Favorite loads in 38 super

rc · January 25, 2015, 11:32 PM

I recently bought my first 38 super pistol. It's 4" kimber ProCarry. Great gun but the ammo I've picked up has been lousy. Time to load some of my own for it that is actually consistent and relatively full power. I have W231, IR800X, Alliant Blue Dot and some Unique on hand. I'd like to use 115 or 124 grain bullets with a target speed of around 1300 to 1350. Does anyone have any good loads with these powders that have worked well in their 38 super. I have some CCI 400 SR primers I will use.

NoSecondBest · January 26, 2015, 09:35 AM

What do you mean the ammo you had was "lousy"? Didn't cycle the gun, wouldn't feed, poor grouping, etc. Not very specific. I owned a few 38Supers and shot competition with them, and when tuned properly they worked just fine.

Hidalgo1 · January 26, 2015, 05:06 PM

I load 115gr XTP and Unique. The loads vary depending on what I'm doing. I generally load light for casual target shooting. I've loaded everything from 5.0 to 6.0 grains and they functioned fine through my Colt 1911.

Strafer Gott · January 26, 2015, 05:30 PM

I'm going with the 147grain Speer flatpoint over 9.8 gr of AA#9 from the Speer #12 manual IIRC. I notice a marked increase in recoil over factory loads.

Peter M. Eick · January 26, 2015, 05:42 PM

7.5 grns of 4756 with a 135 grn MBC LRN gives me right at 1300 to 1350 (depending on which super I use) loaded to 1.255 with a cci-500 primer.

50 shots, 15 yrds offhand.

HiBC · January 26, 2015, 05:52 PM

It matters if you are set up with a ramped barrel.If you do not have a fully supported chamber,you have a limitation you have to accept.

Also,I suggest,when you look at the numbers that the race gunners get,remember the comp serves to delay the unlocking.

And ,hopefully,the lockup,timing,etc is all blueprinted.You do have a shorter barrel,too

While the 45 ACP works at about 18,000 psi,the major caliber 38 Super loads approach 40,000 psi.(I'm not an expert,I'm pulling these numbers seat of the pants to illustrate)

You can beat up your nice new handgun pushing the limits.

Now that I have cautioned you,Power Pistol and Longshot are two of the better major caliber performance powders.

Clark · January 27, 2015, 01:24 AM

There is a published load for 38 Super with LONGSHOT.
If i work up past the load, the velocity starts going back down. More of the powder is going out in the fire ball.

I have seen the same thing happen with LIL'GUN in 38sp/357mag

bipe215 · January 28, 2015, 07:30 PM

I'm breaking in a DW Guardian now with Hornady 124 gr fmj, Starline brass,
5.0 gr of HP38 and a Wolf primers. Most accurate semi auto I've ever had.

CowTowner · January 30, 2015, 05:12 PM

I'm loading a 125 grain Zero over 5.9 grains of Titegroup and a WSR primer.
Love it.

rc · February 8, 2015, 10:52 PM

The lousy ammo was some American Eagle with the 115JHP bullets that produced extreme spreads around 250 to 300 fps. They fed, they fired, they didn't group very well and they occassionally jammed. The Aguila stuff I bought was really very consistent. I know I can load more consistantly than the Federal American Eagle ammo and I'm expecting my Kimber with it's ramped barrel to be a very good shooter with the right ammo.

January 26, 2015, 05:42 PM	#5
Peter M. Eick Senior Member Join Date: August 3, 1999 Location: Houston, Texas Posts: 2,991	7.5 grns of 4756 with a 135 grn MBC LRN gives me right at 1300 to 1350 (depending on which super I use) loaded to 1.255 with a cci-500 primer. 50 shots, 15 yrds offhand. __________________ 10mm and 357sig, the best things to come along since the 38 super!

