.38 Special Eco Loads

Wallyl · November 21, 2012, 10:09 AM

I own a few .38 Special revolvers that I find most enjoyable to shoot with---I use them more than any other calibers, for plinking. As lead has gone up in price and WW's are now hard to come by, have worked on loads that use less lead and that are accurate..I thought I'd share with anyone that might be intersted.

For bullets I cast with a Lee 90316 (105 SWC) or a Lyman 358345 (115 SWC). I lube/size to .359". I use eitrher Bullseye or Prome (Red Dot)...4.0 grains gives me just over 1,000 FPS---or 4.25 for 1,100 FPS. I use a 9mm expander/belling die so that the bullets are a tight fit. I also use a small tuft of poly-filler. These things will aid in the load consistency which can be quite tricky with such light bullets and small powder chrages. In my guns they are about as accurate as with a 148 grain WC bullet, out to 100'.

Using these bullets one gets 67 / 61 bullewt pre pound of lead, respectively. I also shoot into a sand hill/berm that I sieve every so often, to reclaim most of the lead.

reloader28 · November 23, 2012, 12:04 AM

I really like the new version Lee 125gr RF. Drops out at 130gr and with 3gr Clays it seems to shoot pretty good and absolutely no kick in 38spl shot from my 357. It'll make a fun rabbit load this winter. I aint chrono'ed them.

I have the 100gr FN Ranch Dog for 380's (shoots great) and really want to try that one in 38's. That is a very sweet little bullet.

**Unclenick** · November 24, 2012, 06:05 PM

I thought this might get more interest in the casting forum, so I've moved it there.

Rangefinder · November 25, 2012, 03:31 AM

I haven't gone quite THAT light in my .357/38, but I do have a 356402 that throws just a tad large that scoots at a pretty good clip through the Ruger. Drops about 128gr on my alloy, if memory serves, and darned accurate, too. Long nose on it, so it seats a little deep in .357 to fit the cylinder, but I found swagging it into a slightly blunt HP does some nasty things over a full-house load. Couldn't give a velocity off the top of my head, but it's a serious whistler.

reloader28 · November 25, 2012, 09:50 AM

I forgot I have the 356402 Lyman one too. Pointy, cone nose that drops at about 125gr.
Tried it a couple years ago. I dont remember the load, but it shot pretty good. Not good for much other than plinking, but you could get massive penatration with it.

I made some soft boolits once, 1/8" hollow pointed them and shot them at 950fps thru milk jugs. Expanded very nice then.

m&p45acp10+1 · November 25, 2012, 07:27 PM

I have the best results using the Lee 158 grain TL SWC mold. Shot over a load of Trail Boss. Clean, and more accurate than I can milk them for out of a hand gun.

A pause for the COZ · December 19, 2012, 09:27 PM

I got turned onto the LEE light weights Last spring. I had been pulling my hair out trying to get a good 100 yard load for my Rossi M92 lever action.
These guns have a 16 inch barrel with a 1 in 30 twist rate.
The engineer who decided a 1 in 30 twist rate was a good idea, should be cold cocked.

Any thing over 158 gr bullets results in super looking key holes in the target ( if it hits the target at 50 yards) . 158 gr was ok to 50 yards but out to 100 yards its a crap shoot 6 inch grops are the norm some allot bigger.

SO I ordered a LEE 6 cavity 105gr swc and a 6 cavity 125 gr rnfp.

The 105 gr is a clover leaf shooter out to 50 yards with a small smack of Unique or Bullseye. 100 yards I haven't mastered it yet. Not enough velocity to get them that far with out a pretty high hold over.
I intended to work up a better load for 100 yards, but then I tried the 125's
The 125's are the perfect bullet for this gun. No need to look any farther.
I can cut the bull out of a target at a 100 yards all day long, shot after shot.

Best load is the 125 gr Lee ahead of 6 gr Herco in 38 special cases or 7 gr Herco in 357 cases.
You get the same groups with 5gr Unique or 6 gr Unique respectively, but you loose 100 fps on the velocity out of the 16 inch barrel.

If you have a Rossi w/ 1in 30 give it a try.... You will be happy.

reloader28 · December 19, 2012, 11:06 PM

Cool beans.
That is a sweet little bullet.

A pause for the COZ · December 20, 2012, 04:51 AM

Here is a target from those LEE 125's at 50 yards with a 5 gr Herco load.

And the 105's at 50 yards.

Super Sneaky Steve · December 28, 2012, 09:50 PM

What kind of lube are you using? Any leading in the rifle?

