Berry's Plated 125gr for .38spl

[w0lfattack]

I am having a lot of trouble finding a .38 special recipe using Berry's plated 125 gr plated bullets using Unique (and Tula small pistol primers). My Lyman manual isn't helping me at all. After googling for over an hour here and there I have found highly varying results.

I am looking for a soft load that would be safe to shoot out of my S&W 10-5 (1968 manufacture). Chances are I will probably be shooting them out of my 586 but just in case I'd like these .38 special marked casings to be ~kind~ to my old 10-5 in case they find their way in it.

My current educated guess would be 4.7gr of Unique. I just loaded some .38 spl +P marked cases with this amount.

Any input would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!

 

[w0lfattack]

Oh yeah! For overall length, is 1.470" okay/safe for this bullet?

 

[blujax01]

Berry's web site says to use mid-range jacketed data for loads and unless otherwise indicated keep the velocity below 1200 fps.

Your Lyman manual shows (on page 353) a load of 4.0 to 6.0 for Unique and 125 grain HP as well as an OAL of 1.470.

 

[w0lfattack]

Berry's web site says to use mid-range jacketed data for loads and unless otherwise indicated keep the velocity below 1200 fps.

Your Lyman manual shows (on page 353) a load of 4.0 to 6.0 for Unique and 125 grain HP as well as an OAL of 1.470.

I thought there might be different specs for a hollow point bullet vs a plated bullet (powder & OAL).

 

[blujax01]

I thought there might be different specs for a hollow point bullet vs a plated bullet (powder & OAL).

Of course you are correct to ask the question and looking at my response in daylight, I may have seemed a bit harsh. Sorry 'bout that. (But we do like the cartoon, yes?)...

 

[riverrat38]

I use Berry's and Xtreme 125gr plated bullets over the max listed non- plus P load of Universal for jacketed bullets. I have also used the Plus P load. Both work well for me. I would work up from starting loads, just like jacketed.
Unique should work as well.

Best,
Rick

 

[badguybuster]

I like 6 grains of unique

 

[w0lfattack]

Of course you are correct to ask the question and looking at my response in daylight, I may have seemed a bit harsh. Sorry 'bout that. (But we do like the cartoon, yes?)...

No harm done, lol

I like 6 grains of unique

Sounds pretty hot! Did you get that out of a book or did you work up that load?

 

[riverrat38]

6.0 gr of Unique is shown as the max plus P load for 125 gr JHP in my Speer #12, but I suspect that they have backed that off in later editions.

Best,
Rick

 

[badguybuster]

Really? I cant remember. Been using it in my taurus 617 for a while. No pressure signs

 

[Nevada Ed]

Alliant shows a 125gr JHP starting load of Unique at......
6.0grs 984fps @ 13200 cup

6.0grs in my J frame snub nose gets 880fps

6.0grs in my 6" 686 magnum gets 1015fps.

Which should put a 4" at 945fps +P velositys, but 5.8grs of Unique was the lowest amount that gave me any accurate groups in all my guns.

 

[125JHP]

The Rainier load list (used for the Midway load books) shows for a 357 Magnum load for their 125 HP plated bullet using Unique powder, in the range of 5.5gr (1133fps) to 6.8 gr (1385 fps, 34,000psi) so I think for 38Spl that 6.0 load might be a tad hot (unless your shooting them from a 357).


interesting.. I just looked at my Speer #12 and for 38 Spl. they do show 5.7 for the std load (DNR) and 5.7~6.0 for the +P load. Going to the 357 pages they show 8.6 to 9.6gr of Unique. Remember these are for Jacketed - I wonder why the Rainier plated load is listed so much lower in 357?

 

[Scheebs]

My favorite load for both 3" and 4" .38 special: 125gr Berry, 4.7 Unique, seated to 1.440".

 

[blujax01]

Alliant shows a 125gr JHP starting load of Unique at......
6.0grs 984fps @ 13200 cup

WARNING!

That's their recommendation for a MAXIMUM +P LOAD. Please read the introduction to the on line reloading guide:

REDUCE RIFLE AND HANDGUN CHARGE WEIGHTS BY 10% TO ESTABLISH A STARTING LOAD.
The exceptions to this are the loads listed as "target" in the 38 Special and 45 ACP data tables.

DO NOT EXCEED THE LOADS DISPLAYED ON THE SITE OR ALLIANT'S RELOADERS GUIDE.

Alliant Powder - Reloader's Guide

Hardly a starting point for a new reloader using plated bullets...