Bullseye and the 158 grain SWC

[tbury]

To add a twist to this thread how might the prevailing load suggestion work with a gas-check boolit if I cheaped out and left the check off?

I have a Lyman 358156 (and my first ever box of checks showed up today) I plan to push hard over WW296 for the .357s but am toying with the idea of light loaded and checkless for .38.

I have not tried it but since the gas check does not ride the lands and grooves it should have no effect. I shoot bevel based bullets with no problem so shooting without the GC should not cause problems either. The main purpose of the GC is to allow hotter loads without leading. 3.5 bullseye is not a hot load. JMHO

 

[goliver]

Another nod to 3.5 grains of Bullseye. Shoots real nice.

 

[Pigirondan]

From the Speer manual it is pretty close with a 6" barrel using their bullet and a CCI primer.

3.5 Bullseye yields 814 fps and 4.7 of Unique yields 815 fps

Of course all this changes with any variation of components, test conditions etc.

That is close. My question was poorly asked on my part. What I was trying to get at was 5.0 grains of Unique under a 158 grain SWC is a sort of an evergreen load that folks have been using for years with no fuss and no muss. Is the 3.5 grains of Bullseye load considered the same way?

 

[walnutred]

That is close. My question was poorly asked on my part. What I was trying to get at was 5.0 grains of Unique under a 158 grain SWC is a sort of an evergreen load that folks have been using for years with no fuss and no muss. Is the 3.5 grains of Bullseye load considered the same way?

I've read different places that the original Smokeless load for 38 Special was either 3.5 gns of BE or 3.6 gns of BE under a 158gn bullet. Given that both the 38 Special and Bullseye powder are pre-1900 developments it's very likely that the very first reloader to put smokeless powder in a 38 Special case under a 158 gn bullet was using one of these two powder charges.

So it's probably not too far off the mark to say that everyday for the last 110 years someone, somewhere has been dropping a 3.5 gn charge of BE in a 38 Special case and seating a 158gn bullet on top.

 

[5906fan]

I've loaded that one and it did very well but try Red Dot it's even cheaper and cleaner too.
low flash if you load hi-power charges made for dusk/darkness too better for this from longer bbls.
did I say cheap too?

 

[andyo5]

I have shot as high as 4.5g of Bullseye with 158g semiwadcutters, in 38 special cases. I had no problems, but discontinued this practice after some forum members pointed out that it exceeded any published +P data.

 

[38SPL HV]

Used 3.5 grs as my standard load in the past and Lyman cast data with 4.0 grs for +P. Both real accurate. I used the +P load in a 357 Mag revolver.

 

[TIMETRIPPER]

Here's another fan of 3.5 gr Bullseye. it works very well with Lyman's 158 gr RN bullets too. They just don't make as nice of a hole in the target as do the WCs or SWCs.

John

 

[sixtwoniner]

If your really worried about bbl charging try 10.5 gr. of IMR4227. Just about fills a 38sp. case. Good target round too. Just sayin.

 

[DWalt]

I haven't loaded it for some years, but at one time I found 4.0 grains of BE with a 158 grain lead SWC was a dependably good load for a .38 Special. Not a pipsqueak.

 

[cowboy4evr]

I'm with DWalt , for yrs I used 4.0 grs of Bullseye and 5.0 grs of Unique for my 38spl loads using a 158 gr cast bullet in a model 15 , 4" . They both served me well.

 

[elpac3]

Exactly!

Some folks worry about double charges. If your process is good and you are consistent, it is a very unlikely thing.

That being said, it still is possible. I'll tell you the powder that scares me concerning the possibility of a multiple charge going unnoticed, Titegroup. I think you could quadruple a 3.5gr charge of it and still get a bullet in the case!


Good process will eliminate a lot of trouble.

FWIW

Ditto the 3.5 of BE with the 158 SWC.

I also use 2.8 BE with the 148 WC in .38 special. (any barrel length)

4.0 BE with a 200 SWC in .45 ACP

4.5 BE with a 215 SWC in .44 special (any barrel length)

Years ago when I first started reloading I was taught that once cases were primed and ready to charge, you only handled one case at a time. Charge the case then place the bullet and seat it without the case leaving your hand.

Greatly reduces, eliminates the possibility of a double charge.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Both my K and L frame 6" revolvers like a target load that has a
158gr Lswc bullet in a 38 case with a OAL of 1.48" and cci primer
with.........
3.3 grs of Bullseye that matches the factory load at 756 fps.

This is with a medium crimp and can be shot all day long without any problems
and it is one of my most accurate loads with this bullet weight
under the 800 fps window.

This load is also accurate in my J frame snub nose doing 651fps.
752fps is possible with a lot more powder but why..............?

 

[Carrier]

I've been loading Hornady Frontier Lead 158 grain SWC and have found for my 4.25" 686 that 3 grains of Bullseye in a 357 case has given the best accuracy on paper at 20 yards.

 

[gwpercle]

Don't double charge with bullseye. Weird things tend to happen.
Don't under -charge with bullseye. Weird things tend to happen.

That can be said for every powder , not just Bullseye!
Gary

 

[bmcgilvray]

I was going to be really original and state that I've used 3.5 grains of Bulls-Eye with 158 grain lead bullets, but y'all beat me to it.

 

[StakeOut]

I've always used 2.7gr to 3.2gr in a 38spl case under a hard cast 158gr SWC and never over the 3.2gr.

A 3.2gr charge of Red Dot also works well.

I do load 3.5gr of BE in 357mag cases for punching holes in paper.

That being said I've loaded a ton of 38spl with 5.0gr of Unique

 

[rwsmith]

Yep...

I use around 3 grains of BE for loads using the 158 gr. swaged lead SWC put out by Speer.

 

[rwsmith]

Yep...

I use around 3 grains of BE for loads using the 158 gr. swaged lead SWC put out by Speer.

 

[Nevada Ed]

rwsmith;

Are you starting to stutter now........ ?