November 21, 2012, 10:09 AM	#1
Wallyl Senior Member Join Date: September 8, 2011 Posts: 255	.38 Special Eco Loads I own a few .38 Special revolvers that I find most enjoyable to shoot with---I use them more than any other calibers, for plinking. As lead has gone up in price and WW's are now hard to come by, have worked on loads that use less lead and that are accurate..I thought I'd share with anyone that might be intersted. For bullets I cast with a Lee 90316 (105 SWC) or a Lyman 358345 (115 SWC). I lube/size to .359". I use eitrher Bullseye or Prome (Red Dot)...4.0 grains gives me just over 1,000 FPS---or 4.25 for 1,100 FPS. I use a 9mm expander/belling die so that the bullets are a tight fit. I also use a small tuft of poly-filler. These things will aid in the load consistency which can be quite tricky with such light bullets and small powder chrages. In my guns they are about as accurate as with a 148 grain WC bullet, out to 100'. Using these bullets one gets 67 / 61 bullewt pre pound of lead, respectively. I also shoot into a sand hill/berm that I sieve every so often, to reclaim most of the lead.

November 24, 2012, 06:05 PM	#3
Unclenick Staff Join Date: March 4, 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 21,057	I thought this might get more interest in the casting forum, so I've moved it there. __________________ Gunsite Orange Hat Family Member CMP Certified GSM Master Instructor NRA Certified Rifle Instructor NRA Benefactor Member and Golden Eagle

November 25, 2012, 03:31 AM	#4
Rangefinder Senior Member Join Date: August 4, 2005 Posts: 2,017	I haven't gone quite THAT light in my .357/38, but I do have a 356402 that throws just a tad large that scoots at a pretty good clip through the Ruger. Drops about 128gr on my alloy, if memory serves, and darned accurate, too. Long nose on it, so it seats a little deep in .357 to fit the cylinder, but I found swagging it into a slightly blunt HP does some nasty things over a full-house load. Couldn't give a velocity off the top of my head, but it's a serious whistler. __________________ "Why is is called Common Sense when it seems so few actually possess it?" Guns only have two enemies: Rust and Politicians.

November 25, 2012, 07:27 PM	#6
m&p45acp10+1 Senior Member Join Date: May 3, 2009 Location: Central Texas Posts: 3,930	I have the best results using the Lee 158 grain TL SWC mold. Shot over a load of Trail Boss. Clean, and more accurate than I can milk them for out of a hand gun. __________________ No matter how many times you do it and nothing happens it only takes something going wrong one time to kill you.

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November 23, 2012, 12:04 AM	#2
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I really like the new version Lee 125gr RF. Drops out at 130gr and with 3gr Clays it seems to shoot pretty good and absolutely no kick in 38spl shot from my 357. It'll make a fun rabbit load this winter. I aint chrono'ed them. I have the 100gr FN Ranch Dog for 380's (shoots great) and really want to try that one in 38's. That is a very sweet little bullet.

November 25, 2012, 09:50 AM	#5
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	I forgot I have the 356402 Lyman one too. Pointy, cone nose that drops at about 125gr. Tried it a couple years ago. I dont remember the load, but it shot pretty good. Not good for much other than plinking, but you could get massive penatration with it. I made some soft boolits once, 1/8" hollow pointed them and shot them at 950fps thru milk jugs. Expanded very nice then.

December 19, 2012, 09:27 PM	#7
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	I got turned onto the LEE light weights Last spring. I had been pulling my hair out trying to get a good 100 yard load for my Rossi M92 lever action. These guns have a 16 inch barrel with a 1 in 30 twist rate. The engineer who decided a 1 in 30 twist rate was a good idea, should be cold cocked. Any thing over 158 gr bullets results in super looking key holes in the target ( if it hits the target at 50 yards) . 158 gr was ok to 50 yards but out to 100 yards its a crap shoot 6 inch grops are the norm some allot bigger. SO I ordered a LEE 6 cavity 105gr swc and a 6 cavity 125 gr rnfp. The 105 gr is a clover leaf shooter out to 50 yards with a small smack of Unique or Bullseye. 100 yards I haven't mastered it yet. Not enough velocity to get them that far with out a pretty high hold over. I intended to work up a better load for 100 yards, but then I tried the 125's The 125's are the perfect bullet for this gun. No need to look any farther. I can cut the bull out of a target at a 100 yards all day long, shot after shot. Best load is the 125 gr Lee ahead of 6 gr Herco in 38 special cases or 7 gr Herco in 357 cases. You get the same groups with 5gr Unique or 6 gr Unique respectively, but you loose 100 fps on the velocity out of the 16 inch barrel. If you have a Rossi w/ 1in 30 give it a try.... You will be happy.

December 19, 2012, 11:06 PM	#8
reloader28 Senior Member Join Date: October 13, 2009 Location: nw wyoming Posts: 1,061	Cool beans. That is a sweet little bullet.

December 20, 2012, 04:51 AM	#9
A pause for the COZ Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2012 Location: Braham, Minnesota Posts: 1,314	Here is a target from those LEE 125's at 50 yards with a 5 gr Herco load. And the 105's at 50 yards.

December 28, 2012, 09:50 PM	#10
Super Sneaky Steve Senior Member Join Date: August 9, 2011 Posts: 1,248	What kind of lube are you using? Any leading in the rifle?