Making 38 spl using a 357 mag powder

[higgimw]

Hey fellas. I was able to track down some powder here recently. Accurate TCM. I want to load some 38 spl rounds, but the powder is supposedly designed for 357 mag loads.now I don’t load anything hot. I’ll be shooting the loads out a 357 mag pistol. I’ll be using a small pistol primer: most likely any brand besides Tula. And I’ll be shooting a 158 gr, lead, semi wad cutter. The brinell number is around 14 I believe. So my question is:

Would anyone have a decent recipe they could recommend for good solid load in those 38 special cases?

I’m wanting a solid shooter round. Maybe just above plinker levels. Thanks.

 

[rockquarry]

Western Powder owns or did own the Accurate line of powders. If it's not on their website, call them. Best to get information from the source.

 

[4barrel]

LEE has lots of info for mag powder in a 38 special case on the low side. Mag powder does good with heavier lead in 38 cases. Tula is one of the better primers. 4227 and 2400 are the better powders for this.<for me.>

 

[higgimw]

Thanks for all the input guys. Much appreciated. I’m all ears. Keep it coming.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Usually the low end .357 magnum loads are a +P 38 , top end loading.

Drop the charge a little more and see what your Magnum weapon puts out, since it is not a 38 J frame.

Since it is a frame rated for .357. I see no problems.

Just don't pass the 38 special case fps +P load, just in case they
find a 38 special.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

Accurate TCM is a relatively new powder and there is virtually no load data out there for 38 special, not even on the accurate website. The burn rate is similar to 296/H110 which can be used in mild 357 loads, but in my experience they don't shoot all that well when you drop the charge. You could try, but I agree with the above recommendation to call them first.

The maximum charge for a 140 gr. gold dot is 13.6 grains. You would have to reduce that significantly to get into 38 special territory. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to what load you should start with. Personally, I would try to find a good 38 powder if 38 Sp is what you want to load. I know everything is super hard to find right now, but I've seen AA #5 and VV N350 available off and on at powdervalley.com. for the last few weeks. If you check daily, you'll likely see it available any day now. I've loaded 38 sp 158 gr. lead with both of those and they both shoot well. The N350 I've found to be very accurate.

 

[pistolpete10]

Accurate TCM is a relatively new powder and there is virtually no load data out there for 38 special, not even on the accurate website. The burn rate is similar to 296/H110 which can be used in mild 357 loads, but in my experience they don't shoot all that well when you drop the charge. You could try, but I agree with the above recommendation to call them first.

The maximum charge for a 140 gr. gold dot is 13.6 grains. You would have to reduce that significantly to get into 38 special territory. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to what load you should start with. Personally, I would try to find a good 38 powder if 38 Sp is what you want to load. I know everything is super hard to find right now, but I've seen AA #5 and VV N350 available off and on at powdervalley.com. for the last few weeks. If you check daily, you'll likely see it available any day now. I've loaded 38 sp 158 gr. lead with both of those and they both shoot well. The N350 I've found to be very accurate.

If the powder is like H110 or 296 it is NOT a good idea to shoot reduced loads. 231, HP 38, Unique are better suited for .38 Special.[

 

[stansdds]

I am not at all familiar with that powder, but if, as others have said, is in the same burning rate area as H110/W296, it is not at all suitable for 38 Special. 38 Special performs best with fast and medium burning rate powders. Fast powders like AA#2 and Bullseye for reduced velocity loads (target wadcutter) and medium rate powders like HP38/W231, AA#5, and Unique for full power loads.

 

[LostintheOzone]

TCM's burn rate is slower than Accurate No. 9, and it is similar to W296/H110.

The burn rate is too slow for 38 special. The best AA powder for 38 special is AA#2. Don't drive round pegs into square holes. Find a faster powder like Bullseye, American Select or AA#2.

I shot a bunch of 900 fps loads today in a .357 using .357 cases and American Select powder.

 

[sctman800]

One of the problems with powders like H110 or Accurate #9 reduced loads is poor ignition. IIRC it was Accurate #9 I tried to reduce and the primer would go off but not ignite the powder. That was just enough to lodge the bullet in the forcing cone and leave the chamber full of unburned powder. Jim.

 

[stansdds]

One of the problems with powders like H110 or Accurate #9 reduced loads is poor ignition. IIRC it was Accurate #9 I tried to reduce and the primer would go off but not ignite the powder. That was just enough to lodge the bullet in the forcing cone and leave the chamber full of unburned powder. Jim.