January 27, 2015, 01:24 AM	#7
Clark Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 1999 Location: WA, the ever blue state Posts: 4,678	There is a published load for 38 Super with LONGSHOT. If i work up past the load, the velocity starts going back down. More of the powder is going out in the fire ball. I have seen the same thing happen with LIL'GUN in 38sp/357mag __________________ The word 'forum" does not mean "not criticizing books." "Ad hominem fallacy" is not the same as point by point criticism of books. If you bought the book, and believe it all, it may FEEL like an ad hominem attack, but you might strive to accept other points of view may exist. Are we a nation of competing ideas, or a nation of forced conformity of thought?

January 25, 2015, 11:32 PM	#1
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,779	Favorite loads in 38 super I recently bought my first 38 super pistol. It's 4" kimber ProCarry. Great gun but the ammo I've picked up has been lousy. Time to load some of my own for it that is actually consistent and relatively full power. I have W231, IR800X, Alliant Blue Dot and some Unique on hand. I'd like to use 115 or 124 grain bullets with a target speed of around 1300 to 1350. Does anyone have any good loads with these powders that have worked well in their 38 super. I have some CCI 400 SR primers I will use.

January 26, 2015, 09:35 AM	#2
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	What do you mean the ammo you had was "lousy"? Didn't cycle the gun, wouldn't feed, poor grouping, etc. Not very specific. I owned a few 38Supers and shot competition with them, and when tuned properly they worked just fine.

January 26, 2015, 05:06 PM	#3
Hidalgo1 Member Join Date: November 22, 2014 Location: East TN Posts: 23	I load 115gr XTP and Unique. The loads vary depending on what I'm doing. I generally load light for casual target shooting. I've loaded everything from 5.0 to 6.0 grains and they functioned fine through my Colt 1911.

January 26, 2015, 05:30 PM	#4
Strafer Gott Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2011 Location: New Mexico Posts: 1,315	I'm going with the 147grain Speer flatpoint over 9.8 gr of AA#9 from the Speer #12 manual IIRC. I notice a marked increase in recoil over factory loads.

January 26, 2015, 05:52 PM	#6
HiBC Senior Member Join Date: November 13, 2006 Posts: 8,295	It matters if you are set up with a ramped barrel.If you do not have a fully supported chamber,you have a limitation you have to accept. Also,I suggest,when you look at the numbers that the race gunners get,remember the comp serves to delay the unlocking. And ,hopefully,the lockup,timing,etc is all blueprinted.You do have a shorter barrel,too While the 45 ACP works at about 18,000 psi,the major caliber 38 Super loads approach 40,000 psi.(I'm not an expert,I'm pulling these numbers seat of the pants to illustrate) You can beat up your nice new handgun pushing the limits. Now that I have cautioned you,Power Pistol and Longshot are two of the better major caliber performance powders.

January 28, 2015, 07:30 PM	#8
bipe215 Senior Member Join Date: December 3, 2008 Posts: 122	I'm breaking in a DW Guardian now with Hornady 124 gr fmj, Starline brass, 5.0 gr of HP38 and a Wolf primers. Most accurate semi auto I've ever had.

January 30, 2015, 05:12 PM	#9
CowTowner Senior Member Join Date: October 17, 2007 Location: Cowtown of course! Posts: 1,747	I'm loading a 125 grain Zero over 5.9 grains of Titegroup and a WSR primer. Love it. __________________ NRA Chief Range Safety Officer, Home Firearms Safety, Pistol and Rifle Instructor *“Today, we need a nation of Minutemen, citizens who are not only prepared to take arms, but citizens who regard the preservation of freedom as the basic purpose of their daily life......”* President John F. Kennedy

February 8, 2015, 10:52 PM	#10
rc Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2001 Location: CA Posts: 1,779	The lousy ammo was some American Eagle with the 115JHP bullets that produced extreme spreads around 250 to 300 fps. They fed, they fired, they didn't group very well and they occassionally jammed. The Aguila stuff I bought was really very consistent. I know I can load more consistantly than the Federal American Eagle ammo and I'm expecting my Kimber with it's ramped barrel to be a very good shooter with the right ammo.