Anyone 231?

[ccw08]

I am trying to work up a good practice / target load for 38 special rounds with Winchester 231.

I mostly shoot 38 ammo through my S&W M19 357 for some fun plinking and target punching. I also shoot 38 through my BUG which is a Charter Arms UC Ultra Light hammerless.

My load data says start at 4.2 and max at 4.7 grains, would like to go less to stretch my powder out some and there is no reason to go heavy since I am just using them for 15 yard or less targets most of the time

I have the following components, any ideas would be appreciated.

Assorted brass
Winchester primers
Winchester 231 powder
Hard Cast 158 grain Lead Semi-Wadcutter Bullets.

Not that a press matters but I load on a Dillon Square Deal B loader.

[Mark whiz]

If you are just loading .38Spcl rounds in .38spcl cases, you can (should) drop your load of Win231 down to the 3.2gr to 3.4gr range for 158gr LSWCs. I shoot those and Ranier plated bullets in that range in my 2" Rossi and 4" Ruger with respectable results.

[ccw08]

I loaded up a couple today at 4.5 since 4.7 was max, it shot fine, not sure about on target accuracy since I shot at a target that was full of holes lol.

I usually go down 10% below the middle of the low and max range, then if the slides down cycle or they are not accurate I go up from there but loading for revolvers is new to me.

[Crankylove]

I load 3.5-4.0 grains of W231 behind a plated 158, they are quite accurate and fun to shoot from my 4" GP100. With 3.5 grains, I get about 600 fps...........taming the recoil can get a little tricky

[Mark whiz]

You might want to research that load a little more. I just checked Hogdon's (Winchester's) online data and they show 4.3gr to be a max load in .38 cases and 4.6gr to be a max +P load. Your .357 should be able to handle that load...........................but the Ultra-Light might not be compatible.

[lmccrock]

I burned lots of 231 pushing 148-158gr 38 special bullets. My only issue was position sensitivity - different ballistics depending on whether the powder was more by the bullet or the primer. Upping the powder a couple tenths helped.

Lee

[SwampYankee]

I tried to get really low recoil .38 Special using W231 once. Using the very light loads, I got a number of squibs that lodged in the barrel (I was lucky to check the gun anytime it made a funny ignition sound). I was using FMJ's which should have made it less of a problem but the extreme cold I was shooting in and the marginal crimp combined to make the whole batch nearly useless.


Consequently, I shoot .22's if I want reduced recoil. Otherwise I stay to published minimums.

By the way, those squibs lodged in the barrel were out of a 2" barrel.

[Russ5924]

My Hogdon's book said 3.1 to a max 3.7 been using W231 3.7 for years with the 158G SWC. You may be to high recheck your books

[ccw08]

I will do a couple shorter loads, maybe try a 3.4-3.6 range to see how they handle. I know the 357 will handle it, I just want to perfect the load before putting it in the Charter UC lol.

Here is a pic of the 357, should handle it lol

[ccw08]

Ok I went out to test some rounds, 3.5 seems to be a good one, accurate and punches right where I aim at 7, 15, and 25 yards with the S&W, I will load up some for the Charter and let you know

Thanks for the advice guys and gals

[Ozzieman]

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

For my Smith 28 using a like weight bullet I found that 3.6 worked best for 231 as long as its cast and not swaged.
Although it’s a little on the dirty side the best accuracy that I ever received with my 4 inch 28 with a Penn 158 cast semi wad cutter was with Titegroup with a load of 3.6.
I agree with others that 4.7 seems to be a bit on the high side. Go to the Hodgdon site above and see for your self, that load is half way in a 357 mag load.
That’s not to hot of a load in a 357 mag case but putting it in a 38 case you might be compressing the load,,, I really don’t have any idea but that is a heavy and long bullet, your pressure could be very high.
5.0 in a 357 case with that bullet is 23,900 Cup

[ccw08]

Thanks for the reply, I checked it out and yeah it seems 3.7 is the max with a 158 lswc so I guess my 3.5 might be bordering max but it seems to shoot well with them, will have to see how it does in the ultra carry when I get a sec.

I have been looking through the Hodgdon site, great link, thank you so much.