I simply took mixed brass and ran em through the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP press with the bare minimum preparation. 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. I had ammo for some friends as low as 600 fps. If you can follow simple instructions, you can safely load this cartridge. I load a hard cast 125gn for my 38 special all the time. These were one each in .45 ACP, .38 Special, and 9mm. With the powders you listed I would try Bullseye, 231, and Unique in that order. Based on this Id load some at 3.3 and 3.5 and see what you get, but Id never exceed 3.8 ever. The best part about this is that not only do you never really lose your fired cases, but you they are always in great condition. Never ransom rested it, but held 10 ring off sandbags. The covered blackstrap and extended length Compac design I reckon are major factors in reducing perceived recoil. http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/Powder.aspx?powderid=1, I also have the Berry's 125gr plated flat point bullet and I am trying to find a min and max load with unique powder. Really interested in getting the. But this piece isnt about the gun, but rather the cartridge. That one Ill keep. Your email address will not be published. All three of those powders have published load data for that weight bullet in .38 Special. You gotta try the S&W M342 Airlight TI. Good job on you! Choosing a bullet He loves this gun and keeps it in reach 24/7. A Forum dedicated to the sport of Bullseye shooting, Bullseye-L Forum::Ammunition Discussion, byPacFltShooter Wed Oct 28, 2020 9:00 am, byPacFltShooter Wed Oct 28, 2020 5:36 pm, byPacFltShooter Wed Oct 28, 2020 6:46 pm, byPacFltShooter Wed Oct 28, 2020 8:45 pm, byPacFltShooter Wed Nov 04, 2020 4:50 pm. WST seems like such a good powder in .45 ACP that I thought I might try it. The .38 with careful selection of components can be the cats as* for almost any shooter. Classic loads are economical. They have a large selection about the hard cast loads from 90 to 170 gains. IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. But you guys need to practice more. The 38 Special, practically snubnose 38 Specials, seem to do their best work with bullets right around the 155-160 grain range. less to start.) The Model 19 is fine with .38s but mildly uncomfortable with .357s. 110gr JHP! The 4.0 grain load is relatively mild recoil and was accurate. I have tested both brass and nickel-plated cases using mild loadings and have not yet worn out a case. 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. It seems to burn completely in the .38 and is not as critical as the faster powders like Bullseye. Shoots well in my K-38, 686, and a friend's K-38 at 50 yards in the Ransom rest. Im new to loading the 38 for accuracy, but the biggest issue I found with case length is your crimp. 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. From my Hornady Third Edition manual 38 Special 158 Grain Lead Round Nose #3586 Win 231 3.0 Grains 650 FPS 4.4 Grains 850 FPS Now I will tell you from experience you do NOT want to load Lead Bullets Fast. want me to write up an article about 3d printed .38 special bullets that Ive been working? Too early Are you sure? Click there and go to the load data lookup section . The other .38 Special is a 4 Colt Diamondback. Yeah, my wifes last gun, with +P it actually HURTS! Most people have one general power level for their semi-autos due to the fact that the guns wont function with ammo thats not energetic enough to cycle the slide. Berry says load plated bullets to mid-range jacketed bullets of same profile and weight or equal to hard cast. Even though the gun was chambered for .357 Magnum, I plinked and practiced with a lot of .38s over the years. Not in that order. The proof pressure MAP specified by SAAMI is 29,500 psi for both rounds. Most modern revolvers chambered for .38 SPL are rated to +P, so there is room for error, but care must still be taken. LRNFP - your load, with a plated bullet should be Very Similar, or slightly slower and safer. I.E. 2.) The plated bullets feed nicely through my bullet feeder. My personal loads for practice replicate my carry. Its like a pellet gun with a little noise and smoke if using black powder. I prefer the slower burning Unique, and I also use it for .357 magnum, just more of it. This is not loaded 9mm ammo. By The jump straight to relatively hot GI hardball challenged many students, and failure to meet standards meant being dropped from the course. Load shot well out of a variety of service handguns. If you, I took the vow not to buy any more AR-15s a couple of years ago. Ive not had a handgun entirely reject either load, so the recipe seems to be a worthy third alongside the previous .38 and .45. I have 4 handguns that will shoot .38. Caveat: I have decided that I want to be prepared for threat scenarios that include stopping a terrorist or spree-killer (the odds of which I fully recognize is statistically zero). Don't worry too much about lead/coated/plated/jacketed. Have a Tritium sight and laser on it to boot. Lord only knows how many cartridge cases I hammered with a plastic mallet into that Lee, it had to be thousands. I probably shoot more 38s than everything else put together but a Dillon 750 makes loading a lot faster. And I still think a 158 at 600 beats hell out of a 22 magnum of any stripe. IMHO .38 special is just fine for self defense, but just not enough to crack engine blocks. Since it hit the market 103 years ago, it has been a staple for most handloaders and the backbone of most accuracy loads in the popular calibers. If you are new to reloading. [.38 Special] is a very versatile and useful round. Yes I do have a few of the older high quality classic revolvers not the current made Cast Iron garbage that is being vomited out today. 