Your favorite .38 Special loads?

[Walkalong]

I use 4.6 grains 700x behind a 125 grain Berrys' Plated HP, Win Small Pistol Primer....... for plinking, which is all I use Specials for anyway

I was beginning to think I was the only one that liked 700X in the .38 Spl. with 125 Gr. bullets, although I like Raniers 125 Gr RFN a bit better.

I am out of the Raniers, and when I run out of the Berry's 125 Gr. HP's, I will buy either the Ranier or the Berry's, whichever is cheaper. They both shoot well enough.

As far as 158 Gr. bullets I like the X-Treme 158 SWC, although the Berry's 158 HP is pretty good as well.

 

[Slamfire]

I was not trying to insult you sir and apologize if I did.

No apology needed. I just wanted to show that I had rationale and range time behind my loads.

If you have a library of old reloading manuals, you can see that most early manuals published no pressure data.

That is very true. One of the oldest that I have, "Complete Guide to Handloading" by Phil Sharpe, has pressure data on almost every load. And the first revisions were written prior to WWII. There is plenty of Hercules load data, with pressures, on almost every handgun caliber you can think of.

Loads that were considered midrange even 20 years ago are now considered maximum. I don't know what is going on.

 

[RNG]

Not to hijack this thread... My lyman's 48th edition isn't show the data I'm looking for.....Hence, I must ask..

Anyone have any load data or favorite load for .38 special, .38 special +p, and .357 magnum using the following?

Winchester 158gr JHP
Winchester 231
Winchester Small Pistol Primers
mixed brass but mostly Winchester

Any info would be most appreciated.

Regards,
Richard

 

[skipjack]

Try Clays in place of Bullseye; not grain for grain, of course. It burns much
cleaner and has a close burn rate.

Here is a good reference that I have found helpful.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

 

[Sgt.Dusk]

125gr FP lead bullet with 7.5gr vihtavuori N320
Nice and hot

 

[Black_Talon]

2.7gr Bullseye
Star/Zero/Precision Delta 148gr HBWC
Fed Small Pistol primer
Seated flush with a teeny, tiny bit of crimp

For a more modern twist, substitute 2.8 gr of VV N310 for the Bullseye. It's cleaner and just as accurate.