favorite 38 sp load

[GyMac]

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.

Same for me.

 

[Ralph G. Briscoe]

I shoot a lot of .38s with the 158gr swc. My two favorite loads are 4.7 gr Unique--815 fps out of a 2" barrel...hot enough, and cool enough not to rattle my Cobra or Agent. My practice load is 2.7 gr of Trailboss--600fps and great for extended practice with LW snubbies.

 

[parabarbarian]

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

Good for you!

 

[S.B.]

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

ME TOO! What a deal.
Steve

 

[S.B.]

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.

I used to use your 2.7 load in my S&W 52, what a tack driver. If I did my part it would clover leaf every time. Also, I use your 5.0 load in my 27s. Guess we learned from the same place?
Steve

 

[jsmith357]

I have been loading 3.0 Bullseye behind 158 lead SWC for years. Mild load, accurate as I can be. 2300 rounds per pound of powder = economical too.

 

[VAdoublegunner]

I load a 158gr Speer swaged or cast bullet with 4.5gr WSF. I have shot thousands upon thousands of these at CAS/SASS and casual practice/plinking since about 1999. It's economical and measures well. The best part? I haven't had anything that can even remotely be described as leading since then.

I'd load Bullseye if I wanted real target loads for it though.

 

[TSQUARED]

For plinking and streel challenge loads I use 2.8 gr. Trail Boss behind a 158 gr. LRN bullet - soft shooting and accurate.

 

[K-framer]

3.5 to 3.8 grains of Bullseye, under a 158 grain LSWC. I've tried 3.5, 3.6, 3.7 and 3.8 grains in my K-frames. All shoot very well. 3.6 and 3.7 grains seem to be the best of the lot......so I usually load 3.6 grains.

 

[RussellD]

You might try some WST. Burns a little cleaner than 231. I like 4.0 grains of 231 and the 158 but its dirty..

 

[alwslate]

For plinking loads in the 38 spl I prefer cast 158 gr RN bullets over
SWCs, better accuracy in my guns. A favorite load would have to be
3.3-3.5 grs W 452AA. Wish it was still made. 3.4 grs Titegroup is good.
4.0 W 231 for a bit more velocity.

 

[olskool]

i like 5 to 5.5 gr. unique with 155 gr. lyman hp. very accurate load.

 

[Rickkster]

A few weeks ago I picked up a 64-2 snub and have been using Berry plated 158 grain FP's over 4.8 grains of Unique. It is a very nice load.

Thanks,

Rick

 

[Lenny_D]

Mine is 4.5 grains Unique behind a 158 gr. Missouri Bullet SWC. Easy on the gun and really fun to shoot.

 

[Fkimble]

3.3 to 3.5 Bullseye for paper pinching. 5.0-5.2 Unique for full power use.

 

[REP]

When I started shooting and handloading in the early 70's I used Lee's Lee loaders that came in a little red box and you used a mallet and dippers to load with and I use to use 4.6 grs. of Unquie under a 158 gr. LSWC or LRN swaged or cast bullet. It is still the only 38spl load I use but only now on more sopisticated equipment for loading. Seems to shoot very well in any gun I put it in.

 

[elpac3]

Used 2.8 gr. Bullseye on a 158 LSWC out of a 6" S&W 14. Shoots tight, minimal recoil - used the load for ISPC shooting and PPC.

 

[Kinman]

My general plinking cartridge for 38 special is a 148g HBWC with 3.2g of Unique, its a real accurate load for my K-38 as well as my Outdoorsman.
I like to shoot a take on old Elmers classic 158g SWC and 12g of 2400, I only shoot that in the Outdoorsman and its a great round. Not as accurate as the HBWC "plinkers" but an excellent round to shoot with the guys busting bowling pins and knocking stuff over. I've been told its a bit stout for the K-frame revolvers, probably should stick to around 7.5g of 2400 in a lighter frame.

 

[Rockets]

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

+1 on this load. I like a very light crimp.

 

[lebomm]

Me, too - 358446 0r 358311 over 5.0 Unique.

Larry