38 special 125 grain load data bullseye 38 special 125 grain load data bullseye

Others Have reported some success but few have more than one or two loads. I here from quite a few that 3.5 gr of bullseye is a good load for 158 gr lead Bullets for bullseye shooting. Great gun. I almost spit out my drink when I read your comment. YOU WOULD BE WASTING YOUR TIME TRIMMING THE BRASS. My grandkids think Im pulling their leg, when I tell them about the freedoms that NIMBYs took away. I was looking through the Lyman 49th edition reloading manual and see the bullets you are talking about. SWC, 160 gr. Shot many thousands of my bullseye powder reloads with it. Agree 100% since I reload and shoot it since years, lost count. However recoil will be the limiting factor especially for the short line. This is an easy-shooting load that can cause some power-philes to tusk-tusk and comment. in a belt holster at 4:00. As I researched loads in the meantime, I kept seeing the same several popping up again and again in sources from as recent as yesterday to long out of print books from when air travel was a newfangled wonder. If youre recoil averse (and dont have a disability of some kind), its because you havent shot it enough. That revolver is aluminum and cannot handle the pressure of 9MM. The load you use will be up to your gun. Even slower powders may provide more consistent speeds and will be tested in the future (No. There is a difference in the manufacturing process of swaged bullets. In fact, in the past I specifically sought out revolvers chambered in 38 SPL only, knowing I would never be putting a 357 Mag in it (I carried a 4 GP100 chambered in 38 SPL as a duty sidearm in the early 90s). HAVE FUN JP. accuracy. This produces about 550-650fps from a 1 7/8 barrel and feels like shooting a very powerful .22LR. Do not use anything but light loads and lead bullets in these older revolvers. That blunt-ended bullet cut a clean hole all the way through whatever its modest velocity allowed it to penetrate. (This is prevalent among most aftermarket designs- they are smallest in the longest, strongest finger area, and largest at the bottom pinkie area.). Nothing, they dont need any. You need a .357 Magnum revolver if you want to try a 9MM cylinder. In half a dozen different sixguns, it ranged from accurate to spectacular. Of course, these will be used in a revolver. Good point Len. If you have the means, I highly recommend you trying one out. I shoot a Glock 21, and had a great time shooting some poly coated 230 grain round noses today. I have tried several different grips before finding the one that worked for me. Nitpicking is its own reward., I believe the correct spelling is loathe . AA#2 is about the same burn rate, but burns much cleaner with less smoke in my guns. So I expect recoil would be substantial and not very target-ish. For those who have issues using auto pistils, due ti arthritis or other medical issues with the hands an LCR or 642 is a great choice. Many reloading manuals also list an estimated pressure with a given load. How does WST compare to Bullseye powder? For those folks shooting a lot of lead bullets, invest in a Lewis lead remover. If there is only ONE load, it is MAX. I wanted a good carry gun that was light and reliable, so I decided that the .38 would fit and I just went with it. But I found 2.4 and 2.7 interesting at 25 yards off the sandbags. I don't completely understand the physics behind it. I've tried Berry's plated as well as Remington. Bullseye is the classic pistol powder and the backbone of many pet loads. Where many shooters quickly tire of even standard-pressure .38 in the little five-shooters, the wadcutter invites cylinder after cylinder of practice. Wadcutters are tailor made for lightweight snubbie practice, allowing shooters to enjoy shooting the pocket guns. A 158 SWCHP at 850-875 fps from a snub. I could knock out a pretty substantial chunk of my shooting needs with only these three loads. (See note on Powders below or read all about various Powders.). defensive ammo. Since we are working with a gun that doesnt have a magazine, we can afford to mess with this dimension at will. I don't have a chronograph, but have considered picking one up. Jacketed bullets create a bit more wear on the rifling, but its better than trying to wire brush out a bunch of lead build up. Alliant listed 3.6 gr Bullseye as maximum (15000 psi) in 38 Special and 3.8 as max in 38 Special PLUS P (17000 psi) with 158 LSWC bullets. Power Pistol won't work for me. Posted March 19, 2015. I have a long way to go before I'm ready to compete, but enjoy plinking and hand loading. (Cowboy Action) 38 Special (Cowboy Action) 38-40 Win. Really interested in getting the. Most notably the lighter weight bullets. Recoil is the good kind that reminds the shooter handguns are serious tools but without eliciting a flinch. My Ruger LCR .357 Magnum is pleasant to shoot even