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I practice with a target wad cutter load (double ended wadcutter actual weight 152 grs cast bullet ahead of 3.5 grs of Bullseye with the first band seated outside the case - this reduces pressure and velocity a bit but shoots extremely well). My carry load is the FBI 158 gr Hollow Point. I recommend ending a practice session with a similar cast bullet load. I use a 158 gr RF ahead of 4.2 Bullseye (this is a full load but NOT a plus P).

I reserve plus p for carry to extend the life of my aluminum frame 642 (the recoil is not all that much more than my full load).

The most important thing about self defense is shot placement. If you hit a bad guy around the edges, you'll just upset him and NOT in a good way. Good, reliable shot placement is ONLY gained by practice and a lot of it.

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Old 08-19-2009, 08:22 PM
Crazy K38 Crazy K38 is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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what kind of primers are you useing for your loads?
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  #34  
Old 08-19-2009, 10:46 PM
running iron running iron is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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My carry loads for my snub nose are either 4.4 grs. of 231 behind a 180 gr. Sierra sil. for around 800 fps or 5.6 grs. of 231 pushing a Hornady 125 gr XTP going about 1064 fps. I really like the 180 gr. load for the winter and the 125 gr. load for the summer when the bad guy would not have as much clothes on. The 180 gr. load has a lot of power from what I've seen.
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Old 08-19-2009, 11:09 PM
Treeman Treeman is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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FHBrumb, There is little data for Red Dot and 125grain bullets in the .38spl.......but considering that Lyman 47 lists a +P load of 5grains Rdot with a 140gr jacketed it seems unlikely that over 4.1 would be suicidal-In fact I load 4.1 Red dot under 125 grain cast in 9mmX19-that is a MILD load in the smaller 9mm case so pressures shouldn't be huge in the more capacious .38.(Yes I'm aware that working pressures are higher in the 9). FWIW I think that you will find blast and recoil are entirely satisfying with 4.1.

Last edited by Treeman; 08-20-2009 at 12:37 AM.
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  #36  
Old 08-20-2009, 12:49 AM
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Rolando Rolando is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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My favorite load right now is 2.9 grains of trail boss with 158 tcbb from Penn. (truncated cone bevel base).
Nice and easy. I loaded up some W231 with ... 3.6? and loaded them side by side and the Trail Boss light load was so soft and easy. Especially from a model 37. Very mild. I was shooting an ICORE match and one of the guys mentioned he thought I was shooting a .22.
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Old 08-20-2009, 01:30 AM
bnewc75 bnewc75 is offline
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what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie? what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?  
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Default model 10-5 2"

DEWC 3.2 bullseye fed.100 primer
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357 magnum, 38spl, 442, 642, airweight, bullseye, chronograph, colt, crimp, hornady, j frame, k-frame, m60, model 37, model 60, primer, rossi, sig arms, snubby, snubnose, universal, wadcutter, winchester

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