38 spl load

Hunter_17 · January 27, 2013, 03:53 PM

Looking for a 38 special load, I have 105 lead cast bullets for 38 spl. I am looking for just a easy going target plinking load

Powder I have it tite group And unversial both of hogdgon.

What's a good recipe?

Hogdgon website

90 GR. CAST LRNFP
Hodgdon Titegroup min 3.0 max 3.5

125 GR. CAST LRNFP
Hodgdon Titegroup min 3.2 max 3.8

Would I be safe to start at 3.1 of tite group and not go over 3.5?

Than with unversial they have

125 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon Universal min 4.3 max 4.7

Where would I start with that powder? 4.0?

Also I'll be using winchester small pistol magnum primer

m&p45acp10+1 · January 27, 2013, 05:51 PM

Hunter I would suggest never going below the starting load when one is listed. Reason being is that you can end up with a bullet stuck in the barrel. The starting load is the starting load.

lee n. field · January 27, 2013, 06:06 PM

Quote:

, I have 105 lead cast bullets for 38 spl.

What weight are your bullets?

Hunter_17 · January 27, 2013, 06:12 PM

105 gr bullets

reloader28 · January 28, 2013, 10:25 AM

I had pretty good luck with 103gr FN.
But, I was trying Unique, Clays and Bullseye. All of them shot around 1 1/2" at 15yds in 38spl from a 357. Not great, but not horrific.

L_Killkenny · January 28, 2013, 11:39 AM

IME, TiteGroup burns pretty hot and I've had issues with leading when trying for anything close to max loads and cast bullets while using it. Start low and stay low, there are better powders for medium cast loads.

Magnum Wheel Man · January 28, 2013, 12:37 PM

I shoot 125 grain lead with a medium load of Trailboss, & they work equally well in both revolvers & in my lever action... report & recoil are very mild & accuracy is good... not by a manual right now, but, can you find a Trailboss load for the bullets you have ???

Hunter_17 · January 28, 2013, 01:47 PM

What would be a better powder?

mjes92 · January 28, 2013, 02:31 PM

Forgive me if I'm jumping in on someone else's thread. I'm new to the forum game. Here goes.....

I'm casting Lee 158 grain .358" SWC tumble lube,
Loading 2.8 grs. Clays with CCI small pistol primers(about 825 fps per Hodgon)
They shoot great for plinking through a Security Six & older Taurus 85.
I find CLAYS to be a very clean powder. Including shot shells.

I have a few questions....
I know my lead is very hard compared to standard purchased cast bullets. I am seeing very little deformation when I dig up the bullets. Most of my lead came from RailRoad scrap my Dad picked up over the years. (some type of bearing maybe) Yes, I'm too cheap to buy a lead hardness tester. I am noticing some lead fouling in the forcing cone. Not bad but a pain to clean. Rifling is very clean.

1. What damage can be caused by shooting hard lead ???
2. What should I add to soften the pot of lead ? (I have lots of it)
3. Any other advice? ( I know, dumb question)

I'll try to add photo's in a few days.

Thanks in advance

LE-28 · January 28, 2013, 04:01 PM

Quote:

IME, TiteGroup burns pretty hot and I've had issues with leading when trying for anything close to max loads and cast bullets while using it. Start low and stay low, there are better powders for medium cast loads.

I agree, treat TiteGroup like you would Bullseye, it is a little slower according to the burn charts but I don't have a lot of faith in burn charts when you can download from three different sites and all three charts are different. They are just a general guide to me.

If you want medium loads, I would use either Unique, or Universal Clays, I prefer Universal but there are a lot of other powders that work just as well.

Just my opinion.

Hunter_17 · January 28, 2013, 04:42 PM

Okay I have some clay unversial ill try find load data for with a 105 grain bullet

m&p45acp10+1 · January 28, 2013, 05:58 PM

You can use Trail Boss. Hodgdon has instructions on how to figure a load.

Load a dummy round. use a bullet to find where the bottom of the seated bullet is make a line. Line another case with it. Make a line on the new case. This is where the max load will go to. Fill the case to the line. Weigh the charge. This is max load. Reduce to 70% of max. This is the starting load.

Note it will not give high velocity. Though it does give consitent velcoties when charged by volume. It is all I use for cast lead in .38 spcl.

reloader28 · January 29, 2013, 12:33 AM

I should make it clear for the record, I didnt use Clays Universal, I used Clays with my loads.

Mjes92, Welcome to the forum. It would be better and you'll get more direct answers if you started a new thread. Its easy to do, and you'll get way more responses.

mjes92 · January 30, 2013, 09:42 AM

Thanks Reloader28
Done as recommended

spacecoast · January 30, 2013, 11:26 AM

Hunter_17 -

The Hodgdon data you published is accurate. Since your bullet falls in the middle of those two weights, you should be fine with 3.0 to 3.8 grains of Titegroup, but should probably start at the low end and work your way up if you want a little more pop in the loads. 105 gr. is really light for .38 special bullets, so you won't have much in the way of recoil.

Hunter_17 · January 30, 2013, 01:48 PM

I loaded some up with the tite group 3.0 and work great, my wife hated the 357 but now loves it with the 38 spl load, just what I needed

Thanks for the help

A pause for the COZ · January 31, 2013, 07:01 PM

I am shooting my LEE 105 swc ahead of 3 gr Bullseye. Or 3.5 gr of Unique.