11/2/2022. On my J frame S&W without the CT #305 Laser Grips, I swapped out to a Hoque set. I fired 3 Remington 125 SJHP 357s from a 340 and thought i had nerve damage in my hand. But I think I was still loading the cases from that first box when I quit loading 18 years later! However, after consulting my several different manuals, 3.5 seems to be a border line max load. Content . 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. A 4 inch barrel would be my choice as well. Hehe, back before Nick skimmed down. is limited to either the various Charter Arms models, or as a training/target load in a .44 magnum size handguns. Like almost all pistol cartridges called ".38" the .38 Special actually takes .357" diameter bullets. ES 27 SD 12 Independence 130 grain FMJ round nose MV 892 fps ME 230 ft./lbs. for 38 special 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. Have you all found different seat depths to work better than what's in the manual? Posted March 2, 2013. Very little recoil, and grouped acceptably out to 15 yards or so. was a breeze. My J frame S&Ws are all older models, and came with the small grips that are still on some models. I too must be older than my years (35), as I love reloading .38SPL and have a S&W 442, S&W 36, and my most recent acquisition is a S&W 19-5 that is an absolute joy to shoot. . I recently bought trail boss and it runs fine out of my 14-3. It is a very versatile and useful round. Shot placement is just as important if not more. The beauty of shooting a .38 is that you can easily practice at the ranges you'd fight at using basically any cheap bullet at minimal expense. You are spot on about Trail Boss, that stuff is magical with cast reloads. In half a dozen different sixguns, it ranged from accurate to spectacular. But I would only be caught dead with one in my hands if I had to use one for self defense (pun intended). * There have been guns Ive bought for the caliber, but the .38 wasnt one of those. The same volume of BE will weigh much more than than same volume of WST. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck.. 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. Upload or insert images from URL. . If youre recoil averse (and dont have a disability of some kind), its because you havent shot it enough. I'm looking for some recipes for 38 special for a 125 grain copper plated (like Berry's) flat point bullet using Unique, Bullseye, or W231. Does anyone have any data. Using higher pressure loads will wear brass out faster and it will become brittle with time. The swaged bullets are soft enough that they expand even at mild velocities where a JHP or hard cast cant. ), I very much wanted to start with some tried-and-true Bullseye loads, but it took an epic scavenger hunt across many months to find a canister of the elusive classic. The stuff you learn shooting 20,000 reloads (on top of thousands of rounds of factory ammo) can be pretty interesting and I feel that Ive got a very good picture of what the .38 Special. I found it to be a nice blend of accuracy, soft recoil, and sure functioning, with enough spice behind it to reliably topple steel targets. I find the Pachmayr Compac grips on my 640 reduce the slap of full-boat .357 to less than that on my 3 M65 (w/ wood Altamont grips) or my 4 686 (Pachmayr Gripper Professional grips.) I have tested lots and lots of different bullet and found them all to be great. 32 H&R Mag 21,000 I have several manuals and some say that this load is a low +p, some say it is not, but it is very accurate. Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum (because no 6-inch Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver was on hand). I like Bullseye in the 38 Special, and it was a consistent performer with the 125 grain bullets. Loath and Loathe are different words that mean different things. On 7/4/2018 at 11:57 AM, Bill Sahlberg said: There is nothing more accurate at PPC than 148 gr8 HBWC (lead) using 2.8 gr of 231 and a tight crimp with Starline 38 Special brass & a Federal Small pistol primer. Really important to have a chrono if you're going to work up loads When I first bought my chrono, I was amazed at how HOT my loads were - unnecessarily. No more lead in the barrel or on my hands. I'm guessing they still go bang, and leave the gun to go downrange. Thanks for the excellent article, Josh! 358430 (195 grain) round nose bullet that was used in the old 200 grain police loads as there is always interest in these. As anyone learns quickly, first thing that needs to be done is to replace the small factory S&W grips (I use Hogue) so you can hold onto the gun. Im still new to reloading, having done 2500 38 spl with bullseye. 