Wayne Dobbs
Member
Copy that, brother!
.38 Special factory load duplication
- Thread starter RDub
- Start date
3.7 Bullseye gave me great accuracy in my 6" magnums with 38 brass and a lead 158gr bullet. I never bothered with how fast it was going. For a +P of 890fps, 4.0grs of RedDot was most accurate at POA.
Winchester data has a 158 gr Lswc:
231, 4.7grs ........... 860 @ 17,100 psi +P
which was the 2nd most accurate in my two 6" magnums,
a mod 19 and 686.
Unique gets is best burn/accuracy at the higher end of 38 loads to the +P loads. I have NEVER found a GOOD light target load with this powder in a 6 or 2" 38 spl or magnum, yet....that faster burning powders could shoot in half the size.
Winchester data has a 158 gr Lswc:
231, 4.7grs ........... 860 @ 17,100 psi +P
which was the 2nd most accurate in my two 6" magnums,
a mod 19 and 686.
Unique gets is best burn/accuracy at the higher end of 38 loads to the +P loads. I have NEVER found a GOOD light target load with this powder in a 6 or 2" 38 spl or magnum, yet....that faster burning powders could shoot in half the size.
just for fun
Member
- Joined
- Jun 19, 2007
- Messages
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It goes back more than a few yrs. (mid70's?) when Mike V. (writer for Guns and Ammo, at the time) listed 4.5grs. of 231 and 158 gr lead bullets as one of his favorite loads. Also stated that it was only listed in one of his resource books. Tryed it and have stayed with it, don't see any reason to change. Old habits die hard!
ryanjames170
Member
This is Awsome bit of info and something that i think will be getting wrote down for me in my books, i hope this gets added to the Reloading sticky list for reloading
Snapping Twig
Member
I started loading 38Spl last year.
A bit of research, some old and new manuals and I came up with 4.5g W231/HP38 under a 160g 358159 w/o the gas check.
Totally satisfied.
I use these in an old 36ND and a 649-2.
A bit of research, some old and new manuals and I came up with 4.5g W231/HP38 under a 160g 358159 w/o the gas check.
Totally satisfied.
I use these in an old 36ND and a 649-2.
ArchAngelCD
Moderator, SWCA Member, Absent Comrade
Another 2 and a half year old thread brought back from the Abyss!
Ed, why not start a new thread instead of bringing back such old threads?
Ed, why not start a new thread instead of bringing back such old threads?
Which Factory?
He probably got yelled at (if it was by me - sorry, bad day!
) for not researching old threads before asking questions 
I find the term "factory load" intriguing. According to my 1970 Lyman (45th ed.) the preamble describes it thus:
FACTORY DUPLICATION LOAD: Where possible, we have listed the load which duplicated factory velocity for the bullet weight tested. It should not be assumed that this weight duplicates factory pressure....
In the .38 Special section:
...Bullet No. 358311 duplicates the factory 158 grain service bullet very closely.
In the data tables:
...Factory Duplication Load:
Bullseye Powder, 3.5 grains, 826 f.p.s.
In the above case, the gun used was a S&W M14 with a 6" barrel.
The primers were Remington 1-1/2 and the cases also Remington.
He probably got yelled at (if it was by me - sorry, bad day!
) for not researching old threads before asking questions I find the term "factory load" intriguing. According to my 1970 Lyman (45th ed.) the preamble describes it thus:
FACTORY DUPLICATION LOAD: Where possible, we have listed the load which duplicated factory velocity for the bullet weight tested. It should not be assumed that this weight duplicates factory pressure....
In the .38 Special section:
...Bullet No. 358311 duplicates the factory 158 grain service bullet very closely.
In the data tables:
...Factory Duplication Load:
Bullseye Powder, 3.5 grains, 826 f.p.s.
In the above case, the gun used was a S&W M14 with a 6" barrel.
The primers were Remington 1-1/2 and the cases also Remington.
If you really think about it, I doubt there is any question that has not been asked or discussed about anything on the internet no matter what forum.
There For the balcony is now closed.
"Oh , one more thing", What about +P??
There For the balcony is now closed.
"Oh , one more thing", What about +P??
PERAZZI
Member
Since I've been looking for months for good load info on the 158 gr bullet in the .38 special, I'm thankful this thread is brought back to life.
Good information NEVER gets old.
THANKS!!
Jim Chapman
Michigan
Good information NEVER gets old.
THANKS!!
Jim Chapman
Michigan
coastie sai
Member
i hope somebody is still reviewing this thread/forum. . . i'm not always looking around BUT, can someone help me; i want to load copper plated 125 gr .38spl and wanted to use BULLSEYE Powder. I can not find data .. any suggestions?. . . thanks, joe
Replied to your PM.
Short version of that is use the mid point data of the FMJ data or data for a cast lead of the same weight.
In the 38 Special when I used Berrys bullets I loaded them almost to FMJ data as they are not going to go over 1200 fps. Don't roll crimp them to hard or you will break through the plating. Crimp a fw dummy rounds and then pull the bullet and you will see and indent. Or as i mentioned buy a taper crimp die.
rsrocket1
Member
Alliant has the data for 125g plated right on their website.
Yes, Gold Dot bullets (GDHP) are plated (very thickly electroplated), not jacketed. In any case, just remember that Alliant load data is max load so you should start with a lower charge like 4g and work up to where you find best accuracy.
Yes, Gold Dot bullets (GDHP) are plated (very thickly electroplated), not jacketed. In any case, just remember that Alliant load data is max load so you should start with a lower charge like 4g and work up to where you find best accuracy.