with full pressure loads. Shoots well in my K-38, 686, and a friend's K-38 at 50 yards in the Ransom rest. I just bought some 158 gr SWC bullets that are pure lead. Any clues for powder and starting loads???? Use the lead bullet loads with the plated and you will be fine. For me, the 32 H&R Mag is my 357 Mag, and the 32 S&W Long is my 38 SPL. 8.) https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck?highlight=distinguished+++%2Bloads, Load question on Penn Bullets for Distinguished load. Therefore, the conventional wisdom is that they must be loaded to a lower velocity. All right are Reserved Reload Ammo, Reloading The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), hi=849 lo=728 ES=122 (powder up and down), hi=821 lo=684 ES=137 (powder up and down), hi=815 lo=637 ES=178 (powder in normal positions), hi=714 lo=549 ES=165 (powder up and down), hi=758 lo=693 ES=65 (powder up and down)(DO NOT USE LESS), Hi=886, Lo=861, ES=25 (This is a Carolina Cast bullet SWC-great cowboy load), hi=859 lo=743 ES=116 *(my personal medium load), hi=875 lo=685 ES=190.2(powder up and down), hi=710 lo=497 ES=213 (powder up and down), hi=791 lo=625 ES=166 (Powder up and down), hi=785 lo=670 ES=115 (powder up and down), hi=801, low=766 ES=35.32 in Contender 14 bbl. The swaged bullets are soft enough that they expand even at mild velocities where a JHP or hard cast cant. Im not a hoarder and I dont keep them, but I am detailed in my process. And yes I appreciate them for a hunting gun because of their fine accuracy and find trigger pulls (older classic guns). Rules say (e) Ammunition- Any safe .38 caliber ammunition using the 158 grain round nose or Semi-Wadcutter bullet only. And I still think a 158 at 600 beats hell out of a 22 magnum of any stripe. In a 1909 vintage Smith & Wesson target .38, the 2.7-grain load cut a nearly one-inch cluster, showing that classics go well together. Never ransom rested it, but held 10 ring off sandbags. Reloading for it came next and it has since become my favorite pistol cartridge. )Lastly, the .38 SPL has a very large following and materials can be had readily. Would .44 Special be somewhat similar to .38, in terms of ease of reloading, case life, etc.? While I wish I could carry a 5 .45 WITNESS with several 10 round mags, as a senior citizen, the S&W J frame is my user friendly alternate. This 1911 halved its normal so-so accuracy with 200-grain Hornady C/T SWC, shooting this nice two-inch group. * All PLUS P loads for guns designed for it (20,000 PSI), (Cowboy loads shot in 7 1/2 bbl.revolver no need to reduce), ALL THESE LOADS ARE PLUS P, SPECIAL HOT 21,000 PSI. I stopped handloading around 1985, so Im not certain how much technology has changed in that area, but in general it sounds like our experiences are similar. Never got around to trying the T grips. Modern .38 spl std HP load is more than enough, dont over think it. You will be, essentially, making 38 Short Colt. I carried a lightly customized 4 inch heavy barrel model 10 for years, with a black cerakote job. May 15, 2012. kc2za said: Hi All, I have been loading .38 spl with 2.7 gr. Word to the wise: all handgun cartridges (with the likely exception of .44 Magnum and maybe even .357 Magnum) are underpowered for self-defense. It is always higher when powder is next to primer. Reducing consumables (and therefore cost) that much more is definitely appealing to me. I realized that I had hit a very special count for a very special cartridge: 20,000 rounds of .38 Special. Starting being near 3gr - ish. Super cheap and easy to make and would likely be a very effective defense ammo against wildlife that might be a threat to me as the two balls will spread an inch or two from each other at close range. June 13, 2016 in 9mm/38 Caliber. Last I looked still available at Brownells. Left to right:148 gr. You can always back off to the .32 S&W Long or .32 H&R Mag if you choose to. Wife handled it with no problem, those 5 Super Vel had been in the gun probably over 5 years by then, she bought it to CARRY, not to shoot, if she needed to fire it to save her life it would be fine. Reloading .44 Spl. You may find it will need to be faster for good 50 yd. The bullets are seated flush in the case. I dunno. 5 are good choices. WITH THE SWAGED BULLETS REDDING SELLS A PROFILE CRIMP DIE. After making a healthy pile of brass with this load, I am unlikely to ever be without a few boxes of it on standby. At one time or another, I also owned and shot a M38 Bodyguard (nka the 638), a M37 Chiefs Special (now the 637), a M60 (which is a tad heavier but no more user-friendly), and a couple of others. 