Handloads for the Airweight Snub

[southfloridasixshooter]

Recently I got lucky and scored 2 pounds of Bullseye and 2 pounds of American Select. I'm familiar with Bullseye and use it for 45 acp, 9mm, and 38 special for my full size guns. I have been trying to come up with some practice loads for my 442 Airweight, my first trip to the range consisted of two hundred 158 gr lswchp with 3.5 gr of bullseye with and OAL of 1.455. I also shot 20 125gr golden sabers + p (my defensive load choice). Though I enjoy shooting, and the 442 is one of my favorite guns to shoot, my hand seems to disagree. After 220 rounds, I could see swelling developing at the web of my hand. The bullseye loads were quite stout and felt almost as bad as the golden sabers. I wanted to work a weaker load for the 442, but the 3.5 of bullseye barely filled a quarter of the case. I found that American Select seems to fill the case a bit better. There is no info for American Select with the 158 gr lswchp I always use. So with some research and some commonsense, I came up with a puff load of 3.0 gr and a OAL of 1.455. From the available info I found for 38 special American Select loads, it seems this powder produces low velocities, compared to other loads, at max standard pressure. Lower velocity at the same bullet weight should result in less recoil. I made 80 handloads and went to the range. These loads grouped quite well, but seemed to be shooting 4-5 inches high at 7 yards. The recoil was comfortable, so instead of increasing the velocity to lower the POI, I was wondering if switching to 125 gr lswc would be closer to the POI with this powder. Also, I will appreciate any recommendation for loads with these two powders and different bullet weights that work for you and your j frame.

- FYI I shoot my j frame with the stock boot grip, and this probably contributes to a lot of the felt recoil. I will not be changing grips, the boot grip feels great and seems to lock into my hand. This is my everyday pocket gun and I plan to use the boot grip for carry and if I carry with this grip, I must practice with it as well.

 

[David R]

125 lead will shoot lower than 158 lead.

Lyman says for 158 lead, 2.8 bullseye for 656 fps
up to 4.2 for 880 fps
and for +P 4.5 grains 931 fps.


These are from a 4" test barrel.

If you want powder puff loads, load some Hollow Base Wadcutters with about 2.7 - 3.0 grains of Bullseye. These shoot well out of almost any 38.

I load 158 or 750 to 800 fps chronongraphed for my airweight. The 750 fps ones I could shoot all day. The 800 fps, hurt my hand in a few cylinders full.

I load +P with lead 158 but only shoot a few.

Never used american select.

Have fun!

4.1 Promo.

You can see here the 110 shoot lower than the 158. Both loads are +P

 

[rwsmith]

Bullseye

Typically, Bullseye only fills a fraction of almost any case. The danger is that it is easy to double charge and the case still isn't near full. If the Bulleye loads are too stout, reduce the load as long as it operates your action. Don't worry about the space/volume the powder takes up.

If you want, you could find a powder that is bulkier that still has the 'soft push' recoil typical of faster powders.

 

[Nevada Ed]

In my J frame snub nose I have loaded +P and light target loads.
The 158 gr lead is a hand full at higher fps and still can get your attention at the starting loads.

The 110gr Jhp at 880fps is a good all around load and with just 3.19 ft/lbs of recoil.
The 125gr Jhp at 870 fps (+p) has 4.27 ft/lbs .....830 fps at 3.90 ft/lbs

The 148 wc only has 2.62 ft/lbs but a reloader that can pick up some 125gr lead bullets can come up with some very accurate target loads at around 600 fps out of the snub nose and this load with Bullseye or trail boss has just 1.90 ft/lbs.

No reason to have sore hands or blisters, for a 50 to 100 round outing.

 

[jsmith357]

My 2 favorite airweight loads are 148 dewc and 3.5 gr bullseye (lighter at 3 gr) or 158gr at 3.0 gr bullseye

Jeff

 

[riverrat38]

I have the same problem with my 442 shooting high with heavier bullets, especially when I slow them down to get light practice loads. I need to use plated bullets at my indoor range. I now use 125 gr plated with a fast powder. I like Trail Boss for its case filling power. Even with maximum loads of TB, they are still nice to shoot in a 442. IMR PB also works well at non plus P level. You should be able to find a good 125 gr practice load with BE, also. They will group close to Speer 135 gr GD short barrel plus P. The extra speed of the 135 gr GD's will bring the point of impact down near the 125 gr slower bullets. I might shoot a hundred of the 125 gr loads, and finish with a few rounds of the 135 gr GD. I also load the GD short barrel bullets for practice, per Speer data for A#5. A lot cheaper than the factory loads, which I use for carry.

Best,
Rick

 

[alwslate]

First of all I don't really understand the mentality behind shooting
thousands of rounds through the lightweight J frames. But that's a
can of worms unrelated to your queation so enough about that. The
best way to reduce recoil in lightweight guns is to reduce bullet
weight. Cast bullets in 125 gr weight are readily available. Forget
about air space and use light charges of fast powders like Bullseye
and Titegroup. Lower point of impact is a price you may have to pay
but so what? It's just point and shoot practice, right? Point of impact
may be close to your 125 gr defense load but you'll just have to try
and see. Avoid jacketed bullets for light loads.

