Lightest powder charge of Bullseye

[reloader67]

Need to load a light charge in 38 special for the wife. She will be shooting a S&W 2" model 60. I purchased some 148 grain plated wadcutters. Planning to use 2.1 grains of Bullseye. Looks like the very minimum charge that I can find. Does anybody think this is to light of a charge? Should I bump it up to 2.5 or 2.6 Grains? Thanks.

 

[horsemen61]

I wouldn't go lower than 2.5 grains but that's just me ymmv

 

[Reefinmike]

If they werent plated, id say try that 2.1 load. Id start with 2.5 since they are plated bullets(more friction, harder to push down the bore)

 

[GRIZ22]

If you're trying to reduce recoil get some 100 gr wadcutters. Why risk a bullet stuck in the bore by using a too small powder charge.

 

[tightgroup tiger]

Lyman's 45 edition shows 150gr lead at 2.0 as the minimum for 148gr is 10gr ligher so I guess that should work.

There is a disclaimer in one of my manuals somewhere that says this load is for snub nosed revolvers only and not to shoot it in anything longer than a 2"barrel.

Your shooting plated bullets that have more friction than lead so I would bump it up as well.

2.5gr sounds good to me also. Recoil will still be minimal.

 

[Stony]

I remember many, many,,,,years ago shooting PPC, and some of the guys were loading down to 1.7 Gr. of Bullseye, but it always scared me and I stuck with 2.7. I never saw anyone have a problem with the lighter load, but too light for me.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Not Bullseye, but W231

This guy downloads all the way to .2 grs in a Charter Arms 38 spl snubbie.

I wouldn't try this, but it is informational.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5JqALWQlplE

 

[TfflHndn]

If you're looking for the lightest recoil possible, take a look at Rim Rock's 80 grain wadcutters. Don't know that you will find Bullseye data, but a call to Alliant may get you some data. Or use the Hodgdon data for one of their powders with a 90-grain bullet and work up to where you want to be.