Unique and 148 gr DEWC

38SPL HV

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Bullseye powder almost depleted...I have enough Unique and decided to use it to load up 38 Spl using 148 gr DEWC. I used 4.2 grs Unique. Shot about twenty rounds out of my J frame. It seemed to burn ok and cleanly with 4.2 grs...I'm reluctant to go lower. Didn't have the chrono with me but the load should be comparable velocity wise as using 3.5 grs of Bullseye but I'll test for that soon.

...my measure dropped the 4.2 grs of Unique charge consistently, and I like how it fills the case more than Bullseye.
 
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Unique does a lot of things well. Kind of a "Jack of all Trades" powder. Other powders will do certain things better (like bullseye and wadcutters), but Unique will get the job done.

I've used Unique in everything from the 32 S&W Long to reduced 35 Whelen cast bullet loads.
 
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3.7 of Unique is about the same charge as 2.7 of Bullseye. This is my go to Unique load for bbwc-hbwc-or bnwc using 38 brass.
 

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Special Powder

38Spl HV - Great job. Good Study.

I like Alliant Unique Gun Powder. Works for me.
Always on hand.

Thanks for the Range Report.
 

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I have plenty of Bullseye powder, yet I prefer Clays, W231 or WST powder for the 148gr HBWC in all my 38 special revolvers.
 
If you want a bulky fast powder get some Red Dot and if you want to slow the load down even more....

use Green Dot.

In my 38 snub nose a full load of Bullseye with a 148gr HBwc does 799fps
and the same amount of Green Dot powder does 743fps.

Case volume is about 70% of what Bullseye gets, so a double charge with a 148 or 158 size bullet is unlikely.

In a 9mm loads, red, green and Unique are some times too bulky to work in a load if using a short OAL setting.
 
what is the weight of your bullet, 158 grains?

3.7 of Unique is about the same charge as 2.7 of Bullseye. This is my go to Unique load for bbwc-hbwc-or bnwc using 38 brass.


What does your bullet weigh? 158 grains? I am using 4.0 grains of unique with a 158 grain lead semiwadcutter in .38 special. what do you think of this load?
 
What does your bullet weigh? 158 grains? I am using 4.0 grains of unique with a 158 grain lead semiwadcutter in .38 special. what do you think of this load?

Post 1 was asking about a 148 wc lead so that was the info I gave. 4.8 with unique and the 158 lead swc is a good combo @ 50 yards for me but my guns like a hard cast 141-148- or 160 wc better and I have the molds and are cheaper to shoot + I can make them faster. Some guns like a little different load to be accurate. I have different powders than Unique also but staying on topic. Jack
 
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ok thank you

Post 1 was asking about a 148 wc lead so that was the info I gave. 4.8 with unique and the 158 lead swc is a good combo @ 50 yards for me but my guns like a hard cast 141-148- or 160 wc better and I have the molds and are cheaper to shoot + I can make them faster. Some guns like a little different load to be accurate. I have different powders than Unique also but staying on topic. Jack

Ok thank you
 
...found some WW231 to replace my now depleted Bullseye stock. Unique is alright but I noticed it wasnt dispensing as consistently as I thought. Only in the larger diameter RCBS Little Dandy rotors #12 and up does it throw consistently.
 
W-231/HP-38, although listed as a ball or spherical powder, is actually a flattened ball powder. It meters well in my RCBS Uniflow, but with small charge weights I do feel a little bit of "grain cutting". Even though it might not meter quite as well as a true spherical powder, it still produces consistent velocities.
 

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