favorite 38 sp load

[michael thornton]

whats your favorite 38 sp load? im fixing to load 1000 or so with my home cast 158 swc, bullseye and unique are my favorite 38spec powders, might have to cast a few more bullets but hey thats fun too.

 

[bogman]

!58gr. SWC & 5.0gr. Unique, very accurate in my #36-1 & my #10-8, I also use 5.5grs. Unique in my #10-8, one hole groups at 18yds.

 

[michael thornton]

!58gr. SWC & 5.0gr. Unique, very accurate in my #36-1 & my #10-8, I also use 5.5grs. Unique in my #10-8, one hole groups at 18yds.

those are pretty hot 38 loads! ill most likley use bullseye, bought 16# might as well use it, and it goes a long ways.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

5 grns of Unique, a 158 SWC. I shot about 40,000 of those so far in my little diamondback and other 38's. I went through a short period of "book max" loads of 4.2 grns and went back to 5.0 grns. Works great, accurate, reliable and fun to shoot.

When I started loading it was not even considered a max load back then.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Since you are already set on using either Bullseye or Unique I guess my loads using W231 are useless to you.

 

[michael thornton]

i was just asking for everyones favorte load, shoot i might have to try some of that 231! i have had good luck with bullseye and 148 hbwc

 

[flycaster]

I've been using 3.5gr. of BE behind a 158gr. bullet. Like the combo.

Chuck

 

[ArchAngelCD]

With a 158gr LSWC I really like a 4.0gr charge of W231/HP-38. It's my favorite .38 Special load. It's extremely clean and accurate in my revolvers.

 

[TNDave]

I like 5.0 of Unique with 158 gr SWC. I used to load creampuff loads with 231 and 148 gr HBWC. I think it was 3.0 grains

 

[hawgleg]

3.3 of Bullseye work really well with the 158 gr. LSWC. One of my favorite loads.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I like 5.0 of Unique with 158 gr SWC. I used tooad creampuff loads with 231 and 148 gr HBWC. I think it was 3.0 grains

W231 can be used for more than cream puff loads. It's even good for building .38 Special +P loads. It's not as slow a powder as Unique but it's much slower than Bullseye...

 

[Fletchman]

125 gr Hornady XTP hp, 5.7 gr Unique.

 

[dirty gary]

125 gr. Winchester JHP with 7.6 gr. HS-6. I also load 158 gr. Berrys plated with HP-38, forget the charge right now. Found these 125 gr Win JHP's at a garage sale - 12,000 bullets for $40, couldn't resist.

 

[michael thornton]

125 gr. Winchester JHP with 7.6 gr. HS-6. I also load 158 gr. Berrys plated with HP-38, forget the charge right now. Found these 125 gr Win JHP's at a garage sale - 12,000 bullets for $40, couldn't resist.

12,000 man i need to start going to yard sales!

 

[parabarbarian]

I just recently started using Bullseye again and found that 3.8 gr under a 158 gr plated SWC is still a pretty good +P load in my 38's.

 

[MDMarauder]

All with a 158swc, 5.0 of Unique, 4.0 of HP38, 6.0 of HS6 and 9.0 of 2400...

 

[michael thornton]

well i loaded these with 3.4 gr of bullseye, shot a few in my airweight j frame and they seem to shoot great!

 

[gwpercle]

With a 158 gr. cast swc I like 5.0 to 5.2 grs Unique for standard velocity 38 special. For plinking and just fun shooting 3.0 to 3.5 grs Bullseye ( these are lighter loads than the one with Unique ) same 158gr cast swc bullet.

 

[josie wales]

3.5 grains of Bullseye with a Speer HBWC.This was my go to round (loaded in .357 case) to win many matches in my old Model 19. For general use with .38 brass same 3.5 grains of Bullseye but with a Lyman hard cast 155 grain bullet.

 

[27 Man]

I shoot 5.0 Unique behind a Lyman 358156 and 2.7 BE behind a 148 gn wadcutter. Nice easy loads for an old guy. BE is a great powder.