38 Special Keith SWC loads

[38SPL HV]

What are your favorite 38 Special standard velocity loads using Keith type SWCs (170 grs +/-)?

Powder? Grains? Primers?

Appreciate your inputs.

Best, Eric

 

[alwslate]

Lyman manuals have load data for that bullet.

 

[38SPL HV]

…looking for personal favorites from our great members.

 

[elgatodeacero]

My favorite .38 Special load is 5.0 grains of Unique and a Lyman 170 grain 358429.

This is a published load and is right at the top end of standard pressure .38 Special data.

Very accurate in my guns.

 

[Alk8944]

5.0 gr. +/- of Unique is pretty much the ubiquitous load for any 158 to 170 grain LSWC bullet. It makes no difference what the specific bullet design is.

 

[pasound]

Never try that load in a j-frame. Too much bang for the gun size.
K frames and larger, and Rugers are better suited for it.
Otherwise I load that for my "warm", not +P, 38's. Bought a lot of those 170gr bullets, coated, from an online source a couple of years ago.
Still have a couple of pounds of Unique left, and some Universal to try out when the Unique runs out.

 

[38SPL HV]

I use 4.8 grs Unique with 170 gr 358429 Lyman 2 alloy myself…avg 925 fps from my 4 5/8” Ruger BH…but it’s considered a +P nowadays…go figure. It’s accurate. I keep it out of my K and J frames…


…

 

[loc n load]

5 grains of Unique. It has worked great for me.

 

[gwpercle]

38 Special / 158 LSWC / standard pistol primer /
seat bullet to crimp groove and roll crimp .

5.0 grs. Unique is old standard pet load ...The newer manuals now show this load as +P and may want to reduce for small framed handguns ... but also try :

4.0 grs. AA #2
4.0 grs Red Dot
4.0 grs. Bullseye
4.2 grs. HP38 / W231

These are standard pressure 38 Special loads ...
850 - 900 fps velocity and accurate from my revolvers ...
Please cross check my numbers w/ published data .
Load Safe
Gary

 

[SGT ROCK 11B]

3.5 grains of Bullseye for .38 Special.

I prefer Federal Match SPP or Federal Standard SPP especially for revolvers.

Winchester or CCI SPP is good for my autoloaders.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

I have a Lee single cavity mold for 146 HP Semi-Wadcutter from around 40 years ago. I've used it in 38 S&W, 38 Special and 357 Mag with WW231/HP 38. It is so-so at higher velocities (357 Mag). But in 38 S&W top breaks and similar loads in 38 Special J-Frames it is a proven accurate raccoon killer! Low report and low recoil (and low flash at night) These were fairly soft cast.

Hard cast heavier bullets are great in the lever action carbines and single shot rifles. In Marlin 1894C, Rossi 92 Carbine and Savage 24. I usually get 1-2" groups at 50 yards slow fire and around 5" rapid fire. I believe these were 4.8 WW231 in 38 brass.

Ivan

 

[mtgianni]

38 Special / 158 LSWC / standard pistol primer /
seat bullet to crimp groove and rool crimp .

5.0 grs. Unique is old standard pet load ...The newer manuals now show this load as +P and may want to reduce for small framed handguns ... but also try :

4.0 grs. AA #2
4.0 grs Red Dot
4.0 grs. Bullseye
4.2 grs. HP38 / W231

These are standard pressure 38 Special loads ...
850 - 900 fps velocity and accurate from my revolvers ...
Please cross check my numbers w/ published data .
Load Safe
Gary

I think Gary nailed it. I have settled on using 158-160 gr in 38 Special. I save the heavier ones for 357.