What's your most accurate load for 38 Special? Also, a few other questions.
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FROGO207
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Yep much of my 38 SPL brass has the headstamp peened off as well. Some have literally hundreds of reloads on them over 30 years. They are the energizer of the reloading world IMHO.
You could offer to trade it for 357 brass, say two for one in the reloading section as a possibility. I agree that soft loads with a lead bullet are my accuracy rounds as well. If I want to step it up, instead of +P I go with a 357 and load jacketed heavy duty 357 ammo for it. Or pull out the 44MAG or 500 S&W. I tried plated but they were not super great/accurate (specially for what they now cost VS jacketed) in any of my 38 SPL or 357 revolvers. YMMV
You could offer to trade it for 357 brass, say two for one in the reloading section as a possibility. I agree that soft loads with a lead bullet are my accuracy rounds as well. If I want to step it up, instead of +P I go with a 357 and load jacketed heavy duty 357 ammo for it. Or pull out the 44MAG or 500 S&W. I tried plated but they were not super great/accurate (specially for what they now cost VS jacketed) in any of my 38 SPL or 357 revolvers. YMMV
Iroquois
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I don’t shoot .38 specials out of my .357, but I do have a target .357 load that works very well. It consists of a Speer 148gr HBWC over 3.5 gr of Unique. I guess you could say it 38 special-ish.
Eddietruett
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The old go to load for 50 years has been 2.7-3.0 gr of Bullseye with a 148gr hbwc. I've got several guns that will shoot this load into a ragged hole at 25 yards if I do my part. For steel plate shooting at 75 yards, I use 130gr and 158gr coated lead both with 5.0gr of Universal. Both very accurate and pretty mild loads but with enough velocity to shoot at longer distances. I stopped using plated bullets a couple of years ago and now use HyTek Coated Lead from Missouri, SNS and Summers Enterprises. More consistent than plated which leads to more accuracy, just as clean and a fair amount cheaper. I've never known anyone that went from plated to coated lead and then went back to plated.
Hondo 60
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My favorite .38 Special load is 125gr PHP over 3.7gr of Titegroup
(RMR or Xtreme bullets)
+P load would be 5.0gr of Titegroup under a 125 gr Hornady XTP
(RMR or Xtreme bullets)
+P load would be 5.0gr of Titegroup under a 125 gr Hornady XTP
Barry loyd
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An often overlooked powder for 38+p and .357 is longshot. It makes good velocity in .38 at lower pressure than most. In .357 it makes slightly higher pressure when compared to other powders.
I don't really load up to +P, because it isn't required for competition, however I'd be happy to share my Match load with you to try out.
I'm loading a 170gr Hi-Tek coated RN (NLG) bullet from B&B Casting over 3.2grs of Clays, in W-W cases ignited by Federal SPP. I'm shooting this out of a 4" S&W 686; which gives me right about 715fps. This will regularly group into 3" at 25 yards and 5" out at 50 yards shooting free style in DA.
With a 158gr Xtreme RNFP plated bullet (my practice ammo) I bump it up to 3.5grs of Clays. This is almost as accurate out to 20 yards, but can't quite run with the 170gr bullet out to longer distances
The thing about .3Spl brass is that case length varies quite a bit, so a perfectly crimped longer case will result in a less than crimped shorter case.
I trim all my cases to a uniform length, except for the really short ones. I'm trimming this years cases and out of 1200, have had 8 that the cutter didn't touch...they went into the practice ammo bin. I prep cases every year not because they fail, but because I go to "loss brass" matches...so my supply is depleted by a couple of hundred at each match
I put a pretty good roll crimp on my cases and my spent cases come out of the cylinder very clean...especially the insides.
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Zaydok Allen
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What trimmer do you use? I noticed the case length inconsistencies you mentioned, and I do want consistency.
Been thinking about a Wilson. Suppose I ought to get a case prep center too.
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Zaydok Allen
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Minor update. Last night after work I was determined to give this another try. I sat down at my press and cranked out 100 6.3 gr loads and another 100 at 6.4 gr both with my new and improved crimp.
Today I took my vendetta loadings to the range and decided it was folly for me to try and test these loads in three different guns in one session. So I only brought along my 3" 686+. Let's just see if they shoot out of one gun.
