My all-time favorite all-purpose do just about anything that needs to be done .38 Special load is a 158-160 gr. cast lead semi-wadcutter bullet loaded over 5.0 gr. of Unique powder in Remington or Winchester cases using standard Remington or Winchester small primers. I've fired great gobs of this load through a bushel of revolvers and always gotten good results. I first started using it when I an article by Skeeter Skelton who suggested it. I've been using it for about 30 years and consider it to be just about perfect. JMHO. Sincerely. brucev.
Favourite 38 Reloads?
- Thread starter trky chsr
- Start date
Sealevel
US Veteran
Reloading Savings
I don't wish to hijack this thread, but I'm curious about the savings realized in reloading your own .38 ammo. All my revolvers (save the .22s) shoot .38 Special; obviously the favorite caliber. Currently, I figure I'm spending about 40 cents per round buying the 130 gr. generic ammunition from Gander Mountain & Walmart and a little more for the 158 gr.
.357 rounds.
I have an opportunity to purchase an older Lyman turret press and most of the other requirements for reloading for $200. I've been considering that option just to reload the target loads mentioned in this thread; nothing more. Thanks.
I don't wish to hijack this thread, but I'm curious about the savings realized in reloading your own .38 ammo. All my revolvers (save the .22s) shoot .38 Special; obviously the favorite caliber. Currently, I figure I'm spending about 40 cents per round buying the 130 gr. generic ammunition from Gander Mountain & Walmart and a little more for the 158 gr.
.357 rounds.
I have an opportunity to purchase an older Lyman turret press and most of the other requirements for reloading for $200. I've been considering that option just to reload the target loads mentioned in this thread; nothing more. Thanks.
Smith357
US Veteran
Since I cast my own bullets mt handloads cost just under 6 cents each or $3 per 50 or $60 per 1000. Primers are my most expensive component.
Handloading Cost Calculator
robctwo
Member
Buying local cast bullets for around $60 per thousand, primers for $32 per thousand and not counting the brass I'm in for around a dime a shot. Really expensive bullets might get me up to 15-20 cents. I will routinely shoot 2-300 .38 Specials at a range session.
I like Bullseye and Clays.
I like Bullseye and Clays.
TNFrank
Member
I think we all can pretty much agree, weather you cast your own or buy em' the 158gr LSWC is probably the best standard bullet for 38spl. Load em' over a standard load of your favorite powder and they're pretty hard to beat for a day of plinking at the range, small game hunting or even in a pinch, self defense.
snubbiefan
Member
I cast as well and my loads run 6-7 cents each. If you shoot a lot.....doesn't take long to pay-back an economical Lee re-loader for the 38 Special....and it's FUN.
Thanks for all the replies. A lot of Bulleye fans here! I used Bulleye in my 45 ACP. I was hoping to see more Titegroup fans. I use it for my 9mm and even my 45 LC and I find it pretty clean and accurate. I like Unique as well but it's dirty,dirty! I was about to buy a 8lb batch of Titegroup but I may try the Bullseye first and maybe buy 4lbs of each.
To answer the person about savings in reloading. The answer is you don't save anything, you just get to shoot twice as much for the same money
TC
To answer the person about savings in reloading. The answer is you don't save anything, you just get to shoot twice as much for the same money
TCSealevel
US Veteran
I also extend my thanks to those who responded to my piggy back question on reloading savings. The information provided to Turkey Chaser on your favorite loads will be a reference for me as well should I go into reloading.
By the way welcome to this forum trky chsr. The long standing members of this forum freely share their wealth of knowledge.
By the way welcome to this forum trky chsr. The long standing members of this forum freely share their wealth of knowledge.
AveragEd
Member
I woke up this morning realizing that I had erroneously stated that my Clays powder charge in .38 Specials with 148-grain LHBWCs was 3.8 grains. That is the amount of Clays I use in my 200-grain .45ACP target loads - 2.3 grains is what I use in my .38 target loads!
I edited my first post but since I was quoted in another person's post, I wanted to explain my mistake so someone else won't use that 3.8-grain powder charge in a .38.
Just the other day, I loaded 200 rounds of .45ACP and had that cartridge's powder charge stored in my weakening memory. Getting old sucks!
