taget loads for .38 Smith

[richrd1]

I just picked up a wheel gun for fun and dr matches. m14 Smith 6 inch. .38

I have some Hodgens Clay and a few 125 round nose lead and some 125 swc's. At 3 grains, off sand bags, the round nose bullets showed a decent but not good enough group and the swc's were all over the paper.

So the question is, with the bullets available, (ain't seen 148 wadcutters for years) what do I feed it?

I ask because after 45 years of shooting, this is my first revolver.

thanks
Rich

[Jim Watson]

First, I'd put in more powder. The Hodgdon maximum of 3.5 gr Clays and a cast 125 isn't going to beat up your Smith.

Then I would look for some 158 gr bullets. The usual SWC has a wider front band and Elmer Keith said that is an advantage.

[g.willikers]

You might try comparing the bullet diameters to the chamber and barrel dimensions.
Just a thought.
Penn Bullets has 148 grain wadcutters:
http://pennbullets.com/38/38-caliber.html

[Marco Califo]

Powder Valley has Berry's plated DEWC in stock now.
BRY68188 BERRYS .38/357 (.357) 148 GR DEWC (250) Yes $27.34

This has been the standard Police target round for over 50 years:
1.155 6 CCI 500 Bullseye 3.1 799
http://www.alliantpowder.com/

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

[bluetopper]

Up the charge to the max listing. Your groups with tighten dramatically.

If cost effective accuracy is your goal, order a batch of 148gr cast lead wadcutters. double-end or button nose, doesn't matter. Look on gunbroker for them or go to Two Alpha Bullets, S&S Casting, Missouri Bullets, etc,....
Great accuracy at 25yds with any of these at low cost and great fun.

[jim8115]

3.0 Grains bullseye with a 158 Gr LSWC ( not cast)

[oldpapps]

MidwayUSA lists 148 grain softies, but out of stock, if that is what you are looking for.
Missouri Bullet has some that are harder and cast. I'm sure other lead bullet makers have them.
I've got a couple or three molds, and suspect new ones are available.

This is going with you loading for the .38 Special. I rattle 9MM lead down the barrels of my old .38 S&W top breaks on the few times that I shoot one of them (.355/6 in a .360 hole, low pressures/poor accuracy/some leading of the barrel). But, you listed a S&W Model 14 and they are/were .38 Specials (I did have one with a 4 inch Model 19 barrel... same length cylinder for the shorter Special tho.)

With the length of time and number of round fired, good loading data is available.

Enjoy,

OSOK

[Paul B.]

My pet load for playing with targets in the .38 Spl. is 3.1 gr. of W231 any brass or primer or 3.0 gr. of Bullseye with the Lyman #358495 WC. Yes, I cast my own. Other bullets I like are the Lyman #358150 and 358150, the first a 150 gr. SWC and the latter a 158 gr. gas checked SWC that I usually reserve for the .357 Magnum. For the .38 Spl. I normally use 5.0 gr. of Unique for both bullets. All loads mentioned are accurate in all my .38's.
Paul B.

[RC20]

I have Penn bullets in 9mm

He has his own formula and it seems to work as no leading issues when shooting in 9mm semi auto.

The lube is a bit erratic for full fill in the groves but found no problems with it. Also a bit smelly but that was mentioned and I knew it before I bought it. Not as bad as non synthetic.

I am going to try some of the 9mm for a 38 as the diameter is close.

[Clark]

I was told to do this on a forum and it worked.

Old RP thin walled target 38sp brass
Remington 148 gr wad cutter hollow base
2.9 gr Bullseye
Seat bullets so deep that only .1" of bullet is showing

[tangolima]

Are we talking about .38 spl or .38 s&w? They are different.

-TL

[Bart B.]

TL, that Model 14 was only made in .38 Special. It's a pin driver, too; more accurate than a tack driver. Often called a poor man's K38 Masterpiece as it was accurate enough for serious competition.

[tangolima]

Thanks Bart. I saw they kind of going back and forth between .357 and .38 s&w.

-TL

[skizzums]

this might sound silly, but me and my wife are enjoying cast wadcutters, powdercoated with 1.2gr of HP-38. the point of aim is the same at 10yard and under distances than the 3 or so gr I usually load to, I was surprised they make it out of the barrel, but they do and still have enough umph to blow through 2x4's. I tried to test how low you could go and we went to 0.8gr and it was still shooting, I didn't try any less. It saves a great deal of powder, and if your just shooting for giggles and not "training", going really low can be fun

[Nick_C_S]

(I could have sworn I previously responded to this thread. Guess it didn't take. )

Wheelguns rock. Congratulations on your acquisition.

Few guns are more accurate than a 6" bbl Smith 38 Special. If I were commanded to build an inaccurate load, I'd be hard pressed to achieve such a "goal."

I shoot a Smith 38 in both IDPA and Steel. I load and shoot a lot of 148g wadcutters (specifically, bevel base double-ended wadcutters - DEWC). In the midst of this component shortage, lead fodder for 38's is easy to find. I'm fond of SNS casting, but others abound too. X-treme is another good company. And I used to like Friendswood - but not going there in this thread. Oh, and I can't forget Missouri Bullet Co. and Penn - both good too. Finding suitable powder has been the challenge.