Even better, is get some 38 S&W brass. IF YOU ARE USING SWAGED 158GR BULLETS 3.1 WILL WORK, IF USING HARD CAST 3.3 IS NEEDED. The other .38 Special is a 4 Colt Diamondback. I'm going to start with 3.8 grains. Maybe once a year I would reset everything to load up a few hundred .38 Spl for the wifes Detective Special, then right back to .357. If you have the means, I highly recommend you trying one out. Bullseye is one of the oldest smokeless pistol powders and still one of the most popular. Like both the .38 and the .44 spl. Load it in 38 Special dies. Many reloading manuals also list an estimated pressure with a given load. These loads are for my wife's revolver. It is just a guide and the reason you should start under these charges and work up. : 1,266 1,472 Press. Accurate, powder-puff recoil, and serious power all in one. Also internet references 2009, Copyright. As a result, Ive been able to spend far more time practicing with it rather than fussing with it. The quality of the loads equals a bargain. 38 Special 125 gr XTP American Gunner Item #90324 | 25/Box The American Gunner line of ammunition is a collection of tried-and-true, versatile loads that are popular with shooters for their target shooting, hunting or self-defense needs. But its also worth considering that its pushing the same size and weight projectile at the same velocity as the standard Army revolver load during the Civil War. YMMV. SASS# 85224. Enter 38 Special. Bullseye is one of the oldest smokeless pistol powders and still one of the most popular. (Note: These are near maximum loads (in some cases ARE MAXIMUM), you should use 10%. In fact, in the past I specifically sought out revolvers chambered in 38 SPL only, knowing I would never be putting a 357 Mag in it (I carried a 4 GP100 chambered in 38 SPL as a duty sidearm in the early 90s). I was hoping I could use this combo to make use of available components. Posted March 19, 2015. I just bought some 158 gr SWC bullets that are pure lead. In one or two strokes, the bullet is formed ready for dip lubing. Ive been reloading and shooting for over 40 years and love revolvers but 90% of the time my carry gun is a Sig 365 with a 12 round mag and a spare. What I have found most remarkable is how well some pistols that typically fling wide groups have clustered the semiwadcutters. Everyone here who has tried plated bullets including myself, have had disappointing results in accuracy. The least is usually supplied as a large cylindrical billet weighing several hundred pounds. Alliant listed 3.6 gr Bullseye as maximum (15000 psi) in 38 Special and 3.8 as max in 38 Special PLUS P (17000 psi) with 158 LSWC bullets. If you are new to reloading. Two years into my second century a Colt MK IV Series 80 LTWT Commander 45 ACP still delivers the big medicine, but I have become enthralled with a new wheel gun- a Charter Arms Professional 32 H&R Magnum. As example, 5.8 6.0 grains UNIQUE with a 125 grain HP in a snub nose .357 revolver. Thanks very much to LarryinTX for that! I would add that the firearm mentioned, a Model 27 S&W revolver is a very durable gun, intended for the hotter loading of .357 Magnum. In half a dozen different sixguns, it ranged from accurate to spectacular. Coming in 30 grains lighter and 80 fps slower than hardball, as well as being lead rather than jacketed, the 200/4.6 SWC is amazingly soft. was a breeze. If you havent taken a look at what the .38 Special offers, youre selling yourself short. Recoil in that gun is less than most 45 ACP 1911s I have shot, and its still got around 500-600ft lbs of energy which is more than enough for feral hogs around the ranch back home. I always used mixed brass because it was all I had. This is not loaded 9mm ammo. 300 Blackout Fine-Tuning: Finding the Right Barrel Length for Your Rifle. Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. Case life is excellent, especially for mild loads. I thought the DR program was NRA, not CMP. 110gr JHP! The proof pressure MAP specified by SAAMI is 29,500 psi for both rounds. *WAP is not best choice for .38 special, too slow and inconsistent. If you, I took the vow not to buy any more AR-15s a couple of years ago. I load it almost exclusively though with either a powder coated or plated 125 grn bullet. The .38 Special's MAP is 17,000 psi, whereas for the .38 Special +P it is 20,000 psi. Recoil is subjective and I feel no difference between that and an 750-775 fps load. I load my own, 130 gr RNFP using Win 231 powder a little over the mid point in the published load data. My Ruger LCR .357 Magnum is pleasant to shoot even with full pressure loads. 110gr JHP! would also bridge the gap that the .38 versus .357 have in defensive loads. May 15, 2012. kc2za said: Hi All, I have been loading .38 spl with 2.7 gr. .38 J frame.) The .327 Fed Mag is IT! These are the bullets I bought: 158 gr from Roze dist. Using bullets from Hornady HP-XTP, Hornady HP-XTP or FP-XTP, Hornady FP-Cowboy, Hornady HBWC, Hornady SWC-HP, SWC or LRN. Dec 18, 2011. Reloading supplies and load recipes are available everywhere. All three of those powders have published load data for that weight bullet in .38 Special. In my time spent with the .38, I have come to greatly appreciate it for what it is and does. Love my 642 for concealed carry, but have an SP101 (also a snubby) in .38 special (only) for use on the range. And if youre doing that [shooting 158 grain bullets at 1200 fps muzzle velocity] with a snub.let me know I wanna watch you shoot em. 38 spl.s. Below, are three loaded rounds. The Bullseye powder pushed five into two inches flat for another 1911 that is typically a four-inch gun. Left to right:148 gr. 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company Even at hot .44 mag velocities my Super Redhawk has shiny bore with zero leading. No benchrest, nothing but two shakey hands holding the pistol. Choosing a bullet What sort of wildlife are you thinking would be a good application for this self-defense load? Maybe its just my age, but I may never shoot a 38 again after discovering the 32. I can usually keep 1.5" groups with it at 25 yards if I do my part. I once had to quote the South Carolina Supreme Court when they had spelled it loathe., Regards, The big medicine was delivered by a 1911, but S&W K frames (favorites were Models 12 & 64) took care of everything else. Not as easy to find brass these days as it is not the most popular round anymore. Youd just be risking ALOT firing it in a .38 framed revolver. Also some WSF. In 38/357 they don't list 105 gr bullets, but the do list 90's and 125's. Easy enough to extrapolate for a 105 grain . Thats a pretty clear explanation and comparison of the NEEDS of the strength of the chamber for each caliber. Did you cross post the bullet weight? These bullets shot to point of aim in modern S&W snubbies, but the older M10-5 was regulated with 158 grain bullets and 125's shoot low. September 2015 S.W.A.T. If you're looking for a real light load that's easy to shoot, I'd just use WW's data for the W231 with a 125 gr. Stylish But Serious: Kimber Super Carry Pro, Survival Savvy: Gearing Up for the Next Level, Force Multiplier: Knife and Gun Integration. ,I looked at Speer data, nothing there. I use 3.2 gr Bullseye to push a 125 gr cast along at 750 - 775 fps in the 38 SPL from 5 and 6" barreled revolvers. WST is a good powder for a very specialized load. What are YOU shooting? Recoil is mild enough that for many years it was the golden choice for the next introductory step for young or new shooters after rimfire. Load cut these cards at five yards out of this Model 15. Ive saved all my .38 brass over the last couple of years for whenever I find time to get into reloading. Start conservative if you wish. No matter where you look, the first mention in classic loads for the .38 Special is a 148-grain wadcutter over 2.7 grains of Bullseye. The use of .38 +P+ level (25,000 27,500 psi) type reloads, in .357 brass. When I finally got my hands on a pound of Bullseye, I naturally started with some of these loads. Good point Len. 4.4 gr. I once rented a Ruger LCR in .38 Special. The Speer #8 lists a max of 7.5 grs Unique with a 125 gr Jacketed SP This would be for plinking for my wife's ~3" Rossi, so something light and fun to shoot would be great.All three of those powders have published load data for that