38sp +P HST - comparable recoil/POA/POI reloads

[kidneyboy]

Currently I'm using Acme 158gr SWC over 5.5gr of Power pistol as practice ammo for the HST in my Chiappa Rhino 3" barrel. POA and POI are just about the same as the HST. However the HST is softer shooting. This is working for me so far. The HST's are even easier to shoot after using the SWC's for practice.

That said, I'm wondering if anyone else is loading something similar to the HST.

My standard 158gr SWC load of 3.7gr of W231 is very accurate in the Rhino but shoots even softer than the HST and to a slightly different POI.

 

[Skinnedknuckles]

The .38 Special +P HST Micro I have uses a 130 gr bullet - not sure if that is the only load - so maybe a lighter bullet would be better for loading a practice round. I wasn't trying to match the HST load, but a favorite load for me is a 125 gr coated or plated bullet over 5.2 gr HP-38. This is a +P load, about 830 fps from my 4" Taurus, which works great in my revolver and lever gun but I can't tell you how it shoots in comparison to HST.

 

[kidneyboy]

The .38 Special +P HST Micro I have uses a 130 gr bullet - not sure if that is the only load - so maybe a lighter bullet would be better for loading a practice round. I wasn't trying to match the HST load, but a favorite load for me is a 125 gr coated or plated bullet over 5.2 gr HP-38. This is a +P load, about 830 fps from my 4" Taurus, which works great in my revolver and lever gun but I can't tell you how it shoots in comparison to HST.

I wasn't really trying to match the HST load either. Kind of a happy coincidence when I shot the 158s and HSTs one after another and saw and felt the similarities.