Preferred powder for light .38 and .357 loads

[teesh]

Just wondering what powder people use for light loads in .38 and .357?

What powders tend to be the cleaner burning and which ones have you found to be dirty?

And, if you care to share your accurate loads, that would be nice also.

Thanks.

[tomh1426]

I use Bullseye for most of my reduced .357's
Last month I tried some trailboss in some reduced loads, it worked good but smells bad.
Im waiting on some bullets but Im gunna try some cast 148 grain DEWC over 2.8 grains of Bullseye, it was recomended to me as a light target load.

[E.J.W.]

I've used Bullseye for 38 Special loads in my 686 Smith when shooting on an indoor league. After 500 rounds or so I noticed the top strap was starting to get "cut" from the fast burning Bullseye. It would most likely take several hundred thousand rounds to sever the metal top strap but why continue to do damage when there are alternatives. The club's gunsmith checked the cylinder gap which was within spec. He said he had seen this condition quite a few times from fast powders like Bullseye as it does most of it's burning in the cylinder and first part of the barrel. I've switched to AA#5 and the cutting action has stopped.
Keep an eye on your guns top strap.
E.

[PineyWoodsPlace]

I use Winchester 231 for my 357 CAS loads. 3.5 grains behind a 125 gr bullet gives me 580 fps from a 4 5/8" barreled Vaquero. Very mild load.

[Ifishsum]

I use Bullseye for all my light stuff - it's real economical and works well. Just be real careful you don't get interrupted when charging cases, and look em over 6 ways before you top them off - you don't want a double charge and it's real easy to do.

My favorite target load is 3.5 gr of Bullseye behind a 158gr lead SWC. My 15 year old Taurus 689's topstrap has a little flame cutting from the 125gr magnum loads I used to shoot fairly regular, but it hasn't got any worse than since I first noticed it. I don't think the Bullseye is hurting it any.

[Scorch]

I use Unique for everything up to magnum loads, then I go to WW296 or Blue Dot. But Unique will cover such a broad spectrum of loads and velocities that I seldom break out the magnum powders anymore.

[scsov509]

I think if you ask around you'll generally find that Bullseye is the powder for .38 target loads. In .357 I usually use Unique, although it seems like I get better results with Unique when the loads are a little hotter than minimum target loadings. YMMV

[Grandpa Shooter]

I use either W231 or Accurate #2. Both are easy to load, accurate and reasonably clean.

[TreyNC]

W231

[Yoosta B. Blue]

I'm just starting out in reloading and have been greatly helped by two buddies who have been at it a long time...

I've found that for my .38 target plinking loads, I like to use 110 grain JHP bullets, powered by 4.3 grains of Bullseye. The same bullet in .357 loads work well when I use 8.3 grains of Bullseye.

Yoosta B. Blue

[Mike Irwin]

For .38s and light to moderate .357 loads I ALWAYS reach for WW 231.

[mniesen89]

2400 suits me just fine.

[tom234]

Take a look at Herco. Good for light to heavy loads, a little slower than Unique but faster than Blue Dot. Versatile powder for both standard & magnum cases.

[ShootingNut]

Hodgdon Titegroup has worked well for me. Lead for both .38 and .357 has been 158 grain SWC.
Start load for the .38 spl. is 3.2 to 3.8 Max., and 4.5 to 5.0 on the .357 Mag., works well for us staying towards the start load data.
SN

[T. O'Heir]

2.5 to 2.8 grains of Bullseye with a 148 grain WC has been the .38 Special target load for eons. Works just fine using a .357 case too.

[Hook686]

For .30 Carbine, 9mm, .357 magnum & .44 magnum, I use Unique for light loads and 2400 for heavier loads. I'm happy with both of these powders.

[BigJimP]

Another vote for Hodgdon TiteGroup.

I load a 158 grain CMJ bullet ( Montana Gold ) for both - 3.6 grains of TiteGroup for the .38 spl ( you hardly feel them at all in a 6" gun ) and for
.357 mag I like them at 5.6 grains .

I have a few revolvers - S&W model 27, model 28 and the newer 686 ( 1980's ) in .357mag - and an old S&W model 10 Victory .38 spl - and from a bench rest they'll all produce 1" groups consistently at 25 yards ( translated to about a 6" group off-hand ( with my eyes ). But they are both very accurate loads. Hodgdon TiteGroup is very consistent on ignition and it burns pretty clean in both calibers.

[Sevens]

I've made light loads in .38 special that are quite accurate using Green Dot. But these loads may be some of the dirtiest you can build. Seems that Green Dot cleans up better when the loads get stiffer, but are dirty in light loads.

[joneb]

You need to be more specific like what kind of bullet and what your velocity goals are for .38spl and .357 mag. to give a good answer to your question.

[AlaskaMike]

Another vote for 231.

Top strap cutting will only go so far and then stop--you don't have to worry about it cutting through.

Mike

[TEDDY]

38 spec target load has always been the 148 gr wc with 2.8 gr of bullseye.
my load has been same except I use 700X and 45 acp 200gr swc with 3.6 gr of 700X.Its just that I got 70 lbs of 700X at $1.can.why load jacket for plinking??I have had a Lyman 4 cavity mold since the 60s.and used a Seaco 4 cavity swc for 45 acp.You need a fast powder for light loads to burn it all.and keep the ash down.

[under_dawg]

For 357, I like 3.5 gr of TrailBoss and a 158 gr lasercast lead rnfp bullet, CCI SPM primer. Very accurate in my 4" 357 gp-100 and meters well in my Lee Auto-Disk pro. I just bought some TiteGroup and am thinking about trying it with lead and maybe some copper jacketed bullets.

[jhansman]

Titegroup all day. Easy on the recoil, affordable, and not 'position sensitive.'

[tomh1426]

I also tried 3.5 grains of Trailboss but under a 158gr Berrys plated bullet.
It was stinky but accurate and very light recoil.

[tbtrout]

I like Trail Boss for light loads.