38 Spec. 125gr JHP 4.0gr Bullseye Safe?

[rwsmith]

Post number 20 is incorrect..

Disregard this.... I feel like I got something mixed up and may have given bad info.

I may have been referring to Unique powder with this data out of the old Sierra book.

Apologies.... Wayno

 

[BE Mike]

Traditionally it has been thought that a jacketed hollow point bullet needed to travel at around 1,000 fps to get fairly reliable expansion. I don't know if that applies to the Sierra 125 gr. JHP you are loading. Of course you don't say what the intended purpose of your ammo is, either. Getting that 1,000 fps without pressure problems probably is going to require you switch to a different powder.

 

[WR Moore]

I think 5.0gr of Unique under a 158gr lead,plated or jacketed bullet is a better load in 38spl cases than any of 125gr hot Bullseye loadings mentioned in this thread.

I just bought 2 boxes of Federal 38G (158 gr LSWCHP +P), has the deepest hollow point I've ever seen. Having said that, I have never seen expansion from any previous 158 gr HP design at .38 velocities. Decades ago, the Nyclad version of the 38G was supposed to be the New Big Thing. Exited the penetration box after penetrating 30" of tissue simulant. I could hear it rattling through the trees downrange. I'm assuming it didn't expand.

With different powders, you can safely exceed 1000 f/s with the 125 JHPs. That's close enough to the design envelope that they probably will expand. Isn't my choice either.

 

[BruceM]

In Summary, quite the spread 3.2@568fps with maybe a bullet stuck

In view of the fact that THE standard target load for .38 Specials in the day was a 148 grain WC over 2.7 of Bullseye, the odds of any 125 grain bullet over 3.2 grains of Bullseye sticking in the barrel (aka squib) are slim and none. Slim left town!

Bruce

 

[Charlie 1]

Traditionally it has been thought that a jacketed hollow point bullet needed to travel at around 1,000 fps to get fairly reliable expansion. I don't know if that applies to the Sierra 125 gr. JHP you are loading. Of course you don't say what the intended purpose of your ammo is, either. Getting that 1,000 fps without pressure problems probably is going to require you switch to a different powder.

I had a box of a 100 JHP laying around for several years and figured I use them up doing some load development. 850fps is satisfactory for me, there not intended for anything more than range shooting. Once I've used them up I'll probably get some 125gr plated, develop a satisfactory load and blink away.

 

[BE Mike]

I had a box of a 100 JHP laying around for several years and figured I use them up doing some load development. 850fps is satisfactory for me, there not intended for anything more than range shooting. Once I've used them up I'll probably get some 125gr plated, develop a satisfactory load and blink away.

Charlie, I think you'll get better accuracy and economy with hard cast bullets over plated. I like loading 158 grain. LSWC bullets for general range shooting. You just have to load them hot enough to get a good seal to minimize leading in your barrel. A lot of folks like the coated lead bullets instead of those which are lubed traditionally. I've seen mixed reviews about the accuracy of the coated bullets. I haven't seen enough evidence of good accuracy to sway me away from traditional lead bullets. Have fun at the range with those loads you have.