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Old 01-09-2018, 10:55 PM
Al W. Al W. is offline
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Default 125gr lead RNFP 38 special

Hi folks:
I stumbled on a box of Meister cast lead 125 gr lead RNFP for 38 sp. a few months ago.
Worked up a few different loads of BE for them and experimented with my seating an crimp and believe I have that all settled.
I've lately shot up my last few rounds of 125gr over 3.6 gr of BE.
I worked that load up for my Model 14 and it was fun to shoot.
Now I've got a K38 in 4" that I've been firing and another couple boxes of the Meister coming my way and was wondering if any of you folks have any favorite loads for this bullet.
I've been using BE , SP and PP and if any of you guys have any thoughts on the matter I would be glad to hear them.
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Old 01-09-2018, 10:59 PM
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4.0 gr 700X.
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Old 01-09-2018, 11:44 PM
lebomm lebomm is offline
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My M13 really likes a 160 SWC over 6.0gr. Unique, any SPP.

Larry
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:23 AM
zeke zeke is offline
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Used to use 4.0 grains hp-38 under the long nose Meister .38 125 lrnfp. Very good accuracy, butt shoots lower than 158 grain loads.
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Old 01-10-2018, 08:37 AM
Al W. Al W. is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by zeke View Post
Used to use 4.0 grains hp-38 under the long nose Meister .38 125 lrnfp. Very good accuracy, butt shoots lower than 158 grain loads.
I had some good targets with the 125gr RNFP at 3.6 with BE.
Alliant recommends Sport Pistol and lists 4.1gr as max charge.
Think I'll run of a few and see.
Meanwhile...
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Old 01-10-2018, 11:34 AM
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To add a different and favorite powder, I load 3.0 gr. Titegroup with the 125 gr. RNFP..........great plinking load and great load for those beginners or recoil sensitive people.

Y'all take care, Bo
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Old 01-10-2018, 12:50 PM
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38spl loads are offered by many powder suppliers with many different powders. Heed their data for your bullet weight and stay safe.

I've tried probably 10 different powders and find them all to work just fine.
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Old 01-10-2018, 01:47 PM
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I use 3.7 gr Green Dot with the Lee 125 rnfp for my 637.
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Old 01-10-2018, 01:57 PM
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I've been shooting 4.5 gr. of Trail Boss with a 125 gr. RNFP. Not bad. Around 850 fps with very minimum recoil. Fun to shoot.
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Old 01-10-2018, 02:09 PM
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Try 2.6 to 3.0 Clays...
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Old 01-10-2018, 02:10 PM
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I loaded the 125gr HSM LFN and a Xtreme 125 "Cowboy "bullet.
80% of them went towards the little J frame snub nose weapons
for a lighter practice loading for the family.

3.2grs of Bullseye at +/- 632fps was my lighest loading with accuracy
maximum loading was up to 786fps.

I also used w231, Red Dot, Green Dot, Trail Boss, Universal, CFE pistol, SR4756,
HS-6 and even imr4227 in my tests.

In a 6" barrel 840-950 worked pretty well with the faster burning powders
however I did not load these lead bullets in any 357 Magnum cases
since I think they should be used for target speeds or for "Cowboy" games.

Good loading.
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Old 01-10-2018, 02:29 PM
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I've used Lee's 125 gr. RNFP in my 9mms, 38 Specials and 357 Magnums, just sized them a bit differently. For my 38s with that bullet lately I've been using about 5.5 gr. CFE for Pistol (5.2-6.2 book data) with OK results (Taurus 2" 38, 4" Taurus and old 3" Rossi)...

Last edited by mikld; 01-10-2018 at 02:30 PM.
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Old 01-10-2018, 06:57 PM
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BoCash View Post
To add a different and favorite powder, I load 3.0 gr. Titegroup with the 125 gr. RNFP..........great plinking load and great load for those beginners or recoil sensitive people.

Y'all take care, Bo
Yes, they are a light recoil round. Part of the fun. I mostly shoot WC out of revolvers , so the 125's are a nice change of pace.
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Old 01-10-2018, 09:20 PM
Qc Pistolero Qc Pistolero is offline
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I cast mine from a 125gr Lee 6 cav;they come out at 132gr.I put them on top of 3.5gr Promo.They clock a little over 800fps out of my 6'' Python.
They are very soft,fun and accurate.They'll stay offhand in 4'' at 35 yds.My favorite cal is the .44 Mag but sometimes,one doesn't feel like being jolted around by the big blaster!That's when the soft .38 medicine comes out.Good cure for the ''flinchitis''.
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Old 01-11-2018, 01:07 AM
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I somehow overlooked an astoundingly accurate round for years until finally discovering with pleasure the 147 wad cutter with mid-range load of any powder recipe I had on hand.

Typically my habit was using some cast load between 125~158 either RN or SWC with a few truncated now & then. Some day load up a couple hundred & see how you like them.
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Old 01-11-2018, 07:26 AM
slickracer slickracer is offline
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I've shot thousands over 3.2 Clays. I think this is Hodgdons minimum load.
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Old 01-11-2018, 09:29 AM
Al W. Al W. is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m657 View Post
I somehow overlooked an astoundingly accurate round for years until finally discovering with pleasure the 147 wad cutter with mid-range load of any powder recipe I had on hand.

Typically my habit was using some cast load between 125~158 either RN or SWC with a few truncated now & then. Some day load up a couple hundred & see how you like them.
When I started loading , which was recently, it was specifically to load 148gr HBWC for Bullseye. So after shooting thousands of rounds of that I was really happy to see that the 125gr RNFP were also pretty darn accurate. Its a nice changeup.
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Old 01-19-2018, 10:04 PM
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I've shot 10's of thousands of 125 gr. RNFP lead bullets in Cowboy Action Shooting matches and IDPA using 3.0 gr. of Clays with Federal primers in both revolvers and a Uberti 73 rifle. It's my go to load.

Church Key
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Old 01-20-2018, 03:42 PM
Al W. Al W. is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Church Key View Post
I've shot 10's of thousands of 125 gr. RNFP lead bullets in Cowboy Action Shooting matches and IDPA using 3.0 gr. of Clays with Federal primers in both revolvers and a Uberti 73 rifle. It's my go to load.

Church Key
I've been using 2.9gr of Bullseye and its precise. Its a fun load and plenty accurate.
I have realized the utility of this round in a lever action , so I guess thats on the list now.
Might load those in a magnum case for the lever action though. Seems , at least from what I have seen of the Henry models that they operate better with that magnum case length and load.
Meanwhile the 125gr RNFP are doing great in my S&W revolvers. Both the K38 4" and my Model 14 like them fine.
Have yet to develop a Sport Pistol powder load. The BE works well enough for the moment .

Last edited by Al W.; 01-20-2018 at 03:48 PM.
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Old 01-20-2018, 03:47 PM
Al W. Al W. is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by m657 View Post
I somehow overlooked an astoundingly accurate round for years until finally discovering with pleasure the 147 wad cutter with mid-range load of any powder recipe I had on hand.

Typically my habit was using some cast load between 125~158 either RN or SWC with a few truncated now & then. Some day load up a couple hundred & see how you like them.
A friend at the range pulled my coat the the 158 SWC. So I have a small order in to Delta for some of those.
NRA Distinguished Pistol requires the use of the 158 , so I'm told .
I'll check that out and stick to the 2.9 BE for 25 yd. and increase to 3.1 or there abouts for 50 yd.
I had been loading the 125 gr RNFP at 3.6 gr BE and now realize that that is major overkill ! I'm now down to 2.9 BE and having good results.
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