Bottom line, my shooting was vastly improved today. I suppose 900 rounds in three days will do that. My trigger control was better and after tweaking the sights, I was hitting my mark at 12 yards. Groups were nothing special, and 12 yards is pretty close, but I'm going to blame myself for that. I need a lot more dry fire practice with my revolvers to get back in shape. I didn't realize how far I'd slipped this year.
Then I pulled out my carry gun, a P30SK and putt 110 rounds through it at 10, 12, and 14 yards. I managed to take the center out of both targets the size of my fist, and pumped through those rounds pretty quickly. Then I put 140 rounds through my VP9 with fresh targets and the same distances and had the same result.
So at least I still shoot my carry and bedside guns well enough to defend myself. I fired all 450 rounds in an hour and ten minutes. So I'm fairly happy with my defense practice considering the pace.
Revolvers, I need to rebuild those skills again.
Today I took my vendetta loadings to the range and decided it was folly for me to try and test these loads in three different guns in one session. So I only brought along my 3" 686+. Let's just see if they shoot out of one gun.
Bottom line, my shooting was vastly improved today. I suppose 900 rounds in three days will do that. My trigger control was better and after tweaking the sights, I was hitting my mark at 12 yards. Groups were nothing special, and 12 yards is pretty close, but I'm going to blame myself for that. I need a lot more dry fire practice with my revolvers to get back in shape. I didn't realize how far I'd slipped this year.
Then I pulled out my carry gun, a P30SK and putt 110 rounds through it at 10, 12, and 14 yards. I managed to take the center out of both targets the size of my fist, and pumped through those rounds pretty quickly. Then I put 140 rounds through my VP9 with fresh targets and the same distances and had the same result.
So at least I still shoot my carry and bedside guns well enough to defend myself. I fired all 450 rounds in an hour and ten minutes. So I'm fairly happy with my defense practice considering the pace.
Revolvers, I need to rebuild those skills again.
I'm using the Lyman E-Zee Trim
someguy2800
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I did but it was in 9mm. I never tried plated in 38 special.
jmorris
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My most accurate normal pistol loads (not XP-100/Contender stuff but “normal” pistol rounds) are almost always with a JHP and loads that are not very light.
If you get close enough the difference might not matter but you can tell a lot of difference between a decent JHP and a plated bullet at 100 yds.
Like these two 9mm load through the same carbine one after another, 10 shots at 100 yards.
Plated “minor” load I have won well over 100 pistol matches with over the years (obviously at shorter ranges).
JHP, “major 9” load.
At 10 yards you can shoot round balls out of a smooth bore well enough, I don’t think bullet choice is much of a factor unless your trying to see how small of a single hole you can make.
If you get close enough the difference might not matter but you can tell a lot of difference between a decent JHP and a plated bullet at 100 yds.
Like these two 9mm load through the same carbine one after another, 10 shots at 100 yards.
Plated “minor” load I have won well over 100 pistol matches with over the years (obviously at shorter ranges).
JHP, “major 9” load.
At 10 yards you can shoot round balls out of a smooth bore well enough, I don’t think bullet choice is much of a factor unless your trying to see how small of a single hole you can make.
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I started with Xtreme 158gr FN plated, went to BnB 160gr Hi-Tek, graduated to BnB 170gr Hi-Tek and have gone to Xtreme 158gr RNFP plated.
I use the plated for practice ammo and usually don't use it beyond 25 yards. The plated bullets move a bit slower than similar weight coated bullets with the same powder charge...required .3grs more to produce the same velocity
For our last IDPA Regional match, I loaded up some Xtreme 158gr RNFP to 95PF to calibrate steel. At 40 yards, they weren't quite as accurate as my 170gr coated bullets and didn't seem to have an issue taking down the large steel poppers.
Doublehelix
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Has anyone tried Sport Pistol in .38 Spc?
rfwobbly
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I almost exclusively shoot 148gn flush seated DEWC at steel targets. I'm liking Accurate No.2 better than most, but I keep searching. It's good enough to pick off 2" steels at 30ft with 6" my GP100. The load is usually between 3.0 and 3.2gn.
I currently crimp my dewc at the last groove. What is the benefit of seating flush?
ArchAngelCD
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As you probably know the burn rates will change when powders are loaded in different cartridges. They are really relative burn rate charts.
W231/HP-38 is fairly fast but not really part of the fastest group like Bullseye.
On the Hodgdon chart W231 is #29 right with AA#2 and Ramshot Zip.
AA#5 is #42 on that chart flanked by True Blue and HS-6.
2400 is #57 on the same chart.
