What is your favorite powder for .38 Special and .38 +P?
- Thread starter sarge1967
- Start date
Skip Sackett
US Veteran
3.5gr of Bullseye with ANY 158-165gr lead bullet for 38spl loads.
SR4756 and the same bullets for anything +P.
FWIW
The reason you wore half of the Unique you shot was they were too light of loads. Put it up to near +P or use older data and that will go away.
SR4756 and the same bullets for anything +P.
FWIW
The reason you wore half of the Unique you shot was they were too light of loads. Put it up to near +P or use older data and that will go away.
1991a1colt
Member
I would have to add bullseye for just plan plinking rounds in 38. But not +p.
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gregintenn
Member
Bullseye....the end!
shovelwrench
Member
Bullseye for target work. Power Pistol and Unique for heavy loads....
I don't know what you mean by dirty...
I don't know what you mean by dirty...
I mean my hands were black after 150 rounds through my 4" model 64. It was like I had been shooting Black Powder.
A cheap $10-15 pair of light leather golf gloves will solve that dirty hand problem......... I even use them shooting trap.....
or not.................
or not.................
rsrocket1
Member
Unique is "dirty" at low pressures, but cleans up nicely at higher pressures. Unfortunately, 38 and even 38+p is a low pressure round. 38 special loads are about 12,000 psi at max and Unique is just barely getting happy at this pressure with lots of soot and unburned flakes.
I shoot the Lee 358-158-RF seated to .355" with 5.0g Uniuqe and the powder is pretty happy at that load which gives me about 990 fps through a 4" Ruger Service Six.
With your 750 fps loads, you'd be much happier with Clays. I load 3.0g and with my bullet, I get 750 fps and a real light recoil. If you seat your bullets shallower, you might need to bump the charge up a couple tenths. The powder burns completely and generates lots of pressure for consistent veolcities, but you don't want to squeeze any more velocity out of this powder or you'll be over pressure quickly.
If you want more velocity and a clean burn, get some Hodgdon Universal Clays aka Universal. It is based on Clays technology and is a slower powder which performs like Unique, just cleaner and more expensive. International Clays is between Clays and Universal (sort of like Green Dot being between Red Dot and Unique).
I love the economy of Bullseye, but it will turn a stainless revolver into what looks like a blued revolver in 50 rounds.
I shoot the Lee 358-158-RF seated to .355" with 5.0g Uniuqe and the powder is pretty happy at that load which gives me about 990 fps through a 4" Ruger Service Six.
With your 750 fps loads, you'd be much happier with Clays. I load 3.0g and with my bullet, I get 750 fps and a real light recoil. If you seat your bullets shallower, you might need to bump the charge up a couple tenths. The powder burns completely and generates lots of pressure for consistent veolcities, but you don't want to squeeze any more velocity out of this powder or you'll be over pressure quickly.
If you want more velocity and a clean burn, get some Hodgdon Universal Clays aka Universal. It is based on Clays technology and is a slower powder which performs like Unique, just cleaner and more expensive. International Clays is between Clays and Universal (sort of like Green Dot being between Red Dot and Unique).
I love the economy of Bullseye, but it will turn a stainless revolver into what looks like a blued revolver in 50 rounds.
Mule88
Member
Universal for me, found it to be a better overall powder than Unique.
silentflyer
Member
Unique, if it was good enough for Skeeter...
My choice in .38 (as well as .44 Spl and .45 ACP) is Accurate #5. I've really enjoyed Accurate's powders.
Most of the things I enjoy doing get my hands dirty, I wash them and then get them dirty again. I get my hands a little dirty loading. Then I wash them and go shoot and get them dirty again. Then I wash them and go home. When I get home I clean my guns and get my hands dirty. Then it's time for dinner and my wife says go wash your hands. Seems like this should be about handsoap instead of powder.
KLYDE
Member
Sarge,
I have always been a Unique user for years. For the .44 magnum it is 2400 for full house loads and Unique for reduced power.
Quite often at work we get ammo turn ins. A month or so ago the Sgt. handed me a couple of boxes of reloaded .45's. 4.8 grns of W231 under a 185 gr cast SWC. I inspected them and they appeared to have been loaded by an experienced loader. Primer depth was uniform and correct. Taper crimp was spot on. I shot them out of my work Sig 220.
I was impressed with the W231. Clean and good accuracy. I normally don't WORRY about clean as I always clean the gun after shooting. Dirty hands don't bother me. I purchased a couple of pounds a few days later. Just to evaluate.
As compared to the Unique the W231 meters like a CHARM. Once I got the dispenser set every throw was spot on to the tenth of a grain. Very impressed with the 231. It will become my new powder for the .38 Spl and .45 acp loads. I'll still use the Unique for the reduced .44 mag loads and .44 Spl.
May be worth a try.
I have always been a Unique user for years. For the .44 magnum it is 2400 for full house loads and Unique for reduced power.
Quite often at work we get ammo turn ins. A month or so ago the Sgt. handed me a couple of boxes of reloaded .45's. 4.8 grns of W231 under a 185 gr cast SWC. I inspected them and they appeared to have been loaded by an experienced loader. Primer depth was uniform and correct. Taper crimp was spot on. I shot them out of my work Sig 220.
I was impressed with the W231. Clean and good accuracy. I normally don't WORRY about clean as I always clean the gun after shooting. Dirty hands don't bother me. I purchased a couple of pounds a few days later. Just to evaluate.
As compared to the Unique the W231 meters like a CHARM. Once I got the dispenser set every throw was spot on to the tenth of a grain. Very impressed with the 231. It will become my new powder for the .38 Spl and .45 acp loads. I'll still use the Unique for the reduced .44 mag loads and .44 Spl.
May be worth a try.
Thanks KLYDE, After reading all these posts I have decided to get some 231 if I can find it. I use 2400 for my full house .41 mag loads. Unique does a good job with reduced .41 mag loads. I use 9gr. under a 215gr. lead SWC in my M57 Mountain Gun and it is not near as dirty as out of my .38. So like others have stated it must be the lower pressure. It works ok for my 9mm lead bullets as well. Again more pressure.
I don't usually care about dirty either but man this was ridiculous.
Elliott41
Member
Trail Boss
I prefer 3.3 grains of Trail Boss and a 158 grain WC or SWC. TB is very clean, and it's impossible to load two charges in one case.
I prefer 3.3 grains of Trail Boss and a 158 grain WC or SWC. TB is very clean, and it's impossible to load two charges in one case.
Malpasowildlifer
Member
Bullseye & 2400
I used to use TB when I loaded .357 cases light. It is a good powder. Never thought of using it in .38 cases though. May try it.