weight bullet in .38 Special.All three of those powders have published load data for that weight bullet in .38 . I havent shot too many full house Casull loads, but I get a huge grin when shooting my reduced loads of 7.5grs of Trail Boss under a Cast Performance 360gr WLFN. This too is useful information. That revolver is aluminum and cannot handle the pressure of 9MM. I can shoot this load at speeds I cant normally reach with .45. Ive played with several that I like, but the classic in 9mm is 4.4 grains driving a 115-grain jacketed bullet. Battis, if you go to the very bottom of this page you will see Castpics. Good shootin! Like Wobbly. 358430 (195 grain) round nose bullet that was used in the old 200 grain police loads as there is always interest in these. Shot placement is just as important if not more. As I researched loads in the meantime, I kept seeing the same several popping up again and again in sources from as recent as yesterday to long out of print books from when air travel was a newfangled wonder. * All PLUS P loads for guns designed for it (20,000 PSI), (Cowboy loads shot in 7 1/2 bbl.revolver no need to reduce), ALL THESE LOADS ARE PLUS P, SPECIAL HOT 21,000 PSI. It seems to burn completely in the .38 and is not as critical as the faster powders like Bullseye. I guess its out of production now- I havent seen it (or heard of it) in years. But I think I was still loading the cases from that first box when I quit loading 18 years later! Just depends on what kinds of loads you plan to shoot. Hodgdon's Basic Reloading Manual, (The free one, available for the asking. These two can cover the entire performance spectrum up to .38+P. Even though the gun was chambered for .357 Magnum, I plinked and practiced with a lot of .38s over the years. Discussion: Bullseye is a faster burning powder and some people feel better suited for the .38 special. Its just two lubed balls on top of each other with the top ball roll crimped just past the hemisphere. In terms of the best stopping power for .38 Special, I personally like 150 grain full wadcutters or 158 grain hollowpoint semi-wadcutters. In fact, Hornady's handloading manual includes .357-inch bullets in the load data for the .38 Super, specifically 125-grain and 140-grain XTP bullets, along with .355-inch bullets, and their one remaining .356-inch bullet, the 125-grain HAP. . Posted: 4/17/2014 10:53:09 AM EST. Be careful about published sources (and doubly so about internet sources), regarding maximum loads for the 38 special. I stopped handloading around 1985, so Im not certain how much technology has changed in that area, but in general it sounds like our experiences are similar. Has anyone loaded 38 special with these compoments? During my first half century on this planet, my caliber of choice for defense was 45 ACP- but for everything else it was always 38 SPL. Thank you for the article. Think that if a .44 spl. There seems to be a dearth of information using WST powder for the 38 Spl cartridge. Others Have reported some success but few have more than one or two loads. This load chugs downrange at 750 feet each second and functions standard recoil springs with no issue. Does anyone have any luck with Jacked Bullets. Bullet seating depth is very forgiving. Hence the lack of load data from just about anybody. For example, a Glock 17 shot the HAP into 1.35 inches and the FMJ into 2.2 inches at 25 yards. I use 2.8-3.0 grains of Bullseye or AA#2 with 158 gr. Soft shooting. [ARCHIVED THREAD] - 5.0 gr unique with berry's 125gr = .38 Special squibs (solved ! I have a few 30-30 cases modified to shoot singles with a very light load. looks like today. JHP, 158 gr. I will always love the 38 SPL (never cared much for 357 Mag), but that 3 seven shot Charter with both 32 S&W Long and 32 H&R Mag is truly the bees knees. While I wish I could carry a 5 .45 WITNESS with several 10 round mags, as a senior citizen, the S&W J frame is my user friendly alternate. I have read some posts online from people who claim that it makes no difference whether the bullets are swaged or cast; and they can be loaded to the same velocity, but the swaged bullets will lead up a barrel faster