Favourite 38 Reloads?

I woke up this morning realizing that I had erroneously stated that my Clays powder charge in .38 Specials with 148-grain LHBWCs was 3.8 grains. That is the amount of Clays I use in my 200-grain .45ACP target loads - 2.3 grains is what I use in my .38 target loads!

I edited my first post but since I was quoted in another person's post, I wanted to explain my mistake so someone else won't use that 3.8-grain powder charge in a .38.

Just the other day, I loaded 200 rounds of .45ACP and had that cartridge's powder charge stored in my weakening memory. Getting old sucks!

Ed
 
Last edited:
Sealevel said:
I don't wish to hijack this thread, but I'm curious about the savings realized in reloading your own .38 ammo. All my revolvers (save the .22s) shoot .38 Special; obviously the favorite caliber. Currently, I figure I'm spending about 40 cents per round buying the 130 gr. generic ammunition from Gander Mountain & Walmart and a little more for the 158 gr.
.357 rounds.

I have an opportunity to purchase an older Lyman turret press and most of the other requirements for reloading for $200. I've been considering that option just to reload the target loads mentioned in this thread; nothing more. Thanks.
Click to expand...

To answer your question, the cost of my .38 reloads is 5 or 6 bucks a box or 10-12 cents each. The savings adds up pretty fast...
 
4.7 gr Unique/158LSWCHP (Speer or Hornady)
From averaging the vastly differing data on Unique I've concluded this is on the line between standard and Plus P. I primarily shoot snubbies and this gives me 815fs from a 2 inch barrel. It's tame enough that I don't worry about it damaging a vintage D special. It kicks pretty good in a lightweight J frame but not ridiculous. I also have my 4" Trooper III sighted in for it as well as my Marlin 94 (1100fps). My other favorite is 2.7 gr Trailboss using the same bullet. It's my practice load for light snubbies--shoots to point of aim and you can shoot a couple hundred rounds with no pain.
 
I also do the 4.7 grains of Unique under a 158 grain LSWC. I've been loading that for 40+ years and I just stick with it for all the reasons Ralph Briscoe stated in the post above.
 
If I had it to do all over again....I'd simply purchase a Lee knock-em-bang-em loader and be done with it. I only load 38-special and a few mags anyway. I have never owned or used one, but I have seen several video's....and they work. That would be a $35 investment (less for a used one) and you can be in the re-loading business.
 
About 4.6 grs of Hodgdon HP-38, 125 grain cast lead roundnose. Go up another disk on my lee reloader and I have a good load for my .357 mag using the same bullets.
 
I use a lot of WC-231

These are my "standard" loads for .38 special.

All purpose target load:

3.0 grain 231 w/148 grain LHBWC most often Zero brand.
[Used primarily in models 14 & 52]

Intermediate target load:

3.3 grain 231 w/148 grain LDEWC most often hard cast.
[For some reason my Colt OMM likes this load best. Also good on steel plate targets]

General purpose standard pressure load:

4.0 grain 231 w/158 grain LSWC or LRN.
[Used in all .38 revolvers for self-defense type practice. My S&W model 10 & 15's like this load as well as most Colts.]
 
4.7-5.0 Unique 158-173 grain lead General purpose loads.
4.1 Red Dot 125 gr.-Mild practice load.
3.6 PB 158 g.r-mild practice load.
6gr Power pistol 158gr -shock and awe.
 
Opening up an old thread again, but....

I got some 128gn HBWCs I picked up a while back, but haven't used yet.
Looking for a 38spl load (preferably with using WST).

I've found one load: 128gn HBWC set 1-2mm into case with 2.2gn WST.

Would this be a towards the lower or upper end of the scale?
Any other suggestions?

Thanks.
 
snubby load-3.0 231 Mastercast 148 DE wadcutter
Model 10,15,28 Load-4.0 231 Mastercast 158 RNL lead

Both loads are mild, accurate and fun to shoot in a variety of guns. YMMV
 
trky chsr said:
I was hoping to see more Titegroup fans.
Click to expand...

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.
 
Great 38 Spl. Target / plinking load

I load Speer 148 grain HBWC's with 2.8 grains of Bullseye. Comfortable to shoot from my 2" Chiefs to my 4" model 19 and accurate at 25 yards.
 
Sealevel said:
I don't wish to hijack this thread, but I'm curious about the savings realized in reloading your own .38 ammo. All my revolvers (save the .22s) shoot .38 Special; obviously the favorite caliber. Currently, I figure I'm spending about 40 cents per round buying the 130 gr. generic ammunition from Gander Mountain & Walmart and a little more for the 158 gr.
.357 rounds.

I have an opportunity to purchase an older Lyman turret press and most of the other requirements for reloading for $200. I've been considering that option just to reload the target loads mentioned in this thread; nothing more. Thanks.
Click to expand...

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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
6gr Power pistol 158gr -shock and awe.
Click to expand...
:eek:

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.
 
sjmjax said:
General purpose standard pressure load:
4.0 grain 231 w/158 grain LSWC or LRN.
[Used in all .38 revolvers for self-defense type practice. My S&W model 10 & 15's like this load as well as most Colts.]
Click to expand...

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. :)
 
158 gr SWC over 4 gr 231

158 gr SWC over 4 gr Universal or Unique

Both work very well in my guns
 
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.
 
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.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

LTC
.45 Colt suggestions
2
Replies
39
Views
7K
LTC
LTC
G
something went terribly wrong!
2
Replies
32
Views
5K
grnhs
G
S
.357 Reloading data needed
Replies
22
Views
9K
alwslate
A
C
Which is more powerful .357 Magnum or .45ACP?
2
Replies
42
Views
112K
Ziptar
Z
P
38/44 Ammo Testing – Factory and Reload
Replies
22
Views
8K
Paul5388
Paul5388

Latest posts

Back
Top