38 special loads

[SlowFuse]

I am trying to decide which powder to start with for a new (to me) projectile. Looking at the 148 grain PPC #2 DEWC from MBC. I have plenty of titegroup, WST and HP38. I have the most of the HP38 on hand.

Anyone have experience with any of these powders using a dewc of this weight? The S&W model 10 will be handling most of these loads. I've found a great load using MBC's 158 grain swc in this revolver using 5.0 grains of CFE pistol, Just wanting to try something new.

 

[444]

I just shot 1000 148 grain DEWCs this winter loaded with 2.8 grains of Titegroup. I normally use 2.8 grains of Bullseye with this bullet but I decided to kick up my heels and try something new.

Worked great.
Obviously these are very light paper punching loads.

 

[springer99]

I've been shooting that same DEWC with 3.5gr of HP38 and found it to be very accurate. Not a bunny fart load or a barn burner, just a good standard range load.

 

[brewer12345]

springer, if that wadcutter load is accurate, it would be a great small game load. No need for expansion or high velocity, just punch the hole right through. I popped several rabbits last fall with 38 semi-wadcutters out of a carbine and they worked great. I may try seeing what a DEWC can do.

 

[SlowFuse]

Thanks guys.

All im looking for is something light for plinking.

 

[Average Joe]

HP 38 will work fine for .38 special

 

[Walkalong]

WST or HP-38. Either will do well.

 

[WestKentucky]

I like hp38 for anything I have run cast lead in. So far I haven't had any major issues with leading while shooting ammo loaded with it. That story may be changing now though, my 686 doesn't like my lead loads that work so well in my other guns.

Another really good thing about hp38 is how consistent it is. With low pressure rounds you sometimes have a lot of variation from one round to another with no discernable difference from one round to another, I have never seen that with hp38, even when ladder in down and trying powder position tricks to see where it starts getting funky. I got scary slow and quit before I stuck a bullet, but you could see some of those hbwc travelling to the target.

 

[SlowFuse]

HP38 is really my go to for a lot of things so im all for using that.

Maybe im not looking too hard but I dont see a whole lot of people talking about WST in the 38 special.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I'm a huge fan of W231/HP-38 and use it decor most of my handgun loading. 3.4gr HP-38 under a 148gr DEWC is hard to beat. I charge 3.2gr under a 148gr HBWC.

 

[RPegram]

I've shot thousands of 158gr lswc over 231, but have now switched over to 125gr hi-tek coated rnfp over 5.6gr CFE-Pistol. This powder is not position sensitive at all and is very accurate. I found it to be more accurate than 231, so my remaining 231 has been moved to the rear of the shelf. I also use the same weight charge under 230gr lrn in 45acp, so I can switch calibers and never adjust the powder throw.

 

[AZAndy]

Thanks for the comments here, folks-- I've always loaded .38 with Unique, but it's one of those "I do it this way because this is how I do it" situations. I have HP38 and 231, and I think I'll try something new today. Maybe I'll have less soot all over my hand?

 

[Average Joe]

Andy, I like Unique, but I use w231 because it meters better.

 

[vaalpens]

I am trying to decide which powder to start with for a new (to me) projectile. Looking at the 148 grain PPC #2 DEWC from MBC. I have plenty of titegroup, WST and HP38. I have the most of the HP38 on hand.

Anyone have experience with any of these powders using a dewc of this weight? The S&W model 10 will be handling most of these loads. I've found a great load using MBC's 158 grain swc in this revolver using 5.0 grains of CFE pistol, Just wanting to try something new.

Thanks for sharing your CFE Pistol load. The 158gr MBC SWC's you are shooting; Are they the coated bullets? What hardness are they?

I just posted some load data shooting the 148gr PPC #2 DEWC coated bullets, but I only used Bullseye and 700-X.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=10241344&postcount=58

 

[ljnowell]

I've actually used that bullet in competition on the 25 and 50 yard lines with WST and AA#2. While I prefer WST in 45 acp for 50 yard loads, I think the AA#2 outperforms it with the 148 DEWC.

 

[SlowFuse]

Vaalpens, they are the plain uncoated version from MBC. Oregon Trail 158 swc also work fine. I believe the hardness on both are around 12 but im not sure.

Both work well out of my 4" model 10.

 

[hdbiker]

I've been shooting 3.5 grains of Bullseye under a 158 grain cast swc in .38 spl. for over 40 years with great accuracy. hdbiker

 

[vaalpens]

Vaalpens, they are the plain uncoated version from MBC. Oregon Trail 158 swc also work fine. I believe the hardness on both are around 12 but im not sure.

Both work well out of my 4" model 10.

Thanks! I have the 18 Brinell MBC coated 158gr SWC bullets and will work up some loads using CFE Pistol. I will let you know how the testing goes.

 

[SlowFuse]

Yeah let me know!

I just looked at their site, im using the "38 Match" at 12 hardness.

The DEWC is the PPC #2, everything im shooting right now is uncoated.

 

[mdi]

My very first powder in '69 was Bullseye. My next purchase was W231/HP-38. I was using a Lee Loader w/dipper for my 38 Specials. I still use HP-38/W231 for 80% of my .38 Special reloads. Since you have more HP-38 than the other powders, use it...

 

[SlowFuse]

Thanks MDI, I've heard/read a lot of good stuff about HP-38 so it seems logical to start with that!

I know I really liked it in 9mm but cut back a couple years ago when I got down to my last lb. and couldn't find more. But it seems supply is back and I recently bought 2 more jugs of it, so hopefully I'm set for the next possible shortage.

I'll probably load some up within a couple of weeks and post results. Thanks for everyone's input.

 

[powrguy]

38 spl loads

I also load the 9mm with HP38, and now am happy with 3.5gr of HP38, with a 158 grain SWC's in my Model 10 and Model 19's.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I can and have loaded every handgun cartridge I load for with W231/HP-38 and could get buy with it alone. Add my other 2 favorites W540/HS-6 and W296/H110 and I need nothing else.

W231 is GREAT in the 32 ACP, 380 ACP, .38 Special, 9mm, 45 ACP and 45 Colt and does a great job with all of them. I have and use 8 to 10 handgun powders for specific applications but always come back to my basic 3 powders.

 

[SlowFuse]

Do you generally load the sprue side in or out?

Does it really change accuracy one way or another?

 

[powrguy]

I can and have loaded every handgun cartridge I load for with W231/HP-38 and could get buy with it alone. Add my other 2 favorites W540/HS-6 and W296/H110 and I need nothing else.

W231 is GREAT in the 32 ACP, 380 ACP, .38 Special, 9mm, 45 ACP and 45 Colt and does a great job with all of them. I have and use 8 to 10 handgun powders for specific applications but always come back to my basic 3 powders.

Have you used HP38 with .357 magnum loads? I have HP38 on hand, but am getting ready to load some .357 magnums, and wondered if I should get some Unique, and some magnum primers, to do the .357's.