Ed
I edited my first post but since I was quoted in another person's post, I wanted to explain my mistake so someone else won't use that 3.8-grain powder charge in a .38.
Just the other day, I loaded 200 rounds of .45ACP and had that cartridge's powder charge stored in my weakening memory. Getting old sucks!
Ed
Last edited:
Black_Sheep
Member
To answer your question, the cost of my .38 reloads is 5 or 6 bucks a box or 10-12 cents each. The savings adds up pretty fast...
Ralph G. Briscoe
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4.7 gr Unique/158LSWCHP (Speer or Hornady)
From averaging the vastly differing data on Unique I've concluded this is on the line between standard and Plus P. I primarily shoot snubbies and this gives me 815fs from a 2 inch barrel. It's tame enough that I don't worry about it damaging a vintage D special. It kicks pretty good in a lightweight J frame but not ridiculous. I also have my 4" Trooper III sighted in for it as well as my Marlin 94 (1100fps). My other favorite is 2.7 gr Trailboss using the same bullet. It's my practice load for light snubbies--shoots to point of aim and you can shoot a couple hundred rounds with no pain.
From averaging the vastly differing data on Unique I've concluded this is on the line between standard and Plus P. I primarily shoot snubbies and this gives me 815fs from a 2 inch barrel. It's tame enough that I don't worry about it damaging a vintage D special. It kicks pretty good in a lightweight J frame but not ridiculous. I also have my 4" Trooper III sighted in for it as well as my Marlin 94 (1100fps). My other favorite is 2.7 gr Trailboss using the same bullet. It's my practice load for light snubbies--shoots to point of aim and you can shoot a couple hundred rounds with no pain.
Cocked & Locked
Member
I also do the 4.7 grains of Unique under a 158 grain LSWC. I've been loading that for 40+ years and I just stick with it for all the reasons Ralph Briscoe stated in the post above.
snubbiefan
Member
If I had it to do all over again....I'd simply purchase a Lee knock-em-bang-em loader and be done with it. I only load 38-special and a few mags anyway. I have never owned or used one, but I have seen several video's....and they work. That would be a $35 investment (less for a used one) and you can be in the re-loading business.
ldhunter1959
Member
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About 4.6 grs of Hodgdon HP-38, 125 grain cast lead roundnose. Go up another disk on my lee reloader and I have a good load for my .357 mag using the same bullets.
I use a lot of WC-231
These are my "standard" loads for .38 special.
All purpose target load:
3.0 grain 231 w/148 grain LHBWC most often Zero brand.
[Used primarily in models 14 & 52]
Intermediate target load:
3.3 grain 231 w/148 grain LDEWC most often hard cast.
[For some reason my Colt OMM likes this load best. Also good on steel plate targets]
General purpose standard pressure load:
4.0 grain 231 w/158 grain LSWC or LRN.
[Used in all .38 revolvers for self-defense type practice. My S&W model 10 & 15's like this load as well as most Colts.]
These are my "standard" loads for .38 special.
All purpose target load:
3.0 grain 231 w/148 grain LHBWC most often Zero brand.
[Used primarily in models 14 & 52]
Intermediate target load:
3.3 grain 231 w/148 grain LDEWC most often hard cast.
[For some reason my Colt OMM likes this load best. Also good on steel plate targets]
General purpose standard pressure load:
4.0 grain 231 w/158 grain LSWC or LRN.
[Used in all .38 revolvers for self-defense type practice. My S&W model 10 & 15's like this load as well as most Colts.]
Opening up an old thread again, but....
I got some 128gn HBWCs I picked up a while back, but haven't used yet.
Looking for a 38spl load (preferably with using WST).
I've found one load: 128gn HBWC set 1-2mm into case with 2.2gn WST.
Would this be a towards the lower or upper end of the scale?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
I got some 128gn HBWCs I picked up a while back, but haven't used yet.
Looking for a 38spl load (preferably with using WST).
I've found one load: 128gn HBWC set 1-2mm into case with 2.2gn WST.
Would this be a towards the lower or upper end of the scale?
Any other suggestions?
Thanks.
