So I've branched out. I went and bought some sample packs of 170gr SWC and 148gr DEWC. They are both new to me and I'm looking for any pet recipes outside of my book(s).

The 170 I can't find much information for. Some "heavy Keith" 357 only data, but I'm looking for some warm loads to shoot out of a K frame.

I've never loaded a wadcutter. I'm thinking of starting with 2.7gr of red dot. But I'm starting small because it seems like red dot doesn't like being pushed.

Powders I have: Red Dot, Unique, Trail Boss. Also a little bit of AA#2 and VV N340. Not much else available locally. I am leaning toward using my speer #14 manual, but looking online for things as well.

Any input is appreciated!

Your start load with DEWC is light, and ok if it is plain lead, but might stick a plated DEWC. The traditional 2.9 bullseye has sent a billion WCs downrange. Or 3gr HP38.

The best advice I got 30 years ago about shooting hot heavy bullet loads out of my K frame? "Buy a 686!" I bought a 6" 686 and still have it; it is in perfect condition after many heavy .357 hunting loads.

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Science plus Art

The DEWC are lead and lubed. Speer and alliant give a max of 3 grains. My lee dipper gives about 2.8ish.

When I say warm I mean warm, not hot. I have the 581 if I want to shoot 357 or hotrod anything, and I use it as a test platform frequently. I like carrying my K frame in the woods though so something that will go through a cougar is my goal....or smack it hard enough that it decides I'm not as tasty as originally thought.

The red dot will work great with the 148 and it gets higher fps in my J frame snub nose over Bullseye for max load almost +p.

Trail should work great for target loads with the 170gr and Unique if you need more speed.

If no data the starting load for a 158gr bullet will be safe for your first test loads with the 170gr .

Good shooting.

3.0 grains of Bullseye is a great load for the 38 special.

Both of those bullets will preform very well with this load.

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John

The Lyman Cast bullet manual shows a good selection of loads with a
cast 170 gr SWC although most are standard pressure. Of the powders
you have Unique would be your best bet for loads that boost velocity
a bit at reasonable pressure. Something like Power Pistol would be
better if you can find any.

Even if I had a pet load, you would still have to work up the load on your own, as your pistol and lot numbers of components are not going to be the same as mine.
For all lead bullets, have you measured your cylinder's throats and the barrel's groove diameter.
In general, you want the bullets to a tight slip fit in the throats and at least 0.001" larger than actual barrel diameter.

148gn Wadcutter: 2.9-3.0gn Red Dot will probably be best. 3.2-3.5gn of Unique. 2.7-3.1gn of AA2. 3.5-3.7gn N340. Around 2.2-2.4gn of Trail Boss.
170gn SWC: somewhere around 4.0gn Unique will probably be best.
You can call the powder companies or use their on-line reload data.

Here is some information scanned from my .38 spl circa 1993 "One Book". Data is for Lyman 148gr DEWC and 168gr SWC that may be helpful. Velocities where from a 4" vented test barrel. Federal cases and CCI500 primers where used.

Link to shared PDF file on my Dropbox drive.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/ya55l5cc1b...8RNFP.PDF?dl=0

Thank you guys. Much appreciated!

The Lyman 49th or Lyman Cast Bullet manual will be best for this. They have lots of load data. I'm not in my house so I don't have my books but Red Dot or Bullseye should be great and if you want warmer use something a little slower like Unique or similar.

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"He was kinda funny lookin'"