Been reloading a long time but I'm new to this round. Can anyone recommend a soft recoiling powder that comes halfway close to filling the case? Also, I got some lead wadcutters that are shaped like cylinders (they don't really have a nose). Do I need to lube the bullets or anything like that? It seems like having to flare the case an awful lot to get the bullets to seat.

Bullsey is probably the best powder for you.

I love using Bullseye for .38 spl. I hear Trail Boss will fill the case, but have never tried it.

I've tried quite a few powders for 38 spl but I recently came back to Bullseye -- yet again. It is just too good a powder for the 38 spl cartridge. However, even a nice +P load of 3.8 gr will not even half fill the case. The 38 spl was originally designed for black powder so the case is pretty long for smokeless powders at such low pressures.

As beveue mentions, Trail Boss will fill the case nicely. It has a lot of features to recommend it and I've been meaning to give it a try.

Jeff Quinn's review:

New "Trail Boss" Smokeless Powder from IMR

Another alternative is 2400 which will come close your case filling requirement but I would not recommend it for 38 spl. It's perfectly safe at 38 spl pressures but it, in my experience, it leaves behind a lot of unburned grains and has inconsistent performance at the low end. YMMV...

Some of the reloaders here like HP-38 and they may chime in.

ETA: If the wadcutters are cast or swaged lead then then they need some kind of lube. I mostly use plated or jacketed bullets but all the lead WC's I've seen have a band of lube near the middle of the bullet or an all over coating.

Bullseye is a great powder for a .38 special, but the charge is pretty small, and will be just a fraction of the case volume.
Unique has more volume and can be adjusted for your purposes, and it will more than half fill the case.

TrailBoss will "fill her up" it is not a cost effective powder but you can't overload it.

HP 38/Win 231 are good along with Bullesye.

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Still Running Against the Wind

I use a lot of Green Dot. It's a bit slower than Bullseye & has quite a bit more bulk. Not sure if it will half fill the case tho.

I am a fan of WST. Burn rate is very close to 231. burns clean and smokes less than others with lead bullets.

Case density is good. Disciplined reloading processes are better. I went to walmart and purchased a cheap clamp on light for stage 3 on my dillon press. I can see every case to insure it is charged properly. Works for me.

Best of luck in your reloading sir.

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The American dream is alive

Right now I am using 231 but I like bullseye too. Either one will be great. They will not fill up the case but I look in every to verify that there is powder in there and to make sure there is not a double charge. Don

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"Don't worry be happy"

For concocting nice mild laods with lead bullets it is hard to beat Trail Boss powder. Use the minimum recommended loads from the Hodgdon website and never look back.

I mainly use unique it fills the case close to half the only drawback I see is in lighter loads it leaves a lot powder residue behind

Good old Unique. I.E."Flaming Dirt " Still does the job.

I have tried a lot of combinations over the years, hoping to discover something better than the mainstream opinions and experience. Hasn't worked. Nothing beats 2.7 grains of Bullseye with a 148 grain WC for accuracy and a desirable shooting session. I like the Speer swaged hollow-based Wadcutters in my 1953 vintage pre Model 15. Scary accurate

Another vote for Unique.

But the caution is valid - if the load is too light, it resembles "flammable dirt". That being said, a healthy charge of Unique is still recoil-friendly, IMO.

Thank you all for the help. The bullets have a couple of gas checks w/ some red stuff in there; I'm guessing that's some kinda lube but I was wondering if I need to spray some case lube on them or anything to seat the bullets. The reason I'm looking for a powder that comes close to filling the case is because I'm teaching my son to reload. He's been resizing and flaring cases for long time now; I thought I might start letting him charge the cases but I'd like a powder that comes close to filling the case so I can check to make sure he didn't double charge any. Performance isn't really an issue. He wants to start shooting pistol so I've started him on his grandfather's 38. I told him if he wants to shoot it he can load his own ammo. I really just need a powder that's soft recoiling and comes halfway close to filling the case. If it burns halfway clean that would be a bonus. I thought of 2400 but am having trouble finding data for it w/ this round; will look into trailboss. Thank you all again.

I second (or third or whatever number we are on) the recommendation for Unique, if the main requirement is coming close to filling the case. However, if you are shooting 148 gr WCs, I STRONGLY recommend Bullseye somewhere in the 2.5-3.3gr range. Unbelievably accurate in most 38s. It will not fill the case, but frankly, that is not an issue. B'eye is THE best target load powder for 38s.

I like 231/HP38, Unique, HS-6, and AA#5 for .38 Special.

I've been working with Green Dot of late. A bit bulkier than other fast powders. Only problem is limited load data. Some older manuals do have a number of loads listed.
My old Hercules book lists 146gr wadcutter over 2.9 grains of Green Dot.
770 F/S at 10, 700 PSI.

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-jwk-
US Army '72-'95

When you purchase Trail Boss in the 5 lb container it's the same price as most other powders with the exception of PROMO. Trail Boss has a very low density so thje powder drop can be visually seen and it is virtually impossible to double charge a case - both great pluses in my book. As an added plus it meters very uniformly in my Dillon 550.

Recently been practicing for a upcoming match.

Loaded 3.5 grains of B/E behind a Zero 158 swaged and got very good results out to 50 yds. 1.475 with a slight crimp and federal primer and random cases.

Have gone to Trail Boss exclusively for 38 special. Added bonus is NO leading!

I may sound rude but it sounds like you need to read up some on reloading basics. I sounded a lot like you until I read the "ABC's of Reloading" and that book alone answered questions I didn't even know to ask yet.

Another vote for 231.

231, HP38 and Bullseye are what I use. I'm not too concerned with case volume as I visually check every filled case before seating a bullet.

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Centennial Every Day

The "gas checks" are lube grooves and the "red stuff" is lube. I would rather see some one taught safe reloading practices/methods than try for a powder that is bulky and will work under a wadcutter. Use Bullseye (about 3.0 gr.) and teach your son to check every powder charge before seating a bullet, every time...

I would add to mikid's post to check with a scale and with a flashlight for visible differences. Then have him show it to you.

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Front sight and squeeze

I have yet to come up with a better powder for 38 spl than Bullseye. Just watch that you don't double charge and you should be fine.