Clays, 2.3 grains, 148g LSWC, .38 special, soft load? Too soft?

[mjrodney]

Newbie here again....

I loaded up a few .38 specials this morning, using 2.3 grains of Clays under a lubed 148 grain lead semi-wad cutter.

Does this sound like an adequate load?

I am amazed at just how little 2.3 grains of Clays powder is.

I put more salt on my food.

[Leftoverdj]

Sounds mighty light to me, and that 148 grain LSWC does not sound right. It's possible that such a thing exists, but ordinarily 148 grains means a WC, and an SWC would be 150 or 158. 2.3 grains would be reasonable under a flush seated WC, but it's extremely light for a normal length SWC load.

It's extremely difficult to achieve uniformity with such a small load. Even the normal tolerance of plus or minus a tenth of a grain is nearly a 10% variation.

[mjrodney]

It seems light to me too, Leftoverdj, but that's based on a hunch and not real experience.

The Clay jar label calls for 2.5 grains, for a 148 LWC. I figured 10% below that for a mild load.

The bullets I bought from a local dealer, and the box calls them a 148g LSWC. They look like the standard double ended full wad cutter, with two lube grooves and the cannelure for crimping; but where they differ is on one end, where there is a small protrusion that is smaller than the bullet body. I guess that is what makes them a semi-wadcutter.

I weighed 50 of them on a digital scale and they came out to be 148.5 grains on the average.

These 50 I loaded this morning, and perhaps I need to load another 50 at the 2.5 grain mark, like it says on the Clay jar, before I go to the range this weekend.

Anyone else with Clays experience have more on this?

[rnovi]

Ok, 2.3 grains IS A LIGHT LOAD. Also note: that's the way it's intended!

The 148gr wadcutters seat very deep in the case which helps to stabilize such a light load.

I use 3.0gr of Clays under a 125gr bullet in a 6" gp100. Recoil is non-existant, I get 1" groups at 7yards shooting fast DA shots. And it still clocks out at 950fps.

2.3 is light. That's pretty much the way it's intended. Bump to 2.5gr if you want...but it's still going to be soft.

[mjrodney]

Well then, friends, now maybe all will be well, after all.

These loads are for my recoil shy bride, who will be using a Ruger SP101 with a 3" barrel at the 7 yard mark.

If the bullet eventually reaches the paper and punches its way through, both of us will be happy.

I will plan on loading up 50 at the 2.5 mark, as well.

Thanks for the responses.

[sindiesel666]

I'm reading these posts and laughing like a maniac!!!
I once loaded some really light 38 spl loads, with 1.3-1.4 grains of Bullseye and some 158 grain lead SWCs. My range buddies where amazed that these loads actually pushed the bullet out of the barrel at all. I had no chrono, but I'd say they clocked around 400-500 fps. Can you say no recoil????

2.3 of Clays should definitely be nice out of a smaller frame revo like the SP 101. Pleasant to shoot and not intimidating for novice shooters.

[GrandpaDenny]

2.3 grains of Clay`s is the starting load for 148 Gr. full wad cutters in the Lee Modern Reloading book. Should work very well with your bullets and give little recoil to boot.

Keep the barrel clean and have fun. Light loads sometimes tend to lead up a barrel. Just keep an eye on it.

[Steve 48]

I use 2.5 grains of Clays for all my 148gr wc. There very accurate and seem to be useful. Steve 48

[btplus]

I use Winchester Super Target in 1.8 gr.---148 gr hollow base wad cutters---and the federal primer. Set the bullet just below the case mouth. Shot by the thousands-popular PPC load here.