because the lead is softer. Power Pistols works well in short auto cartridges and higher pressure cartridges but no so well with a 158 grain bullets in 38 Special. Wife handled it with no problem, those 5 Super Vel had been in the gun probably over 5 years by then, she bought it to CARRY, not to shoot, if she needed to fire it to save her life it would be fine. in a belt holster at 4:00. Bonus is the CT #305 grips are both large enough to be actually useful, and can use the laser, or turn it off if you dont need the laser. The .38 ammo is more common to find than the .44 ammo, so that is a big reason to reload the .44. (For those who would. Both are excellent fight stoppers. That isnt unique to Bullseye, but is certainly more pronounced with the relatively small charges required. I could knock out a pretty substantial chunk of my shooting needs with only these three loads. While I do have a GP100 in .357 magnum, I dont like shooting .38 special ammo out of it, because cleaning powder residue out of the longer chambers is a real bitch. And yes I appreciate them for a hunting gun because of their fine accuracy and find trigger pulls (older classic guns). 6.) Ive also switched from lead to Berrys Preferred copper plated bullets. My sq. .38 Special: What Ive Learned After 20,000 Rounds, Stacey Abrams Whopper: No one believes in eroding the Second Amendment, Scottsdale Home Owner Uses Shotgun to Stop Naked Home Invader Caught in His Childs Room [VIDEO], Liberty Ammunitions Innovative Personal Defense Rounds are Lighter, Go Faster, and Hit Harder. I did start out fawning over all of the tactical gear, but once I had that covered my tastes matured I think to love the wood and steel guns. (Inceptor) Diameter: 0.357" Powder: CFE Pistol (Hodgdon) Primer: WIN WSP Case: WIN Trim Length: 1.145" C.O.L. I've been reading about this. A 158 SWCHP at 850-875 fps from a snub. And it isnt my first rodeo with a J-frame. For 3 that actually doesnt kick too badly. Honestly, plated bullets won't give you the level of accuracy needed for bullseye competition, even at 25 yards. I love a nice, full-size .357 Magnum on the range because it is so easy to train new shooters on. I have two editions of it from different years that have that data. Don't know of any bullets like that. Heck, 38s in a J frame arent fun- theres no way a 327 Mag isnt worse. 1.) 125: 125: 130: 135: 140: 140: 146: 148: 158: 158: 158: 170 _____ Quick Links Home Load Data Bullet Points: BE SURE TO CHECK OUT & FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM FEED CONNECT WITH THE 1895GUNNER.COM COMMUNITY . Canister Sizes: View All Bullseye Recipes You gotta try the S&W M342 Airlight TI. Swaged bullets do not have the hardness of poured (cast) lead. The 125 Hornady XTP, a jacketed hollow point bullet that can easily handle 1500 fps velocities. 1.455 in. The mention of a Lee Loader somewhere above took me back to the good-old days. This produces about 550-650fps from a 1 7/8 barrel and feels like shooting a very powerful .22LR. It also shows that the loads were established using a 6" barrel, so regardless of what any published data shows, the chances of ever finding published data for the exact projectile and barrel length you are using, as well as the exact conditions you will be shooting in, would be nearly impossible. Winchester 231 is between Bullseye and Unique for the .38 special (see my personal load above). Javascript is required. My best group was .9 inch out of a Model 15. Then duplicate with reloads for practice. Midway has it in stock. When I finally nabbed my own canisters of Bullseye, the first load I spun up was 2.7 grains under Hornadys hollow-base wadcutters. Thanks for the guidance and suggestions. . Jacketed bullets are legal for DR, as long as they are 158 grain round nose or semi-wadcutter. S&W M637-2 2" barrel are you loading .38 special brass, or .357 magnum brass? My Lyman 49th has data for 125 gr JHP and 120 gr LRN. True enough that it doesnt make power factor for Custom Defensive Pistol in IDPA or major in USPSA competition. Click there and go to the load data lookup section . With a charge of only 3.1 grains of Winchester 231 powder, velocities