January 27, 2013, 03:53 PM	#1
Hunter_17 Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 21	38 spl load Looking for a 38 special load, I have 105 lead cast bullets for 38 spl. I am looking for just a easy going target plinking load Powder I have it tite group And unversial both of hogdgon. What's a good recipe? Hogdgon website 90 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon Titegroup min 3.0 max 3.5 125 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon Titegroup min 3.2 max 3.8 Would I be safe to start at 3.1 of tite group and not go over 3.5? Than with unversial they have 125 GR. CAST LRNFP Hodgdon Universal min 4.3 max 4.7 Where would I start with that powder? 4.0? Also I'll be using winchester small pistol magnum primer

January 27, 2013, 05:51 PM	#2
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	Hunter I would suggest never going below the starting load when one is listed. Reason being is that you can end up with a bullet stuck in the barrel. The starting load is the starting load. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

January 28, 2013, 12:37 PM	#7
Magnum Wheel Man Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2006 Location: Southern Minnesota Posts: 9,333	I shoot 125 grain lead with a medium load of Trailboss, & they work equally well in both revolvers & in my lever action... report & recoil are very mild & accuracy is good... not by a manual right now, but, can you find a Trailboss load for the bullets you have ??? __________________ In life you either make dust or eat dust...

January 28, 2013, 02:31 PM	#9
mjes92 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2013 Location: Land of 10,000 taxes Posts: 211	.38 spl Casting Forum newbie Forgive me if I'm jumping in on someone else's thread. I'm new to the forum game. Here goes..... I'm casting Lee 158 grain .358" SWC tumble lube, Loading 2.8 grs. Clays with CCI small pistol primers(about 825 fps per Hodgon) They shoot great for plinking through a Security Six & older Taurus 85. I find CLAYS to be a very clean powder. Including shot shells. I have a few questions.... I know my lead is very hard compared to standard purchased cast bullets. I am seeing very little deformation when I dig up the bullets. Most of my lead came from RailRoad scrap my Dad picked up over the years. (some type of bearing maybe) Yes, I'm too cheap to buy a lead hardness tester. I am noticing some lead fouling in the forcing cone. Not bad but a pain to clean. Rifling is very clean. 1. What damage can be caused by shooting hard lead ??? 2. What should I add to soften the pot of lead ? (I have lots of it) 3. Any other advice? ( I know, dumb question) I'll try to add photo's in a few days. Thanks in advance Last edited by mjes92; January 28, 2013 at 02:45 PM.

January 28, 2013, 05:58 PM	#12
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	You can use Trail Boss. Hodgdon has instructions on how to figure a load. Load a dummy round. use a bullet to find where the bottom of the seated bullet is make a line. Line another case with it. Make a line on the new case. This is where the max load will go to. Fill the case to the line. Weigh the charge. This is max load. Reduce to 70% of max. This is the starting load. Note it will not give high velocity. Though it does give consitent velcoties when charged by volume. It is all I use for cast lead in .38 spcl. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

January 27, 2013, 06:12 PM	#4
Hunter_17 Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 21	105 gr bullets

January 28, 2013, 10:25 AM	#5
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I had pretty good luck with 103gr FN. But, I was trying Unique, Clays and Bullseye. All of them shot around 1 1/2" at 15yds in 38spl from a 357. Not great, but not horrific.

January 28, 2013, 11:39 AM	#6
L_Killkenny Senior Member Join Date: February 2, 2007 Location: Iowa Posts: 2,676	IME, TiteGroup burns pretty hot and I've had issues with leading when trying for anything close to max loads and cast bullets while using it. Start low and stay low, there are better powders for medium cast loads.

January 28, 2013, 01:47 PM	#8
Hunter_17 Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 21	What would be a better powder?

January 28, 2013, 04:42 PM	#11
Hunter_17 Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 21	Okay I have some clay unversial ill try find load data for with a 105 grain bullet

January 29, 2013, 12:33 AM	#13
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I should make it clear for the record, I didnt use Clays Universal, I used Clays with my loads. Mjes92, Welcome to the forum. It would be better and you'll get more direct answers if you started a new thread. Its easy to do, and you'll get way more responses.

January 30, 2013, 09:42 AM	#14
mjes92 Senior Member Join Date: January 28, 2013 Location: Land of 10,000 taxes Posts: 211	Thanks Reloader28 Done as recommended

January 30, 2013, 11:26 AM	#15
spacecoast Senior Member Join Date: October 14, 2009 Location: Sunshine and Keystone States Posts: 4,461	Hunter_17 - The Hodgdon data you published is accurate. Since your bullet falls in the middle of those two weights, you should be fine with 3.0 to 3.8 grains of Titegroup, but should probably start at the low end and work your way up if you want a little more pop in the loads. 105 gr. is really light for .38 special bullets, so you won't have much in the way of recoil. Last edited by spacecoast; January 30, 2013 at 11:34 AM.

January 30, 2013, 01:48 PM	#16
Hunter_17 Member Join Date: January 27, 2013 Posts: 21	I loaded some up with the tite group 3.0 and work great, my wife hated the 357 but now loves it with the 38 spl load, just what I needed Thanks for the help

January 31, 2013, 07:01 PM	#17
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	I am shooting my LEE 105 swc ahead of 3 gr Bullseye. Or 3.5 gr of Unique.

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