Light .38 Special

stinger · May 10, 2007, 09:42 PM

I am looking to load some cowboy loads for my blackhawks and my Marlin. I have a bunch of Oregon Trail 158 SWC's, as well as some Hornady 158 SWC which are swaged. Powders on hand are Trailboss, 231, and Unique.

I have some pretty good loads for the Hornady's with Trailboss, but I have a LOT more of the Oregon Trails. So if you have any advice for something that will work in both the revolvers and the levergun, I'm all ears.

BTW, I'm looking for light loads.

**Unclenick** · May 10, 2007, 11:17 PM

I don't know how light you want it? 3 grains of Trailboss will be the cleanest burning of the powders you mentioned, and will produce target velocities. Same weight of 231 will work and meter better from a measure, but won't be as clean. Unique will need more like 3.3 grains, is very hard to meter consistently (some measures, like the Lee Perfect, even state directly not to try to use Unique in them), and is the dirtiest burning of the bunch.

Nick

deanadell · May 11, 2007, 10:40 AM

Don;t use either of the other two powders mentioned, but I'm using 2.8 gr of Trailboss with 158 gr SWC in my Rugers.....

May 10, 2007, 09:42 PM	#1
stinger Senior Member Join Date: November 6, 2001 Location: west texas Posts: 773	Light .38 Special I am looking to load some cowboy loads for my blackhawks and my Marlin. I have a bunch of Oregon Trail 158 SWC's, as well as some Hornady 158 SWC which are swaged. Powders on hand are Trailboss, 231, and Unique. I have some pretty good loads for the Hornady's with Trailboss, but I have a LOT more of the Oregon Trails. So if you have any advice for something that will work in both the revolvers and the levergun, I'm all ears. BTW, I'm looking for light loads.

May 10, 2007, 11:17 PM	#2
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 9,164	I don't know how light you want it? 3 grains of Trailboss will be the cleanest burning of the powders you mentioned, and will produce target velocities. Same weight of 231 will work and meter better from a measure, but won't be as clean. Unique will need more like 3.3 grains, is very hard to meter consistently (some measures, like the Lee Perfect, even state directly not to try to use Unique in them), and is the dirtiest burning of the bunch. Nick __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Patron Member Last edited by Unclenick; May 11, 2007 at 11:07 AM. Reason: Add information on other powders

May 11, 2007, 10:40 AM	#3
deanadell Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Upstate, South Carolina Posts: 639	Don;t use either of the other two powders mentioned, but I'm using 2.8 gr of Trailboss with 158 gr SWC in my Rugers.....