Cowboy load data for 125 grain 38special?

CCCLVII · March 17, 2021, 03:31 PM

With the prices of factory ammo grinding up I have decided to pull out the old press and start reloading for my SASS shooting. I haven’t done so in a few years but looking to get back in to it.

Any way can some on give me some data or a link to some 38 special 125 grain loads that are super soft? I have a ton of trailboss so that would be the powder of choice but I all so have Unique and various magnum powders.

Any good advise?

zxcvbob · March 17, 2021, 04:20 PM

Trailboss should be fine. So is Red Dot and Clays. (or Green Dot, or American Select) You want a bulky fast-burning powder. Just look up whatever a starting load is on the powder companies website or manual, and go with that.

You're shooting lead bullets, right? (swaged or cast doesn't matter) You don't want super-soft loads with jacketed bullets, and especially not with "half-jacketed" like some of the Remington JHP's.

ballardw · March 17, 2021, 08:22 PM

The Hodgdon 2021 Annual Manual shows minimum 3.0 grains of Trail Boss with a 125gr cast LRNFP bullet at 753 fps from 7.7" barrel, max 5.3 for 952 fps at CoL of 1.445".

CCCLVII · March 18, 2021, 02:18 PM

Thanks both of you. Yes I am shooting cast lead (recycled range lead). They are pretty soft.

T. O'Heir · March 19, 2021, 01:48 PM

Alliant has a couple 125 grain cast .38 loads on their site(isn't a great site for data though). Both of 'em have higher velocity Max loads than Hodgdon's Trail Boss Max loads. Their 125 grain Jacketed Unique load is also slower than TB.
3.0 is TB is the Start load for a cast 125 according to Hodgdon's site. That'd do if your revolver likes it.
Any reason for the 125's? Just curious but "cowboy" loads are usually just bullseye target loads. Like 148 grain WC's with Bullseye.

zxcvbob · March 19, 2021, 01:56 PM

Something I just thought of; make sure your sights are regulated for 125 grain bullets. They might shoot low.

CCCLVII · March 22, 2021, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Something I just thought of; make sure your sights are regulated for 125 grain bullets. They might shoot low.

They did just that. The loads seem to be consistent, but consistently low lol.

Deja vu · March 22, 2021, 01:00 PM

I am not sure I can give load data but I have gone a little lower than 3 grains of trail boss with a Oregon Trail hard cast bullets (125 grain). WOrked well when I was in to SASS.

March 17, 2021, 03:31 PM	#1
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 432	Cowboy load data for 125 grain 38special? With the prices of factory ammo grinding up I have decided to pull out the old press and start reloading for my SASS shooting. I haven’t done so in a few years but looking to get back in to it. Any way can some on give me some data or a link to some 38 special 125 grain loads that are super soft? I have a ton of trailboss so that would be the powder of choice but I all so have Unique and various magnum powders. Any good advise? __________________ Always looking for a good hunt!

March 17, 2021, 04:20 PM	#2
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Trailboss should be fine. So is Red Dot and Clays. (or Green Dot, or American Select) You want a bulky fast-burning powder. Just look up whatever a starting load is on the powder companies website or manual, and go with that. You're shooting lead bullets, right? (swaged or cast doesn't matter) You don't want super-soft loads with jacketed bullets, and especially not with "half-jacketed" like some of the Remington JHP's. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

March 17, 2021, 08:22 PM	#3
ballardw Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2008 Posts: 1,420	The Hodgdon 2021 Annual Manual shows minimum 3.0 grains of Trail Boss with a 125gr cast LRNFP bullet at 753 fps from 7.7" barrel, max 5.3 for 952 fps at CoL of 1.445". __________________ -+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+-+ All data is flawed, some just less so.

March 18, 2021, 02:18 PM	#4
CCCLVII Senior Member Join Date: April 16, 2012 Location: Idaho Posts: 432	Thanks both of you. Yes I am shooting cast lead (recycled range lead). They are pretty soft. __________________ Always looking for a good hunt!

March 19, 2021, 01:56 PM	#6
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	Something I just thought of; make sure your sights are regulated for 125 grain bullets. They might shoot low. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

March 19, 2021, 01:48 PM	#5
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Alliant has a couple 125 grain cast .38 loads on their site(isn't a great site for data though). Both of 'em have higher velocity Max loads than Hodgdon's Trail Boss Max loads. Their 125 grain Jacketed Unique load is also slower than TB. 3.0 is TB is the Start load for a cast 125 according to Hodgdon's site. That'd do if your revolver likes it. Any reason for the 125's? Just curious but "cowboy" loads are usually just bullseye target loads. Like 148 grain WC's with Bullseye.

March 22, 2021, 01:00 PM	#8
Deja vu Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2010 Location: Border of Idaho & Montana Posts: 2,584	I am not sure I can give load data but I have gone a little lower than 3 grains of trail boss with a Oregon Trail hard cast bullets (125 grain). WOrked well when I was in to SASS. __________________ Shot placement is everything! I would rather take a round of 50BMG to the foot than a 22short to the base of the skull. all 26 of my guns are 45/70 govt, 357 mag, 22 or 12 ga... I believe in keeping it simple. Wish my wife did as well...