Help Finding Perfect .38 Spl Load?

billiam915 · February 24, 2008, 03:04 AM

i have been playing around with different powders and bullets, mostly hand casted. the cleanest burning load i have come up with is 3.5g of bullseye underneath a 158g RNFP coated with liquid alox. does any one have a favorite they would like to share? this load only need be suitable for indoor target shooting so cleanliness is my major concern. i also use 158g copper coated FP bullets.

scottw10 · February 24, 2008, 03:16 AM

I have had nothing but trouble with Bullseye in 38 spec. I was considering giving up reloading for it because of all the misfires and inconsistent groups. I switched to 231 and all my problems went away.

saber9 · February 24, 2008, 09:06 AM

While I have used Bullseye for over 30 years for target velocity .38 loads, I have switched over to AA#2 specifically because it seems to be cleaner burning. I haven't used it long enough to totally commit to it, but it definitely seems to be an improvement over Bullseye.

funon1 · February 24, 2008, 10:20 AM

You might consider a plated wadcutter like those from Berry's. They will reduce lead fouling a lot and allow you to use heavier charges, if you want. I like the option.

Shooter429

armoredman · February 24, 2008, 11:03 AM

I also use AA#2, great stuff. The LLA bullet lube is kinda messy, but it's easy to put on and use!
My 10-8 loves the cast 124gr LRN, the Lee TL124 356 for 9mm, that drops at .360, so I can size it for both. In a jacketed slug, the Hornady 125gr XTP is a hands down winner in my wheelie.
You cast yours, correct? I do have some 38 moulds laying about I don't use, 140gr, 166gr, and something else, trade you for WW ingots.

TexasSeaRay · February 24, 2008, 12:40 PM

For my old IPSC loads, I've settled on 4.1 AA#2 pushing a 158 gr LRN. Cleanest round I've reloaded ever, very good accuracy, easy to load, not hard on the cases whatsoever.

I freely substitute between the LRN and the LSWC with that load as well.

On occasion, or maybe for nostalgia's sake, I'll mix it up and put in 4.3 of W231 pushing the same size/make bullet.

For my wadcutters, however, I'll never deviate from 2.7 Bullseye pushing the 148 double-ended LWC.

Jeff

nodlenor · February 24, 2008, 01:37 PM

I use Red Dot & Unique. Unique is probably not what you want because it is dirty but Red Dot isn't bad. I use 4.4gr behind a 125gr bullet and get respectable accuracy. I don't have any data for a 158gr.

winchester243 · February 24, 2008, 03:58 PM

I've been happy with 3.3gr of Solo 1000 behind a 158gr RNFP. It's what I use for my Cowboy action load. I used to use Clays, also good, but I switched my 12ga over to Solo 1000 as I can get it in 25# kegs from the guy who brings reloading supplies to sell at our trap shoots.

The stuff also meters very well through my Pro-2000.

JoeHatley · February 24, 2008, 09:12 PM

3.7 grains Bullseye and a 158 grains SWC cast lead or plated bullet is my favorite all time target load.

Joe

bamatj · February 24, 2008, 09:44 PM

Im happy with the 125 grain Rainers with 4.2 grains of Titegroup. 1.450 oal.

zxcvbob · February 24, 2008, 10:44 PM

My most accurate .38 Special load (even more accurate than with wadcutters) is 4 grains of Promo with a Berry's 125 grain copper-plated hollow-point. You could also use Red Dot powder for the same load.

I need to work up a similar load using one of the 158 grain bullets I cast because Berry's have gotten so expensive. I think 4 grains of American Select should be about right...

Boots'56 · February 25, 2008, 12:08 AM

I've had pretty good luck with 4.3 Grs. of 231 under Berry's 125 Gr plated FP.

armoredman · February 25, 2008, 12:15 AM

Realized I hadn't been at the loading bench for a while, so I loaded up 50 with "the load", for my .38, the 125gr Hornady XTP over 5.3gr AA#2, 1.445 OAL, Factory Crimp Die used lightly. Excellent stuff.

Mark B · February 25, 2008, 08:08 PM

2.9grns of Bullseye under a 148gr LRN works just fine for me. Slowpoke creampuff load, great for plinking.

Marko Kloos · February 25, 2008, 08:22 PM

My first and only handrolled load in .38 Special so far is a 158gr. plated Rainier flatpoint over 3.6 grains of Bullseye. Accurate and consistent out of my 3" K-frames.

February 24, 2008, 03:04 AM	#1
billiam915 Junior Member Join Date: January 14, 2005 Posts: 10	Help Finding Perfect .38 Spl Load? i have been playing around with different powders and bullets, mostly hand casted. the cleanest burning load i have come up with is 3.5g of bullseye underneath a 158g RNFP coated with liquid alox. does any one have a favorite they would like to share? this load only need be suitable for indoor target shooting so cleanliness is my major concern. i also use 158g copper coated FP bullets.

