New HP38 / 357 load

Super Dave · Sep 8, 2015

I enjoy the challenge of finding a new load...when it ends well. But, I enjoy shooting more than load testing. Thankfully, I can get back to shooting. My goal was to find a accurate, mild / target / plinking load with HP38 for my .357 revolvers.

What I learned:
I tested HP38 in .38 caliber cases with 125 JHP, 158 JHP, and 158 LSWC coated. I have given up on finding an accurate, consistent load in .38 cases with my .357 guns.

I tested 158 LSWC coated in the .357 case with a variety of HP38 charge weights and the accuracy was poor.

Here's a couple targets from 25 yards on the sight in for the red dot.

The rest of the targets are from 50 yards. Here's the set up. Bullets are from Montana Gold, .38, 158 gr. JHP. Federal primers, Starline brass.

Any flyers in the groups were probably due to me and not the gun / loads. They are all plenty accurate.

5.6 grains HP38

5.8 grains HP38

6.0 grains HP38

I think I'll go with the 5.6 grain load. It's a little milder. At 5.8 and 6.0 I saw more flames and louder bangs. Accuracy started to drop with charges below 5.5.

Take care,
Dave

Jdavis · Sep 8, 2015

Good research and testing. Although every gun is different, it will save some time and effort not to mention the ammo and powder. Thanks for posting.

Nevada Ed · Sep 8, 2015

+1;
231 did not come out on top in my 6" 686 with the 158 XTP either.....
best loading was a full load behind the 125gr XTP.

In the 38 case with a 158gr Lswc, 4.7grs kicked out 890fps that shot at POA and was pretty accurate.

bigggbbruce · Sep 8, 2015

never mind..

buck460XVR · Sep 8, 2015

Nevada Ed said:
+1;
231 did not come out on top in my 6" 686 with the 158 XTP either.....
best loading was a full load behind the 125gr XTP.

My experience as well. In .357, W231/HP38 prefers light bullets.

Super Dave · Sep 8, 2015

In the 38 case with a 158gr Lswc, 4.7grs kicked out 890fps that shot at POA and was pretty accurate.

Hi Ed, do you recall what kind of accuracy did you get with that load?

I was also shooting a 627, 5" with the different loads and the results were the same as the 686 at 25 yards. I only tested the 686 at 50 yards since it had the red dot.

Those guns do like the 125 gr. JHP bullets but I'm moving away from those due to forcing cone damage. I'm not sure if the damage is due to the 125 grain bullets or Titegroup...so I gave up both.

Later,
Dave

Super Dave · Sep 11, 2015

I wanted to test some lighter powder loads with the HP38.

5.3 HP38 / 158 gr JHP

5.5 HP38 / 158 gr JHP

Comparisons: All at 50 yards from a 6" 686 with 158 gr JHP .38 Montana Gold Bullet. The only variable is powder weight.

It's kind of interesting to see the 5.3 charge drops a bit and the 6.0 shoots a tad high.

They all have about the same accuracy at 50 yards. Flyers were probably my fault.

2.4" Avg Group, 5.3 grns HP38, 25 rounds fired
2.2" Avg Group, 5.5 grns HP38, 15 rounds fired
2.3" Avg Group, 5.6 grns HP38, 25 rounds fired
2.8" Avg Group, 5.8 grns HP38, 25 rounds fired
2.3" Avg Group, 6.0 grns HP38, 15 rounds fired

Give HP38 a try in your 357 cases. I think it's pretty good.
Dave

Nevada Ed · Sep 11, 2015

At 15 yards two hands the 38 and 357 could get 1" groups...
25 yard single action slow fire would print 1" groups with both, also, with the 125gr XTP.

The problem with hot loads in the .357 Magnum with the light bullets from 125grs or less, is that they leave the case on the way to the forcing cone, and could be just a fraction out of alignment when entering it.........
plus you have all the extra powder and gases, that do not come into play with the larger bullets.

Larger bullets will be at or even in the forcing cone, due to their longer lengths......... which is a lot easier on a revolver.

I do have the 125gr Gold Dot for SD use in my magnum but..............................
99% of my 110 and 125gr Jhp bullets go for my 38 special and J snub for light practice loads with minimal recoil for all of the family shooting members, to enjoy.

Tight groups.

Decker · Sep 11, 2015

I appreciate seeing all of the OP tests.

158gr is my go-to bullet weight for .357, and HP-38 is my go-to powder for 9mm and .45 already, so it looks like it can work well for .357 as well.
I think I'll try the 5.5gr load and see where my own accuracy lies (686/4" and several other .357's).

I started out using LSWC 158's myself but soon saw that jacketed was a better way to go for consistent accuracy out of my revolvers.

As a side note, from the very beginning when I started handloading (30+ years ago), I never even gave thought to using .38 brass in my .357's, but instead would play with the bottom ends of recipes in order to come up with user friendly plinking rounds for the .357.
Just seemed like a better way to go.

New HP38 / 357 load

Super Dave

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Jdavis

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Nevada Ed

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bigggbbruce

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buck460XVR

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Super Dave

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Super Dave

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Nevada Ed

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Decker

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