Erratic ignition plagues the very slow burning pistol powders with significantly reduced charges. Hodgdon/Winchester specifically state to not reduce the maximum charge of H110/W296 by more than 5%. Based on my experience with this powder, it is sound advice. AA#9 is a little more flexible, but still not a practical powder for the 38 Special, even at +P levels. In short, if all you have on hand is a slow burning, magnum pistol powder, don't try to make it into a low pressure cartridge powder.

 

[rwsmith]

I see on Accurate sight...

Usually the low end .357 magnum loads are a +P 38 , top end loading.

Drop the charge a little more and see what your Magnum weapon puts out, since it is not a 38 J frame.

Since it is a frame rated for .357. I see no problems.

Just don't pass the 38 special case fps +P load, just in case they
find a 38 special.

The low end .357 loading of a 158 grain jacketed bullet given on the site for the powder is 10.3 grains at 982 fps. The bullet doesn't match, so I'd drop it about a grain, say to about 9 grains and give it a try. Do you have a Chrony?

 

[LostintheOzone]

This may help you find a powder that works for 38 spl. Anything on row 4,5 or 6 should work.

Powder equivalents - ADI World Class Powders and Ammunition

 

[higgimw]

Accurate TCM is a relatively new powder and there is virtually no load data out there for 38 special, not even on the accurate website. The burn rate is similar to 296/H110 which can be used in mild 357 loads, but in my experience they don't shoot all that well when you drop the charge. You could try, but I agree with the above recommendation to call them first.

The maximum charge for a 140 gr. gold dot is 13.6 grains. You would have to reduce that significantly to get into 38 special territory. I wouldn't hazard a guess as to what load you should start with. Personally, I would try to find a good 38 powder if 38 Sp is what you want to load. I know everything is super hard to find right now, but I've seen AA #5 and VV N350 available off and on at powdervalley.com. for the last few weeks. If you check daily, you'll likely see it available any day now. I've loaded 38 sp 158 gr. lead with both of those and they both shoot well. The N350 I've found to be very accurate.

Great info. Thanks. I cancelled my and found some Hodgdon titegroup. I managed to get 2, 1 pound jars. Thanks.

 

[higgimw]

The low end .357 loading of a 158 grain jacketed bullet given on the site for the powder is 10.3 grains at 982 fps. The bullet doesn't match, so I'd drop it about a grain, say to about 9 grains and give it a try. Do you have a Chrony?

I wound up canceling my order and found some titegroup. Thanks for the help.

 

[DeplorabusUnum]

I wound up canceling my order and found some titegroup. Thanks for the help.

Good move. I think you'll be much happier with titegroup.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

The burn rate is too slow for 38 special. The best AA powder for 38 special is AA#2. Don't drive round pegs into square holes. Find a faster powder like Bullseye, American Select or AA#2.

I shot a bunch of 900 fps loads today in a .357 using .357 cases and American Select powder.

I will add W231/HP-38, W244, Zip, IMR Red, Red Dot, IMR Target, Unique and others. For .38 Spl +P there are just as many powders like Power Pistol, True Blue, AA#5, BE-86, crew pistol, HS-6, Longshot, IMR Green, W572, SIlhouette and others.

I listed all those powders because it's still difficult to fine the exact powder you want so knowing the substitutes is helpful. Good luck...

Edit - I just noticed you found some Titegroup. That will work well for you just be sure to meter it correctly.

 

[sjs]

LEE has lots of info for mag powder in a 38 special case on the low side. Mag powder does good with heavier lead in 38 cases. Tula is one of the better primers. 4227 and 2400 are the better powders for this.<for me.>

Excuse me, but what is "LEE"?

 

[LostintheOzone]

Excuse me, but what is "LEE"?

He may have meant Lyman.

 

[4barrel]

Excuse me, but what is "LEE"?

A thick reload manual with other peoples findings and different bullet weight lengths you will not find in a regular reload manual. I use it a lot and usually the starting loads are accurate. You have to know exactly what bullet you are loading because-- -lets say a 200 grain 45acp bullet can have several designs and 4 different seating distances and the nose is a different length on each one which has to do with pressure. I loaded some H&G 68 bullets yesterday<not my first time> and was using my Lyman manual. When I seated them they didn't look right. I wonted them a little deeper. I seated them to fit my chamber and looked at my Lee manual and there was the correct measurement like I did it. When using 38 brass Lee has a load for a 200 grain lead bullet using magnum powder that others do not. It's good to have a lot of reload manuals. They seem to come out with a new powder every month. If you buy one check the date. Older ones should be cheaper.