Favourite 38 Reloads?
- Thread starter trky chsr
- Start date
3.6 Titegroup with a 158 plated round nose, cause I currently have a lot of it. The rap on it is it is supposed to burn hot, and makes for an unpleasant reload if you get a hold of the forcing cone. I havent had that problem yet. Gun stays pretty clean and accuracy is good.
Buy the press and start handloading. Just a breakdown:
158 gr LSWC = 44 bullets/pound. One pound lead is $1.05. One bullet = 2.4 cents if you cast your own.
Commercial cast 158 gr LSWC = $59.00/500 = 11.8 cents/round
One pound of Unique = $18.00. 5 gr Unique/round = 1400 rounds/pound. That equals 1.4 cents per round.
Primers = $30.00/1000 = .03/primer
Cartridge case = $15.00/100 = .15 cents/ round-free after the first reload.
First reload:
.15 Cartridge case
.118 Commercial lead bullet
.014 Powder
.03 Primer
___
.312
.312x50 = $15.60/50 round box first time. Second reload and thereafter:
.118 Commercial lead bullet
.014 Powder
.03 Primer
__
.162x50 = $8.00/50 rounds
Cast your own and the costs drop even more.
.024 self cast bullet
.014 Powder
.03 Primer
__
.068x50 = $3.40/50 rounds
Of course you have to add up the costs of the press, dies, bullet molds, etc., but since those are one time costs for equipment that will literally last a lifetime, and will total less than $400 all up, even using the least expensive factory ammo at $20/50, you should recoup your investment in 20 boxes. No matter how you cut it, handloading is the only way to go if you shoot more than a couple of hundred rounds per year. Plus it allows you to tailor you loads to your gun and specific needs.
K-framer
Member
3.7 grains of Bullseye, under a 158 grain LSWC. An accurate load and sufficient for self-defense, as well as target shooting. 3.0 grains of Bullseye is a good (light) target load, but I prefer to practice with the same load I use for SD.
hotrod150
Member
158 gr swaged lead Speer SWC-HP over 4.5 gr W231= 800-850 out of my snubs-- a standard pressure version of the "FBI load". A good load for all-around use including self-defense. I loaded the same 4.5 gr W231 behind a hardcast 148 gr DEWC before rethinking things & switching to the softer SWC's.
MarkDozier
US Veteran
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- May 19, 2011
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for kids i run a 3.2 grain of HP-38 (same as W-231) for adults 3.5 grains of HP-38. Both under a 158 grain SWC.
Chrono will be next time i go to the range.
Chrono will be next time i go to the range.
For 38 spl plinking loads I prefer 158 gr cast RN bullets over SWCs
because they are more accurate in my guns. My favorite powder is no
longer made but I still have a couple cans and am always looking
for more if anyone has some for sale. W452AA about 3.5 grs under the
cast RNs bullets works for me.
because they are more accurate in my guns. My favorite powder is no
longer made but I still have a couple cans and am always looking
for more if anyone has some for sale. W452AA about 3.5 grs under the
cast RNs bullets works for me.
mauserargie
Member
158 grains lswc over 3.6 w 231
158 grains lswc over 4.2 unique
bullets: copper/epoxi plated.
158 grains lswc over 4.2 unique
bullets: copper/epoxi plated.
Waywatcher
Member
158 grain Rim Rock LSWCHP w/gc over 5.3 grains of Power Pistol. According to Speer, it is standard pressure (range 4.8-5.4), and according to Hornady it is barely +P (5.2 is listed as the max for standard pressure. It chronos at 940fps average out of my 4" M-15 and is clean, accurate, and consistent.
My favorite plinker load is a 158 lead bullet over 4.2 grains of Trail Boss. Trail Boss is super clean burning, and completely impossible to overcharge so it is very safe.
My favorite plinker load is a 158 lead bullet over 4.2 grains of Trail Boss. Trail Boss is super clean burning, and completely impossible to overcharge so it is very safe.
This is a serious .38 load. No doubt. I have shot this load also through a 4 inch 10-6 and it should only be used in steel frames in good sound condition.
Topped off with a 158gr SJHP or SWCLHP the recoil is very stout.
If you want a hard punching .38 round..this is it.
Great defensive load.
That load works well in all my guns too and I have used it for years. Seems to be good in about anything I put it in.
sps282
Member
158 gr SWC over 4 gr 231
158 gr SWC over 4 gr Universal or Unique
Both work very well in my guns
158 gr SWC over 4 gr Universal or Unique
Both work very well in my guns
MDMarauder
Member
148dewc
3.5 231
158swc or rn
4.0 231
5.0 Unique
3.5 231
158swc or rn
4.0 231
5.0 Unique
My new load for my 38 snub nose revolvers, for a X-Lite target
load for the girls, is a HSM 125 or Cowboy 125 lead bullet,
pushed with 4.3grs of Universal Clays that gets from 565 to 582 fps for dead on, POA impacts on a ten foot target.
Recoil in the J frame is only 1.98 ft/lbs.
If you want a little more speed you can pour in 3.6grs of Trail Boss for a velosity of 600-617 fps that has a recoil of 2.26 ft/lbs.
The factory 148 wc out of this gun has a recoil of 2.71 ft/lbs.
load for the girls, is a HSM 125 or Cowboy 125 lead bullet,
pushed with 4.3grs of Universal Clays that gets from 565 to 582 fps for dead on, POA impacts on a ten foot target.
Recoil in the J frame is only 1.98 ft/lbs.
If you want a little more speed you can pour in 3.6grs of Trail Boss for a velosity of 600-617 fps that has a recoil of 2.26 ft/lbs.
The factory 148 wc out of this gun has a recoil of 2.71 ft/lbs.
OFT II
US Veteran
Amen, Deacon. Those three powders take care of 95% of my reloading needs.
jlynch34
US Veteran
125 gr XTP's, 5.2 gr W231, and CCI standard small pistol primers.
Infidel_319
Member
125 grain Sierra JSP 7 grains of Ramshot True Blue. That's actually .7 grains over max but no signs of pressure in my .357 and only 677 MV. One ragged hole at 10 yards. True Blue also gave me great results at 10.6 grains for .357 mag which is well under max. MV was about 1290 (I forget exactly) with an SD of only 7. Model 640 Pro 2 1/8" barrel.
