Vance .38 special 147gr FP loading?

JagerBomb · June 21, 2011, 06:38 PM

Bought some lead 147gr FP to load for my .38 special, but can't seem to find any loading info on these, I would like tog et some done by the weekend, any help would be appricated! Oh, and I currently only have Winchester 231 powder on hand. I can get another type if that is recommended.

JagerBomb · June 21, 2011, 08:53 PM

Based on what I've been able to find, I'm going with 3.6 grains of WIN 231 to start off.

gspman · June 22, 2011, 12:28 AM

That seems like a odd weight for a 38spl 357 bullet.148grns are ussually full wadcutters.only 147 grn bullet ive seen is for 9mm at 355 to356 dia.38spl dia' are 357 and 358.just wondering if you have correct bullet for 38spl.231 will work fine just use 148 grn wc data of bullet of same type of bullet.you did not say whether they are cast or plated or swaged.GSPMAN

Sevens · June 22, 2011, 09:42 AM

If they are indeed 147 grain bullets, they are almost assuredly built for the 9mm bore.

You'll most likely end up with awful barrel leading if you shoot them in .38 Special.

BTW, if they are Vance bullets out of Rushelvania, Ohio (if you picked 'em up in Ohio) then they are simple cast bullets with a blue lube on them.

They will probably give you trouble in .38 Special.

Go back where you bought them and ask for 158gr LSWC instead.

JagerBomb · June 22, 2011, 10:36 AM

Yes, they are cast. I will double check the diameter when I get home to see what they are. Box was marked .38, but I know errors are possible. Don't know if they would exchange them since I have opened the box already.

zxcvbob · June 22, 2011, 10:57 AM

How many bullets are you talking about? 100? 500? They should work in a .38 even if they are undersized a little; leading is not that hard to clean, and you might not get leading anyway.

Hodgdon's online load data has info for 146 grain jacketed bullets and 158 grain lead and jacketed bullets. They all kind of intersect at about 4.0 grains of 231 or HP38 powder. That's what I'd try, maybe start at 3.8

ETA: I just saw your post about 3.6 grains. That should be OK, but if you get leading try *increasing* the powder a little.

Clifford L. Hughes · June 22, 2011, 02:11 PM

JagerBomb:

With a 147 grain bullet, it's not the weight of the bullet that determines whether the bullet is cast for a 9 mm or a 38 Special, it's the diameter. The 9 mm size shoud measure 355/356 and the 38 Special should mike 357/359. If the 147 gr. bullets were mine I would load them in my 38 and see what happens. The worst that would happen is that you might lose accuracy and experience leading. As for loading data, use the loading data for 147 gr. bullets and start low.

Semper Fi.

Gunnery sergeant
Clifford L. Hughes
Usmc Retired

JagerBomb · June 22, 2011, 09:46 PM

They measure .358/.359 so they are for .38. Hogden says for 148 LHBWC 3.5gr starting load, which is what I did. Should be good right?

zxcvbob · June 22, 2011, 09:55 PM

That'll be OK, but will probably burn pretty dirty cuz the pressure is so low. (wadcutters are loaded much deeper in the case than you will load these)

ForneyRider · June 22, 2011, 11:19 PM

I use 3.5gr W231 with Hornady 148gr HBWC bullets in 38 Special.
Excellent load in my mdl19.

warningshot · June 23, 2011, 03:32 AM

Before there was a ICORE plenty of revo reloaders were using automatic pistol bullet designs in their revolvers for ease of reloading; no pro-blame-o. I am sure they have reached into the millions of rounds safely assembled and fired by now.

For .38 spl., any published cast 148 gr. powder charge will work just fine for a 147 gr. cast bullet regardless of the cast bullet profile.

ForneyRider · June 24, 2011, 09:31 AM

I seat the HBWC flush.

JagerBomb · June 28, 2011, 10:29 AM

So I was out at a farm friday shooting, had my reloads there to try out. Ended up riding my dirtbike instead of shooting them...failure. I hope to try them out sometime this week.

June 21, 2011, 06:38 PM	#1
JagerBomb Junior Member Join Date: June 19, 2011 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 9	Vance .38 special 147gr FP loading? Bought some lead 147gr FP to load for my .38 special, but can't seem to find any loading info on these, I would like tog et some done by the weekend, any help would be appricated! Oh, and I currently only have Winchester 231 powder on hand. I can get another type if that is recommended.

