Working up 38 Special +P or +P+ loads.

[ChuckS1]

.38 Special High Velocity loads for "heavy frame guns only" from my Lyman 41st edition, circa 1957, has a 150 grain Thompson H.P. gas check, #358156, using 6.4 grains of Unique for 1154 fps and the same bullet with 13.5 grains of 2400 for 1227 fps.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Have you gotten the 125 GDHP to expand much. I used to use it for full house 357 loads, but it seemed to me to be just as tough at the 125 XTP. None upset as easily as the 135 Speer GD.

Thanks,
Mark in GA

I don't personally load a bullet as light as 125gr in my 38/357 ammo. The lightest bullet I'll load is 140gr so I can't tell you how they "expand for me" but everything I've read about the 125gr GDHP bullet tells me they will perform better than the XTP bullet. If you disagree because you know first hand I can't and won't argue with you. My point was to find a bullet that will reliably expand at slower velocities instead of picking a very hard to expand bullet like the XTP and try to SAFELY push it fast enough to expand.