 

[Moonman]

I have a LEE 6 Cavity mold 105 Grain SWC, I load for my Snubby with
2.5 gins of Bullseye powder for FUN/MOUSE load.

 

[Forrest r]

American select is 1 of my favorite powders for the 38spl. I shoot 1000's of cast 148gr hbwc's/ 3.0gr load of am select every year.



A link to a 2003 alliant reloading manual, the 2014 manual is skimpy on data. The cowboy action section of any manual is an excellent place to look for light/plinking loads.

http://www.castpics.net/LoadData/Freebies/RM/Alliant/Alliant_2003.pdf

 

[Waywatcher]

I like a 148 DEWC over 3.5 grains of Win 231. This load makes IDPA Stock Service Revolver power factor (105,000) which means it Chronographs just over 700fps. (Usually averages 725fps with a 10-20fps extreme spread.) Much cleaner than Bullseye, in my experience, and super tight extreme spread/standard deviation.

I shoot this load in my airweight snub with boot grips.

 

[hangnoose]

IN MY FEEBLE MIND

A short bbl = a fast powder, so I use bullseye, yes it's a bit dirty, big deal. A dewc (double ended wad cutter) seated flush with the case mouth will take up a lot of the unused space. I use 2.7-2.8 gr's BE and a 148gr dewc, it's accurate & a pussycat to shoot. I never put it through a chrono, but for s/d at arms length, I wouldn't volunteer to catch one.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Even with the heavy 158 gr lead bullet, you do not have to go fast for top accuracy.

With a little testing with either Bullseye or Trail Boss, I got this bullet down to under 600 fps in my snub nose.
At this velocity, they are easy on the gun and hands.........

This picture is of a LRN but I also use the Lswc design if I need a heavier crimp for a little more fps, with some powders.

 

[gwpercle]

It doesn't matter if the Bullseye load only fills up 1/4 of the case...it will work just fine. Might want to try a full wadcutter, it is designed to extend down into the case to take up some of that room . Out of my J-frame airweight my most accurate load is with a 160 grain wadcutter (Lyman mould #358432) over 3.0 grains of Bullseye.
Gary

 

[harley46580]

We use 2.7 gr bullseye under a 125gr cast lead bullet as our standard 38 pinker. Shoots well in everything from the 442 up to the Marlin 1894

 

[remannino]

125 lead will shoot lower than 158 lead.

Lyman says for 158 lead, 2.8 bullseye for 656 fps
up to 4.2 for 880 fps
and for +P 4.5 grains 931 fps.


These are from a 4" test barrel.

If you want powder puff loads, load some Hollow Base Wadcutters with about 2.7 - 3.0 grains of Bullseye. These shoot well out of almost any 38.

I load 158 or 750 to 800 fps chronongraphed for my airweight. The 750 fps ones I could shoot all day. The 800 fps, hurt my hand in a few cylinders full.

I load +P with lead 158 but only shoot a few.

Never used american select.

Have fun!

4.1 Promo.

You can see here the 110 shoot lower than the 158. Both loads are +P

David,

What primer are you using? I'm having troubles with CCI small pistol where I get light primer strikes. Most of the time I can double strike for the primer to discharge. First thought it was a seating depth problem but pretty sure I cannot seat them any further. Thinking the hammer spring is so light in a 637 and CCI is too "hard". Anyways, curious to what primers you and others are using in a J frame.

 

[southfloridasixshooter]

I have been using Winchester small pistol primers, shot 280 handloads using these primers in my 442 and have not had any misfires. I have shot different types of factory loads and also have not had any misfires. Never used cci primers, but have heard that they are some of the hardest primers in the business.

 

[David R]

Some are magtech primers and some are Winchester. Your gun should fire CCI without a hitch. Clean and lube the gun. If needed replace the hammer spring. Misfires are unacceptable.

My BG 38 misfired because too much endshake. I traded it for the 637 which has never missed a beat.

For the primers, its whatever is available.

David

 

[David R]

Even with the heavy 158 gr lead bullet, you do not have to go fast for top accuracy.

With a little testing with either Bullseye or Trail Boss, I got this bullet down to under 600 fps in my snub nose.
At this velocity, they are easy on the gun and hands.........

This picture is of a LRN but I also use the Lswc design if I need a heavier crimp for a little more fps, with some powders.

Nice target, what is the distance?

David

 

[Nevada Ed]

David;

Well, since there are no powder burns, at least 5 feet ??

Actually, I set my chrony up at ten feet and have the target set up, behind it. Most are at twelve to 14 feet.

When I first started shooting the 38 snub nose, it was an eye opener, from the accuracy/group size and also fps ES from what my 6" barrels would give. First time ever, that I had 182 and a 237 ES in some of my tests loads !!

This small revolver requires maximum concentration and good shooting habits !!

( find: 110gr 38 for Red Dot )

 

[David R]

Thank you Nevada Ed.



David