Target load advice for K-38 and Unique.

longfellow · September 8, 2011, 08:28 AM

I am working up the most accurate load I can find for my K-38 with hard cast 148 gr wadcutters from my lyman mould. While my best load of 3.0 gr Bullseye is very accurate, I was tooling with trying to find an equally accurate load with Unique. The odd thing about my 4.0 gr load of unique is that it is extreemly accurate, perhaps a bit better than my Bullseye load, but the extreeme spread for five shot strings is huge- about 100 f/s - but the load was very accurate over multiple five shot groups (at 25 yd rapid fire B8 target) - enough to be stitistically confident that this is no fluke.
Questions;
1. Do you ignore the ES at such a short distance if you're getting great accuracy or do you continue your load development because sooner or later it will bite you?
2. I was thinking of eliminating the crimp and seeing if the ES drops- thinking perhaps that with such a low charge, even slight variations in crimp (perhaps due to very slight variations in case length) are the cause. With such light loads, I doubt that the bullets will move. Unfortunately, I also crimp my Bullseye loads and they do not show the same ES (10-12 f/s) so this is not likely the cause of the high ES, UNLESS UNIQUE IS SPECIFICALLY SENSITIVE TO CRIMP VARIATION; I DON'T KNOW.

3. Has anyone honestly developed a good 38 load with the 148 gr WC and Unique, and is it common to see large ES numbers with Unique when your charge is below this powder's sweet spot?

Throughout all of this testing, I do not alter bullets, alloy, sizing diameter, primer, case, case prep process.

4. Are there any published guides out there, specifically for Bullseye shooters and their 38's, for NRA Bullseye event target loads with the popular bullets? If it contained loading advice for the 22 and 45 as well, even better.
Thanks all,
Ed

243winxb · September 8, 2011, 08:56 AM

If your Unique load will put all bullets fired into 1 3/4" @ 25 yds from a machine rest, your good to go. Unique does not measure as well as Bullseye for me. Getting .2gr variation is common. The revolver scores for Bullseye competitions show its not so easy shooting timed and rapid, but fun.

http://www.nrahq.org/compete/natpdf/cp147-11.pdf

3leggeddog · September 9, 2011, 09:32 AM

I've had great luck with 4.1 ,4.2 grs of Unique with a 150 gr Lswc. I used Winchester cases+ a medium crimp. That's with a GP100 6" barrel...

Charlie98 · September 9, 2011, 09:44 PM

I don't worry about SD in low power handgun loads such as yours. As someone already mentioned, Unique doesn't meter the best, but you aren't up against maximum. If your accuracy works for you, I'd stick with it.

My standard .38SPPC load is 4.0grn Unique under a 148grn HBWC or 158grn cast SWC. I do taper crimp, just enough to get the case bell out and give the bullet something to hold on to; the roll crimp really rears it's head on brass with different lengths so I use taper crimps on all my handgun brass except my Magnum loads of W296.

RamSlammer · September 9, 2011, 11:49 PM

Accurate #2 has worked well for me with 148 gr. cast DEWC's. Very negligible variation shot to shot, meters well and very clean burning.

GP100man · September 10, 2011, 04:50 AM

Try getting the unique charge to the rear of the case , then the front on each shot.

That`s why in the old days the BE shooters would stand with the muzzle up & lower the revolver to the target . Safety was "muzzle in safe direction"

These days it`s "muzzle down" which is considered safe .

By the way, Hodgdons CLAYS is the most position insensitive powder I`ve ever found ,measures like a dream & with some 38 strings ESs in single digits .

Also make sure your chrony is far enuff away as not to be affected by muzzle blast as unique has a different pressure curve than be.

