What is your favorite powder for .38 Special and .38 +P?
- Thread starter sarge1967
- Start date
FloridaFlier
Member
I use HP-38, which is Winchester 231, with a different label, and usually a bit less expensive. For mid range power, it is an excellent powder. I use it for .38 special, .44 special, .45 ACP, and 9mm.
Reasonably clean burning, and the same powder removes one factor that can cause a Kaboom. The big difference in how dirty the gun is lies in shooting lead vs copper coater or copper plated.
Reasonably clean burning, and the same powder removes one factor that can cause a Kaboom. The big difference in how dirty the gun is lies in shooting lead vs copper coater or copper plated.
S&WIowegan
US Veteran
No they ain't! If you're shooting lead bullets with wax lube then the rounds are going to be dirty. The lube is the primary culprit with the graphite in the powder the second cause. Bullseye and Unique have always been known as grimy although ATK(the producer) announced a few years ago they were making a cleaner Unique now.
TiteGroup is right up there in dirtiness!
I have shot lead out of revolvers in the past without all this grime. Maybe it just the brand of bullet I am using. They are made by S&S Casting.
This issue with Unique was just discussed at length in another thread the other day and it was pointed out that your load and crimp will have as much as anything to do how it burns. Not sure what your load demands are, i.e., bullseye/wadcutter or just general plinking but honestly Unique is a bit on the slow side for anything but heavier bullets and moderate to full power loads. Don't get me wrong this powder will do it all and almost always with good accuracy but light loads in the 38 special would not be my first choice. Of course I am lucky to have a large selection to powder to pick from.
For Bullseye or target work I changed over to AA #2 years ago after shooting Bullseye for close to 20 years. Both give superb accuracy with very little velocity spread but are a low volume charge that you need to be carefull with. For more power with heavier bullets I really like 4756 at least the batch lot I have on hand and AA #5 both of which fill the case a bit more. There are at least a half dozen good powders for this cartridge maybe more but I would look for a powder that will fill at least half the case and learn to crimp. The crimp or bullet pull factor will have a lot to do with performance and burn.
For Bullseye or target work I changed over to AA #2 years ago after shooting Bullseye for close to 20 years. Both give superb accuracy with very little velocity spread but are a low volume charge that you need to be carefull with. For more power with heavier bullets I really like 4756 at least the batch lot I have on hand and AA #5 both of which fill the case a bit more. There are at least a half dozen good powders for this cartridge maybe more but I would look for a powder that will fill at least half the case and learn to crimp. The crimp or bullet pull factor will have a lot to do with performance and burn.
I agree that is a moderate load that should be accurate and running maybe 750 fps or so. Pleasant range load for sure. This is a lead SWC bullet —right ? if so put a fairly stiff roll crimp on it and see if the load performs any better and cleaner. I bet it will
regards
I have used Unique with lead and Jhp in my 6" down to my
1 7/8" snub nose with mixed results.
It depends on the bullet weight, primers, fps and type of
crimp that you are using in your loads.
As mentioned , this powder is best at medium to +P velocity
in the 38 spl but it will give me +P in my snub nose with the
little 110 Jhp to the 158gr Lhp with Alliant data and burns
clean until I load it at target speeds with the 148 and 158gr
LRN bullets.
This powder will be dirty or clean and have poor to great
accuracy in your revolvers.............You just have to work with
it to see what works best for you and don't be scared to put
a good crimp on your high fps loads.
1 7/8" snub nose with mixed results.
It depends on the bullet weight, primers, fps and type of
crimp that you are using in your loads.
As mentioned , this powder is best at medium to +P velocity
in the 38 spl but it will give me +P in my snub nose with the
little 110 Jhp to the 158gr Lhp with Alliant data and burns
clean until I load it at target speeds with the 148 and 158gr
LRN bullets.
This powder will be dirty or clean and have poor to great
accuracy in your revolvers.............You just have to work with
it to see what works best for you and don't be scared to put
a good crimp on your high fps loads.
Amen to that. Spoken by a shooter and loader who knows the game
gwpercle
Member
Bullseye for target loads.
Red Dot for standard velocity, mid range loads.
Unique for +P loads .
Red Dot for standard velocity, mid range loads.
Unique for +P loads .
I will tighten up the crimp a bit on my next batch of .38s when I make them again.
I'm loading all my .38/.357 lead with VhitaVouri N320. About as clean as a gunpowder comes. Works well from target/plinking loadings up through +P and into the slower/lighter .357 weights. My hands aren't filthy from removing cases and loading rounds while handling the cylinder. I shoot mainly 2-3" barrel J frames, oh yeah and one K frame (2.5").
Stu
Stu
I hear ya'
I actually feel guilty for having a nice stash of powder knowing so many who want to shoot are out there trying to find anything let alone their first or even third choice. The situation is the worst I have ever seen in 45 years and by a long ways. I saw shortages during the Viet Nam years on brass and a few other things then again in the 80's but nothing like we are experiencing right now.
Hang in there
Unique is dirty, but.......
I hope I'm not repeating myself, but I find that Unique is very dirty, but it cleans up very easily from a few hours at the range.
I hope I'm not repeating myself, but I find that Unique is very dirty, but it cleans up very easily from a few hours at the range.
Some reloaders are lucky and can get a "Clean" powder to shoot well in their guns with their reloads, which is nice.......
I just have to keep using the "Old Dirty" powders that get all
over the revolver and go through the powder thrower like rocks
but kick out groups that can be covered with a 50 cent piece...
So far they have beat out SR 4756 & 4759, IMR 4227, Universal Clays, 800x w540 and w231 in my year of testing loads in my two snub nose M49's.
I just have to keep using the "Old Dirty" powders that get all
over the revolver and go through the powder thrower like rocks
but kick out groups that can be covered with a 50 cent piece...
So far they have beat out SR 4756 & 4759, IMR 4227, Universal Clays, 800x w540 and w231 in my year of testing loads in my two snub nose M49's.