run around 750 to 800 fps with good accuracy and mild recoil. Accurate's No. Ive tried full metal jacket and the Hornady Action Pistol (HAP) match hollow point in this load, and both ranged from good to great in my nines. of Bullseye, 148 gr lead DEWC and Federal 100 primers. Alliant listed 3.6 gr Bullseye as maximum (15000 psi) in 38 Special and 3.8 as max in 38 Special PLUS P (17000 psi) with 158 LSWC bullets. Last I looked still available at Brownells. I wish Id had a commercial version of this load in my ammo allocation when we were tasked with getting classes of students up to special operations standards with the issue custom 1911s. Agree Problem with the J frame S&W is the grips. The manufacturing process of swaged bullets requires relatively soft lead for two reasons. My Hornady book says for 158 gr L-SWC, Unique powder, CCI magnum primer the minimum listed (not sure if that's absolute minimum) is 4.3 and maximum is 4.7. Now theres an old memory. The upside of the grainage is that the small charges mean more loaded rounds per pound of powderhelpful since Bullseye can take a while to reacquire once the container is empty. Content . The floor does not apply for PPC, or the equivalent match for Action Pistol. The range (understandably) insisted you shoot their ammunition and the mildest they had was 158 grain LRN standard pressure. Between that, some other info on other forums, Winchester's data for a lead flat point, and numbers from loaddata.com, I think I have some to start with. I really enjoy Trail Boss and use it extensively for plain lead and plated bullets. 38 Special, all bullet weights Bullet Powder Weight Powder Velocity OAL Primer Source 110gr JHP! Insufficient crimping ) ARCHIVED. All right are Reserved Reload Ammo, Reloading The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), hi=849 lo=728 ES=122 (powder up and down), hi=821 lo=684 ES=137 (powder up and down), hi=815 lo=637 ES=178 (powder in normal positions), hi=714 lo=549 ES=165 (powder up and down), hi=758 lo=693 ES=65 (powder up and down)(DO NOT USE LESS), Hi=886, Lo=861, ES=25 (This is a Carolina Cast bullet SWC-great cowboy load), hi=859 lo=743 ES=116 *(my personal medium load), hi=875 lo=685 ES=190.2(powder up and down), hi=710 lo=497 ES=213 (powder up and down), hi=791 lo=625 ES=166 (Powder up and down), hi=785 lo=670 ES=115 (powder up and down), hi=801, low=766 ES=35.32 in Contender 14 bbl. Wes, SASS Wire rules prohibit posting specific load data on the forum, but it can be passed along via private message or email. Thanks for the excellent article, Josh! As an old bullseye guy I've stuck with Bullseye powder for almost 30yearsusing lead bullets. Hence I carry a semi-auto pistol chambered in .40 S&W. Reloading Data for .38 Special - Load Data - 1895Gunner. I went to the grocery store to buy a loath of bread.. I get 1000 fps with this load. The .38 Special remains very popular for personal protection and Michelle Hamilton shares her thoughts on the top loads for concealed carry, like this 158-grain SWCHP FBI Load, based on her testing. To many shooters, .45 ACP means 230-grain hardball at 830 fps. I did find a 145 grain Lead HP with a rounded ogive (like the last NyClad) on Gunbroker that opens really well if you get above 800 fps. This wire is then fed into a machine called a cold header. The design of this modern revolver makes the SW guns seem archaic. I also find the LCR .357 enjoyable to shoot with all .38s and most .357s. We look at three classics: one each in .45 ACP, .38 Special, and 9mm. SWC+GC, All newly manufactured .38 Special revolvers must be proof tested to the same higher proof . Note: More and more test are conducted with all rounds fired with powder UP against the primer for each shot, or DOWN on the bullet for each shot, then gently bring to horizontal to shoot. 