What's your .38 Special Target load?

[UnderDawgAl]

I'm new to reloading, so I'm trying to figure out which powder would be good to start with for .38 Spl target loads using 148 gr. WC.

I will be using either the Lee Auto Disk on my turret press or the Lee Perfect Powder Measure. I've noticed some comments that certain powders don't work well with these.

Looks like Bullseye and Unique are the most popular powders for these target loads. I just don't know how they meter in the Auto Disk and PPM. Regardless, I'll start out weighing every charge on the scale, just for safety considerations.

 

[zxcvbob]

My most accurate load is (surprisingly) a 125 grain Berry's copper-plated hollow point bullet behind 3.9 grains of Red Dot with whatever small pistol primers I have handy.

I tried using a taper crimp, but the roll crimp was more accurate even though the Berrys bullets don't have a cannelure; just don't crimp them too deep.

If you want to use wadcutters, 3.0 grains of Green Dot is a good load.

 

[baz]

My most accurate load is (surprisingly) a 125 grain Berry's copper-plated hollow point bullet behind 3.9 grains of Red Dot with whatever small pistol primers I have handy.

I'm using 5 grains of AA#2 with that bullet. Nice plinking round.

 

[esheato]

Some sort of wadcutter over Bullseye or 231. You really can't go wrong with either of 'em.

Ed

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My favorite target load is a 148 gr Double Ended Wad Cutter over 3.4 gr of W231. They are very accurate, light shooting in a 4" M686 and clean too. W231 meters perfectly in the Lee Pro Auto-Disk Powder Measure.

I played around with several different loads and settled on that one.

 

[cdrt]

I'm new to reloading, so I'm trying to figure out which powder would be good to start with for .38 Spl target loads using 148 gr. WC.

You can use anywhere from 2.7 to 3.0 grains of Bullseye with either a DEWC or HBWC 148 grain bullet with excellent results.
I use the 3.0 grain load in my Clark 1911 .38 Special Conversion and the 2.7 in my S&W Model 14.

There are some old manuals that show a load as light as 2.0 grains of BE, but I've never tried them.

 

[zxcvbob]

Just remember that a lot of guns have been blown up with that tiny little 2.7 grain charge of BE and a wadcutter bullet-- presumably when the loader gets a double charge and doesn't notice it. I don't have any experience with Bullseye yet (I just bought a can) but I'll bet you can't even see 2.7 grains in a .38SPL case unless the light is just right.

Bullet setback could also cause extremely high pressure because the powder space is so small (but you don't get setback with revolvers.)

Bob

 

[esheato]

My favorite target load is a 148 gr Double Ended Wad Cutter over 3.4 gr of W231

You can use anywhere from 2.7 to 3.0 grains of Bullseye with either a DEWC or HBWC 148 grain bullet with excellent results.

I tried to tell ya.

Ed

 

[Bad Flynch]

Well, it depends somewhat on the revolver. Believe it or not, they do have preferences.

My Pythons all like Remington 148 grain HBWCs over 2.55 grains of BullsEye. Seat the bullets flush with the case mouth and use a good, solid roll crimp. Use somebody's mild primer like Remington 1&1/2 or Federal.

My S&W M15 likes the Hornady 148 gr HBWC better. In fact, it really likes the Winchester number, but one can't get it anymore for handloading. I use a mild primer, Remington 1&1/2, with 2.7 grains of PB. Again, a good solid roll crimp improves accuracy.

I put these on a Ransom Rest to find this out; however, one needn't go that far in testing. Just make sure that you do test, because your gun might like the Speer 148 gr HBWC better than the other two. Your gun might like WW 231 or even RedDot.

 

[tkcomer]

148gr wadcutter with 4.7grs of Ramshot's True Blue powder. Meters great through my Auto Disk but it is a little messy. This is a fine ball powder and it does leak a little out of the Auto Disk. Other than that, I love it.

 

[happy old sailor]

2.8 grains of Bullseye has been THE load for lots of decades. as many lot numbers have gone by, i would use that for a starter load. as a rule of thumb, vertical stringing is an indicator of too much of a load as horiaontal stringing is of a weak lopad. some of this could be attributed to your combination of components. keep a log and procure several reloading manuals. they can vary. cpmponents again?

all shooters should reload. makes the hobby way more interesting and, you get to shoot more. in addition, you can enjoy your hobby on a cold, rainy, windy day, at home in the warm and dry.

 

[Linear Thinker]

148 HBWC over 2.8 gr of Bullseye has probably been the most popular 38Spec load for many decades. It even cycles my Smith 52.
I also load 4.2 gr of Bullseye under 125gr jacketed bullets to simulate full-power factory loads.
LT

 

[Linear Thinker]

Oops, double-posted.

 

[UnderDawgAl]

Thanks for all the great info. Just got a 500-count box of Speer 148-gr. HBWC delivered today. Will buy Bullseye locally and proceed, ever so carefully!

 

[Dirtypacman]

Just started that same question in the "642 Thread" should have done some searching better.

Carry on

 

[jrfoxx]

158gr LSWC over 4gr Unique with Winchester WLP primers works well for me in my Troper and snub nose 637.Accurate, fairy clean, and about on par with WWB recoil-wise.

 

[Okiecruffler]

I've been more than happy with 7gr of Blue Dot with my cast 148gr wadcutters.

 

[UnderDawgAl]

I'll have a colleague who is an experienced reloader come over to help me through the process. I haven't yet figured out how deep to seat the 148-gr HBWC so that the pressure doesn't get too high. I'm looking forward to getting his first-hand advice, with immediate hands-on. I've been reading a lot for the background and understanding, but there's nothing like actually doing it.

Thanks for the info and offers for help from those who posted offline.

 

[cdrt]

148s are generally seated flush with the case mouth with a little bit of a roll crimp.
See photo I posted in http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=302310
It's the 10th post in the thread.

 

[DMZ]

I have had very good luck with 3.4 grains if Universal under 148 gr HBWC. I seat them flush with the case mouth and use a light roll crimp over the shoulder of the bullet to get proper ignition.

BBWC's have a crimp groove and I like 5.5 gr of Unique, in my GP100.

BTW, not only do WC's make great target loads and are fun to shoot, they also are great for rabbit hunting.