.38 Special IDPA Power Factor Recipe

[Jeepster]

IDPA starts up soon and I am curious if any of you use this recipe or similar recipe to meet IDPA power factor for Stock Service Revolver (Smith 686, 4" barrel).

Win. 231- 4.7 gr
Berry's 158 gr. Double Struck Bullet (copper plated, not FMJ)

According to my latest Sierra Manual data this load should be PLENTY for the power factor (125,000)for SSR in IDPA. 'just looking for a little re-assurance. I would hate to accidentally break the rules! Thanks for replies.

 

[Jeepster]

IDPA starts up soon and I am curious if any of you use this recipe or similar recipe to meet IDPA power factor for Stock Service Revolver (Smith 686, 4" barrel).

Win. 231- 4.7 gr
Berry's 158 gr. Double Struck Bullet (copper plated, not FMJ)

According to my latest Sierra Manual data this load should be PLENTY for the power factor (125,000)for SSR in IDPA. 'just looking for a little re-assurance. I would hate to accidentally break the rules! Thanks for replies.

 

[Revolver King]

That sounds like it would be up to the power factor. If you are close no one is going to say anything. I would go for it. good luck. The really nice thing about shooting IDPA with a revolver is that it makes you a better shooter.

 

[OKFC05]

I use 4.8gr HP38/231 behind the Berry 158gr DS in Federal brass with Win primers. I'm well into my second box of 5000 this year.
Gives 820 fps measured at 70 degrees in my slowest barrel ( PF 129). My fastest barrel is 30fps avg faster.

You won't know what you have until you chrono it in your barrel, and you need to have more than 125PF to allow for speed loss on cold days.
Failure to make power at a club match is no big deal, but getting a DQ for it at a major match is disheartening. It takes a +P to make power in .38, and I see more .38 DQ for power than any other caliber.......except the outright cheaters. Had one .45 claim major with PF of 86!!

 

[scooter123]

Any suggestions on a commercial load that will meet the power factor? I don't have a re-loading setup and with components in such short supply will wait before making that commitment. Currently, I am saving my brass because I will start reloading as soon as it's not a nightmare trying to find components.

For now, I am trying to find a reliable commercial load that will meet the power floor. However, I have seen that a lot of 38 spl. loads use ballistic tables that are based on 6, or even 8, inch barrels in order to boost the numbers. What may work in a longer barrel will leave me short with my 4 inch 67. What I have been able to find locally is the Speer Lawman 158 gr. 38 +P but Speer doesn't list the barrel length for the ballistics on this round. What they publish is 158 grain at 900 fps. which is well above the 125 K floor. However, if those ballistics are for a 6 inch barrel, that would mean a probable loss of 100 fps. in a 4 inch barrel and that results in a power factor just below the minimum.

Yeah, I know, I really should be reloading. I would save a lot of money by reloading. However, small pistol primers are cleaned out locally and Midway is cleaned out also. Fact is, you can't start reloading if you can't get primers.

 

[H Richard]

Well, you need a 791 fps velocity with a 158 gr. bullet. You should meet that with your load, but get it chrono'd to be sure. With 231 it will go down as the temp drops. Several years ago a load I was shooting (outside temp 40 degrees) did not make minimum. Put a handful in my pocket for 5 minutes, and then had them chrono'd and it did make minimum. My normal load is 4.9 Gr. 231 behind a 158 gr. cast RNFP. Makes a 142 power factor at 70 degrees, (6" gun) but may be getting close to minimum at 30 degrees.

 

[dewidmt]

I use my own home-cast 158gr LSWC over 3.8gr of Titegroup with a Winchester primer for 815 FPS.