What's your- Fav. 38 sp lead load

T.Labren · February 6, 2002, 08:40 PM

What lead 38 special load do you use for practice.

jjmorgan64 · February 6, 2002, 08:48 PM

I really like 3.4 gr titegroup behind a 158 gr LRNFP, I use lees mold, and Federal primers.
It is very mild, does leave the nickle finish a nice smokey grey, but the last shot me and my buddy always have is to see who buys the Diet Cokes on the ride home, and I don't buy very often.

birdman · February 7, 2002, 11:32 AM

I've always liked 4.0 gr of 231 with 158 gr. lead. Does what I want in a .38 Spcl. regards, birdman

labgrade · February 7, 2002, 12:01 PM

148 gr HBWC, 2.7 grains Bullseye. Any case, any primer although I'm partial to W-W & CCI (& Horn's over Speers , no matter really)

Very accurate, cheap, cuts a nice clean hole in targets & will do small game to 50 yds (if I can hit 'em that far

- it won't be the gun's fault), minimal recoil .... got it all. Only thing it doesn't do is duplicate a loading for .38spl defense-type loads.

VTR996 · February 7, 2002, 04:34 PM

I'm using 3.5-4gr of 231,wsp,158swchc now, but plan on trying CLAYS cause I've had good luck with it in my .45acp. Easy shooting in the Blackhawk as well as the speed six.

ZeusOne · February 7, 2002, 04:43 PM

I just started trying AA#5 with 158 gr LRNs. Still have some load development to do. Has anyone had any luck with this combo?

JohnK · February 7, 2002, 05:01 PM

Labgrades suggestion has been the standard bullseye shooting round for decades and has probably been the source of millions of pounds of Bullseye to be burned 2.7gr at a time.

However my favorite 38 Special load is 5.0gr of Unique under a 158gr LSWC. Not the cleanest round in the world but it's accurate in my snubby 38 and 357 magnums.

Poodleshooter · February 7, 2002, 06:29 PM

3-4 grs of Bullseye, Clays or Titegroup and a 158gr LSW. Towards 4grs, you get into the +p/+p+pressures. I shoot these loads only in a .357, so I don't worry too much. I found that I got high ES and SD's with loads much below 3grs. I use enough crimp to close the case flare, and I seat to the crimp groove.

Southla1 · February 7, 2002, 08:08 PM

I just copied and pasted this in the thread loading data for plated bullets in this Handloading and Reloading forum!

Just a little bit off subject but one of the absolute best loads I have ever found is the factory (Remington, Horandy, Speer etc. {it really does not matter})148 grain HB wadcutters loaded over 2.5 grains of Bullseye in my revolvers or over 3 grains in my S&W Mod. 52. Really light loads but accurate as hell and will kill very dead anything that I want to shoot with a .38 (snakes, rabbits, feral dogs, cats, etc.)
In fact I just scored on 1000 for 32 bucks (shipping included) on E-Bay.

bravokilo · February 9, 2002, 01:09 AM

Bullet: 148gr HBWC by Meister Bullets
Case: Starline
Powder: 3gr Bullseye
Primer: WSP

BK

February 6, 2002, 08:40 PM	#1
T.Labren Member Join Date: December 13, 2001 Location: Lafeyette,La. Posts: 35	What's your- Fav. 38 sp lead load What lead 38 special load do you use for practice.

February 6, 2002, 08:48 PM	#2
jjmorgan64 Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2001 Posts: 519	I really like 3.4 gr titegroup behind a 158 gr LRNFP, I use lees mold, and Federal primers. It is very mild, does leave the nickle finish a nice smokey grey, but the last shot me and my buddy always have is to see who buys the Diet Cokes on the ride home, and I don't buy very often.

February 7, 2002, 11:32 AM	#3
birdman Senior Member Join Date: April 6, 2000 Posts: 105	I've always liked 4.0 gr of 231 with 158 gr. lead. Does what I want in a .38 Spcl. regards, birdman

February 7, 2002, 12:01 PM	#4
labgrade Member In Memoriam Join Date: November 29, 1999 Location: west of a small town, CO Posts: 4,346	148 gr HBWC, 2.7 grains Bullseye. Any case, any primer although I'm partial to W-W & CCI (& Horn's over Speers , no matter really) Very accurate, cheap, cuts a nice clean hole in targets & will do small game to 50 yds (if I can hit 'em that far - it won't be the gun's fault), minimal recoil .... got it all. Only thing it doesn't do is duplicate a loading for .38spl defense-type loads.

February 7, 2002, 04:34 PM	#5
VTR996 Senior Member Join Date: September 19, 2001 Location: OKLAHOMA Posts: 195	I'm using 3.5-4gr of 231,wsp,158swchc now, but plan on trying CLAYS cause I've had good luck with it in my .45acp. Easy shooting in the Blackhawk as well as the speed six.

February 7, 2002, 04:43 PM	#6
ZeusOne Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2000 Location: The hills of Western MD Posts: 237	I just started trying AA#5 with 158 gr LRNs. Still have some load development to do. Has anyone had any luck with this combo?

February 7, 2002, 05:01 PM	#7
JohnK Senior Member Join Date: May 12, 2001 Location: Duvall, Wa Posts: 552	Labgrades suggestion has been the standard bullseye shooting round for decades and has probably been the source of millions of pounds of Bullseye to be burned 2.7gr at a time. However my favorite 38 Special load is 5.0gr of Unique under a 158gr LSWC. Not the cleanest round in the world but it's accurate in my snubby 38 and 357 magnums.

February 7, 2002, 06:29 PM	#8
Poodleshooter Senior Member Join Date: August 8, 2000 Location: Floating down the James River in VA Posts: 2,599	3-4 grs of Bullseye, Clays or Titegroup and a 158gr LSW. Towards 4grs, you get into the +p/+p+pressures. I shoot these loads only in a .357, so I don't worry too much. I found that I got high ES and SD's with loads much below 3grs. I use enough crimp to close the case flare, and I seat to the crimp groove.

February 7, 2002, 08:08 PM	#9
Southla1 Member In Memoriam Join Date: March 19, 2000 Location: Jeanerette, La. Near the Posts: 1,999	I just copied and pasted this in the thread loading data for plated bullets in this Handloading and Reloading forum! Just a little bit off subject but one of the absolute best loads I have ever found is the factory (Remington, Horandy, Speer etc. {it really does not matter})148 grain HB wadcutters loaded over 2.5 grains of Bullseye in my revolvers or over 3 grains in my S&W Mod. 52. Really light loads but accurate as hell and will kill very dead anything that I want to shoot with a .38 (snakes, rabbits, feral dogs, cats, etc.) In fact I just scored on 1000 for 32 bucks (shipping included) on E-Bay.

February 9, 2002, 01:09 AM	#10
bravokilo Junior Member Join Date: January 23, 2002 Location: Minn Posts: 13	Bullet: 148gr HBWC by Meister Bullets Case: Starline Powder: 3gr Bullseye Primer: WSP BK