4" Model 10 load question.

1coolcat

1coolcat

Member
Joined
Jun 30, 2013
Messages
270
Reaction score
246
So I picked up a model 10 a couple weeks ago.since I received it I have been reading about the history and the fact it is still in production today is quite a statement. In fact I just logged off S&W web site. I email S&W with my serial # and found out mine was produced in 1968.. I don't think it has ever had more then 6 rounds shot through it...until today..I went to the range and put 100 rounds through it at 15 yards. I was getting about 4" groups. I was shooting 110gr. Hornady xtp, wsp primer and 6.6 gr.of alliant unique
I'm sure it will shoot better.
I think I need to shoot lead bullets out of it..the load I used and listed above shot OK, but I think it was a little much for my gun..or maybe I'm not use to shooting such a light gun..they seem to have a lot of gusto ..and I don't need to shoot such a powerful round through this gun..I have a 686 for that.
I really enjoyed shooting this gun and plan to shoot it a lot more.
Does anyone know what twist the barrels are? What load do you use on your older model -10's and bullet weight., what type of groups are typical with these guns?
Thank you.
 
Last edited:
These guns were sighted in for the 158 grain lead bullet but you can really shoot anything in them. I normally buy the factory 130 grain FMJ at the range b/c they're cheap. Plus P is okay as well, have fun.
 
That's a very light load; probably not doing 650 fps muzzle velocity. I don't know what the book maximum is for your bullet, but it's probably more than 3.5 grains. You might work toward the maximum and maybe accuracy will improve. Cast bullets (that fit and are of the correct alloy for the velocity) are generally at least as accurate as jacketed bullets and are often more accurate.

With a 158 grain cast round nose or wadcutter bullet, 4.3 grs.
HP-38 ( Win. 231) will usually shoot well in .38 Special revolvers.
This is a standard pressure load, comparable to a factory cast bullet load.

My opinion only, but I wouldn't call a Model 10 a "light" gun.
 
rockquarry said:
That's a very light load; probably not doing 650 fps muzzle velocity.
Click to expand...

VERY LIGHT LOAD!!!! Did you really really read what OP posted? He said 6.6 Gr Unique w/110 Hdy JHP! While Alliant doesn't specifically list the Hornady, they do show a 110 Gold Dot with a load of 6.3 Gr.as a maximum load for +P, at over 1100 FPS. Now read what you posted!!!!!!!!!!

I am not saying there is anything wrong with OPs load, might have come from Hornady. Certainly with current Alliant data being somewhat conservative this may have been previously listed by Alliant. My point is where do you get off giving OP such blatantly false information? Do you even reload, or just lurk on the internet???
 
I like a 158 gr. lead SWC or lead SWCHP in mine with a mild load of Alliant Bullseye, that is of course, when I'm not shooting 148 gr. HBWC with a charge of 2.7 gr. of Alliant Bullseye. My model 10 shoots to point of aim with the 158 gr. and just a tad low with the 148 gr.
 
A reasonable factory lead bullet duplication load is a 158 grain lead bullet (SWC) and 4.0 grains of Bullseye. That's about all you need although there is no shortage of other load recipes to try using different powders. As noted , the standard target load for a great many years is a 148 grain full wadcutter bullet over about 3 grains of Bullseye, plus or minus a few tenths of a grain.
 
I love both Bullseye and Unique and have used them to good effect in various calibers and bullet weight combinations for more than 4 decades.
But, for most of my .38 Special shooting I've been using 3.5 grains of Red Dot behind a 158 gr cast SWC since the mid 1970s. I have loaded and shot thousands of these over the years. It is a very satisfactory load in either a K or N frame revolver.
Velocity is about 800 fps from a 4" barrel and recoil is relative mild from 4", 5" and 6" barrel revolvers. That is providing you don't crimp the bullet too hard. I use a mild roll crimp in the cannelure. I will say, though, that the recoil is quite a bit sharper when I use this load (or any equivalent load with other powders) in my 2" Model 36s.
I started using this combination when I was loading 12 gauge trap loads and had lots of Red Dot around. I liked it and stuck with it, since it gave such good results for target work with my S&W .38 Special revolvers.
 
Alk8944- My response was in regard to the powder charge and bullet weight in the original post, which has been changed entirely through an edit. Bullet was a 158 Nosler and 3.5 grs. HP-38.
 
My go to load for .38 Special is a Sierra 110 gr. Blitz JHP, in front of 7.0 grs. of Unique. That's the max load in the Sierra manual, but some of my other manuals say 7.1 grs. My load is really good and accurate out of my Model 67, but I haven't shot they out of my Model 64, yet. So, I don't know where they shoot in reference to shot regulation with the fixed sighted gun.
 
I have a 10-8 and a 64-3, both with 3" heavy barrels (and fixed sights, of course). In my experience, they like just about any bullet and load combination. The lightest I've ever used are 125 grain bullets, both cast and plated/ jacketed. The heaviest - 158 grain, both cast and jacketed.

Loads I use commonly:

3.5 grains of Bullseye, under 125 gr. or 158 gr. bullets.

4.0 - 4.2 grains of HP-38, same bullets.

3.1 grains of Titegroup, under any of the bullet weights, makes a nice, light "target" load.

3.2 - 3.5 grains of WST, with the same bullets.

