Load for .38 Special 122GR Flat Point Bullet

FloridaGuy · June 29, 2013, 08:43 PM

I picked up 500 122Gr Flat Point .357 Bullets for a very good price. Now I can not find a load for this bullet. I am currently using Regular Hodgdon Clays powder and CCI small pistol primers. I know Clay is not a normal pistol powder but right now I have to load with what I have. I normally load the same bullet except at 120GR. This one I load a 3gr of Clays powder. Would this be a good starting place for my 122Gr Flat Point Bullet? I checked both the Lyman's and Hornady's reloading manual and did not find a load listed.

LAH · June 29, 2013, 09:00 PM

If the bearing surface & seating depth is about the same that load should interchange or at least I think it should.

FloridaGuy · June 29, 2013, 09:05 PM

The bullet has he same shape so the bearing surfaces are the same and the seating depth is exactly the same.

WESHOOT2 · June 30, 2013, 07:33 AM

Use 125g data; safe.

LAH · June 30, 2013, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Use 125g data; safe.

+1

David Bachelder · June 30, 2013, 05:31 PM

I like 4.3 grains Titegroup under the cast 125 gr flat point. COAL of 1.45"

Range is 3.8 to 4.3

Pick your poison.

OCYMMV.

zxcvbob · June 30, 2013, 05:39 PM

Pretend they are 125's. Should be lots of load data available.

mjes92 · June 30, 2013, 10:20 PM

Try Hodgdon.com
Clays is a is a nice plinking powder I use with 125 gr LRNFP

LAH · July 1, 2013, 09:30 AM

Quote:

Pretend they are 125's. Should be lots of load data available.

That's what I'm thinking.

Crunchy Frog · July 1, 2013, 08:48 PM

I shoot cowboy action; my primary .38 Special load is a 105 or 125 grain lead bullet (truncated cone flat point) over Clays powder. The Hodgdon manual has an entire section dedicated to cowboy action loads. As I recall it lists a 95 grain bullet and a 125 grain bullet but nothing in between.

You might also try contacting Hodgdon's and see what they recommend.

FloridaGuy · July 1, 2013, 09:15 PM

Thanks everyone.

I ended up loading them with 3gr of Clays powder. They turned out to be a very nice range round. I am going to load 1 thousand rounds now. They will be nice rounds for training new shooters.

WESHOOT2 · July 2, 2013, 08:27 AM

I have learned to weigh a sampling from every package of bullets to determine their actual weight.

Lead bullets can very significantly from their advertised weight due to alloy.

June 29, 2013, 08:43 PM	#1
FloridaGuy Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2012 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 237	Load for .38 Special 122GR Flat Point Bullet I picked up 500 122Gr Flat Point .357 Bullets for a very good price. Now I can not find a load for this bullet. I am currently using Regular Hodgdon Clays powder and CCI small pistol primers. I know Clay is not a normal pistol powder but right now I have to load with what I have. I normally load the same bullet except at 120GR. This one I load a 3gr of Clays powder. Would this be a good starting place for my 122Gr Flat Point Bullet? I checked both the Lyman's and Hornady's reloading manual and did not find a load listed. __________________ Μολὼν λαβέ Authorized Blackhound Optics Dealer www.blackhoundoptics.com/CWFT

June 29, 2013, 09:05 PM	#3
FloridaGuy Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2012 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 237	The bullet has he same shape so the bearing surfaces are the same and the seating depth is exactly the same. __________________ Μολὼν λαβέ Authorized Blackhound Optics Dealer www.blackhoundoptics.com/CWFT

June 30, 2013, 07:33 AM	#4
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Use 125g data; safe. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

June 30, 2013, 05:31 PM	#6
David Bachelder Senior Member Join Date: August 23, 2011 Location: Trinity, Texas Posts: 636	I like 4.3 grains Titegroup under the cast 125 gr flat point. COAL of 1.45" Range is 3.8 to 4.3 Pick your poison. OCYMMV. __________________ David Bachelder Trinity, Texas I load, 9mm Luger, 38 and 40 S&W, 38 Special, 357Magnum, 45ACP, 45 Colt, 223, 300 AAC, 243 and 30-06

June 30, 2013, 05:39 PM	#7
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Pretend they are 125's. Should be lots of load data available. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

June 29, 2013, 09:00 PM	#2
LAH Senior Member Join Date: March 22, 2002 Location: In The Hardwoods Posts: 1,188	If the bearing surface & seating depth is about the same that load should interchange or at least I think it should.

June 30, 2013, 10:20 PM	#8
mjes92 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2013 Location: Land of 10,000 taxes Posts: 211	Try Hodgdon.com Clays is a is a nice plinking powder I use with 125 gr LRNFP __________________ Dad !!! "It's only going to be perfect if you do it yourself." - my teenage daughter Dad !!! "I'm not scared" My Cancer fighting daughter." Cancer Sucks NRA - Life Member Last edited by mjes92; July 2, 2013 at 08:34 AM. Reason: CORRECTED LFPRN

July 1, 2013, 08:48 PM	#10
Crunchy Frog Senior Member Join Date: December 26, 2008 Location: Greenville, SC Posts: 591	I shoot cowboy action; my primary .38 Special load is a 105 or 125 grain lead bullet (truncated cone flat point) over Clays powder. The Hodgdon manual has an entire section dedicated to cowboy action loads. As I recall it lists a 95 grain bullet and a 125 grain bullet but nothing in between. You might also try contacting Hodgdon's and see what they recommend.

July 1, 2013, 09:15 PM	#11
FloridaGuy Senior Member Join Date: December 8, 2012 Location: Clearwater, FL Posts: 237	Thanks everyone. I ended up loading them with 3gr of Clays powder. They turned out to be a very nice range round. I am going to load 1 thousand rounds now. They will be nice rounds for training new shooters. __________________ Μολὼν λαβέ Authorized Blackhound Optics Dealer www.blackhoundoptics.com/CWFT

July 2, 2013, 08:27 AM	#12
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	additional point I have learned to weigh a sampling from every package of bullets to determine their actual weight. Lead bullets can very significantly from their advertised weight due to alloy. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

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