Light .38 Special Load

[Bazoo]

Thanks geodude. I have a keg of bullseye I bought a couple eyes ago. Been working with it, as I never had used it before. I always just bought something else as it was more commonly available.

So far I like it in 45 auto with the RCBS 45-201-SWC. And it’s doing well in 44 special with several bullets.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I too love B.E in 38 special. It's easy on the wrist and gun. And plenty accurate.

 

[sixgunner455]

I regularly use 105gr moly coated lead Bear Creek hollow base over 2.7 gr Bullseye. I have used similar 125gr moly coated lead with similar charges. Makes shooting through an Airweight J very pleasant, and through a K frame .38 or .357 or N frame .357 a total hoot - no recoil, mild report. Clays makes a good substitute, and I plan to experiment with the tub if Trailboss I have sitting on my shelf unopened from like 4 years ago when it was the only powder I could find.

 

[Seedy Character]

2.0 gr Trail Boss will send that pill 700-750 fps.

I use it as my Cowboy Action load.

 

[ThomasT]

For reference, Accurate No.2 (2.8gr.), Ramshot Zip (3.2gr.), W231/HP38 (3.5gr.) and WST (2.6gr.) make fair-to-good substitutes for Bullseye in light .38Spl loads and "seem" to be more nearly available, even at decent prices, even these days. The Western loading guide and Hodgdon's site can offer up some good starting loads. HTH.

A couple of months ago I bought a 5lb jug of Shooters World Clean Shot powder from Grafs. I haven't tried any yet but its supposed to be the same as Accurate #2. Cross referencing the data it does seem to be loaded to the same or very close specs as #2. With a 5lb jug I should have a lifetime supply of target pistol powder on hand. I just hope I live long enough to shoot up a third of it.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

FYI, you can fit 250 .38 Special midrange loads into a 1lb. Chock Full O'Nut coffee can.



They are Hornady 148 grain HBWCs on top of 3.0 grains of Bullseye, in W-W wadcutter cases sparked by S&B primers. I shot about 60 of them over the weekend in my S&W Model 14 and Model 15, neither of which had been shot in awhile. Just a real joy to shoot.

I got the brass close to 20 years ago when I bought a 1,000 round case of Winchester factory wadcutter loads. I keep it segregated from the rest of my .38 Special brass.

 

[Hanshi]

A "light" .38spl load is to me an HB or BB WC and 2.7 grains of Bullseye. I load these by the thousands and use them for everything "handgun" except sd.

 

[Risky buisness]

I dont load lite 38 special. I just load regular 38smith and wesson. Great little moderate recoil cartridge.