Throughout threads on this forum and others there seems to be a number of users of Bayou Bullets who are also fans of the products. I am too and know many folks that use them that shoot competitive revolver and reload. This is my experience that motivates this thread to attempt to bring together information on reloading 38 special with Bayou Bullets. It is not easy to find loading information for Bayou Bullets. Please share and comment if you are inclined. Thank you.
I have used one load extensively which a friend provided me from his year plus of experience loading it and shooting it. Recently, I developed one to share as well. Each load uses the 160 grain RN 38 special (.357) Bayou Bullet. Overall length is 1.505 inches + or minus 0.003 inches. I measured hundreds. Ammo is taper crimped as Bayou Bullets calls for on their website. Each uses a Vihtavuori powder.
The load I am most experienced with is the load I got from my friend. It is 3.5 grains - 3.8 grains of N320, again, I measured hundreds. The high end of this load makes 120 power factor and the low end is closer to 105 power factor according to my friend that chrono'd this load. In use, these loads knock down steels which is my experience and a practical report on this N320 load. Never experienced a swollen case.
The load I developed recently uses 5.2 grains - 5.6 grains of 3N37. I have made and used 200 of these rounds. Nothing has been chono'd but my experience shooting them leads me to say this 3N37 load resembles shooting the N320 load described above. Each is very clean and low to no smoke. Steels fall at the low end of this load but the middle, 5.4 grains, may be the 120 power factor load based on my perception shooting it. Never experienced a swollen case. When I get to chrono these, I'll update.
To develop the 3N37 load, I used the 38 special section of the Lapua / Vihtavuori website as well as the 38 special section of the 'Handloads' website when the source was 'Vihtavuori'.
Products - Lapua
38 Special Load Data - Handloads.Com
I have used one load extensively which a friend provided me from his year plus of experience loading it and shooting it. Recently, I developed one to share as well. Each load uses the 160 grain RN 38 special (.357) Bayou Bullet. Overall length is 1.505 inches + or minus 0.003 inches. I measured hundreds. Ammo is taper crimped as Bayou Bullets calls for on their website. Each uses a Vihtavuori powder.
The load I am most experienced with is the load I got from my friend. It is 3.5 grains - 3.8 grains of N320, again, I measured hundreds. The high end of this load makes 120 power factor and the low end is closer to 105 power factor according to my friend that chrono'd this load. In use, these loads knock down steels which is my experience and a practical report on this N320 load. Never experienced a swollen case.
The load I developed recently uses 5.2 grains - 5.6 grains of 3N37. I have made and used 200 of these rounds. Nothing has been chono'd but my experience shooting them leads me to say this 3N37 load resembles shooting the N320 load described above. Each is very clean and low to no smoke. Steels fall at the low end of this load but the middle, 5.4 grains, may be the 120 power factor load based on my perception shooting it. Never experienced a swollen case. When I get to chrono these, I'll update.
To develop the 3N37 load, I used the 38 special section of the Lapua / Vihtavuori website as well as the 38 special section of the 'Handloads' website when the source was 'Vihtavuori'.
Products - Lapua
38 Special Load Data - Handloads.Com
