Looking for a cleaner 38 special load

[s2harry]

good question, answers? amusing...

#1 define "Clean"
#2 seems like everybody's powder is "Clean"
#3 hmm more crimp, yes a little may be just enough to get complete
burn. i remember powder flakes on my towel with light loads.
#4 think ill try AA2 and CFE nex time...but im not a light load guy nowadays.

 

[glenwolde]

I use the commercial Hi-Tek coated cast bullets and HP38. I think it's about as clean as anything. I had an affair with a couple of pounds of WST and it's also excellent. I generally only clean my guns every 400-500 rounds.

If you're getting a lot of lead splatter a round nose bullet will reduce that compared to a SWC.

Right now, HP-38 seems to be one of the easiest powders to find. It's a really good all-around pistol powder for light to medium loads.

 

[71vette]

The new "Powder Coated" cast bullets can give you relief from the burning / smokey wax based bullet lubricants .
As to "Clean " burning powders ... I'm not sure ...
I always thought Bullseye was a clean burner !
You might want to try Winchester WST or W244 ... those are supposed to be clean burning ... but I haven't tried them yet ...
but I want too !
Good Luck and Load Safe ,
Gary

My standard load these days is a coated 158gr SWC over four grains of Win244. It’s cleaner than my previous lubed lead/HP-38 load. I’ve been very happy with it.

158gr X-treme/Summit SWC
4gr Win244, 1.46” COAL, Remington SP

17.4” Henry Summit: 1050fps
4” 19-3 Summit: 822fps
4” Trooper MkIII Summit: 820fps
3.25” 66-5 X-Treme: 760fps
3.25” 66-5 Summit: 815fps
2.5” 66-7 X-Treme: 715fps
2.5” 66-7 Summit: 770fps
2” 10-9 Summit: 725fps
2” Magnum Carry X-Treme: 649fps

 

[Timothy2700]

.

This is the sort of question usually only asked by an extremely in-experienced/new shooter!

So my takeaway is that perceived inexperienced/new shooters should not be asking questions when trying to learn new things? Sadly there are a few of us who didn’t knew it all when when we were still in the cradle.

Respectfully

 

[socal s&w]

"So my takeaway is that perceived inexperienced/new shooters should not be asking questions when trying to learn new things?"

Thankfully, there are many more helpful folks here than one who isn't.

 

[rwsmith]

Just as a note....

I took some cast lead, standard lube in groove rounds to the INDOOR range. I shot a few and was really surprised at how smoky they were. I also got some dismayed comments down the firing line. If you want clean, don't shoot lubed cast lead.

I use the same powders but switched to coated, some plated, some jacketed. MUCH better. Outdoors, I don't care, but I believe that the ventilation in the indoor range is powered by a guy waving a newspaper in front of the air grill.

 

[rwsmith]

Ab-so....

Thanks for the recommendations thus far. I realize the vast majority of 38 special reloaders are firmly in the cast lead camp with Bullseye being the go to powder, and they perform extremely well for me as well too. I also realize all ammo is dirty to some degree. I can’t be the only one wondering the pros of finding a cleaner 38 special reload. Maybe the trade offs aren’t worth it. Figured with all the wisedom on this forum it couldn’t hurt to ask.

To ALK8944 there is absolutely no reason for you to insult me. I’m not a new or inexperienced shooter, but if I was your comments could possibly turn me off to reloading/shooting, and using this forum as a resource to learn and improve. The older more experienced shooters should be helping to promote the shooting sports for the next generation, especially in today’s political climate. If you think my question is unworthy of your time simply move on to the next.

Thanks to all the great members on here and to the SW forum for providing this resource.

Ab-so-frinkin'-lutely! If somebody is being unsafe, that's one thing. But just judging people asking a legitimate question due to some difference in philosophy isn't right. I don't care about dirt or smoke in the slightest. But I posted just above about shooting at an indoor range with minimal ventilation. I prefer NOT to shoot smoky rounds in there if I can help it. And I can help it with good choice of components. Everybody needs to take a step back and examine their comments and weigh their helpfulness against being grumpy old men. I've gotten TONS of help here. And if what I'm doing seems questionable people remind me firmly, but not impolitely, what I need to hear. SOME people may try to get personal about it, but this forum is way too good of a place for educating others to indulge in pettiness.

 

[rwsmith]

I just got one...

................

However there is the "Air" gun.

...and it's a very clean shooter.

Gamo Swarm Maxxim .22 cal. It's a darn heavy hitter, too.

 

[jjrr]

Coming from an old guy my comment may be a little off topic but relevant to indoor shooting ranges and may not be the case in the one mentioned in this thread. I went to an indoor range near me once and it was obvious to me right away that the ventilation system there was not adequate for having safe air to breathe and I never went back.

 

[taz666]

Hey ... we all have our days ... some good some bad. I'll put up with some of that rather than loosing the brain trust here.

 

[Bruceboy]

I shoot 158 gr. TC, Campro plated bullets mostly indoors using Titegroup as there's very little smoke/dirt. Totally different story shooting lead. I'm convinced that the lubricant creates the smoke. I like Titegroup mainly because it's on the shelves in Canada and Bullseye and Unique haven't been available for at least a couple of years. I've tried 231 and it seems a little cleaner.

Al

 

[Shoebox1.1]

You might give AA #2 a try.....does fabulous for me.

Randy

This^^^^^ AA2 under an extreme plated 158 SWC. 4.0g. Super accurate and clean

 

[Autonomous]

My very small sample of one is A #2 under coated 148 gr WC.
Cleaner than the Bullseye and 231 I load in .45 ACP.

 

[rwsmith]

One way to find out....

Coming from an old guy my comment may be a little off topic but relevant to indoor shooting ranges and may not be the case in the one mentioned in this thread. I went to an indoor range near me once and it was obvious to me right away that the ventilation system there was not adequate for having safe air to breathe and I never went back.

Shoot a light load of Unique behind a wax lube in groove cast bullet.

 

[rwsmith]

One way to find out....

Coming from an old guy my comment may be a little off topic but relevant to indoor shooting ranges and may not be the case in the one mentioned in this thread. I went to an indoor range near me once and it was obvious to me right away that the ventilation system there was not adequate for having safe air to breathe and I never went back.

Shoot a wax lube-in-groove cast bullet with a light charge of Unique and you'll know right away!

BTW: AT the range I mentioned the smoke doesn't come back at you, but neither does it race away from you either. Another thing they lack is COMFORT A/C. It's often close to the same temperature inside as it is outside. And the lighting is rather poor. The place 'works' but I would call it minimal. Their philosphy is to offer the range cheap, so they can funnel you past all the guns and accessories that they REALLY make their profit on. It's now under new management and I haven't been back since they changed, so we'll see how it goes.

 

[sniper]

Wow! such a lot of discussion about something all of us have been experiencing since we began reloading! It seems to bother some more than others, and too much has been written about the "problem"! One thing that maybe hasn't been mentioned... I dunno, as I haven't read all the "discussions"...most powders burn cleanest at chamber pressure higher than ~15,000 psi. .38 Special is said to be designed for 17,000 psi., .38 Spl +P for about 19-20,000. So, load to about those pressures, and clean. Those who are bound and determined to find the ultimate "Mouse, Bunny phart or kitty sneeze" loads...more power to 'em, but be sure they have a sturdy, caliber appropriate rod in their bag! A hammer is a good idea, too! (Don't ask how I know this!)