Powder Recommendations for J-Frame

[Houlton]

I use 5.0 gr WW 231 with a 125 Rainier HP in my Airweight. Accurate and the recoil isn't bad at all. I carry this so I almost always take it to the range and run 20-30 rds through it. Never a hiccup. Son ran some old SuperVel through it and just said one word. Brutal.

 

[chief38]

Been reloading for 35+ years now and for the first 20 I used Bullseye Powder for .38 Specials. Switched over to Titegroup about 15 years ago and that is still what I am using. The Titegroup seems a little cleaner than the Bullseye and meters almost the same. Works for me.

 

[Vortec MAX]

I have done quite a bit of load testing from S&W snubbies. I have a 638 and a 438. If you are trying to match factory +P loads, Power Pistol is the powder you want. If you are after rounds for plinking or target practice, Bullseye is a great choice. I did my testing with 125 grain projectiles, but I am sure the results will be similar with heavier bullets.

Mike

 

[Nevada Ed]

Final note;

If you don't need +P for your test.............

the 148gr BB or HBwc will be your best light weight load for the shooting. Low recoil and usually very accurate.

A 125gr lead or 110 JHp at standard loads is a second option for target ammo if you reload, if they are accurate enough.

Good luck.

 

[rwsmith]

Necessity made me try.....

as a note;
4.2grs of Red Dot with a cci primer with the 140 Xtp hits around 734 fps
that is a GREAT practice load.


Tight groups.

Necessity made me try Red Dot. I liked it right out of the gate. I think the more energetic medium burning powders are best in these guns. Slower powders are..well.....too slow.

I find Titegroup is pretty versatile for a 'target' powder and can get higher velocities, but many don't like the risk of doing a double load and blowing up their gun, or their hands or anything else. 'Bullseye' is a about the same, IF you can find it.

For practice bullets, a similar weight hard cast bullet (I prefer coated) can be driven just like a jacketed bullet, and usually with less powder and they are pretty cheap to boot. Ain't no way I can afford to shoot expensive components for practice.

 

[smokindog]

Apologize for a slight drift but there seemed to be a lot of focus on rounds for CHL license in the discussion.

So now you made me go looking with no absolute result. I scanned through a dozen or so CHL course providers in Texas and all seem to have a requirement of factory ammo. However, I couldn't find that as an actual State requirement, perhaps up to the instructor. Again, random curiosity....

I just got a 38 for Christmas and am interested in the rest of the discussion

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I developed a replica load for the Speer 135gr ammo with the help of the Speer tech's. The powder they recommended was AA#5 for the .38 Special +P and I can tell you, it worked very well. I used the 140gr XTP bullet because they cost a lot less than the Speer bullets are were available.

 

[riverrat38]

I carry my M642 with the Speer 135gr Short Barrel and use 125gr plated bullets over 5.0 gr of HP38 for practice. Shoots close enough to point of aim for practice ammo at about $0.16 per round, instead of a buck and a half for the carry stuff. I shoot about 100 rounds a month at the range. Similar to post #21.

Best,
Rick

 

[jd45]

I have an update for you guys. I and my brother have successfully completed the course for our CCW permits. I used ammo I assembled with a 140gr lead round flatpoint over 4.2grs Accurate #2. 10 rounds each @ 5yds; 7 yds; & 10yds. Minimum 21 hits required to pass. After we were finished I fired another load of 140gr Hornady XTPs over 6.5grs PowerPistol. This is a +P load, stout but accurate.....could be my carry load, tho I will try others you guys suggested. Thanx for all your suggestions. BTW, the gun is a DAO 640 w/Crimson Trace laser grips & it's right on the money from point blank out to 50ft, as long as I do my part. jd45

 

[rwsmith]

Titegroup

Titegroup is similar to Bullseye in a fast powder and gets pretty good velocities up to a point. Just weigh a lot while loading and be careful not to overload with either of these powders as they spike very rapidly in pressure.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would not use Power Pistol for a carry load. The excessive flash it produces will be hard to overcome at night. There are several low flash powders out there not that are better choices. AA#5 isn't a bad choice either.

Congratulations on passing your CCW course.

 

[jd45]

Thanx for the tip ArchAngelCD, as this is a serious concern shooting in low light. And as I mentioned previously, I do have #5 along with the 2; 7; & 9. Mind mentioning a couple of those LF powders? Thanx, jd45
P.S.....Maybe I should look at that Accurate #5 you were advised to use by the Speer Tech in your duplication load, which BTW, I was looking to accomplish to begin with?

 

[hard nose street cop]

Hello! I haven't visited these forums in quite a while......hope everyone is doin OK. I'm working on getting my CCW permit & I'll be using my S&W 640 w/1-7/8" barrel. I'm using Speer's .38SPL+P Short Barrel ammo with their 135GR Gold Dot HP projectile, but I'd like to put together a handload that comes close in weight & velocity for economical practice. I bought some 140GR Hornady XTPs & I've ordered some 140GR Round Flat Point lead bullets from Montana Bullets. I'm using Accurate #2, but I've got some Power Pistol. Can anyone suggest some other powders that'll give good velocity with this short a barrel & these light bullets? I'll appreciate the help, and thanx. jd45

Why don't you just pull one of the Speer 135's apart and weight the powder charge on our scale ? That will give you a starting point

 

[GCF]

I use the Speer Gold Dot 135+P SB for carry, in both my 3" M65-3, & my 2.125" M640-1.

Due to the price of this factory fodder, I don't shoot a lot of it - but have found that Dardas 158LSWCs, over 3.6 grains of TiteGroup, WWSP primers, in .357 BRASS, makes a very accurate (a bit better then the 135 Gold Dots, in fact), equivalent target load.

In .38SPL brass, Dardas 158LSWCs, over 3.2 grains of TiteGroup, WWSP primers, seems to be the magic number.

I'm stocked up w/ W231, Unique, VV-N320, VV-N330, & Power Pistol, but the TiteGroup load works so well for target, that I've pretty much quit further experimentation.

That said, I've got an M&P 340 on the ol' bucket list, & if acquired, will probably try to work up a similar target load - utilizing an Xtreme plated bullet. Reason being, I think that residue cleanup from a plated bullet load "might" be a little easier on the alloy revolver's factory coating.