Just some experiences I`ve scratched my head over

September 8, 2011, 08:28 AM	#1
longfellow Senior Member Join Date: October 11, 2010 Location: Upstate NY Posts: 144	Target load advice for K-38 and Unique. I am working up the most accurate load I can find for my K-38 with hard cast 148 gr wadcutters from my lyman mould. While my best load of 3.0 gr Bullseye is very accurate, I was tooling with trying to find an equally accurate load with Unique. The odd thing about my 4.0 gr load of unique is that it is extreemly accurate, perhaps a bit better than my Bullseye load, but the extreeme spread for five shot strings is huge- about 100 f/s - but the load was very accurate over multiple five shot groups (at 25 yd rapid fire B8 target) - enough to be stitistically confident that this is no fluke. Questions; 1. Do you ignore the ES at such a short distance if you're getting great accuracy or do you continue your load development because sooner or later it will bite you? 2. I was thinking of eliminating the crimp and seeing if the ES drops- thinking perhaps that with such a low charge, even slight variations in crimp (perhaps due to very slight variations in case length) are the cause. With such light loads, I doubt that the bullets will move. Unfortunately, I also crimp my Bullseye loads and they do not show the same ES (10-12 f/s) so this is not likely the cause of the high ES, UNLESS UNIQUE IS SPECIFICALLY SENSITIVE TO CRIMP VARIATION; I DON'T KNOW. 3. Has anyone honestly developed a good 38 load with the 148 gr WC and Unique, and is it common to see large ES numbers with Unique when your charge is below this powder's sweet spot? Throughout all of this testing, I do not alter bullets, alloy, sizing diameter, primer, case, case prep process. 4. Are there any published guides out there, specifically for Bullseye shooters and their 38's, for NRA Bullseye event target loads with the popular bullets? If it contained loading advice for the 22 and 45 as well, even better. Thanks all, Ed

September 9, 2011, 09:32 AM	#3
3leggeddog Member Join Date: December 18, 2009 Location: Michigan Posts: 68	unique/357 I've had great luck with 4.1 ,4.2 grs of Unique with a 150 gr Lswc. I used Winchester cases+ a medium crimp. That's with a GP100 6" barrel...

September 10, 2011, 04:50 AM	#6
GP100man Senior Member Join Date: August 2, 2007 Location: Tabor City , NC. Posts: 1,969	Powder position Try getting the unique charge to the rear of the case , then the front on each shot. That`s why in the old days the BE shooters would stand with the muzzle up & lower the revolver to the target . Safety was "muzzle in safe direction" These days it`s "muzzle down" which is considered safe . By the way, Hodgdons CLAYS is the most position insensitive powder I`ve ever found ,measures like a dream & with some 38 strings ESs in single digits . Also make sure your chrony is far enuff away as not to be affected by muzzle blast as unique has a different pressure curve than be. Just some experiences I`ve scratched my head over

September 8, 2011, 08:56 AM	#2
243winxb Senior Member Join Date: July 26, 2011 Location: USA Posts: 1,757	38 Special If your Unique load will put all bullets fired into 1 3/4" @ 25 yds from a machine rest, your good to go. Unique does not measure as well as Bullseye for me. Getting .2gr variation is common. The revolver scores for Bullseye competitions show its not so easy shooting timed and rapid, but fun. http://www.nrahq.org/compete/natpdf/cp147-11.pdf

September 9, 2011, 09:44 PM	#4
Charlie98 Senior Member Join Date: September 6, 2006 Location: Great state of Texas Posts: 1,077	I don't worry about SD in low power handgun loads such as yours. As someone already mentioned, Unique doesn't meter the best, but you aren't up against maximum. If your accuracy works for you, I'd stick with it. My standard .38SPPC load is 4.0grn Unique under a 148grn HBWC or 158grn cast SWC. I do taper crimp, just enough to get the case bell out and give the bullet something to hold on to; the roll crimp really rears it's head on brass with different lengths so I use taper crimps on all my handgun brass except my Magnum loads of W296.

September 9, 2011, 11:49 PM	#5
RamSlammer Senior Member Join Date: November 5, 2008 Location: Arkansas Posts: 722	Accurate #2 has worked well for me with 148 gr. cast DEWC's. Very negligible variation shot to shot, meters well and very clean burning.