1.455 in. The only way to shoot both 9mm and .38 special is to have two separate cylinders timed to the revolver. I recently picked up a 396 Nightguard and am a convert to the 44 Special! I was looking through the Lyman 49th edition reloading manual and see the bullets you are talking about. I, like Spartacus, find the SAAMI recommendations an interesting spec for comparative purposes. Magtech Sport Shooting, 38 Special, 125 Grain, Full Metal Jacket, Flat, 50 Round Box 38Q Bullseye and NRA Distinguished Revolver I'm planning to use Alliant's Unique powder to reload with 125 grain flat point jacketed bullets from Berry's and Winchester small pistol primers. Also, too light loads don't allow the bullet to seal the gases causing problems. The pistol or revolver of good quality is vital. Enough that the range Officer at my range recognized them because the muzzle blast made a distinctive cat whisker pattern at 8 and 10, and 2 and 4 o clock. You need a .357 Magnum revolver if you want to try a 9MM cylinder. Robert Frost. Very little recoil, and grouped acceptably out to 15 yards or so. 100 except where otherwise noted in "remarks" Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data. I agree, an airweight has snappy recoil. I here from quite a few that 3.5 gr of bullseye is a good load for 158 gr lead Bullets for bullseye shooting. I bought him as a gift a 642 with the black rubber grips, a few speedloaders w/big knob tops, and Hornady 125 grain FTX loads. Hornady also has load data for the 110-grain .357 XTP for the lower-pressure .38 Automatic. A Forum dedicated to the sport of Bullseye shooting, Bullseye-L Forum::Ammunition Discussion, I'm looking for an accurate load using 125gr bullets. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. What I learned after 50 years of shooting and reloading 38spl cases some where around 100 thousands rounds. But one classic target load is not far behind the .38 wadcutter in its own reputation with target shooters: a 200-grain semiwadcutter bottling up 4.6 grains of Bullseye. I use 3 gr. Depends on what kind of load you're after. Because we have no action to cycle, the novice reloader can afford to be off a bit if they have an entry-level scale or powder dispenser. Therefore, your platform yields a lot of safety cushion with target loads. Traditionally, the max SAAMI pressures were: 38 S&W 14,500 I keep it under my seat in case I get an unwanted intruder and I cant get to my IWB semi auto. I believe this particular bullet is meant for the 9mm,but drops at 358. I'd imagine I'm not the first person to use this load, but I have found it is a very sooty/smokey load. Shoot cast and coated bullets and you can go much higher in load and velocity. WAP, WMR, WSF, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div. I have several manuals and some say that this load is a low +p, some say it is not, but it is very accurate. Three in particular proved as good as their longstanding reputations would indicate. Thx so it seems like for the long line I need to get some sagged bullets. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. I have used everything from simple lead to the most advanced machined copper bullets and found them all to be extraordinarily easy to load and shoot. Dennis, I dont reload and Im only 72, but shooting the .38Spl in my 6 S&W 586 is a sublime experience. Lucky me. Just got back into reloading 38 special again after a long hiatus with no revolver, and was instantly reminded of what a joy it is to reload. hard cast LSWC's as a target load. Forget about it. Red Dot work fine for most 38 Special loads. 7.8 gr Blue Dot 1,170 fps 1.43" Fed 100 Alliant Suggested starting load: 7.0 gr Pressure: 15,700 4.5 gr Bullseye 1,085 fps 1.43" Fed 100 Alliant Suggested starting load: 4.1 gr Pressure: 14,900 Hornady 115-grain HAPs over 4.4 grains of Bullseye alongside 25-yard timed-fire target. The Model 19 is fine with .38s but mildly uncomfortable with .357s. JHP, 125 gr. Classic loads are economical. Interestingly, I had pistols that would shoot one well and the other impressively, but have not yet had one pistol do magic with both. At belly button range, very nasty load. Boolit Grand Master. