3.5 Red Dot/Hornady 140 C-boy/.38 Spl

[Jaymo]

So, here goes.
I can't find my RCBS 5-0-5 scale right now.
I'm using my Lee Dipper set.
I'm loading Hornady 140 grain lead cowboy bullets in .38 Special cases.
The Hornady manual doesn't list Red Dot for any load I can find.
They show it as having a burn rate between Bullseye and Titegroup.

I have a little Bullseye left, but am using it for HBWC loads.

It shows from 3.0 to 4.7 grains of Titegroup and 3.0 to 4.6 grains of Bullseye.
Velocities are listed as being from 700 to 950 fps from a 4" model 15.

My Lee .50cc dipper shows as throwing 3.5 grains of Red Dot.
My calculations show that it should be at the low end of the data, whether a little slower or even a little faster than Bullseye.
It looks like velocity should be around 700-750 fps.

Am I correct, or am I way off base?
What say ye fine shootists?

I'm looking for a mild, easy shooting load for my J, K, and L frame .38s and .357s.

I'm running low on HBWCs and Bullseye.
I'm having to use what's locally available.

Should this be a good, safe .38 load for J, and K frames?
It looks like it should be well within the margins of safe loads.

I'd like some opinions and observations, please.

[Nevada Ed]

the 148 wc target load with Red Dot goes to 3.3 in a lot of manuals............ so you well inside the safe "Zone" with that loading.

Many manuals show 4.0 grs with a 158gr lead bullet.......

Good luck with that 140gr bullet.......... they do well in my snub nose. I have not had a chance to see how they do in my 6" tubes with all the rain and snow we are getting now.

[Jaymo]

Thanks, Ed.
I can't find my other manuals, either.
Lots of my reloading supplies are boxed up.
I got the Hornady manual yesterday, from the local range.
I loaded 50 .38s with 3.5 RD and the 140 CB boolit.

I'll try them from my beloved 15-3 and my 36.
I have some 2.8 Bullseye/Hornady 148 HBWCs I'll test, also.
I'm going to load some upside down Hornady 148 HBWCs over
4.5 of Unique, in .357 brass.
Going to seat them to the same depth as either a 140 cowboy or a 158 SWC.
According to the Hornady manual, I should get 900 fps or a little less.
Will see if they stabilize at that velocity.

Have a shoebox full of 38 and 357 brass in the loft of my barn.
Need to go find it and load it.

[Nevada Ed]

Many "Moons" ago I loaded the backwards 148 HBwc in my magnum in mag brass to see what would happen.........
It did not work out as well as I had wished and never loaded the "Long case" with the little 148gr, ever again.
The 158 lead is a different story and can be loaded from 788fps to 1320 fps, so far.
Most "Cow Boy" bullets are made for the lower speeds in that sport, usually 800 fps to 940, for the fast shooting and minimum recoil needed.

I did get a "CB" up to 918 fps but most of my best accuracy loads were in the 800 +/- velocity with my loads and test.

The 125 LRN in my J snub shoots great at 600 fps with Bullseye, Red Dot, w231, Trail Boss and Universal Clays......
if you try these light lead bullets out. Just trying for a minimum recoil loading...... and it is much less than a target 148 load.

later.