light&fast .38 special

sox · October 7, 2000, 11:15 AM

Hey guys, very new to reloading scene. Any recommendations on 100 grain or less loads for the .38 these would be for my titanium smith. Thanks, Dave.

Cougar · October 8, 2000, 07:54 AM

Lightest common bullet weight for .38Spl is 110 gr.
My fav standard 110gr load for my Taurus 3" snubbie is a JHP over 6.4 grs of Unique. I don't have a chronograph yet, so I don't know the velocity in my shorter barrel, but it lists as 1100fps in a 6".
If I step up to a +P loading, I run a 125gr JHP over 5.4 grs of Universal Clays. Listed at 1072fps from a 4" barrel. This makes a nice, clean, accurate, 'plinking' load for my Dan Wesson 8" .357, and is quite managable in the all-stainless 3" snub!

The above loads are pretty stout for .38Spl and your lightweight gun will no doubt kick quite a bit more, but I would imagine that you really don't want to subject yourself to sustained practice with that gun anyway... I would imagine that your gun is meant to be carried much and used very little.

Then again, you may want to use a light-to-medium 140 grain wadcutter round. Very easy on the hands. a 140 gr lead wadcutter backed by 4.0 grs of Unique will net ~800fps, or even easier on the hands yet would be a 148gr wadcutter over 3.1grs of Unique for ~700fps. (Velocities listed for 4" barrel)

For practice I'd use mostly the wadcutter loads, and save the 'heavy' loads for carry use. Yeah, yeah, I know you should practice with your carry loads, but not all of your practice has to be punishment!

Your results may vary.

WESHOOT2 · October 8, 2000, 09:43 AM

Jacketed bullets ONLY, and a very heavy crimp (recommend Redding Profile Crimp die).

------------------
"All my ammo is factory ammo"

taco · October 9, 2000, 01:51 PM

Some years ago I loaded some 95gr JHP (I don't remember the brand) with Win231. I shot these in my 5" model 10 and got 1,080 fps but the accuracy was pretty bad (5-6" at 25 yds) or 870 fps from my model 38 Bodyguard but the accuracy was more of a pattern. Also, few rounds from model 38 keyholed. Forget 95gr and move upto 125gr.

October 7, 2000, 11:15 AM	#1
sox Senior Member Join Date: February 19, 1999 Location: Atlanta Georgia Posts: 591	Hey guys, very new to reloading scene. Any recommendations on 100 grain or less loads for the .38 these would be for my titanium smith. Thanks, Dave.

October 8, 2000, 07:54 AM	#2
Cougar Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2000 Location: N.E. Ohio Posts: 637	Lightest common bullet weight for .38Spl is 110 gr. My fav standard 110gr load for my Taurus 3" snubbie is a JHP over 6.4 grs of Unique. I don't have a chronograph yet, so I don't know the velocity in my shorter barrel, but it lists as 1100fps in a 6". If I step up to a +P loading, I run a 125gr JHP over 5.4 grs of Universal Clays. Listed at 1072fps from a 4" barrel. This makes a nice, clean, accurate, 'plinking' load for my Dan Wesson 8" .357, and is quite managable in the all-stainless 3" snub! The above loads are pretty stout for .38Spl and your lightweight gun will no doubt kick quite a bit more, but I would imagine that you really don't want to subject yourself to sustained practice with that gun anyway... I would imagine that your gun is meant to be carried much and used very little. Then again, you may want to use a light-to-medium 140 grain wadcutter round. Very easy on the hands. a 140 gr lead wadcutter backed by 4.0 grs of Unique will net ~800fps, or even easier on the hands yet would be a 148gr wadcutter over 3.1grs of Unique for ~700fps. (Velocities listed for 4" barrel) For practice I'd use mostly the wadcutter loads, and save the 'heavy' loads for carry use. Yeah, yeah, I know you should practice with your carry loads, but not all of your practice has to be punishment! Your results may vary.

October 8, 2000, 09:43 AM	#3
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Jacketed bullets ONLY, and a very heavy crimp (recommend Redding Profile Crimp die). ------------------ "All my ammo is factory ammo"

October 9, 2000, 01:51 PM	#4
taco Senior Member Join Date: April 28, 2000 Location: USA Posts: 936	Some years ago I loaded some 95gr JHP (I don't remember the brand) with Win231. I shot these in my 5" model 10 and got 1,080 fps but the accuracy was pretty bad (5-6" at 25 yds) or 870 fps from my model 38 Bodyguard but the accuracy was more of a pattern. Also, few rounds from model 38 keyholed. Forget 95gr and move upto 125gr.