cheap 38 powder

daleo8803 · August 10, 2009, 05:51 PM

ok guys, i need some help. my local store has over 30 different powders that they carry. the one im thinking of trying is bullseye, it runs 25.95 a pound. i will be using a 3.0 grain charge per casing, so that will give me about 2300 loads. thats great! but i wanted to know if there was a cheaper powder that would work just as well. i will be using 158 grain SWC cast lead bullets, and they will be just for target practice. thanks

PS.. its a 38 special revolver, if that matters. thanks

dale

Russ5924 · August 10, 2009, 06:04 PM

I have been trying Trail Boss for .38 only 2.0G for HBWC Max is 2.4G. I shot them at 2.0G but thought a little weak so loaded some at 2.2G not shot them yet. Bought a 1/2 pound for $15.00 just to try

Slamfire · August 10, 2009, 08:22 PM

Quote:

25.95 a pound

There has got to be cheaper powder around. That is expensive.

I don't know a more economical than bullseye. Only way to beat is if you get a real deal on a pound of other powders, like $10.00 pound.

That's what a good deal was not that long ago.

floydster · August 11, 2009, 11:36 AM

Hodgdon manual. 158 gr. SWC.
38 Spl. Trail Boss starting load 2.7,
Max load 4.2
I use 3.8 grs. TB in my 38 Spl. a very good target load.

Economical and great

shooting.

GP100man · August 11, 2009, 01:02 PM

38 special case , hbwc seated fulsh & rolled slightly, 2.0 gr. "CLAYS" ,this is a bunny poot load ,don`t go any lower or use a swc.
swc 2.5 gr. still get 2,800 from a pound but buying the small container ya only get 14.0oz.

7,000 gr to a lb.= 3,500 rounds

zxcvbob · August 11, 2009, 01:12 PM

See if they have an 8-pounder of Promo for less than $100, or a pound of Red Dot for $20.

oneounceload · August 11, 2009, 03:22 PM

Even Gander isn't that high on Bullseye - should be more like $20 for a 1 pounder. Once you find a powder that your gun likes, buy the 8# jug - that will be 56,000 grains. If you average 4 grs per load, that's 14,000 before more powder is needed; and 8# jugs usually go around $110-$120

jepp2 · August 12, 2009, 06:09 PM

Have you tried Bullseye before? Powder valley has the 1 lb. and 4 lb. currently in stock ($14 and $53 before shipping and HazMat charge). You might consider going in on an order with someone.

But you do realize you are talking about trying to find a more economical powder where the cost per round is $0.01? You might find that performance, accuracy, and how "dirty" it burns might be more important to you than just cost. I know it is to me.

doug66 · August 12, 2009, 07:33 PM

Bullseye sells for $17+tax around here.

Blue Grass · August 12, 2009, 09:30 PM

AA#2. Very clean and meters well.

Doodlebugger45 · August 12, 2009, 09:54 PM

Saving money on the powder part of the equation seems to be a fool's errand. For small pistols, the powder is still the cheapest part, but very critical in the choice. The bullet is the expensive part.

That said though, it's hard to imagine in general terms of buying a powder that will reload more cases to a practical level than Bullseye. But $26/lb is ridiculous if you're pinching pennies. I love TiteGroup and I can't get as many cases loaded with it as I could Bullseye, but at $20/lb it ends up being a cheaper cost per round and I will have a powder that works best for me.

Kyo · August 12, 2009, 10:06 PM

bass pro shop sells bullseye for 20 bucks a pound. wish I could see some place with it for 10

daleo8803 · August 13, 2009, 10:58 AM

thanks guys for all the info! i will be using cast lead bullits that i made my self, free casings, and federal small pistol primers( the only kind i can get localy). i think i will be trying the trail boss powder soon. it sells for 15.95 for 9oz around here, plus its made spcificly for cast lead bullits. the closest bass pro shop is a 2 hour drive one way, alittle far for me. the strange thing is that the local shop carrys pretty much everything you need for reloading but they dont have bullet lube??..... stange. thanks aggain guys!!

dale

Hook686 · August 13, 2009, 07:35 PM

hmmmmmm about a penny a load and you are looking for cheaper. I think you could look at your case cost and bullet cost and come up with methods to trim more cost than by looking at your powder options. .38 Special brass can run well over a dime a case. If you can trim 10% off cost of your cases you might cover the entire cost of the powder. Remember cost savings comes from initial cost and/or life expectancy.

