Best powder for beginner reloading .38sp?

[kludge]

there are ~50 other pistol powders that would work well

^this^

I would say, get what will do what you want for .45 and use the same powder in .38...

....but it might be the same list.

 

[Hondo 60]

When I started reloading the only powder I could find was titegroup.
It works well so I've stuck with it.

But be very careful you can double charge.

 

[Ateam-3]

Unique

 

[sonier]

start with trail boss, then ive used herco, you can detect dble charges easly. my max loads are H-110 i never use any powder that i can double charge and cant tell, too me its not worth saving a extra half cent in cost.

 

[joneb]

When I started reloading the only powder I could find was titegroup.
It works well so I've stuck with it.

Boy I can relate to that, I've gone to get powder thinking I'll try something new only to get home with the same old powder

 

[LiveLife]

Now I am curious and thinking about trying out Titegroup along with Trail Boss

How does Herco compare to WSF/Power Pistol/Unique?

 

[oneounceload]

I would not start out trying to seat the bullet and crimp the case mouth in one step.
I would seat the bullets with the seater die up high and the seating stem down low.
Then I would crimp the case mouth into the bullet with the die adjusted down low and the seating stem adjusted up high

Funny, I've only been reloading 38/357 for 30 years, so I don't have the experience of others, but I have been seating and crimping my 158 SWC bullets in one step all that time, just as the RCBS directions showed and have NEVER had an issue. I load using a single stage press - low and slow - and have NEVER had a squib or bad charge in all those years by loading things in batches - deprime and size; reprime and flare; charge, seat and crimp

This isn't rocket science, and while I can appreciate nervousness and apprehension on the part of new folks, this isn't THAT hard or dangerous - not if you have an IQ above that of a potato

 

[LiveLife]

I load using a single stage press - low and slow

I got two coworkers with 38/357 revolvers and thinking about reloading for them (I got about 1000 cases saved up).

I am planning to start with Bullseye/Green Dot/W231/HP38.

I was thinking about using the progressive press, but I might use the single stage press and do the steps in batches - it might be relaxing to pull out the loading tray and the rarely used powder funnel!

 

[Tacoma]

If your looking for "do all" range loads , it's hard to beat Clays. It works great in 38 spl and 45 acp. Meters well, burns clean, low recoil and flash. After playing with Bullseye, Red dot, Unique, W231 and others, I've settled on Clays for 95% of my 38 and 45 ACP loading.

 

[zxcvbob]

How does Herco compare to WSF/Power Pistol/Unique?

Herco seems to perform identical to WSF, but Herco is a medium-large flake powder (about like Unique) and WSF is ball powder (like 231.) Herco fills the case better than WSF (this can be a bad thing with very small cases, there's not enough room for the full powder charge) and WSF meters better. Both are slower than Unique, faster than Power Pistol, and considerably faster than Blue Dot.

 

[bamacisa]

I started out using Unique, now I use 231, BE and Titegroup and have tried many different powders. It really does not matter which powder you start out with....JUST BE CAREFULL....A slow burning powder might be your best choice to begin with..try Unique.

 

[jmortimer]

4.6 grains of Unique with either 148 grain wadcutter or 158 grain SWC.

 

[LiveLife]

In all my years of reloading, never tried Unique. I will be trying out several different powders I have not used before on our next Powder Valley group buy, including the elusive N320 - Unique is one of the powders.

 

[sonier]

I love the herco with herco and h-110 i can do anything lol

 

[JDGray]

Buy the slowest powder available, if your worried about being a noob. Bullseye is not a slow powder, 231 would be my choice for 38spl, if I had one

 

[ric426]

As of last night, +1 for Trail Boss

I've been doing a lot of experimenting with light .38 special loads for indoor PPC. I've tried various 100 gr and 148 gr wadcutters with Bullseye, Red Dot, HP-38 and Trail Boss and have settled on Trail Boss as the best one for my particular gun and load. The fact that it's so easy to work with is just an added bonus and I can get so many light rounds out of a 9oz container that the higher price per pound doesn't really bother me.

 

[918v]

231 if you want your revolver to shoot to it's accuracy potential.

 

[c919]

Ok, 231 it is.

Another quick question....

When ordering some bullets tomorrow, what diameter would you recommend for 158gr (.357, .358, .359)? I don't know my barrel diameter. These will be digested by my Ruger SP101, so if any of you fellow SP101 owners could tell me the best way to go that'd be great.

 

[joneb]

oops

 

[Kentucky_Rifleman]

I like Clays and W231 in .38 Special cast-bullet loads. I like Unique, but limit it to jacketed bullets; with lubed lead bullets, Unique creates a carbon crud fouling that beggars the imagination and defies cleaning efforts.

KR

 

[ArchAngelCD]

When ordering some bullets tomorrow, what diameter would you recommend for 158gr (.357, .358, .359)? I don't know my barrel diameter. These will be digested by my Ruger SP101, so if any of you fellow SP101 owners could tell me the best way to go that'd be great.

Modern guns are usually well made to close tolerances so their barrel and throat are usually uniform so the "general rule" is use a .357" jacketed bullet and a .358" lead bullet in the .38 Special.

 

[c919]

^^^ Awesome. Thanks Arch, that's just what I was looking for.

 

[joneb]

Trail Boss can bridge over in many powder measure drop tubes,

I have a Redding model 3 powder throw with a micro pistol meter charge tube, it's aperture is about .30" it will throw inconsistent charges of Trail Boss down to one forth of the intended charge. This powder throw does not like large flake powders either such as 700x, Unique and Blue Dot for example if I were trying to meter 3.0gr of 700x it may throw a light 2.9 to a heavy 3.1gr with Unique the same deal, looking for 5gr might give 4.8 or 5.3. Powders such as Bullseye it will throw down to 1.3gr every time.

I am not sure if the larger grain powders are bridging the drop tube or if the powder is loading up differently in the tube when using larger grain powders I have found it helpful to give the powder throw a couple of firm knocks prior to charging which has decreased the variance.

I contacted Redding and asked if they made a meter bar with 1/2" aperture for the model 3 and they do not

 

[floydster]

Trial Boss, the best kept secret for the 38 Spl. and 45 ACP.

Just excellent powder for plinking, very fun to shoot.

Floydster

 

[TonyT]

Trail Boss with either lead or plated bullets is my favorite for light 38 Special loads. It is virtually impossible to get a double charge with Trail Boss.