Clean burning powder for 38 spec.

[boatbum101]

I don't care for Clays in the 38 special . I never got the accuracy I wanted & results were eratic . It also not a forgiving powder as it builds pressure rapidly . Like Jerry Keiffer I think that W231 & WST are hard to beat in this cartridge . AA#2 also works well as does VVN 320 , VVN 340 & VVN 350 . It all depends on what bullet , velocity desired etc .
Andy

 

[reuters]

Looking for a really clean buring powder for 38 and 38+p mostly 38. Been using 231 an AA #2 still a little more dirty than I like.
Thanks for the help.
tbird

Try Vihtavouri N310 or N320,
Target loads 148 WC 2,7 gr N310 or 3,5 gr. for 145 gr for cast SWC H&G (Hensley & Gibbs) # 73.

Faster loads 4,0-4,3 grains N320 for cast H&G # 73 SWC 145 gr. Note all lead bullets will be dirty and lead the bore. This is what I have been using since -79 and the best, suitable in K & J frames and gives superb velocities. Would you fire jacketed bullets of same bullet weights, rule of thumb, loads may be increased with 5-10%.

Good luck,
Svante

 

[SW CQB 45]

Try Vihtavouri N310 or N320,
Target loads 148 WC 2,7 gr N310 or 3,5 gr. for 145 gr for cast SWC H&G (Hensley & Gibbs) # 73.

Good luck,
Svante

Svante, I have some N310.

are you able to provide data for the

148 WC with 2.7 of N310?

FPS with barrel?
PSI or CUP?
is this a starting load?

my load all "38especial" book does not list N310 data for 148.

Looking for something equivalent to 2.8 of Bullseye.

I have one bottle of B/E left and if N310 will work, I will start using that will my B/E is gone.

thanks in advance

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I checked the VihtaVuori load data site and they don't seem to have load data for N310 and a 148gr WC. They do have data for N320, N330, N340 and N350 but none for N310.

 

[eclector]

A very clean target load for 158 gr is 3 grains of Clay's. If you are using cast bullets probably a lot of what you think is powder dirt, is really from the lubricant - which gets vaporized and blown all over.

 

[photoman]

I use Bullseye for my .38 Special loads. I don't find it particularly dirty and I usually shoot 200-300 rounds per session with a gun.

 

[Black_Talon]

Svante, I have some N310.

are you able to provide data for the

148 WC with 2.7 of N310?

FPS with barrel?
PSI or CUP?
is this a starting load?

my load all "38especial" book does not list N310 data for 148.

Looking for something equivalent to 2.8 of Bullseye.

I have one bottle of B/E left and if N310 will work, I will start using that will my B/E is gone.

thanks in advance

I switched from BE to VV N310 a few years ago and am extremely happy. I'm using 2.7gr of N310 with a 148HBWC in all 4 of my 6" K38s. Velocity runs around 760-770 fps out of all. This is equivalent to what 2.8gr of BE gives me out of these guns. I get better accuracy with the 760 fps loads than I do with the 730-740-ish FPS that 2.7 gr of BE gives me.

Yes, the VV powders are a bit more expensive than BE or 231, but you're getting 2500+ loads out of a pound of powder. At $20/lb and 2.8 gr of BE, that's .8 cents per round. At $28/lb for VV N310, it costs 1.08 cents per round. To me, .2 cents per round is a small price to pay for the much cleaner burning, and better metering VV powder.

 

[SW CQB 45]

thanks Black Talon....I am going to record that load down.

 

[reuters]

Svante, I have some N310.

are you able to provide data for the

148 WC with 2.7 of N310?

FPS with barrel?
PSI or CUP?
is this a starting load?

my load all "38especial" book does not list N310 data for 148.

Looking for something equivalent to 2.8 of Bullseye.

I have one bottle of B/E left and if N310 will work, I will start using that will my B/E is gone.

thanks in advance

The older releoding tables listed several 38 Spl loads with N310, this is a fast powder similar to Norma R1 i.e. slightly faster than B-E, which should be closer to N320. I kept all old Vihtavuori manuals since late -70s and use them when I want to load with N310 or other N-3XXpowder loads no longer listed.

2,7 grains should be an excellent load with the 148 gr WC, a target load slightly warmer than factory stuff but still safe with margain.

Chronographed this load with a solid / cast 150 gr WC and it had a speed of approximately 750 fps from a K-38 M 14 with a 6" barrel. Also tried softer loads down to 2,4 gr with same bullet, worked nice out to 35-40 yards but further out a signs of starting keyholing. Anyway this may as well be due to the bullet, swaged hollow base bullets and cast solid bullets are two different animals. So as a starting load I would think 2,4 will serve but personally I would go 2,7 directly.

The Vihtavuori reloading manual of 1991 lists the following date for a 148 gr HBWC: 2,8 gr N310, mv 235 m/s=771 fps, @ 120 MPa=17404 psi.

Hoping the above will answer your questions.

Word of caution, due to the small charge shells will not overflow in the unlucky event of a double charge, so be careful if you use a progresssive press.

FYI I have tried a large number of handgun powder brands, European as well as US and to my opinion nothing beats Vihtavuori. They are clean burning, velocity in relation to pressure is good, span in burning rate is good and so are increments between the N300-series all the way up to the slow burning N105/N110. Since I burn so much of them I always buy them in 2,5 or 3,5 kg packs.

Hope that you will enjoy the load.

Regards,


Svante

 

[mistergizmo]

I checked the VihtaVuori load data site and they don't seem to have load data for N310 and a 148gr WC. They do have data for N320, N330, N340 and N350 but none for N310.

+1 ArchAngelCD. Even the Vihtavuori-Lapua website leaves out the N210. BTW, their loading manuals cover up through 2006. Haven't seen anything more recent.

 

[TSQUARED]

Looking for a really clean buring powder for 38 and 38+p mostly 38. Been using 231 an AA #2 still a little more dirty than I like.
Thanks for the help.
tbird

Never used AA#2 but W-231 does not burn clean with mild 38 Special loads. I prfer American Select or WST for mild loads and Trail Boss for powder puff loads.