June 22, 2011, 09:42 AM	#4
Sevens Senior Member Join Date: July 28, 2007 Location: Ohio Posts: 11,756	If they are indeed 147 grain bullets, they are almost assuredly built for the 9mm bore. You'll most likely end up with awful barrel leading if you shoot them in .38 Special. BTW, if they are Vance bullets out of Rushelvania, Ohio (if you picked 'em up in Ohio) then they are simple cast bullets with a blue lube on them. They will probably give you trouble in .38 Special. Go back where you bought them and ask for 158gr LSWC instead. __________________ *Attention Brass rats and other reloaders:* I really need .327 Federal Magnum brass, no lot size too small. Tell me what caliber you need and I'll see what I have to swap. PM me and we'll discuss.

June 22, 2011, 10:57 AM	#6
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	How many bullets are you talking about? 100? 500? They should work in a .38 even if they are undersized a little; leading is not that hard to clean, and you might not get leading anyway. Hodgdon's online load data has info for 146 grain jacketed bullets and 158 grain lead and jacketed bullets. They all kind of intersect at about 4.0 grains of 231 or HP38 powder. That's what I'd try, maybe start at 3.8 ETA: I just saw your post about 3.6 grains. That should be OK, but if you get leading try increasing* the powder a little.* __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

June 22, 2011, 09:55 PM	#9
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	That'll be OK, but will probably burn pretty dirty cuz the pressure is so low. (wadcutters are loaded much deeper in the case than you will load these) __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

June 22, 2011, 11:19 PM	#10
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	I use 3.5gr W231 with Hornady 148gr HBWC bullets in 38 Special. Excellent load in my mdl19. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

June 21, 2011, 08:53 PM	#2
JagerBomb Junior Member Join Date: June 19, 2011 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 9	Based on what I've been able to find, I'm going with 3.6 grains of WIN 231 to start off.

June 22, 2011, 12:28 AM	#3
gspman Member Join Date: February 23, 2010 Location: Spokane Wash Posts: 59	That seems like a odd weight for a 38spl 357 bullet.148grns are ussually full wadcutters.only 147 grn bullet ive seen is for 9mm at 355 to356 dia.38spl dia' are 357 and 358.just wondering if you have correct bullet for 38spl.231 will work fine just use 148 grn wc data of bullet of same type of bullet.you did not say whether they are cast or plated or swaged.GSPMAN

June 22, 2011, 10:36 AM	#5
JagerBomb Junior Member Join Date: June 19, 2011 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 9	Yes, they are cast. I will double check the diameter when I get home to see what they are. Box was marked .38, but I know errors are possible. Don't know if they would exchange them since I have opened the box already.

June 22, 2011, 02:11 PM	#7
Clifford L. Hughes Senior Member Join Date: February 24, 2011 Location: Southern Californis Posts: 795	JagerBomb: With a 147 grain bullet, it's not the weight of the bullet that determines whether the bullet is cast for a 9 mm or a 38 Special, it's the diameter. The 9 mm size shoud measure 355/356 and the 38 Special should mike 357/359. If the 147 gr. bullets were mine I would load them in my 38 and see what happens. The worst that would happen is that you might lose accuracy and experience leading. As for loading data, use the loading data for 147 gr. bullets and start low. Semper Fi. Gunnery sergeant Clifford L. Hughes Usmc Retired

June 22, 2011, 09:46 PM	#8
JagerBomb Junior Member Join Date: June 19, 2011 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 9	They measure .358/.359 so they are for .38. Hogden says for 148 LHBWC 3.5gr starting load, which is what I did. Should be good right?

June 23, 2011, 03:32 AM	#11
warningshot Senior Member Join Date: October 7, 2009 Posts: 995	No big secret. Before there was a ICORE plenty of revo reloaders were using automatic pistol bullet designs in their revolvers for ease of reloading; no pro-blame-o. I am sure they have reached into the millions of rounds safely assembled and fired by now. For .38 spl., any published cast 148 gr. powder charge will work just fine for a 147 gr. cast bullet regardless of the cast bullet profile.

June 24, 2011, 09:31 AM	#12
ForneyRider Senior Member Join Date: December 4, 2007 Location: Forney, TX Posts: 725	I seat the HBWC flush. __________________ When all is said and done, there is a lot more said than done.

June 28, 2011, 10:29 AM	#13
JagerBomb Junior Member Join Date: June 19, 2011 Location: Cincinnati, OH Posts: 9	So I was out at a farm friday shooting, had my reloads there to try out. Ended up riding my dirtbike instead of shooting them...failure. I hope to try them out sometime this week.