The charts will tell you which powders are faster or slower than others but not How Much fastest of slower.
There can be a greater difference in speed between #40 and #41 than #41 and #44. (random numbers)
My most favorite .38 Special loads are:
148gr HBWC over 3.2gr W231
148gr DEWC over 3.4gr W231
158gr LSWC over 4.0gr W231
My FBI replica load exceeds most current load manuals.
158gr LSWC/HP bullet from either Hornady or Speer over 7.0gr HS-6 with a CCI -550 Magnum SPP.
Eddietruett
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That's some pretty fine shooting. I love the fixed sight revolvers especially when shooting steel plates and gongs. For defense purposes, its a no brainer. Adjustable sights are ok when on a rest shooting precision groups at 15-25 yards, but when I have a load that shoots to poa I'm more comfortable with the fixed.
Thanks, that's about all I can do offhand at 50 yards. I would have had more on the plate if I did not have to experiment holding off. You ought to see what the really good shooters can do with a revolver.
The good shooters are amazing!. From what I understand, the K frame S&W 38 SPL was the PPC revolver. Colts went out of timing quickly. However, I was told that Colt barrels were tighter, lead to better accuracy, and therefore shooters would send a S&W with a Colt barrel to the gunsmith, and end up shooting a "Smoult" !
Eddietruett
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I have seen some pretty darn good ones through the years. Back in the late 70's I was just a young punk and we had a small gun club that catered mostly to skeet but every Sunday after the skeet shooting we all sort of broke off and did out thing with rifles and handguns. There was an informal Team that shot some competition with the old one handed offhand target shooting with .22's and .45's. That was during the craze of the Clark Conversion .45's. These guys were pretty good and shot some real good scores in matches. One Sunday one of them showed up with a guest. He looked way out of place. Had on bib overalls with a flannel shirt in the summer. Looked like he just go off a tractor plowing the back 40. We all went out to the pistol range where the guest pulled out a ragged range bag with 2 of the most beautiful .45's I've ever seen. That got my attention. When he started shooting offhand groups at 25 yards that were pretty much one ragged hole, it blew my mind. Come to find out he was a retired gunny and all he had done for the last 30+ years was shoot .45's about every day. Said he averaged over 50k rounds a year. Somehow one of the major ammo suppliers that was supplying the military ammo was also sending him almost an unlimited supply of top end target ammo. He had done a little exhibition shooting for them but refused to go full time doing it because of all of the time and travel they wanted out of him. I was a 20 year old kid thinking what kind of fool is this guy not taking a gig like that. Shooting everyday and getting paid for it. I've found out through the years that shooting is a lot like golf. There are good players and there are a few really good players. I'm just glad I've been able to experience watching some of the really good shooters through the years.
NoirFan
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Hi, I like 4.5 gr HP38 under a 158 gr LSWC, moderate roll crimp, for an accurate midpower load. Off the bench, single action, I can do 2" at 25 yards on a good day. Offhand, double action, it's more like 4" at 25 yards on a REALLY good day. This is from a 4" Security Six.
I have not tested this scientifically, but anecdotally I have noticed that for a given powder charge, bare lead shoots more accurately in my revolvers than plated or jacketed. I don't know why this is but I just go with what works.
I have not tested this scientifically, but anecdotally I have noticed that for a given powder charge, bare lead shoots more accurately in my revolvers than plated or jacketed. I don't know why this is but I just go with what works.
Eddietruett
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That's pretty good grouping with a 4" gun. You've got it figured out better than most, go with what works for you. The most accurate target load in my Model 27 with 8 3/8" barrel is a 148gr swaged HBWC over 3.0 gr of Bullseye. With a red dot tube and off a rest, I can shoot a 1" group with no problem. I just get tired of cleaning up the mess that the lubed bullet leaves. In that particular gun, the group will open up to about 1.5" using a coated BBWC but I'm willing to sacrifice the accuracy for the ease of cleaning. But knowing what is the most accurate is the important part.. The fun of reloading to me is to taking every new gun I plan on keeping and working up the most accurate load for it. After 40+ years of shooting it still amazes me the difference a bullet and powder combination makes with each gun. I still shoot some bare lead bullets from GT. Their bare lead is about as expensive as most companies get for coated, but I've found the quality is the best of any lead bullet I've ever loaded and they have a nice range of weights. I'm especially fond of their 175gr keith style swc and 185gr hard cast hp.
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