No insult intended, but I am curious. You get free brass, essentially free bullets, so your only real out of pocket costs are primers, powder and lube. This seems to me a pretty low cost operation. If you are strapped for money to load .38 Special in this scenario. I'd sure like to know how you afforded a firearm, reloading equipment, bullet casting equipment, a vehicle and gasoline/maintenance to get to your shooting spot and any number of other costs of daily living. I mean I could give up a Big Mac for the day and use the money for the powder for a couple of boxes of .38 Specials. I must be missing something.

daleo8803 · August 13, 2009, 07:41 PM

the bullets are allmost free, got very good deal. the casings are also free. the primers are 3 dollars a hundred and the powder is $25 a pound. powder and primers are the thing that cost the most to me. thats the reason im trying to find he cheapest powder, because i have a choice still i want kind i can use.

dale

EmptyHull · August 14, 2009, 02:12 AM

8 lb keg of Promo is a great deal. I reload 12 ga, 38 and 45 with one powder. Tim

bluetopper · August 14, 2009, 09:43 PM

Bullseye and 38 were made for each other, and have been for about 100 years.

August 10, 2009, 05:51 PM	#1
daleo8803 Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 78	cheap 38 powder ok guys, i need some help. my local store has over 30 different powders that they carry. the one im thinking of trying is bullseye, it runs 25.95 a pound. i will be using a 3.0 grain charge per casing, so that will give me about 2300 loads. thats great! but i wanted to know if there was a cheaper powder that would work just as well. i will be using 158 grain SWC cast lead bullets, and they will be just for target practice. thanks PS.. its a 38 special revolver, if that matters. thanks dale

August 11, 2009, 01:02 PM	#5
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	38 special case , hbwc seated fulsh & rolled slightly, 2.0 gr. "CLAYS" ,this is a bunny poot load ,don`t go any lower or use a swc. swc 2.5 gr. still get 2,800 from a pound but buying the small container ya only get 14.0oz. 7,000 gr to a lb.= 3,500 rounds __________________ GP100man Last edited by GP100man; August 11, 2009 at 01:05 PM. Reason: addition

August 11, 2009, 01:12 PM	#6
zxcvbob Senior Member Join Date: December 20, 2007 Location: S.E. Minnesota Posts: 4,720	See if they have an 8-pounder of Promo for less than $100, or a pound of Red Dot for $20. __________________ "Everything they do is so dramatic and flamboyant. It just makes me want to set myself on fire!" —Lucille Bluth

August 13, 2009, 07:35 PM	#14
Hook686 Senior Member Join Date: May 22, 2005 Location: USA The Great State of California Posts: 2,090	hmmmmmm about a penny a load and you are looking for cheaper. I think you could look at your case cost and bullet cost and come up with methods to trim more cost than by looking at your powder options. .38 Special brass can run well over a dime a case. If you can trim 10% off cost of your cases you might cover the entire cost of the powder. Remember cost savings comes from initial cost and/or life expectancy. No insult intended, but I am curious. You get free brass, essentially free bullets, so your only real out of pocket costs are primers, powder and lube. This seems to me a pretty low cost operation. If you are strapped for money to load .38 Special in this scenario. I'd sure like to know how you afforded a firearm, reloading equipment, bullet casting equipment, a vehicle and gasoline/maintenance to get to your shooting spot and any number of other costs of daily living. I mean I could give up a Big Mac for the day and use the money for the powder for a couple of boxes of .38 Specials. I must be missing something. __________________ Hook686 When the number of people in institutions reaches 51%, we change sides. Last edited by Hook686; August 13, 2009 at 07:46 PM.

