[Unclenick]

Keep in mind that both Winchester 231 and Hodgdon HP38 are the same St. Marks OBP 231 in canister grade for handloading. If you can't find 231 but can find HP38, just get that instead. You'll find Hodgdon's load data identical for both in all chamberings for that reason.


Mnoirot64,

Between using the almost equal capacity case and lighter bullet and smaller charge, you are operating the powder at a lower pressure in the .38 load. All powders burn dirty if they aren't used at a high enough pressure. The slower burning the powder, the higher that cleaner burning pressure level is.

In the case of 8.3 grains in the .45, assuming a 200 grain LSWC seated to 1.2" COL, QuickLOAD thinks you are running about 16,000 psi. In the .38 Special load, with a COL of 1.47" (a guess, as I don't have the bullet) 5.8 grains would run at half the peak pressure, or just over 8,000 psi. Since the .38 Special is a lower pressure rated cartridge (17,000 psi) than the .45 Auto (21,000 psi), so you'd have to run the .38 Special at near its maximum pressure to equal the burn efficiency you are getting in the .45 Auto.