what are your favorite loads for your .38 snubbie?

[Erich]

Mercy, Dennis!

By the way, has anyone heard from Clark lately?

 

[acl864]

I use an R&P case that I’ve had for the last 45 plus years, small rifle primer, 2 ½ t spoons of SR4756 compressed, and a 327gr hard cast bullet. The muzzle flash is a sight to be hold, the concussive wave well knock your socks off and recoil is not for those that are timid. This makes any load in the Speer #8 look rather mild. A bunch of sissies wrote that book. Their all weak knee sissies’ now, manly manuals are no longer written.

LOL!!!

Erich- It is an excellent load. A belated thanks for sharing it with me (via gil on the Proguns board). I've actually done a load work-up using Universal Clays to (almost) duplicate it. Not quite the same velocity, similar accuracy but quicker loading because my powder measure likes Universal better.

 

[Erich]

Yeah, Unique is a hassle in measures. I like the powder a whole lot, but have found myself looking to find equivalent loads with 7625 and Power Pistol because (like your Universal) they meter so much better.

 

[Treeman]

Perhaps more to the point.....Is there any possibility that Clark has heard anything lately? ;^)

 

[38-44HD45]

4.7 of Unique should get you close to the FBI Load, but not quite there. I would not describe the Federal (or any other) FBI Load as "quite potent" - rather, "adequate for social work."

Get a chronograph to back up that reloadin machine.

Good advice, Erich. As Erich knows, I recently chronoed some actual Federal FBI load, given to me by an actual FBI FTO, through my Colt Magnum Carry. It clocked a whopping 770 fps. I don't want to stand in front of it, but it doesn't register as "potent" on my (jaded, curmudgeonly) scale.

 

[Crazy K38]

I like erichs load so far and I was thinking about starting out with unique powder anyway, keep em comin, I am likeing what I see

 

[pete950]

Hey Erich,
Can you let me know what kind of loads your look at with the 7625.
if you don't want to post them how a bout an e-mail
[email protected]

 

[Treeman]

Notwithstanding a dive in some published loading levels with Unique for MANY years much heavier charges were listed. NOT just in old manuals where actual lab tested pressures weren't published but in manuals with actual pressure averages published or one where "These loads do not exceed X pressure" was specified. For MANY years seperate labs were arriving at loads only a tenth or two apart with lead bullets in various cases with various primers. For 158 grain lead bullets 5.1 grains of Unique (give or take that tenth) was a top standard pressure load and 5.4 a +P max. Alliant went through a period of publishing utterly pathetic .38 special loads but since they have become a sister company of Speer their data has jumped back up part way toward the old standards. Currently they spec 5.2 as +P under a LSWC. I wouldn't hesitate to work up to there for any sound .38 special..........and I don't think that Unique has changed making 5.4 an overpressure load. They (SAAMI)keep changing the pressure spec AND the testing parameters.

 

[nitesite]

My SD load in a 442 is 4.8~5.0-gr of Unique under a cast BBDEWC and a Fed 100.

 

[FHBrumb]

How about a stout load for Red Dot users and 125 grain bullets??? I'll be firing from a 357 (S&W 65), but 38 brass. I have Red Dot, I have 125gr JHPs, and I want something that will give some recoil to allow for some degree of practicing similar to hotter factory loads. How hot can I load with Red Dot and a 125gr JHP???

4.5 grains?
4.9 grains?
5.2 grains?

 

[FHBrumb]

How about a stout load for Red Dot users and 125 grain bullets??? I'll be firing from a 357 (S&W 65), but 38 brass. I have Red Dot, I have 125gr JHPs, and I want something that will give some recoil to allow for some degree of practicing similar to hotter factory loads. How hot can I load with Red Dot and a 125gr JHP???

4.5 grains?
4.9 grains?
5.2 grains?

I'm told anything above 4.1 is pretty much suicide...

 

[Dale53]

I practice with a target wad cutter load (double ended wadcutter actual weight 152 grs cast bullet ahead of 3.5 grs of Bullseye with the first band seated outside the case - this reduces pressure and velocity a bit but shoots extremely well). My carry load is the FBI 158 gr Hollow Point. I recommend ending a practice session with a similar cast bullet load. I use a 158 gr RF ahead of 4.2 Bullseye (this is a full load but NOT a plus P).

I reserve plus p for carry to extend the life of my aluminum frame 642 (the recoil is not all that much more than my full load).

The most important thing about self defense is shot placement. If you hit a bad guy around the edges, you'll just upset him and NOT in a good way. Good, reliable shot placement is ONLY gained by practice and a lot of it.

Dale53

 

[Crazy K38]

what kind of primers are you useing for your loads?

 

[running iron]

My carry loads for my snub nose are either 4.4 grs. of 231 behind a 180 gr. Sierra sil. for around 800 fps or 5.6 grs. of 231 pushing a Hornady 125 gr XTP going about 1064 fps. I really like the 180 gr. load for the winter and the 125 gr. load for the summer when the bad guy would not have as much clothes on. The 180 gr. load has a lot of power from what I've seen.

 

[Treeman]

FHBrumb, There is little data for Red Dot and 125grain bullets in the .38spl.......but considering that Lyman 47 lists a +P load of 5grains Rdot with a 140gr jacketed it seems unlikely that over 4.1 would be suicidal-In fact I load 4.1 Red dot under 125 grain cast in 9mmX19-that is a MILD load in the smaller 9mm case so pressures shouldn't be huge in the more capacious .38.(Yes I'm aware that working pressures are higher in the 9). FWIW I think that you will find blast and recoil are entirely satisfying with 4.1.

 

[Rolando]

My favorite load right now is 2.9 grains of trail boss with 158 tcbb from Penn. (truncated cone bevel base).
Nice and easy. I loaded up some W231 with ... 3.6? and loaded them side by side and the Trail Boss light load was so soft and easy. Especially from a model 37. Very mild. I was shooting an ICORE match and one of the guys mentioned he thought I was shooting a .22.

 

[bnewc75]

model 10-5 2"

DEWC 3.2 bullseye fed.100 primer