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck. Dont know where #1 Buckshot can be found, but the Speer shot cups and UNIQUE powder currently easy enough to find. I'm new to reloading, starting off with a single stage Lee press reloading .38 special and .357 magnum with Lee's 4 die carbide set. Does anyone have any data. I first started reloading 40+ years ago at a Lee Loader in .38 Special for a brand new Smith & Wesson Model 66 I had just purchased. The same volume of BE will weigh much more than than same volume of WST. I use Bullseye powder but it's about the same burn rate. 357 LCR in 3 inch variant. WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets, Re: WST for .38 special 125 gr plated bullets. Just shows the importance of trying/checking the feel of a gun and if possible, test firing it, before you buy it. The .44 spl. There is a difference in the manufacturing process of swaged bullets. Loads for .38 S&W: This short, little cartridge has been around since the 1870's and was most common in the "break-top" models. Were all familiar with the old adage, Never bring a knife to a gunfight. And while we should, The active shooter is a relatively new phenomenon in the grand scheme of things. 10. The jump straight to relatively hot GI hardball challenged many students, and failure to meet standards meant being dropped from the course. Maybe its just me, but having that tiny bit of extra length and weight in the cylinder that I was never going to use just kinda bothered me. Bullseye is primarily associated with .38 and .45after all, it says right on the bottle: Great for .38 Special and .45 Auto target loads. But it is equally at home in high-velocity auto loads. Ask your Dealer, or call Hodgdon), has a Cowboy Load section, (near the center fold), that lists data for about all SASS calibers. https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck?highlight=distinguished+++%2Bloads, Load question on Penn Bullets for Distinguished load. At 25 you can get away with a lighter load. June 13, 2016 in 9mm/38 Caliber. Most starting .357 reloading powder levels will fall in this .38 +P+ type reload, and the powder being used can be selected (faster or slower) based on barrel length. want me to write up an article about 3d printed .38 special bullets that Ive been working? Ive not had a handgun entirely reject either load, so the recipe seems to be a worthy third alongside the previous .38 and .45. Your email address will not be published. Load it using wadcutter specs, and seat the bullet flush, like a wadcutter. 2.7 gr. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Hodgdon - 700-X: 125 gr. Starting being near 3gr - ish. 4.2 gr. Ive been loading 158gr FMJ with Titegroup and the only problem Ive had is getting the seating depth right after the die locknut slipped. Powered by Invision Community, 125 grain plated flat point in 38 Special. in 158 weight berry's bullet 3.8 grains of bullseye with a taper crimp. Too early Are you sure? Im new to loading the 38 for accuracy, but the biggest issue I found with case length is your crimp. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. It would seem that a 125 grain GDHP is of the same weight and would have a similar profile to what you want to use. 3.7gr WST with Zero 158 SWC did the job for me. .38 special has got to be one of the best calibers there is . I bet you can find some nice shooting loads with Bullseye. Your previous content has been restored. I reached an interesting number the other day. Bullseye 3.2gr / 763fps --> 4.2gr / 892fps (max) Unique 4.3gr / 773fps --> 5.3gr / 944fps (max) 231 3.9gr / 733fps --> 4.8gr / 896pfs (max) These are out of a 5.5 inch barrel Edited June 25, 2016 by jschweg Dr. Phil Classifieds 712 They are low because of swaged bullets. IIRC, I used 4.5 gr of Bullseye under a 125 gr lead bullet for a light plinker, and 5.6 gr of Bullseye under a 148 gr wadcutter (~815 fps, 4" bbl, probably around 750 fps out of a snub). When using a 158 gr. ammunition in the same gun enables that shooter to hunt larger game and to fend off beasts that snarl. However recoil will be the limiting factor especially for the short line. Hodgdon gives starting load of 4.0 grains and 4.4 grains MAX. I am way shy of 70 years old and I love me some .38 Special. Speer .38 shot cup, 5 grains of UNIQUE, and (3) #1 Buckshot pellets dates back to the 70s as a Junk Yard Dog load. The gun has appeared on TTAG before and has remained unchanged as far as accessories.