Win 244 and 158gr SWC 38 Special chrono data

[71vette]

I picked up an 8lb keg of Win 244 last year as that's just about all my LGS had. I've been starting to use it in some load development and have been pretty happy with its behavior and "cleanliness". Today was a 158gr X-Terme plated SWC over 4 grains of 244 in mixed 38 Special brass. This is a max standard pressure load per the website, well 16k psi. GRT predicted 813fps from a 4" barrel. The simulation shows I can go up to 4.3gr and stay standard pressure.

Here's my results and recipe from today:

158gr X-treme SWC
4gr Win244, 1.46" COAL, Remington SP

Smith 66-5 3.25" barrel: 760fps
Colt Magnum Carry 2" barrel: 649fps

The COAL is to the canelure of the bullet. The weather was cold amd drizzly and all my 4" guns are blued. That's why I went with the 3.25". The velocity tracks with the GRT sim so I'm expecting the 4" velocity to be right around that 810fps number. 4.3gr should get me up close to 850fps but I'm not looking for a hot rod on this one. I'm happy enough that I'll be loading a large batch of these.

 

[243winxb]

A lot of 158 gr jacketed data for 38 special has been removed from websites. Starting loads, if listed, may* not get bullets out the end of the barrels.

Lead swc better choice.

See thread below. Killed a beautiful 1905

 

[71vette]

A lot of 158 gr jacketed data for 38 special has been removed from websites. Starting loads, if listed, may* not get bullets out the end of the barrels.

Lead swc better choice.

See thread below. Killed a beautiful 1905

These are plated bullets, not jacketed. Once I'm done with this box I'll switch to Acme coated and will see what the velocity is. Most info I see online and my own limited testing shows very little difference in velocity between plated and coated lead.

 

[Paul in Nevada]

I like W244. It's supposed to be the "Winclean" replacement for W231/HP38 but those powders manage to hang around. If I had bought an 8lb jug when nothing else was available I would be satisfied.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree, I think W244 is very similar to W231 and I did buy a 1lb bottle a while back and gave it a go. I won't be buying in bulk anything soon since I still have over 10lbs of W231 left. If it were a rifle powder it wouldn't be much but that powder goes a very long way lol...

 

[cowboy4evr]

Powder that is highly underrated is Ramshot Zip and True Blue in 38 special . Ramshot Enforcer in the magnum calibers really delivers . If told I could only have 3 powders , I would choose the 3 above mentioned for handguns and never look back . Regards Paul

 

[mike campbell]

+ 1 for True Blue in the 38spl. I've managed a couple 5-shot groups under 2" at 50 yds using True Blue in my '51 Colt Officers Match.

I have 4lb of 244 I haven't opened yet.

 

[MDF4]

Also +1 for True Blue 38SP and love the way it meters.

 

[rockquarry]

A lot of 158 gr jacketed data for 38 special has been removed from websites. Starting loads, if listed, may* not get bullets out the end of the barrels.

Lead swc better choice.

See thread below. Killed a beautiful 1905

Yes, a cast SWC of 158 grs. is ideal in a .38 Special. No advantage whatsoever in using a jacketed bullet in any handgun cartridge over a cast bullet that fits.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Powder that is highly underrated is Ramshot Zip and True Blue in 38 special . Ramshot Enforcer in the magnum calibers really delivers . If told I could only have 3 powders , I would choose the 3 above mentioned for handguns and never look back . Regards Paul

Zip is an excellent powder and a lot like W231. If Ramshot powders are available where you live Zip, True Blue and Enforcer will serve you very well just like W231, HS-6 (W540) and W296 will.

Every company makes a handgun powder battery that will work well. Accurate has excellent powders too. AA#2, AA#5 and AA#9 are great with AA#7 thrown in for even more versatility. And of course, the original powder trinity of Bullseye, Unique and 2400.

I guess what I'm saying is, pick a company and you are set lol...

 

[38SPL HV]

Powder that is highly underrated is Ramshot Zip and True Blue in 38 special . Ramshot Enforcer in the magnum calibers really delivers . If told I could only have 3 powders , I would choose the 3 above mentioned for handguns and never look back . Regards Paul

I've had good luck with True Blue in 357 Magnum with 158 gr cast. I found it a bit erratic over the chronograph with it in 38 Spl +P. Check Hodgdon's latest burn rate chart, it's faster burning than Zip. However, a 2019 chart shows it as a medium burn closer to Accurate #5…according to my discussions with Hodgdon's techs, case type has a lot to do with True Blue's burn rate, the smaller the faster it is. Seems to burn slower in the longer 357 Mag cases…I'll pass on it in the future.