Powders that Fill Up Cases for .38 Special and 9MM

[Fishslayer]

i use 4.7gr green dot with 115gr plated rn very accurate as well and just about fill case

Green Dot is my powder for .38, 9mm & .45ACP. A double charge in 9mm will overflow & in .45ACP a double of my regular range fodder fills almost to the top. Stevie Wonder couldn't miss it.

GD is about 33-ish % more bulky than Bullseye. It is also a lot easier to find at the moment.

 

[italiansport]

I load a lot of 38s with a non-progressive loader. Fortunately I have a good supply of W231 on hand and I load 3.2gr for target work with wcs.. The MOST CRITICAL step for me after I charge 50 cases is to look(I use a flashlight) into each case at the powder level before seating the bullets.
Jim

 

[revolvergeek]

If you are not happy with the SR powder in the 9mm........

Red Dot will fill that case in a hurry !
With a 124gr FMJ design with a 1.12" OAL, just 3.8grs of Red Dot will be at or near the base of the bullet.
This bullet seated at a OAL of 1.16" will have 4.2grs of Red Dot at or near the base of the bullet and will work the action of the 9mm I am testing.

Safe loading.

Pretty much exactly what I was going to add. Red Dot works well for me in 9mmP with 124-147 grn bullets. I generally load 3.9-4.0 under a 124 Lee cast RN or RNFP.

 

[Damn Yankee]

Try some Herco or 800x

 

[Bugkiller99]

VV "Tin Star" is a bulky powder. Made for Cowboy loads, esp 38 spl. Data on Lupua site for 158 gr bullets

.38 Special - Cowboy action shooting - Reloading Data - Vihtavuori

 

[1KPerDay]

There are very, very few powders hat fill a 38sp case. My point, the charge does NOT have to fill the case, but a dbl should.

Sure, in a perfect world. But can you name a powder, other than maybe Trail Boss (and black powder of course), that fills a .38 special case with a double charge? Every powder I've ever tried, including Trail Boss at recommended starting charges... it's not even close to full. Most allow a triple easily, or quadruple. The .38 case is pretty tall and charges are pretty small.

No substitute for looking every time.

 

[David R]

I have been quiet.

By not using Bullseye and other fast powders you are missing some awesome accuracy.
Look at the standard loads that are written in stone.
2.7 grains Bullseys behind a HBWC. This is THE accuracy load.
3.5 grains Bullseye in a 45 behind a 185 or 200 gr SWC.

Use your head, be careful and load for accuracy.

2.7 grains of bullseye = 2592 shots per pound.

David

 

[S&W1006]

There is a lot of truth in what David is saying. In a 38 special you are missing out by not using Bullseye. I load 3.0 grains behind a 158 grain SWC and it is very accurate in all of my revolvers. I am loading on a turret press so a double charge is highly unlikely. If you are as careful as you say you won't have a problem. Here is an easy trick to check the 38 cases. Measure a charge and drop it in the case. Take a pencil or a wooden dowel rod and put it in the case then mark the pencil or dowel rod at the top of the case. Now you can quickly check for an overcharge or even an undercharge. I love bullseye for 38 special and I load 3.5 grain in 9mm behind a 125 grain lead round nose. 3.5 grains is plenty high enough in a 9mm case to see a double and is a great plinking load. It is great getting over 2000 rounds out of 1 lb of powder.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk

 

[hfl73]

At 7.0+ grains the recommended charge, AA#7 will more than fill your 9mm case.

 

[Moe Mentum]

Trail Boss will mostly fill the case, but not all of it. Black powder will, the .38 round was originally a black powder round, that's why the case is so large.

 

[LostintheOzone]

If you are using a single stage press charge your cases 50 at a time and put them in a loading block. Take a small flashlight and inspect every case for a double charge before you seat the bullet. If you charge in lots and inspect the whole lot at once you won't have a problem.

It would be ashame to choose a powder strictly based on your fear of a double charge. If you want bulky powder try American Select. It will do everything Bullseye will do in the accuracy dept. and it burns cleaner.

 

[rwsmith]

How they say to use TB

Trail Boss was designed to be super bulky to where a double charge is nigh impossible. They suggest to fill the case with TB to where the bottom of the bullet would be. Weigh the charge. Drop back 30%. That is your starting load, go up from there.

 

[Lou_NC]

Green Dot is my powder for .38, 9mm & .45ACP. A double charge in 9mm will overflow & in .45ACP a double of my regular range fodder fills almost to the top. Stevie Wonder couldn't miss it.

GD is about 33-ish % more bulky than Bullseye. It is also a lot easier to find at the moment.

Where are you finding your load data for green dot in pistol calibers? I'm not finding it in the Alliant load data on their website.

Thanks,
Lou