1st time reloading ?'s

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haroldpo6

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Gun SW686 3" barrel
38 special
CFE power
158 lead LSWC
One time shot brass
4.5grn cfe power

Results was very low recoil, about 2" penetration in 4x4 post
brass is very,very smutty inside and out.

The 4.5grn power data was from the Hodgdon web site for CFE power w/ 158gr bullet. Also from the Lee 38 special 4 die set booket calls for 4.4grn.

Anybody using CFE w/158lswc 38 special? What your data?
A lot of the reloading data books don't show CFE power data.

Thanks Harold
 
I’ve personally never used CFE powder but have heard some good reports. The “standard” load for many years for 189gr SWC Has been 5.0gr of Unique. I’ve loaded thousands of these although lately I’ve switched to 5.0gr of Universal. Same performance but meters better in my Dillon 650 and seems to burn a little cleaner. The residue you’re getting is probably from the lube on the bullet. Get you some HyTek Coated Cast bullets. Amazing how much cleaner they shoot
 
I have used CFE in my 686 with good results. As far as load information using the Hodgdon reloading sight will provide you with good information, 4.5 grains sounds like the starting load. As I have not used it on 4X4 posts I can't say if that is good penetration or not. I mostly shoot steel plates ans get a nice ring. as for recoil I don't mind a low recoil when I am spending the day at the range.

Reloading is about loading quality ammo, and finding the load the you feel is the most accurate for your gun. Start low working up in steps. In my quest to find the perfect load i will load 25 rounds with my test loads, I my take 2 or 3 loads and go shoot the them to see which preforms the best. keeping notes really helps too.
 
I've been trying different loads in my .357 mags and .45 ACP. I really like the CFE pistol and coated bullets. No smoke and not much clean up after. I use 6 to 6.6 grains for my .357 mags.(158 gr. bullets) and 4 to 5.4 grains in the .45. I don't own a coronagraph so I don't have any data, sorry. I just know my guns shoot it good.
 
With your short 3" barrel I "Guesstamate" that that 158 lead bullet is around 800fps.

My starting load was higher and in a 6", I got 855fps
The full load data reached 939fps with the 38 Special case.

You can also reach these speeds with w231, if you have any.
Good shooting.
 
haroldpo6 said:
Gun SW686 3" barrel
38 special
CFE power
158 lead LSWC
One time shot brass
4.5grn cfe power

Results was very low recoil, about 2" penetration in 4x4 post
brass is very,very smutty inside and out.

The 4.5grn power data was from the Hodgdon web site for CFE power w/ 158gr bullet. Also from the Lee 38 special 4 die set booket calls for 4.4grn.

Anybody using CFE w/158lswc 38 special? What your data?
A lot of the reloading data books don't show CFE power data.

Thanks Harold
Click to expand...

Check out the load data at Hodgdon's website (link below).

158gr. cast LSWC

Starting Load: 4.8 gr. Velocity: 960 feet per second

Maximum Load: 5.3 gr. Velocity: 1048 feet per second

Cartridge Overall Length (C.O.L.): 1.475"

Powder: CFE Pistol

Primer: Winchester Small Pistol

Barrel Length: 7.7"

Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading
 
I bumb it up to 5.0 and wow what a difference. I'm going to try 4.7-4.8grs next.
 
Starting data with medium burners, almost never yields a great result. I look at midrange as my start point. Then work that up or down as needed.
 
Many powders will burn "dirty" when used with lighter loads and don't perform "cleanly" until upper pressures (for the cartridge) are reached. Unique is the "classic" powder in this respect. Your "smutty", sooty brass is more than likely a result of low, starting loads. No problem though...
 
38 sp 158 gr reload

I was having some problems with reloading plated bullets sent an e-mail to hodgdon and they sent this back to me. 38 special pistol load 158 gr cast LSWC order BW 158 powder cfe pistol bullet daim .358 C.O.L 1.475 starting load 4.8 gr vel 980 pressure 13,900 psi max load 5.3 gr vel 1048 pressure 16,100 psi I have a S&W 686 + and use 4.9 gr and it shoots a lot better now for steel plates.
 
