Powerpuff .38 loads

HighValleyRanch · March 24, 2011, 12:28 PM

Just purchased some SLASH K hardcast .357 flat nose truncated bullets, 105 gr.

Anyone have experience with these, and recommended loads with W231?
Thinking about 3.5 231 for about 1000 fps?

Right now I am loading 148 gr. HBWC with 3.4 gr. 231 for some nice target loads, but wanted some that I could speed load with, and wad cutters are not the easiest to practice speed loading!

Sarge · March 24, 2011, 12:37 PM

I think 3.4 would be a great place to start with those, HVR. 231 is all I load in standard pistol rounds these days and it works fine in the old .38 special. At 3.4 grains I had some keyholing from the resident .38 snub; but at 4.0 grains and loaded to 1.510", these Hornady 158 LSWCHP's gave about 600 fps and shot as well as anyone could ask.

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot · March 25, 2011, 12:05 AM

I have used Bullseye for years in the .38s

Then recently in the .40S&W and the .45acp.

In the .38 I used to load as low as 2.5 grains, but went to the 3.5 - 4 load which seems a bit better.

The 2.5 was so low, that a semi-wadcutter boolit would stop at the shoulder if fired into an old tire casing, then bounce out at the next hit. Bit too slow.

Recently, have been loading about 5 grains as the wife and a friend's wife were shooting +P for social issues and I felt the difference between the very light loads and the +P might throw them off in a bad situation.

The 231 should also be a good powder, but there must have been thousands and thousands of Bullseye used over the years.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

ltc444 · April 1, 2011, 08:38 PM

For target loads I use the Elmer Keith standard. 2.7 grains of bullseye and a 148 grain bevel base wadcutter.

Great for paper out to 50 yards and will take a cotton tale nicely.

RNG · April 2, 2011, 05:15 AM

I haven't tried/used the specific cast bullet you're asking about. I'm loading 105g LSWC from the LEE mold for the wife's Ruger LCR. Found cowboy load on the internet using 2.5-3.0g w231. Wife liked the 2.7g w231 in the airweight. I wouldn't recommended loading less than 3.0g w231 for the 105g in anything longer than a 2" barrel though. It might not make the 6" trip out of the barrel.

Work the load up and be careful when testing.

Regards,
Richard

GP100man · April 2, 2011, 02:27 PM

Out of all the powders I`ve used for lite loading 38 spc/357mag Hodgdons CLAYS is the least position sensitive !

This is 1 test I do on all powders I use for revolver loading , loading lite loads.

For intermediate I like not so popular IMR 800X & HERCO , large flaked powder, tuff to get consistent throws with measures but not impossible .

For tettering to/to full bore magnum Hodgdons H-110/WW296 , IMR 4227 gets the nod.

This is only my findings in a moderate temp climate .

YMMV

m&p45acp10+1 · April 2, 2011, 05:42 PM

If you are not looking for super scorcher velocity Train Boss works well. Grat case fill and works with any bullet. It is also very clean buring.

Walkalong · April 3, 2011, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Out of all the powders I`ve used for lite loading 38 spc/357mag Hodgdons CLAYS is the least position sensitive !

This is 1 test I do on all powders I use for revolver loading , loading lite loads.

I agree, Clays is one of the best as far as position sensitivity and velocity. I also test powders for position sensitivity in light loads in big cases where the powder takes up little room. AA #2 is another good one, and WST & Competition do pretty well.

4.0 Grs Clays and a Berrys 125 Gr TrFP is a favorite light plinker in .357 brass.

March 24, 2011, 12:28 PM	#1
HighValleyRanch Senior Member Join Date: July 15, 2005 Posts: 4,066	Powerpuff .38 loads Just purchased some SLASH K hardcast .357 flat nose truncated bullets, 105 gr. Anyone have experience with these, and recommended loads with W231? Thinking about 3.5 231 for about 1000 fps? Right now I am loading 148 gr. HBWC with 3.4 gr. 231 for some nice target loads, but wanted some that I could speed load with, and wad cutters are not the easiest to practice speed loading! __________________ From the sweet grass to the slaughter house; From birth until death; We travel between these two eternities........from 'Broken Trail" Last edited by HighValleyRanch; March 24, 2011 at 02:03 PM.

April 2, 2011, 05:15 AM	#5
RNG Senior Member Join Date: August 6, 2007 Location: South Carolina Posts: 120	I haven't tried/used the specific cast bullet you're asking about. I'm loading 105g LSWC from the LEE mold for the wife's Ruger LCR. Found cowboy load on the internet using 2.5-3.0g w231. Wife liked the 2.7g w231 in the airweight. I wouldn't recommended loading less than 3.0g w231 for the 105g in anything longer than a 2" barrel though. It might not make the 6" trip out of the barrel. Work the load up and be careful when testing. Regards, Richard __________________ __________________________________________________________ Kimbers are what you show your friends. Glocks are what you show your enemies.

April 2, 2011, 02:27 PM	#6
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Lite Bullets & Gun powder Out of all the powders I`ve used for lite loading 38 spc/357mag Hodgdons CLAYS is the least position sensitive ! This is 1 test I do on all powders I use for revolver loading , loading lite loads. For intermediate I like not so popular IMR 800X & HERCO , large flaked powder, tuff to get consistent throws with measures but not impossible . For tettering to/to full bore magnum Hodgdons H-110/WW296 , IMR 4227 gets the nod. This is only my findings in a moderate temp climate . YMMV __________________ GP100man

April 2, 2011, 05:42 PM	#7
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	If you are not looking for super scorcher velocity Train Boss works well. Grat case fill and works with any bullet. It is also very clean buring. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

March 24, 2011, 12:37 PM	#2
Sarge Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2002 Location: MO Posts: 5,457	I think 3.4 would be a great place to start with those, HVR. 231 is all I load in standard pistol rounds these days and it works fine in the old .38 special. At 3.4 grains I had some keyholing from the resident .38 snub; but at 4.0 grains and loaded to 1.510", these Hornady 158 LSWCHP's gave about 600 fps and shot as well as anyone could ask. __________________ People were smarter before the Internet, or imbeciles were harder to notice.

March 25, 2011, 12:05 AM	#3
Crusty Deary Ol'Coot Senior Member Join Date: November 19, 2009 Location: Deary, Ideeeeeeho Posts: 531	I have used Bullseye for years in the .38s Then recently in the .40S&W and the .45acp. In the .38 I used to load as low as 2.5 grains, but went to the 3.5 - 4 load which seems a bit better. The 2.5 was so low, that a semi-wadcutter boolit would stop at the shoulder if fired into an old tire casing, then bounce out at the next hit. *Bit too slow.* Recently, have been loading about 5 grains as the wife and a friend's wife were shooting +P for social issues and I felt the difference between the very light loads and the +P might throw them off in a bad situation. The 231 should also be a good powder, but there must have been thousands and thousands of Bullseye used over the years. Keep em coming! Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

April 1, 2011, 08:38 PM	#4
ltc444 Senior Member Join Date: March 3, 2011 Location: Vernon AZ Posts: 1,195	For target loads I use the Elmer Keith standard. 2.7 grains of bullseye and a 148 grain bevel base wadcutter. Great for paper out to 50 yards and will take a cotton tale nicely.