38/spl load

[littleguns223]

Iam woking up load for the 38/spl to shoot steel targets.Shooting a GP100.Going to use 158grRNFP Hardness 18 3.5grs of hp38. What do you think about this load?

 

[KansasPaul]

You are on the upper end of powder for that bullet - according to Hodgdon load data 3.7 grains is max. You should be just fine. What bullet are you shooting? (Just curious if you are using Missouri Bullets - they reference hardness with all their bullets. As long as I have used them, I have never had any problems).

Blessings

Paul

 

[Walkalong]

The bullet is too hard unless it fits your throats very tightly.

A BHN 12 would "wok" better for that low pressure load.

Seriously, 18 BHN is too hard, although you may get away with it.

 

[J2FLAN]

For shooting steel plates/targets the softer 10/14 BHN will be a little more safe and will react to the target better. Working-up a load doesn`t always mean MORE, for me it means accuracy.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree a bullet rated at 18 BHN is too hard for use in the .38 Special. something around 12 would be much better. With a bullet that hard and a light charge you just might get a good amount of leading.

As for the load data, my favorite .38 Special load is 4.0gr W31/HP-38 under a 158gr LSWC bullet. That load will work just as well with a 158gr LRNFP bullet.

 

[Steve C]

No problem with your load. Should do around 800 fps from a 4" revolver. Since you are using a .357 mag revolver pressure will not be an issue with any published .38 spl load.

 

[evan price]

18 bhn is for 357 Magnums at Magnum speed. You want a softer lead for the 38 special. 10-12 bhn sized .001" over bore is perfect. Typically .358" sized, bhn 10-12. Hardness isn't the solution for leading and too hard can cause leading.

 

[USSR]

Actually, 18 BHN is harder than it needs to be for the .357, but that's the problem with store bought bullets - lack of choice.

Don

 

[Cherokee]

Your load should be fine. I use it a lot with my cast bullets, about 12 Bnh, for 800 fps in my 4" guns. Hard bullet may lead the barrel some, softer bullet would be better.

 

[wanderinwalker]

Another vote for the bullet is too hard. I've found in my revolver I can get away with full .357 Magnum charges of 2400 using MBC bullets @ 12 BNH with no leading. 18 is way too much for .38-level charges.

 

[edwin41]

+1 i also think the bullet is way to hard for the application.
i shoot the .38 special 150 gr wadcutter wich i cast myself.
there hardness would be some 8.5 brinell , i use a 40 to 1 lead tin alloy.
remember , the master elmer keith used a 16 to 1 lead tin alloy to develop
the .44 magnum and used this same alloy for the . 357 magnum.
mabey casting is something for you ?

 

[Jeff H]

Another vote for the bullet is too hard. I've found in my revolver I can get away with full .357 Magnum charges of 2400 using MBC bullets @ 12 BNH with no leading. 18 is way too much for .38-level charges.

I agree BUT.
A properly fit bullet is more important than how hard it is. I shoot the same bullets from 38 spl speeds to a full power 357 load and have virtually no leading to speak of with 18 bhn bullets. This is in 4 different guns. YMMV.

 

[Hondo 60]

thr member: Brad is from Missouri Bullet Co.
Here's a link to a GREAT document about bullet hardness.

http://www.missouribullet.com/technical.php

But I agree with what everyone else is saying, 18 is for full house 357 Magnum loads, not 38 special.
For 38 spl you want about 12 or so.

 

[4895]

Option 1: Find some .357 mag cases to load with

Option 2: Buy or trade for low velocity lead bullets for .38 pressures

Option 3: Cancel the movie on Friday night and plan to scrub your gun.

BTW, I use bullseye @ 3.4 grains with 158 grain low velocity lead in .38 special and it works great for me. I seat bullet to crimping groove and finish with medium-easy roll crimp. The bullets are similar to MBC BHN12 bullets. Good luck.

 

[RON in PA]

Use a softer bullet as others already suggest. My experience is that too hard bullets at 38 special speeds will cause leading while well lubed swaged 158 gr bullets don't.

Also my powder load is 4.4-4.5 grains of 231 for a load that approximates factory.

 

[taurus44m]

38 spl

use 357 mag ammo...lol

 

[taurus44m]

this is afast message

 

[Kaeto]

My LGS recommended Winchester 231 for .38 spcl but the only data I have on it lists it for 158 grn lead and I have 158 grn JHP. Is the lead load safe to use for the JHP?

 

[Walkalong]

http://data.hodgdon.com/main_menu.asp

Hodgdon has plenty of data for W-231.