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. "Berry's Superior Plated Bullets are the finest bonded copper-jacketed bullets available today.." ?. Unlike the author, I did *not* keep records, I cant even imagine how many rounds I loaded, almost 100% .357 magnum, since that was all I shot. True enough that it doesnt make power factor for Custom Defensive Pistol in IDPA or major in USPSA competition. For best accuracy in slow fire shooting, you may want to raise gun before every shot. The load is a great learning tool in .45 for beginner and experienced alike. The gun has appeared on TTAG before and has remained unchanged as far as accessories. It is easy to load in progressive presses and has commercially available options from virtually all modern manufacturers. It doesnt appear like there is much of an advantage in using WST with lighter weight bullets. Now theres an old memory. These are hand loads.. load data was published in Lyman 50th edition.. A Forum dedicated to the sport of Bullseye shooting, Bullseye-L Forum::Ammunition Discussion. The flyers tend to be severe. Bullseye, Unique and 2400 are products of Alliant (formerly Hercules) Powders. 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. I've tried Berry's plated as well as Remington. September 2015 S.W.A.T. This post was originally published in 2018. Ive long since changed to a press, but that Lee Loader in its cardboard box is still in a storage box for obsolescent reloading gear. I have 125 grain jacketed bullets, Bullseye powder and CCI 500 primers. The Pistol a Smith and Wesson model 27-2 The goal is two fold. At 25 you can get away with a lighter load. I have a few 30-30 cases modified to shoot singles with a very light load. Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. I like the smell of Bullseye, dont mind wiping the handguns down after a range day, and the dark soot that accumulates on my support hand when shooting wheelguns in particular just reminds me to wash up. Testing out some bullseye with 125 berry's bullets.. Nice thing about reloading is that loads can be tailored for the gun that you are shooting. You are absolutely correct. Zero 158 grain swaged SWC, Starline brass, Winchester or Federal primer, 2.8 grains of Bullseye, roll crimp. You can always back off to the .32 S&W Long or .32 H&R Mag if you choose to. 2 and No. I picked some up from my local Scheels yesterday. I haven't used any of those powders but I like faster powders in 38 Special like Titegroup and Clays. Like both the .38 and the .44 spl. Only the Model 60 sometimes have factory installed grips that are not worthless. Required fields are marked *. Hence I carry a semi-auto pistol chambered in .40 S&W. The cowboy loads would be good choices as listed, since these ARE reduced loads for that sport, where usually just hitting a metal plate to make a sound is all that is required of the round. 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. Jack it up a notch and go with .327 Federal Magnum. The pistol or revolver of good quality is vital. THAT TIME IS BETTER SPENT LEARNING HOW TO SHOOT THE REVOLVER IN THE RAPID FIRE PORTION. Like Wobbly. That revolver is aluminum and cannot handle the pressure of 9MM. ES 56 SD 24 PMC Eldorado Starfire +P 125 gr. 4.2 gr. The beauty of shooting a .38 is that you can easily practice at the ranges youd fight at using basically any cheap bullet at minimal expense. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Hodgdon - 700-X: 125 gr. There seems to be a dearth of information using WST powder for the 38 Spl cartridge. I reached an interesting number the other day. 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. 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. Any discussion of Bullseye is incomplete without mentioning a few of the downsides. I have found that if you go down too low in charge you will have some ignition issues occasionally. RN, 160 gr. I don't have a chronograph, but have considered picking one up. The load you use will be up to your gun. I keep it under my seat in case I get an unwanted intruder and I cant get to my IWB semi auto. As I said I am not familiar with your frame and suspect it is one of the latest models out by Smith. Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Hodgdon - 700-X: 125 gr. The .38 Special's MAP is 17,000 psi, whereas for the .38 Special +P it is 20,000 psi. Over 20,000 rounds, Ive found that theres rarely a wrong way to do .38 SPL. Haven't tried it in the Colt Officer's Model Match yet. Great Cast Lead Bullet for IDPA. I went to the grocery store to buy a loath of bread.. IT'S A COMBINATION TAPER AND ROLL CRIMP. Very versatile cartridge. 38 Special +P 18,500 Clear editor. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. So you only hang onto the primer boxes loosely? Honestly, plated bullets won't give you the level of accuracy needed for bullseye competition, even at 25 yards. Don't know of any bullets like that. I routinely use only two powders: Trail Boss and Titegroup. The mention of a Lee Loader somewhere above took me back to the good-old days. .38 special has got to be one of the best calibers there is . Especially if you reload. As a result, Ive been able to spend far more time practicing with it rather than fussing with it. Most double end wad cutters are 148 grain, and DR bullets must be 158 grain. Despite being well over one hundred years old, it still has perfect relevance for todays shooters, both novice and advanced. Magtech Sport Shooting, 38 Special, 125 Grain, Full Metal Jacket, Flat, 50 Round Box 38Q in a belt holster at 4:00. My M60 came w/ factory banana grips- open back, long enough for pinkie rest but too small in girth behind the trigger guard. Seems like everyone is all orgasmic about bigger, faster, more of, etc. The bullets are seated flush in the case. Any clues for powder and starting loads???? Left to right:148 gr. I think you will find since the .38 special is headspaced on the rim your case length is very important to achieve your best accuracy. Similarly on drills with set times such as firing five shots in five seconds onto a bull at ten yards, the Bullseye load allows a little more time per shot to take advantage of a great 1911 trigger and lets the shooter nearly push shots into the same hole. 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. WST is less dense than BE. The .38 Special is the most popular of all centerfire revolver cartridges. That being the case, I truly NEED as much ammunition as possible and the ability to defeat soft barriers such as auto windshields, sheet metal, drywall, doors, etc. Shoot cast and coated bullets and you can go much higher in load and velocity. A little shopping around might do better, as would casting the lead bullets. 7.) In one or two strokes, the bullet is formed ready for dip lubing. 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. The cartridge offers a great deal of zest and has thousands of possible load combinations. In my area, Bullseye is one of the first powders to disappear from shelves, lasting about a heartbeat longer than an econo bulk box of .22 Long Rifle ammunition. I'm seating to what's in my loading manual. Here is the dillema: The Lyman manual says starting load is 3.2 grains and MAX. Each of the classic loads is also economical. A handgunner using .38 Specials is set for targets, plinking and small game while .357 Mag. Compac for my little finger to wrap around under the butt. For any loads over 900-1,000 FPS, I suggest using a jacketed bullet. What I learned after 50 years of shooting and reloading 38spl cases some where around 100 thousands rounds. You will find plenty of Red Dot loads there. Winchester 231 is between Bullseye and Unique for the .38 special (see my personal load above). I'd imagine I'm not the first person to use this load, but I have found it is a very sooty/smokey load. They are reliable accurate and deadly. And this is a guy who normally trusted nothing but a 45 acp. I load these bullets to the edge of the shoulder and use anywhere from 3-4 grains of TB. Power Pistols works well in short auto cartridges and higher pressure cartridges but no so well with a 158 grain bullets in 38 Special. This load chugs downrange at 750 feet each second and functions standard recoil springs with no issue. Did you cross post the bullet weight? But not too tough. Congratulations on spelling loath right. That for just a nice shooting load one cant beat 148gr wad-cutter for pure fun. I shoot a Glock 21, and had a great time shooting some poly coated 230 grain round noses today. Last I looked still available at Brownells. I am way shy of 70 years old and I love me some .38 Special. Bullseye Select A Caliber or Gauge Below To View Recipes. But, with jacketed bullets that doesn't seen to be working. 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). June 13, 2016 in 9mm/38 Caliber. Installed some wood boot grips, modified them with grooves at the bottom of each side panel, similar to those on Pach. 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 The cold header swages a bullet in one or two strokes. It's given me good results in the 2, 3 and 4 inch barreled. When I say that theres rarely a wrong way to do it, I really mean it. Agree 100% since I reload and shoot it since years, lost count. It seems to burn completely in the .38 and is not as critical as the faster powders like Bullseye. It will then fit in your 38 Special gun. Ive played with several that I like, but the classic in 9mm is 4.4 grains driving a 115-grain jacketed bullet. I always used mixed brass because it was all I had. In the 1950s, 60s. That little 9 oz. Good thing I didn't go with the original powder charge I intended to use. 2) Ammo that would work in the Air Force's Air Crewman Colt's and Smith and Wesson revolvers that had weak alloy cylinders. Jacketed bullets are legal for DR, as long as they are 158 grain round nose or semi-wadcutter. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. Ok, will the bullet easily pass thru the cylinder throat, if so, you need the next larger size bullet dia. I have one that has been loaded about sixty times and it is still in use today. Yes, I had no issues with the 38 SPL, but the 32 is just more FUN- especially when I get seven shots of it in a revolver the size of J frame! Dont know where #1 Buckshot can be found, but the Speer shot cups and UNIQUE powder currently easy enough to find. Im not a hoarder and I dont keep them, but I am detailed in my process. (Patrick Sweeney photo) September 15, 2021 By Michelle Hamilton, Field Editor. This. I shoot almost exclusively cast lead from my handguns. For me, the 32 H&R Mag is my 357 Mag, and the 32 S&W Long is my 38 SPL. He has taught and been responsible for numerous advanced skills and weapons courses within multiple organizations. Dont get me wrong: I think the Smith and Wesson Model 642 Airweight revolver is an outstanding self-defense (concealed carry) revolver and you wont feel/care about how snappy/unpleasant the recoil may be in a real self-defense event. Hodgdons Clays, International, Universal and HP38 are good choices. 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. What are YOU shooting? Everyone here who has tried plated bullets including myself, have had disappointing results in accuracy. Great article & thread!!! Enter to win an FN FAL Rifle. Bullseye 3.2gr / 763fps --> 4.2gr / 892fps (max), Unique 4.3gr / 773fps --> 5.3gr / 944fps (max), 231 3.9gr / 733fps --> 4.8gr / 896pfs (max). Best and most realistic article about the .38 special ive found. Easy to reload and it started my reloading experience. So I'd think you should find a decent load for short line at about 700 Fps and for the long line at about 800. I recently picked up a 396 Nightguard and am a convert to the 44 Special! Others Have reported some success but few have more than one or two loads. 1.455 in. Is it more bulky? Plated bullets are to be loaded as lead bullets. Currently using Titegroup, but started out with, and loaded many thousands of rounds, with Bullseye. These are light and easy to shoot. May 15, 2012. kc2za said: Hi All, I have been loading .38 spl with 2.7 gr. It is also one of the most pleasurable loads a shooter can touch off. swatmag.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. 148-grain wadcutter brings accuracy that begs the shooter to test their limits. I use CCI Snake shot for two and Buffalo Bore short Barrel 130 gr. 38 special is a great cartridge. Thanks to all for the info. I can shoot this load at speeds I cant normally reach with .45. Fifty yards of course is the preferred distance. My guess would be almost identical, straight wall, not high pressure, definitely. 38 spl.s. At belly button range, very nasty load. Ive probably picked up 300 cases of .38 the past few months and will continue to grab them as I see them, but whats nice is I can shoot more and put that money towards brass for .32 or .45 Colt, stuff that I never see at the range. .38 brass isnt as common as 9, .40, or .45 brass at the range, but of all the revolver brass you can find its the most plentiful. That's usually +P power level in .38 Special. Main issue is that the .44 spl. 3 1/2" average not included flyers which seem to happen on every group test. Enter 38 Special. I believe this particular bullet is meant for the 9mm,but drops at 358. Thanks for the guidance and suggestions. Just an FYI. I can not be held responsible for. in 158 weight berry's bullet 3.8 grains of bullseye with a taper crimp. If there is a search function for these forums (didn't see one) I'd be happy to use that too Go to the Alliant website and find the data for Unique and Bullseye. DR loads (158gr Remington swaged LSWC over 3.6gr AA#2 in Winchester .38 Special cases) I shoot American eagle, remington factory,remington umc, and mag tech. 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. Battis, if you go to the very bottom of this page you will see Castpics. I only wish the brass was more available locally. A Forum dedicated to the sport of Bullseye shooting, Bullseye-L Forum::Ammunition Discussion, I'm looking for an accurate load using 125gr bullets. If I get to see him shoot those loads, it would be worth the price of a new keyboard! I dont own anything in .38 special yet, but I have plans to buy a .357 magnum revolver in near future, so I already reloaded couple thousands of rounds in .38 and .357. Unlike many other guns Ive owned and carried, this little snubby really cant be modified much beyond factory configuration. accuracy. These are put into a large hydraulic press and extruded into a continuous coil of wire. In terms of thousands of rounds of range practice, though, that is a definite no-go in my book. 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.

Jesuit Baseball Kissing Tiktok, Two Species Of Finch Live In The Same Environment, Dresses Made In South Carolina, Coki Point Beach Bar And Grill Menu, Craigslist Peninsula Rooms For Rent Near Kyiv, Articles OTHER