Tightgroup for .38 special

Sid · December 5, 2013, 03:37 PM

I shoot .38 special with 148 grain lead wad cutters. The accurate, light recoil load I have been using for some time is 3.1 grains of 231. I have used up my supply of 231 and the only powder I was able to purchase lately was a 4 pound jug of Tightgroup. I would like to hear from guys who shoot .38 wadcutters about their experience with Tightgroup.

I also need to mention that I am a senior citizen and cannot deal with heavy recoil.

WESHOOT2 · December 5, 2013, 03:46 PM

Suggest checking available 'Cowboy' data for Titegroup / 38 Special.

spacecoast · December 5, 2013, 04:44 PM

I've used 2.7, 3.0 and 3.3 grains of Titegroup under a 148 WC. All work well.

zxcvbob · December 5, 2013, 05:39 PM

About 2.8 to 3 grains. Be extra careful because Titegroup is soot-colored and hard to see in the bottom of a .38 Special case -- a double charge will not look that much different than a normal charge.

BigJimP · December 6, 2013, 07:37 PM

I use TiteGroup a lot....its a low volume powder - designed to be used in cases where you don't have much powder compared to the volume of the case and still get good ignition ..../ its a great powder --- and I find it very clean - although I shoot primarily jacketed bullets.

....so just be careful you don't double charge a case with it....but as long as you do that, there is nothing wrong with it.

skizzums · December 6, 2013, 10:01 PM

i shoot 148gr swaged hollow base wads with 2,9gr of titegroup. i get leading with the titegroup that i dont get with the hp31 so i will avoid the swaged when using tg from now on, but its more accurate than the hp38 when shooting past 20yards. but overall i prefer the hp38/231 with 38spl. but i too have a pretty large stock of tg cause when i started its all i could find, so i try to use it as much as i can

there is definetly a greater recoil from the tg, but @ 2.9gr its not at all unmanageable. you shouldnt have a prob with that

bluetopper · December 6, 2013, 11:48 PM

It'll work fine, just back off the charge from your 231 data a couple of tenths.

Have fun sir!

December 5, 2013, 03:37 PM	#1
Sid Senior Member Join Date: November 22, 2009 Posts: 362	Tightgroup for .38 special I shoot .38 special with 148 grain lead wad cutters. The accurate, light recoil load I have been using for some time is 3.1 grains of 231. I have used up my supply of 231 and the only powder I was able to purchase lately was a 4 pound jug of Tightgroup. I would like to hear from guys who shoot .38 wadcutters about their experience with Tightgroup. I also need to mention that I am a senior citizen and cannot deal with heavy recoil.

December 5, 2013, 03:46 PM	#2
WESHOOT2 Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 1999 Location: home on the range; Vermont (Caspian country) Posts: 14,324	Suggest checking available 'Cowboy' data for Titegroup / 38 Special. __________________ . "all my ammo is mostly retired factory ammo"

December 5, 2013, 05:39 PM	#4
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	About 2.8 to 3 grains. Be extra careful because Titegroup is soot-colored and hard to see in the bottom of a .38 Special case -- a double charge will not look that much different than a normal charge. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

December 6, 2013, 10:01 PM	#6
skizzums Senior Member Join Date: July 1, 2013 Location: Douglasville, Ga Posts: 4,615	i shoot 148gr swaged hollow base wads with 2,9gr of titegroup. i get leading with the titegroup that i dont get with the hp31 so i will avoid the swaged when using tg from now on, but its more accurate than the hp38 when shooting past 20yards. but overall i prefer the hp38/231 with 38spl. but i too have a pretty large stock of tg cause when i started its all i could find, so i try to use it as much as i can there is definetly a greater recoil from the tg, but @ 2.9gr its not at all unmanageable. you shouldnt have a prob with that __________________ My head is bloody, but unbowed

December 5, 2013, 04:44 PM	#3
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	I've used 2.7, 3.0 and 3.3 grains of Titegroup under a 148 WC. All work well.

December 6, 2013, 07:37 PM	#5
BigJimP Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2005 Posts: 13,195	I use TiteGroup a lot....its a low volume powder - designed to be used in cases where you don't have much powder compared to the volume of the case and still get good ignition ..../ its a great powder --- and I find it very clean - although I shoot primarily jacketed bullets. ....so just be careful you don't double charge a case with it....but as long as you do that, there is nothing wrong with it.

December 6, 2013, 11:48 PM	#7
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	It'll work fine, just back off the charge from your 231 data a couple of tenths. Have fun sir!