I am about to start reloading for my 638 airweight trying for around 800-850 fps out of a 1.87in barrel.

Also having a Dickensian of a time finding 158gr soft lead in the Seattle area...some help please would be appreciated on both inquiries.

Can't help you with the specific load but look up rim rock bullets online. They sell a soft lead gas checked lswchp bullet.

I see your new! You should post this in the reloading section.
Magnus makes a swaged 158 SWCHP
Midway USA has speer and hornady SWCHP!!

Md,

Pete950 is right. If you can wait until they do more, Magnus' swaged 158gr LSWC-HP is just the ticket. It will work with Bullseye, TiteGroup or Unique. 800-850 fps is easy.

Try GT bullets too. They use Lyman molds and make some Keith-style LSWC-HPs in 145, 158 and 165. I got the 165s. I have yet to load them, but they're just the right hardness (BHN).

As a point of reference, Remington's 158g LSWCHP +P load averaged 820fps out of my M49 when I tested it a few years ago.

I think it's fair to say you'll have to be up in the +P data tables to get the velocity you're looking for with that bullet out of a short barrel. I will also say that while I have those Remingtons in my daily carry 38s, I do NOT find shooting 'em in a 638 or a 442 to be the least bit pleasant. YMMV, of course.

I can get 820FPS out of a 2.5 inch 19-2.

38SPL Brass
158grn LRN (Light crimp, just to take out the bell)
3.5grn Bullseye
Winchester SP Primer
OAL length is 1.400 (I run it short to increase speed without increasing powder)

It is a mild and accurate load, no where near max.

For plinking and target work Dardas Cast Bullets are very good. At 850 fps out of a 2" tube you will get some amount of leading - nothing major - but just so you know. If you are using them for practice and pllnking ONLY, the RNL in 158 grain are a good choice (N/G for self defense - just practicing as they will NOT expand) because they tend to lead the least due to their bullet shape where as SWC shaped lead I find leads the most due to its sharp shoulder.