Ideas for 158 RNFP load?

[ddixie884]

"The Load" is an interesting load from the Speer #8 manual. "The FBI Load" is a factory loaded 158gr SWCHP +P .38spl. This was originally loaded by WW, I believe. Others will add to this data, I'm sure. The FBI Load is currently loaded by the Big 3, and really juiced up by Buffalo Bore.

 

[Mark in GA]

If you are looking for a strong +P loading with a lead 158, I would suggest 6.5-7.0 grs. of HS-6. This works well for me with my home cast Lyman 358665 RNFP.

Mark in GA

 

[lazy]

Who is the maker of this HS-6?

 

[Mark in GA]

Hodgdon is the brand/distributor for HS-6. It is the same as the old Winchester powder 540. It is made in Florida (St. Pete.) at a General Dynamics division company. All of the Hodgdon and Winchester brand ball powders (rifle and pistol) are made there.

Check out this link: http://www.hodgdon.com/shotpist.html

Mark in GA

 

[ArchAngelCD]

What powder is HS-6?

what does "working up a load" mean? What signs should I be looking for besides mising parts of the gun after I shoot it?

I will go ahead and kick that dead horse again and ask what is the "load", "FBI load," and if everone is trying to duplicate it, why is it not made by a big name bullet maker?

Like already said, HS-6 is a Hodgdon powder.

As for why we would want to duplicate the "FBI Load" instead of buying it, well, I can load a box of 158gr LSWC/HP .38 Special +P ammo for under $5 a box and the best price I've seen for Remington R38S12 ammo (FBI Load) is $32 +S&H. That's a savings of at least $27/box and a really good reason for loading them IMO.

 

[lazy]

thanks guys on the hs-6 powder. cost to darn much, got it.

 

[Skip Sackett]

Good one!

"The Load" is an interesting load from the Speer #8 manual.

Now that is a novel way to bring up "THE LOAD": "An interesting load from the Speer #8 manual."

Couldn't be more true! haha

If "THE LOAD" isn't interesting for a handloader, nothing is!

 

[lazy]

when does a load become "the load."

 

[Skip Sackett]

Just so EVERYONE knows.......................

There is ONLY ONE.

Here is a description as coined by our very own NKJ_nut when we were loading, testing and talking about this.

"The Load is a 38 special cartridge, with a 158gr LSWC and the starting load of SR4756 powder from the Speer #8 manual."

(um, period)

 

[lazy]

Kool man, I will have to do that instead of HS-6 at 7 grains. But, you said that it is a starting load, does it have a finishing load? If it does, what would that be?

 

[Skip Sackett]

Not a smart thing friend!

Kool man, I will have to do that instead of HS-6 at 7 grains. But, you said that it is a starting load, does it have a finishing load? If it does, what would that be?

Beyond the pale, believe me, friend.

Just make sure that you don't shoot it in anything that isn't rated as +P or 357Mag, seriously. Pressure is WELL above the 38spl +P level and has been reported to have blown up several revolvers.

It is not a 38spl load at all, it is much, much more. A 158gr LSWC @ 1100fps from a 3" barrel type of much, much more!

 

[lazy]

it will be for my 686 4" I am already doing 5 grains of tight group with a lrnfp in .38 cases.

 

[Skip Sackett]

it will be for my 686 4" I am already doing 5 grains of tight group with a lrnfp in .38 cases.

Lazy,
Two things, partner. #1: Don't load "THE LOAD" #2: You are asking for trouble loading that much Tite-crud in a 38spl case.

Do you have any idea what the pressure it is developing? The maximum data for a +P of the same configuration from Hodgdon is 4.3gr!

This is the exact reason that I don't give loads out over the Internet.

"Well, Skip said....."

You may get away with it for awhile friend, but your reloading practices are dangerous. I hope it never hurts anyone you love.

 

[Rule3]

Lazy,
Two things, partner. #1: Don't load "THE LOAD" #2: You are asking for trouble loading that much Tite-crud in a 38spl case.

Do you have any idea what the pressure it is developing? The maximum data for a +P of the same configuration from Hodgdon is 4.3gr!

This is the exact reason that I don't give loads out over the Internet.

"Well, Skip said....."

You may get away with it for awhile friend, but your reloading practices are dangerous. I hope it never hurts anyone you love.

Lazy,

Listen to the above advice.

If you are shooting a 4"686 why bother with 38 special rounds. Load 357 cases. There is nothing to gain by overloading 38 specials to shoot out of a 357 Mag. Stick to published +P loads and you will save you guns, fingers and still have enough "power" +P 38 Spl loads were designed for snub nose 38's for self defense purposes not for range blasting.

You are heading down a slippery slope.

 

[lazy]

It has only been receantly that I have been able to find .357 cases. I get all the .38 cases I want for pennies, so that is what I have been using. Since I have so many .38 cases I just want to find a nice solid charge for them that is not from tightcrude, but one that is for a .38 load. Once I get that settled ill start poking aorund for a .357 load.

So it sounds like Hs-6 at about 6 grains doing 990 fps.
Any one second this?

what is the pressure limit on 686?

 

[Rule3]

It's not the limit of the gun you need to be consider ( I do not know how much a 686 can take) it's the pressure of the cartridges.

What manuals do you have??

Most current manuals list +P 38 special loads but they are usually FMJ. If you are shooting lead bullets then
If you do not have it, get the Lymans new edition Cast Bullet manual and stick with the published loads.

Lyman "Cast Bullet Handbook: 4th Edition" Book - MidwayUSA

 

[lazy]

So some how I got my powders mixed up at the store, so now I have a pound of 231 for my 158 gr rnfp molly coated bullets. All I can find is loading data for hornady xtp only, has any one used a lead bullet?

The loads are going in 38 cases and will be used for blasting at stuff.

 

[OKFC05]

So some how I got my powders mixed up at the store, so now I have a pound of 231 for my 158 gr rnfp molly coated bullets. All I can find is loading data for hornady xtp only, has any one used a lead bullet?

The loads are going in 38 cases and will be used for blasting at stuff.

Since you don't have to make any particular power, 3 to 4 will blast from mild to not so mild..

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

 

[dmar]

So some how I got my powders mixed up at the store, so now I have a pound of 231 for my 158 gr rnfp molly coated bullets. All I can find is loading data for hornady xtp only, has any one used a lead bullet?

The loads are going in 38 cases and will be used for blasting at stuff.

For general range use, I use 4.2gr of W231 with 158gr rnfp bullets, and get very good results. I've punched the powder up to 4.5/6 for a little more zip. Accuracy is very good with this bullet, and W-231.

You're wise to be careful, and work loads up to these higher pressures that you are talking about. With this type of thing, everything goes great, until it doesn't... I have, and read a lot of manuals/manufacturer website load data. Have fun, be safe!

 

[lazy]

For general range use, I use 4.2gr of W231 with 158gr rnfp bullets, and get very good results. I've punched the powder up to 4.5/6 for a little more zip. Accuracy is very good with this bullet, and W-231.

You're wise to be careful, and work loads up to these higher pressures that you are talking about. With this type of thing, everything goes great, until it doesn't... I have, and read a lot of manuals/manufacturer website load data. Have fun, be safe!

I was looking for a +p load and that Hodgdon chart does not have one. I figure that I will load a few at 4.5 and see what happens.