nightshade2x
Member
I use 4.9-5.0 grains of Unique over a CCI500 and under a 148 gr. hardcast DEWC.
Have fun and be safe.
Nightshade2x
Have fun and be safe.
Nightshade2x
148 grain DEWC in 38 SPL over 3.2 gr Unique?
- Thread starter rc51kid
- Start date
nicky4968
Member
As usual, I have something to say about the use of Unique in the .38 Special. I believe the 3.2/3.3 gr Unique load under the 148 gr DBWC to be perfectly adequate. I don't see any reason to hotrod this load.
BTW, my DBWCs are pure lead; I wouldn't want to push them any faster. Deadly as heck on bunnies and the like. Will stop large feral dogs if you do your part (it's amazing how wonderfully Fido can focus your attention).
Like the 158 gr RNL over 4.3 gr Unique load I espouse, will not knock down satellites nor stop charging brown bears. It is accurate and it is a .38 Special.
BTW, my DBWCs are pure lead; I wouldn't want to push them any faster. Deadly as heck on bunnies and the like. Will stop large feral dogs if you do your part (it's amazing how wonderfully Fido can focus your attention).
Like the 158 gr RNL over 4.3 gr Unique load I espouse, will not knock down satellites nor stop charging brown bears. It is accurate and it is a .38 Special.
acl864
Member
The 5.0 Unique with a 148 gr. DEWC load that has been mentioned is a formidable self-defense loading for a J-frame snubby. Chrono'd a little over 900 fps out of a M642 w/ 1 7/8" barrel. For those who don't like the metering qualities of Unique try Universal. Slighly less Universal gave me similar velocities with the 148 gr. DEWC. I'm not a big fan of either powder in reduced loadings.
Qc Pistolero
Member
Probably way too late but anyways....load them with the sprue cut up front;looks uglier but bullet flight is driven from the back end.You should get more accuracy that way.
Qc Pistolero
Member
Thread drift:
This is not a slap at anyone, so, Ceapea, don't take it wrong. I just don't understand the logic behind the "super mouse F**t" loads for gaming. Two reasons, #1 being, there is no way to keep from chasing a squib in the rapid fire drills and #2 it gives someone a false sense of accomplishment with a firearm. I've seen them, sure you have too, the "Gunslinger" that games with a gun. The problem in my mind comes when they have to fire full force loads. Are their skills up to dealing with the recoil, muzzle blast?
I have shot PPC, mostly an indoor gallery type, for a few years now. I came in third the first year I shot it using a standard 38spl load of 3.5gr of Bullseye under a 158gr LSWC.
From that time forward, I came to be the range officer in many matches and ran a PPC league for a time. That took me out of the competition for placement but still, I used those loads and could wind up in the top 2 or three every time. That was with a standard out of the box M586 6" with no trigger work too. I could usually spank those that used custom guns as well, even the autos.
Sorry for the thread drift. Personally, I am going to use my gaming as practice for life. Just me though!
I know I'm very late in this but(and I hope you read me Skip)if somebody tells you that he doubts what you've said,one of my good friend is 2 years in a row Canada champ in PPC(i know,in Ca.,we have 10% the US population's got but lots of US guys were and are competing up here).He's done it with a stock S&W 686 with an over the regular barrel weight added.
I myself competed with some success enough with an almost stock gun to say,as my friend says:''95% of the shooting performance is being generated between both your ears''.
Qc Pistolero
Generally speaking....
The best target loads are often light loads. And light loads with faster powders are often just a tad in the bottom of the case. I like 2.7 gr Bullseye with 148 gr WCs.
The only danger in a TOO light load is a squib that sticks in the barrel followed by another shot. A good target load should be far more powerful than any load that could cause a squib, so don't go down too light.
NOTE: A danger in light loads of fast burning target powders is unintentional double or triple charging which will demolish a gun. Check to make sure that you DO NOT double load powder. Check the cases with a flashlight after charging.
The best target loads are often light loads. And light loads with faster powders are often just a tad in the bottom of the case. I like 2.7 gr Bullseye with 148 gr WCs.
The only danger in a TOO light load is a squib that sticks in the barrel followed by another shot. A good target load should be far more powerful than any load that could cause a squib, so don't go down too light.
NOTE: A danger in light loads of fast burning target powders is unintentional double or triple charging which will demolish a gun. Check to make sure that you DO NOT double load powder. Check the cases with a flashlight after charging.
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My old Speer #8 manual does not show Unique with the 148gr
bullet.
My oldest Lyman list 3.5grs of Unique as the lowest data with
the lighter lead bullets.
In my 2" snub J frame;
3.5grs of CFE Pistol powder did 605 fps.
590fps is my cut off in the short barrel to prevent squibs.
3.5grs with a much slower powder may be asking for problems.
A "Starting load" of SR 4756 in my revolver had a low of 558fps !!
One reason to not go below a starting load until proven to be safe
in your weapons.
I would play it safe and pull those loads.
bullet.
My oldest Lyman list 3.5grs of Unique as the lowest data with
the lighter lead bullets.
In my 2" snub J frame;
3.5grs of CFE Pistol powder did 605 fps.
590fps is my cut off in the short barrel to prevent squibs.
3.5grs with a much slower powder may be asking for problems.
A "Starting load" of SR 4756 in my revolver had a low of 558fps !!
One reason to not go below a starting load until proven to be safe
in your weapons.
I would play it safe and pull those loads.
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Well, since my two posts above, from quite a while ago, I have done some more experimenting with these 148 gr DEWC's.
I did end up settling on 2.3 gr Bullseye. But in the course of testing, I have tried 3.0, 3.2 and 3.4 gr of Unique. I found the both 3.0 and 3.2 gr were just about the exact same as my 2.3 gr of B.E. accuracy wise.
But, due to the fact that Unique has never liked any of my measures, I continue to use Bullseye.
I have fired over 30k of these light loads in the weights that I listed so far, and I have never had an issue. And with more than 25 other guys shooting very similar loads, no one has ever stuck a bullet. We're talking way over 150k rounds. Really, way over 400k rounds over the last 4 years alone!
No issues.
Search some PPC competition threads and you will see that 99% of the guys use loads way below book. Current books, that is. The old books listed many light loads.
I did end up settling on 2.3 gr Bullseye. But in the course of testing, I have tried 3.0, 3.2 and 3.4 gr of Unique. I found the both 3.0 and 3.2 gr were just about the exact same as my 2.3 gr of B.E. accuracy wise.
But, due to the fact that Unique has never liked any of my measures, I continue to use Bullseye.
I have fired over 30k of these light loads in the weights that I listed so far, and I have never had an issue. And with more than 25 other guys shooting very similar loads, no one has ever stuck a bullet. We're talking way over 150k rounds. Really, way over 400k rounds over the last 4 years alone!
No issues.
Search some PPC competition threads and you will see that 99% of the guys use loads way below book. Current books, that is. The old books listed many light loads.
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