.38 spl Target Load

[szuppo]

Can someone provide some target load data for .38 spl

I need a nice light load for an Airweight the girlfriend will be shooting.

The standard loads are punishing her and she is not enjoying getting familiar with this little J frame.

 

[kshock]

Depends on what bullet you intend to use. I load 2.4 grains of Clays with a 148 grain hollow base wadcutter bullet (Remington). Very mild and very accurate.

 

[kev74]

158 grain LRN over 3.5 grains of Bullseye.

 

[686 shooter]

148 HBWC and 3.1 grs. Winchester 231. This works equally well with a 158 gr. RN bullet. You can also use 2.7 or 2.8 grs. of Bullseye with good results.

Those J-frames are really nice but are hard for beginning shooters to master. I like the light recoil of the above loads. It really helps new shooters to get used to the weapon.

 

[cp1969]

2.9 gr. Universal Clays, 148 gr. swaged hollow-base wadcutter. This is a minimum load, about 700 fps. Recoil is virtually non-existent in my M60.

Also, move the target up to three yards to start. Need to show positive results very early in the program. Then, move back to seven.

 

[Charliee]

I use 3.2 gr Titegroup behind a 158 gr lswc. Seems mild enough to shoot in my J frames without discomfort. Lately I have been thinking to switching to Unique for light loads also.

 

[robctwo]

125 gr lrnfp, 3.4 gr Bullseye

 

[PPCSHOOTER]

WST 2.7 GR WITH THE 148HBWC, WST 3.1 GR 158GR LSWC JIM P

 

[JayDubya]

Check Mastercast (Home Page), a Mom and Pop operation in western Pennsylvania. They have a 100gr wadcutter that lopes along at about 600 fps. It is an excellent range load for an airweight, at least at snubby distances. I've fired off 500 of these reloads at five and ten yards and was pleased at their accuracy and lack of recoil, and almost embarressed by their wimpy sound -- rather like a .22. My usual Mastercast reload is their 148gr wadcutter. I've fired off several thousand of them (stopped counting) as well as several thousand more of their 158gr semiwadcutters (a stout load in an Airweight). I have also fired more than five thousand (again stopped counting) of their 9mm hardcast truncated cones from my Browning Hi Power. As you may gather, I am sold on their products.

You can save a bundle by sending them your spent brass in exchange, same caliber and number. I send them 1,500 spent cases in a USPS nine-buck priority mail box, along with a written order (they won't accept email orders). In fact, I am about to do just that! You cannot beat their price at the quality they provide.

Cordially, Jack

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have two .38 Special target loads I shoot all the time.
They are:
148gr DEWC over 3.2gr W231/HP-38
158gr LSWC over 4.0gr W231/HP-38

 

[Harrison]

3.0 gr Titegroup and a 148 gr. DEWC.

 

[SWID]

Interesting all the different ways to do the same thing.

I've been using 2.8 grains of Bullseye with 148 grain HBWCs since I got my Rockchucker in 1970. Before that I used whatever that little Lee Loader cup held. I think it was 3.0 but I'm not sure.

 

[LuddhaBuddha]

My favorire .38 load so far is a 158gr. LSWC meister bullet over 6.2gr of AA#5, not all that light though as it is on the upper end of a standard pressure load, you could try 5.4gr for a lower recoil load.

 

[tbury]

Can someone provide some target load data for .38 spl

I need a nice light load for an Airweight the girlfriend will be shooting.

The standard loads are punishing her and she is not enjoying getting familiar with this little J frame.

The J frames can be tough to handle even with target loads. The main problem I notice is the trigger guard rapping my middle finger. Either Packmeyer grips or a Tyler T-grip adapter will fill this area and make the Js more pleasant to shoot. 2.7 to 3.5 gr of bullseye with 148 or 158 gr bullets have always been accurate for me