February 24, 2008, 10:20 AM	#4
funon1 Senior Member Join Date: May 28, 2007 Location: WA state Posts: 361	I just switched from Bullseye to 231 also for .38 target You might consider a plated wadcutter like those from Berry's. They will reduce lead fouling a lot and allow you to use heavier charges, if you want. I like the option. Shooter429

February 24, 2008, 03:16 AM	#2
scottw10 Member Join Date: March 6, 2007 Location: tulsa, ok Posts: 17	I have had nothing but trouble with Bullseye in 38 spec. I was considering giving up reloading for it because of all the misfires and inconsistent groups. I switched to 231 and all my problems went away.

February 24, 2008, 09:06 AM	#3
saber9 Senior Member Join Date: January 8, 2008 Location: West Texas Posts: 165	While I have used Bullseye for over 30 years for target velocity .38 loads, I have switched over to AA#2 specifically because it seems to be cleaner burning. I haven't used it long enough to totally commit to it, but it definitely seems to be an improvement over Bullseye.

February 24, 2008, 11:03 AM	#5
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,480	I also use AA#2, great stuff. The LLA bullet lube is kinda messy, but it's easy to put on and use! My 10-8 loves the cast 124gr LRN, the Lee TL124 356 for 9mm, that drops at .360, so I can size it for both. In a jacketed slug, the Hornady 125gr XTP is a hands down winner in my wheelie. You cast yours, correct? I do have some 38 moulds laying about I don't use, 140gr, 166gr, and something else, trade you for WW ingots.

February 24, 2008, 12:40 PM	#6
TexasSeaRay Senior Member Join Date: November 20, 2007 Location: Texas Posts: 810	For my old IPSC loads, I've settled on 4.1 AA#2 pushing a 158 gr LRN. Cleanest round I've reloaded ever, very good accuracy, easy to load, not hard on the cases whatsoever. I freely substitute between the LRN and the LSWC with that load as well. On occasion, or maybe for nostalgia's sake, I'll mix it up and put in 4.3 of W231 pushing the same size/make bullet. For my wadcutters, however, I'll never deviate from 2.7 Bullseye pushing the 148 double-ended LWC. Jeff

February 24, 2008, 01:37 PM	#7
nodlenor Member Join Date: October 29, 2007 Posts: 59	I use Red Dot & Unique. Unique is probably not what you want because it is dirty but Red Dot isn't bad. I use 4.4gr behind a 125gr bullet and get respectable accuracy. I don't have any data for a 158gr.

February 24, 2008, 03:58 PM	#8
winchester243 Member Join Date: January 10, 2008 Location: MT Posts: 69	I've been happy with 3.3gr of Solo 1000 behind a 158gr RNFP. It's what I use for my Cowboy action load. I used to use Clays, also good, but I switched my 12ga over to Solo 1000 as I can get it in 25# kegs from the guy who brings reloading supplies to sell at our trap shoots. The stuff also meters very well through my Pro-2000.

February 24, 2008, 09:12 PM	#9
JoeHatley Senior Member Join Date: July 2, 1999 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,135	3.7 grains Bullseye and a 158 grains SWC cast lead or plated bullet is my favorite all time target load. Joe

February 24, 2008, 09:44 PM	#10
bamatj Member Join Date: December 23, 2007 Posts: 31	Im happy with the 125 grain Rainers with 4.2 grains of Titegroup. 1.450 oal.

February 24, 2008, 10:44 PM	#11
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	My most accurate .38 Special load (even more accurate than with wadcutters) is 4 grains of Promo with a Berry's 125 grain copper-plated hollow-point. You could also use Red Dot powder for the same load. I need to work up a similar load using one of the 158 grain bullets I cast because Berry's have gotten so expensive. I think 4 grains of American Select should be about right...

February 25, 2008, 12:08 AM	#12
Boots'56 Member Join Date: January 29, 2008 Location: The Pacific Northwest Posts: 38	I've had pretty good luck with 4.3 Grs. of 231 under Berry's 125 Gr plated FP.

February 25, 2008, 12:15 AM	#13
armoredman Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2007 Location: Arizona Posts: 5,480	Realized I hadn't been at the loading bench for a while, so I loaded up 50 with "the load", for my .38, the 125gr Hornady XTP over 5.3gr AA#2, 1.445 OAL, Factory Crimp Die used lightly. Excellent stuff.

February 25, 2008, 08:08 PM	#14
Mark B Senior Member Join Date: January 9, 2007 Posts: 334	2.9grns of Bullseye under a 148gr LRN works just fine for me. Slowpoke creampuff load, great for plinking.

February 25, 2008, 08:22 PM	#15
Marko Kloos Senior Member Join Date: January 12, 2000 Location: Enfield, NH Posts: 5,521	My first and only handrolled load in .38 Special so far is a 158gr. plated Rainier flatpoint over 3.6 grains of Bullseye. Accurate and consistent out of my 3" K-frames.