August 10, 2009, 06:04 PM	#2
Russ5924 Senior Member Join Date: February 18, 2005 Posts: 1,874	I have been trying Trail Boss for .38 only 2.0G for HBWC Max is 2.4G. I shot them at 2.0G but thought a little weak so loaded some at 2.2G not shot them yet. Bought a 1/2 pound for $15.00 just to try __________________ Russ5924

August 11, 2009, 11:36 AM	#4
floydster Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2008 Posts: 472	Hodgdon manual. 158 gr. SWC. 38 Spl. Trail Boss starting load 2.7, Max load 4.2 I use 3.8 grs. TB in my 38 Spl. a very good target load. Economical and great shooting.

August 11, 2009, 03:22 PM	#7
oneounceload Junior member Join Date: April 18, 2008 Location: N. Central Florida Posts: 8,518	Even Gander isn't that high on Bullseye - should be more like $20 for a 1 pounder. Once you find a powder that your gun likes, buy the 8# jug - that will be 56,000 grains. If you average 4 grs per load, that's 14,000 before more powder is needed; and 8# jugs usually go around $110-$120

August 12, 2009, 06:09 PM	#8
jepp2 Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2008 Location: Loveland, CO Posts: 1,476	Have you tried Bullseye before? Powder valley has the 1 lb. and 4 lb. currently in stock ($14 and $53 before shipping and HazMat charge). You might consider going in on an order with someone. But you do realize you are talking about trying to find a more economical powder where the cost per round is $0.01? You might find that performance, accuracy, and how "dirty" it burns might be more important to you than just cost. I know it is to me.

August 12, 2009, 07:33 PM	#9
doug66 Senior Member Join Date: June 1, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 116	Bullseye sells for $17+tax around here.

August 12, 2009, 09:30 PM	#10
Blue Grass Senior Member Join Date: August 12, 2009 Posts: 398	AA#2. Very clean and meters well.

August 12, 2009, 09:54 PM	#11
Doodlebugger45 Senior Member Join Date: April 15, 2009 Location: Wyoming Posts: 1,717	Saving money on the powder part of the equation seems to be a fool's errand. For small pistols, the powder is still the cheapest part, but very critical in the choice. The bullet is the expensive part. That said though, it's hard to imagine in general terms of buying a powder that will reload more cases to a practical level than Bullseye. But $26/lb is ridiculous if you're pinching pennies. I love TiteGroup and I can't get as many cases loaded with it as I could Bullseye, but at $20/lb it ends up being a cheaper cost per round and I will have a powder that works best for me.

August 12, 2009, 10:06 PM	#12
Kyo Senior Member Join Date: April 14, 2009 Posts: 897	bass pro shop sells bullseye for 20 bucks a pound. wish I could see some place with it for 10

August 13, 2009, 10:58 AM	#13
daleo8803 Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 78	thanks guys for all the info! i will be using cast lead bullits that i made my self, free casings, and federal small pistol primers( the only kind i can get localy). i think i will be trying the trail boss powder soon. it sells for 15.95 for 9oz around here, plus its made spcificly for cast lead bullits. the closest bass pro shop is a 2 hour drive one way, alittle far for me. the strange thing is that the local shop carrys pretty much everything you need for reloading but they dont have bullet lube??..... stange. thanks aggain guys!! dale

August 13, 2009, 07:41 PM	#15
daleo8803 Member Join Date: August 3, 2009 Posts: 78	the bullets are allmost free, got very good deal. the casings are also free. the primers are 3 dollars a hundred and the powder is $25 a pound. powder and primers are the thing that cost the most to me. thats the reason im trying to find he cheapest powder, because i have a choice still i want kind i can use. dale

August 14, 2009, 02:12 AM	#16
EmptyHull Senior Member Join Date: March 29, 2009 Posts: 145	8 lb keg of Promo is a great deal. I reload 12 ga, 38 and 45 with one powder. Tim

August 14, 2009, 09:43 PM	#17
bluetopper Senior Member Join Date: December 16, 2005 Location: Northeast TX Posts: 1,197	Bullseye and 38 were made for each other, and have been for about 100 years.