Last edited:
Yea, my next try will be with 4.8grs. The 5.0grs felt, sounded like +P ammo.
 
A little more pressure...

CFE is good for higher pressure cartridges so it may not burn quite as well as at lower pressures. However, most of your smoke is probably from the bullet. Lube in groove bullets are SMOKY. I use coated unless I have a special reason.

I used to wash my brass by hand, but got a vibratory tumbler and my brass is clean and shiny.
 
Reloaded & shot 40 rounds with 4.8grs and 158 lswc and they where a lot less smutty, and on par with Remington 130gr. I think i'll stay with this load awhile.

Thanks ya'll
 
My favorite 357 magnum load is.....

158gr Berrys flat point bullet or Hornady 158gr XTP. 13.9gr H110. Winchester small pistol magnum primers or CCI-550 and a cartridge overall length of 1.590". est 1200fps


For practice/plinking I like using Hornady frontier lead 158gr Round nose or the SWC-HP. 3.8gr Titegroup, magnum or standard small pistol primers and again a COL of 1.590".... This load is around 850fps
 
haroldpo6 said:
Yea, my next try will be with 4.8grs. The 5.0grs felt, sounded like +P ammo.
Click to expand...

The data on the Hodgdon site shows the starting charge weight at 4.8gr and a max of 5.3gr with pressures of only 16,100 psi at the max charge. Your 4.5gr load was very low and that's why the dirty cases. I'm surprised the 5.0gr load seemed hot to you, the pressures at that charge weight must have been well under 15,000 psi.

Where did you get the original data?
 
Last edited:
haroldpo6 wrote:
4.5grn cfe power
Click to expand...

Instead of us just assuming, please confirm that the powder you are using is CFE Pistol and not another CFE powder.
 
hdwhit said:
Instead of us just assuming, please confirm that the powder you are using is CFE Pistol and not another CFE powder.
Click to expand...

Unless the factory put the wrong power in a unopened jar marked cFe pistol power. I would have to send it off and have it tested?
 
ArchAngelCD said:
The data on the Hodgdon site shows the starting charge weight at 4.8gr and a max of 5.3gr with pressures of only 16,100 psi at the max charge. Your 4.5gr load was very low and that's why the dirty cases. I'm surprised the 5.0gr load seemed hot to you, the pressures at that charge weight must have been well under 15,000 psi.

Where did you get the original data?
Click to expand...

Original data came with the 4 pcs Lee 38 special reloading die set that says 4.4grs start and NEVER exceed 5.0grs. with OAL 1.475.
 
haroldpo6 said:
Original data came with the 4 pcs Lee 38 special reloading die set that says 4.4grs start and NEVER exceed 5.0grs. with OAL 1.475.
Click to expand...

Lee does not develop load data, merely reprints data of others. I find the data developed by the powder makers more than adequate.
 
My favorite Garand load is a Hornady 155 gr. A-Max over 47 gr. of IMR 4064. (Hey, other posters posted loads way off topic, so, I figger I can too! :p)
 
SMSgt said:
Lee does not develop load data, merely reprints data of others. I find the data developed by the powder makers more than adequate.
Click to expand...

Not sure myself, google
Modern Reloading 2nd Edition by Richard Lee, Get more load data. Contains more than 37,000 loads. The worlds most comprehensive load data book.
 
haroldpo6 said:
Not sure myself, google
Modern Reloading 2nd Edition by Richard Lee, Get more load data. Contains more than 37,000 loads. The worlds most comprehensive load data book.
Click to expand...

Lee Load Data

Lee Load Data
Lee provides load data in the book "Modern Reloading" by Richard Lee and the load data sheets that accompany the die sets. All of the loads you see have been provided directly from the powder companies as Lee believes they provide the best data. Lee presents the data in an organized and effective format that lets the user quickly identify the better loads.

Finding a load that is somewhat different than what you may find in another source is not completely uncommon. This is due to the fact that the data Lee uses is a compilation from manuals over more than one version and the data can slightly change between versions.
 
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