I also shoot lots of 148 grain double-ended wadcutters (NOT the dead-soft type requiring really light loads, but normal hardness)....as well as plated versions of the same. For powder I use the same as mentioned above, probably most commonly the 3.5 grain Bullseye load.

For SD, I load 125 grain Hornady hollowpoints ("XTP")...over about 5.0 grains of HP-38.

I also load (for SD as well) cast 148 gr. DEWC's over about 4.2 grains of HP-38, but this for my aluminum J-frame snubby (but certainly can be used in the K-frames).

Amazingly, all of the loads I've listed above shoot more or less to point of aim. The K-frame 38's really are extraordinary in their tolerance of different load combinations. I can't really say that I've ever tried a load that mine didn't like....or at least, shoot tolerably well.
 
Last edited:
I'm also a Red Dot fan and use a 158 gr LSWC or LRN on top of 3.2 grains of Red Dot. It delivers an average velocity of 750 fps in a 4" Model 10 and 665 fps in a 1 7/8" Model 36.

The load is very accurate and very consistent with a standard deviation in velocity around 9 fps in the Model 10 with sorted brass, and around 13 fps with mixed head stamp brass.

My self defense load is 7.5 grains of IMR-800X under a 125 gr XTP. It's a +P load and one that is near the upper end of the +P specification, so it's not something I recommend for regular use in an older Model 10 or in a Model 36. It will develop an average velocity of 1056 fps in a 4" Model 10, and has a standard deviation in velocity of around 10 fps.
 
Last edited:
3.5 grains of WST with a 158 grain SWC cast bullet is my one practice load for all my .38s; from air weight J-Frame to Ruger GP-100 .38.
 
I'm sorry for any confusion. I made a mistake when checking my reloading notes. So I made an edit correction.I didn't mean for any one to get yelled at.. Lol..
So the model 10's are made to shoot the 158 gr. Bullets?..
My next loads will be 158 gr. LRNFP and HP-38..
I believe the load I used was from the sierra manual, ( I could be wrong)
I guess my main question was what gr. Bullet were the model 10's sights set for
...158 gr @ 20 yards.. ???
Thank you guys..again sorry for any confusion on my part due to the topic edit.
 
Setting the top of your front sight at the 6 o'clock position on the bullseye at 25 yards with a 158 gr round gets it done.

Provided you have loaded to 750fps or higher. Weaker loads will change point of aim as distance increases.

The beauty of the .38 special is the ability to load from "Cap gun" loads to light magnum velocity. Semi jacketed soft points at 850 are wonderful small to medium game loads.

I see people loading super light loads that you can literally see leave the barrel, and keyhole through the target. You can load TOO light.

I prefer to run .38's in the 850-925 fps range. Better accuracy and with full copper jacket or plating and no issues dropping steel reactive targets in competition.

Have fun out there and enjoy that Model 10
 
oldafsp said:
Setting the top of your front sight at the 6 o'clock position on the bullseye at 25 yards with a 158 gr round gets it done.

Provided you have loaded to 750fps or higher. Weaker loads will change point of aim as distance increases.

The beauty of the .38 special is the ability to load from "Cap gun" loads to light magnum velocity. Semi jacketed soft points at 850 are wonderful small to medium game loads.

I see people loading super light loads that you can literally see leave the barrel, and keyhole through the target. You can load TOO light.

I prefer to run .38's in the 850-925 fps range. Better accuracy and with full copper jacket or plating and no issues dropping steel reactive targets in competition.

Have fun out there and enjoy that Model 10
Click to expand...

Thank you for the post ..I will work up some new loads and see what I come up with..
 
If you want to test the accuracy of any load in your gun rather than
your own shooting ability you need to fire the gun single action from
a solid rest position. That's the only way you can really compare the
accuracy of different loads, taking most of the human element out of
the testing. With good loads your gun should group well with 148-158
gr lead bullets at 750 or more fps. This will also give you a better
indication of point of impact vs point of aim.
 
K-framer said:
3.1 grains of Titegroup, under any of the bullet weights, makes a nice, light "target" load.
Click to expand...

I'll second that. For many of my K-Frame 38s, I'll set the Dillon RLB 550 on 3 grains of Titegroup, use 148 grain hard cast double base wadcutters, and load till the cows come home. I think the load range for that is 2.7-3.3 grains so even if it strays a bit on the measure, your're good to go. Titegroup meters real well. I usually check a load every 100 and it's never off.

Enjoy that M10.
 
BE Mike said:
I like a 158 gr. lead SWC or lead SWCHP in mine with a mild load of Alliant Bullseye, that is of course, when I'm not shooting 148 gr. HBWC with a charge of 2.7 gr. of Alliant Bullseye. My model 10 shoots to point of aim with the 158 gr. and just a tad low with the 148 gr.
Click to expand...

Please, use this info!!! Your 10 will throw this load in 1 hole!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

F
Model 10-6 4"
Replies
11
Views
473
bobsguns
bobsguns
A
Model 10-5 Questions
Replies
15
Views
672
stansdds
S
scruffy
Model 10-7 Nickel Snub Questions
Replies
9
Views
600
Old cop
O
C
Model 10-5 DAO - Spurless
2
Replies
21
Views
886
Crookedcreek
C
J
Model 19-4 question
Replies
3
Views
464
JackM
J

Latest posts

Back
Top