I'm reloading the 38 Special with a 148 gr bullet; H&G #50, for use in a K-38 and a Model 52-2. I've been using 3.2 grs of Winchester 231, but I'm beginning to run short of it. W231 isn't available anywhere, nor it's alter ego, HP 38. How much of what powder do you recommend as a substitute for 231 for this application, realizing it has to be able to function a Model 52?
What Powder Now?
- Thread starter Cyrano
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Any powder close to the same burn rate will work..........
if you can find it on the shelf or end up paying Haz-math fees.
For plinking, they will all work.
if you can find it on the shelf or end up paying Haz-math fees.
For plinking, they will all work.
Hasbeen1945
Absent Comrade
Be patient. My LGS recently got 231 and hp38. Also stumbled onto some Unique.
I like a few....
I used Unique as a medium burning powder, but not finding any Unique or Bullseye I tried Red Dot. Great target powder.
Here is a chart. Look at what is similar to the powders you use and buy a pound of whatever comes close to see if you are getting the result you want.
https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Burn Rates - 2014-2015.pdf
I tried some Accurate #7 and I thought it was great for 9mm. Number 2 or Number 5 would probably suit your need in .38
The Vihta Vuori are supposed to be excellent, but they also are excellently high priced like around $35/lb but if you are hard up I'd pick up a pound or two.
I used Unique as a medium burning powder, but not finding any Unique or Bullseye I tried Red Dot. Great target powder.
Here is a chart. Look at what is similar to the powders you use and buy a pound of whatever comes close to see if you are getting the result you want.
https://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Burn Rates - 2014-2015.pdf
I tried some Accurate #7 and I thought it was great for 9mm. Number 2 or Number 5 would probably suit your need in .38
The Vihta Vuori are supposed to be excellent, but they also are excellently high priced like around $35/lb but if you are hard up I'd pick up a pound or two.
GyMac
US Veteran
I laid in 4 lbs of Bullseye in case I ran out of Win 231, but just found 8 lbs of HP-38 at Precision Reloading.
4lbs of 231 at Precision Reloading as well.
https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!s=in&pp=60&l=PDW&i=2314
https://www.precisionreloading.com/cart.php#!s=in&pp=60&l=PDW&i=2314
slickracer
Member
Red Dot works very well in .38 target loads.
BigMoneyGrip
Member
I went with BE-86. I'm happy now!
petemacmahon
Member
3 grains of Titegroup should about do.
Funny but current data list 3.5 grains of W231 as the starting load. How long have you been using 3.2?
Funny but current data list 3.5 grains of W231 as the starting load. How long have you been using 3.2?
OP
Quite a few years ago I read an article in which Ed Matunas said that W 231 was a little more accurate than Bullseye for target wadcutters. I figured, without chronographing the loads, that 3.2 grs of W 231 would give about the same velicities as the classic 2.7 grs of Bullseye. I checked my records; since 2008 I've loaded about 1800 rounds of this combination, mostly using various wadcutters, although I did load some 156 gr SWCs for plinking. I'm very happy with it; it's accurate, doesn't give much powder fouling and works my S&W M 52-2 reliably. I've also shot it in an elderly, 5 screw K 38, Model 638, an ancient 5 screw M&P with a 2 inch barrel and a Centennial. Works well in all of them. The M&P gets the most use in the Internet Snubby Matches. My only prolem is that W 231 is very hard to get.
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BigMoneyGrip
Member
I can't believe what I've never seen.
I was the same way with 231/HP38. Hence the reason for the BE-86 when I found it.
Vortec MAX
Member
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I can't believe what I've never seen.
I have only seen BE-86 once. It was at Cabela's. I bought two pounds and I have never seen any since then. It is very hard to find.
Mike
gwpercle
Member
700X
SR-7625
Bullseye
Be 86
Red Dot
Promo
Unique
HP-38
HS-5
And I'm sure I left out a few. Get a Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, there are a lot of powders listed in it for the 148 gr. cast WC and 38 Special
target load.
Gary
SR-7625
Bullseye
Be 86
Red Dot
Promo
Unique
HP-38
HS-5
And I'm sure I left out a few. Get a Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook, there are a lot of powders listed in it for the 148 gr. cast WC and 38 Special
target load.
Gary
Fishslayer
US Veteran, Absent Comrade
Started using Green Dot when BE was unobtanium. I use it in .38SP, .45ACP & 9mm.
AveragEd
Member
Being a fan of clean-burning powders as long as they perform at least as well as the dirtier ones, I use SR4756 in all my revolver target loads. Alas, it has been out of print for almost a year but I have enough stockpiled to last me and my son our natural lives. For similar reasons, AutoComp is my powder of choice in 1911s. It doesn't burn well in revolver target loads though, I suppose because of the barrel-cylinder gap dropping the pressure it needs to burn fully.
Some other powders you might try have been listed by other posters so I won't duplicate what has already been said except to say that you may not have to change powders anyway as I'm seeing both W231 and HP-38 on gun shop shelves here in south-central Pennsylvania.
Ed
Some other powders you might try have been listed by other posters so I won't duplicate what has already been said except to say that you may not have to change powders anyway as I'm seeing both W231 and HP-38 on gun shop shelves here in south-central Pennsylvania.
Ed
