Wanted, Target Load for 38 Special

[ConRich]

I'm looking for an accurate target load for my S&W Model 15, 38 Special with a 4" barrel. I will be shooting at 50' in an indoor range so I must use lead bullets. I have a good supply of 158gr cast round nose bullets but have never worked up a load for them. Any help would be appreciated.

TIA,
Rich

[rwilson452]

I had my best success with 125 gr HBWC pushed by 2.9 gr of bullseye and Winchester primers. The bullets were seated correctly in the crimping groove. My S&W is a mod 67-1 with a 4" bbl.

[.45 Vet]

The old "Bulls Eye" stanard was a 148gr Hollow Base Wadcutter over 2.7grs of Bulls Eye powder. These are true powder-puff loads and very accurate. I've never loaded the 158's lightly for the .38 Spcl.

You might try Clays,HP38,700X,or 231 and keep them around 750/800fps.

[zxcvbob]

I have a model 15-4, and the most accurate load I've found at 50 feet is Berry's copper-plated 125 grain hollow point bullets with 4.0 grains of Promo (or Red Dot) powder, and whatever's your favorite small pistol primer. These work for me even better than 148 grain wadcutters, and they punch very clean holes in paper targets. This is not a powderpuff load, but the recoil is very manageable because of the light bullet. The hollow points are cut very deep, which makes the bullets long with a lot of bearing surface.

My indoor range also bans jacketed bullets but they accept the Berry's and Rainer plated bullets.

[Norm Lee]

Try 3.4 gr. of Unique or Jniversal Clays under that 158 gr. bullet. Pleasant to shoot and very accurate in the several revolvers I've tried it in.

Cheers,

Norm

[armoredman]

158gr lead, I use a SWC cast from a Lee mold, from wheel weights, lubed with Lee Liquid Alox, atop 3.8 grains of Accurate #2, set at 1.40" OAL, with light FCD. Alternatively, since I just started experimenting with casting, I do have a 125gr LRN cast bullet load that ROCKS, 4.6grains of Accurate #2, at 1.549 OAL. The bullet in question is actuallysupposed to be a .356 for 9mm, but the mold drops them at .360, so I use them for both 38 and 9mm, with the .356 and .358 Lee push through sizers.
Jacketed, best load is a 125gr XTP over 5.3 grains of Accurate #2, at 1.445 OAL, FCD used.
That is the best shootin' stuff out of this gun, my only .38 Special.

[scsov509]

I will be shooting at 50' in an indoor range so I must use lead bullets.

My indoor range requires jacketed rounds, so you're fortunate if you can shoot lead at yours. Anyhow, my most accurate lead round has been the 158 SWC over 3.3-3.5 grains Bullseye out of my 4" 686.

[dewidmt]

My standard target .38 Spec. load is 3.0 of Bullseye under a 158 gr SWC.

[Ralph Allen]

3.1 grains of Win 231, 148 HBWC. Perfect load for S&W 340 scandium in the wifes gun.
Ralph

[FM12]

If you have to buy powder anyway, I'd go with the newer Alliant powder PROMO. It uses the same data as Red Dot, same data by weight, not volumn.

It comes only in 8 lb kegs, but is really cheap.

2.5 to 3.0 grains of Promo sholuld make you pretty happy...experiment with 148 wad cutters and 158 SWC til you find your best load.

[ConRich]

Thanks to all who have taken the time to share their load data and suggestions with me. I have some Bullseye, Unique, and Tightgroup powder on hand and will start with those powders behind the 158gr cast lead RN bullets that I have and see if I can come up with an accurate "Powder Puff" target load.

Thanks again for the help,

Rich

[RDF]

I used Trail Boss powder with 158gr in Cowboy loads.

[RDub]

I have shot some very good groups over the years with round nose cast bullets, but I have shot the 'best' groups with either wadcutter or semi-wadcutter bullets. Don't hesitate to try some different bullets later down the road.. You might be surprised.

Powders;
AA #2
Bullseye
231
UNIQUE

Have fun..

[MADISON]

My target load[s] for 38 Special :
3.0 grains of Winchester 231 in a HBWC
4.0 grains of Winchester 231 for a BBWC

[zxcvbob]

FM12, I was beginning to think I was the only one who uses Promo for loading handgun cartridges. It would be one of my favorite powders even if it wasn't so cheap. And at just under $10 per pound, how can you not like it?

Bob

[ConRich]

Thanks again for all the feedback. Some of the most interesting data that I have received is for a 125gr HBWC, but I can't find any of these bullets or a mould to make them listed in any of my catalogs. I would like to use a light weight, low velocity bullet for the indoor matches. Would you point me in the right direction please.

TIA,
Rich

[armoredman]

I have a 125gr mould, the Lee TL125-356, that drops at .360, so I use it both for 38 and 9mm, 358 and 356, with Lee push through sizers.

[rwilson452]

I know I mentioned them but I bought them at a swap meet years ago, maybe 10 years ago. I haven't loaded them since. If you can't find 125 gr find something you can get stick with. A HBWC go with the lightest one you can find. it doesn't do any good to work a load for bullets you can't keep in stock.

[kgpcr]

5grns Uniuqe is my pet load with a 158grn SWC

[zxcvbob]

5grns Uniuqe is my pet load with a 158grn SWC

That's a pretty hot load for a .38 Special. I use 4.5 grains in my HD gun with 158 LHP's, and Alliant says that's a +P load. (Lyman's says it's standard pressure, but it's still at the upper end)

[ConRich]

You're right about 5grs of Unique being over the max for a .38 special with a 158gr bullet. I think that kgpcr's data was for a .357 mag. At the bottom of his post he lists his guns and I see a .357 mag but no .38 special.

Rich

[rrp]

I've been using 3.5 gr bullseye behind 158 gr swc with good results.

[tkcomer]

3.8grs of True Blue behind a lead 148 DEWC.