7.) Required fields are marked *. i had the same issues you did when i was trying to load for my DR revolver 14-3. to light of power had a soft recoil but ungodly bad accuracy. The only reason that my standard (everyday carry) self-defense handgun is not a .38 Special revolver is because I can conceal a semi-auto better (it isnt as fat as the cylinder on a revolver) and my semi-auto has 15 rounds of hard-hitting 180 grain bullets. With the powders you listed I would try Bullseye, 231, and Unique in that order. The least is usually supplied as a large cylindrical billet weighing several hundred pounds. I bet you can find some nice shooting loads with Bullseye. Ive probably picked up 300 cases of .38 the past few months and will continue to grab them as I see them, but whats nice is I can shoot more and put that money towards brass for .32 or .45 Colt, stuff that I never see at the range. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. Nickle cases look pretty but dont seem to take the number of resizings that plain brass cases do. It's given me good results in the 2, 3 and 4 inch barreled. "Berry's Superior Plated Bullets are the finest bonded copper-jacketed bullets available today.." ?. When I finally got my hands on a pound of Bullseye, I naturally started with some of these loads. A handgunner using .38 Specials is set for targets, plinking and small game while .357 Mag. .38 will take care of nearly any critter that needs dispatching feral cats, raccoon, armadillo, even wait for it. ,I looked at Speer data, nothing there. You cannot paste images directly. A Forum dedicated to the sport of Bullseye shooting, Bullseye-L Forum::Ammunition Discussion, I'm looking for an accurate load using 125gr bullets. They have a large selection about the hard cast loads from 90 to 170 gains. Ive tried full metal jacket and the Hornady Action Pistol (HAP) match hollow point in this load, and both ranged from good to great in my nines. I get 1000 fps with this load. 357 Magnum 35,000 Both are excellent fight stoppers. How can I tell if they are cast or swaged? A circa 1918 Colt gobbled them up, as did several other 1911s that can be particular about bullet profile. Enough that the range Officer at my range recognized them because the muzzle blast made a distinctive cat whisker pattern at 8 and 10, and 2 and 4 o clock. As an old bullseye guy I've stuck with Bullseye powder for almost 30yearsusing lead bullets. Damn. SASS# 85224. I did 400 rounds in one afternoon on my Hornady progressive. Anyone know where I can download a chart where all the powders burning rates (regardless of manufacturer) is listed. Easiest way is casting lines and a sprue mark on nose or base. less to start.) Some use powders dispersed in liquids, some use electrostatic guns to spray dry powder on their bullets. I will start ouy at the minimum velocity then. Thanks for the start load Power Pistol will run lower pressures for the same velocity than W-W 231. Hodgdons Clays, International, Universal and HP38 are good choices. I do this for my .357s but this article is about .38 Special loads. How Do I Choose Good Self-Defense Ammo For My Handgun? It seems to burn completely in the .38 and is not as critical as the faster powders like Bullseye. When you say "not working" can you be more specific? A GI surplus 1911 that puts most loads into dinner-plate sized groups cut 3.8 inches with the classic recipewhich is probably the only time Ive gotten excited about an almost four-inch group! I load my own, 130 gr RNFP using Win 231 powder a little over the mid point in the published load data. But I think I was still loading the cases from that first box when I quit loading 18 years later! I have a few 30-30 cases modified to shoot singles with a very light load. One cool load Im working on is two pellets of 000 Buck. 9mm 125 grain RN Lead Hard Cast Bullet. If I do carry a revolver its my 642 with a laser grip in my right front pocket or my SW model 69 5 shot 44 mag. Power Pistols works well in short auto cartridges and higher pressure cartridges but no so well with a 158 grain bullets in 38 Special. Most DNR (Do Not Reduce) loads are well over 900-fps. I just bought a Lyman mold 160 round nose with a crimp groove. I also find the LCR .357 enjoyable to shoot with all .38s and most .357s. The 125 Hornady XTP, a jacketed hollow point bullet that can easily handle 1500 fps velocities. Groups with these loads ranged from 1.25 inches to just under two inches at 25 yards across a handful of pistols. The pistol or revolver of good quality is vital. IT'S A COMBINATION TAPER AND ROLL CRIMP. I load it almost exclusively though with either a powder coated or plated 125 grn bullet. 5.) 158 gr. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. I am aware of the plated bullet limitations on BE accuracy and am more interested in them for their "plinkability". Powders include IMR, Hodgdon, Alliant, Vihtavuori, Winchester, Accurate Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. I carry my M642 extensively, but I only shoot it occasionally because it is a snappy little b!tch with standard loads. While I do have a GP100 in .357 magnum, I dont like shooting .38 special ammo out of it, because cleaning powder residue out of the longer chambers is a real bitch. Great article & thread!!! Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue. I cannot begin to fathom shooting 20,000 rounds out of that revolver! hebyta In my time with the cartridge, I have come to appreciate the mid to low end of the power spectrum and thus have made extensive use of Trail Boss powder and bullets such as Hornadys .358 158gr SWC. My more serious RN is the 358311 that drops @150 gr. Swaged bullets do not have the hardness of poured (cast) lead. That for just a nice shooting load one cant beat 148gr wad-cutter for pure fun. Cartridge : .38 Special (SAAMI)Bullet : .357, 125, FP Rainier Useable Case Capaci: 20.320 grain H2O = 1.319 cm Cartridge O.A.L. Normal, mild .38 loads work fine with lead bullets. When I finally nabbed my own canisters of Bullseye, the first load I spun up was 2.7 grains under Hornadys hollow-base wadcutters. .38 special has got to be one of the best calibers there is . Maybe its just my age, but I may never shoot a 38 again after discovering the 32. There is one good reason to use WST. I completely understand the respect for the performance of the 327 Fed, but not being a big fan of the 357 Mag (or 38 SPL plus P for that matter) I havent been drawn to the 327. The 4.0 grain load is relatively mild recoil and was accurate. My brother put CT laser grips on his wifes M36. Enter 38 Special. It doesnt appear like there is much of an advantage in using WST with lighter weight bullets. WC, 158 gr. Hmm. Use data for weight. I think you will find since the .38 special is headspaced on the rim your case length is very important to achieve your best accuracy. Just look for a lead remover tool with bronze screens. I like Bullseye in the 38 Special, and it was a consistent performer with the 125 grain bullets. Also compared a S&W 638 to the S&W 36. The .38 Special is the most popular of all centerfire revolver cartridges. ammunition in the same gun enables that shooter to hunt larger game and to fend off beasts that snarl. Shoot cast and coated bullets and you can go much higher in load and velocity. I had enough, The Model 1911 pistol will officially turn 100 years old on May 5, 2011. Content . Has anyone loaded 38 special with these compoments? The Charter Arms .44 models are potential CCWs, but are too light to properly handle the .44 spl. The mention of a Lee Loader somewhere above took me back to the good-old days. I load a hard cast 125gn for my 38 special all the time. I started with a Lee Loader for my shiny new Python .357, because all the ammo I could find (in 1968) was lead semiwadcutters, loaded so hot they sloughed off the lead in the bore, so after a box you couldnt see any rifling, it looked like a smoothebore, and lord was it hard to clean!! And this is a guy who normally trusted nothing but a 45 acp. Now, you have to go to a range or have a membership and pay to fill the backstop with lead. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. WST is less dense than BE. Interesting. And for 99% of the actual real world needs of a citizen for self defense it will work just fine. I guess its out of production now- I havent seen it (or heard of it) in years. When using a 158 gr. I.E. Thanks to all for the info. *WAP is not best choice for .38 special, too slow and inconsistent. I used to reload .38s and .357s with 158 grain LSWC bullets over 4.3 and 6.5 grains of Unique. Great Cast Lead Bullet for IDPA. I believe this particular bullet is meant for the 9mm,but drops at 358. Hence I carry a semi-auto pistol chambered in .40 S&W. The beauty of shooting a .38 is that you can easily practice at the ranges you'd fight at using basically any cheap bullet at minimal expense. With all the loads available, you can surely find one within recoil tolerance. more weight than the similar size CA .44 Bulldog, were available, a lot more people would also like the .44 spl. Im still new to reloading, having done 2500 38 spl with bullseye. Its just two lubed balls on top of each other with the top ball roll crimped just past the hemisphere. YouTube has plenty of reloading channels or the Reloaders Network webpage has more info as well. Ideal load in a 2 J Frame .38. That one Ill keep. Alliant Pistol/Revolver Load Data: Be Alert: Publisher cannot be responsible for errors in published load data. If you're looking for a real light load that's easy to shoot, I'd just use WW's data for the W231 with a 125 gr. In terms of the best stopping power for .38 Special, I personally like 150 grain full wadcutters or 158 grain hollowpoint semi-wadcutters. Only the Model 60 sometimes have factory installed grips that are not worthless. Insufficient crimping ) ARCHIVED. The 919 case is tapered and therefore wider at the base than the .38 special is. I have the shrouded hammer version, the 638, and have been wary of training much with it because of its aluminum frame. These are hand loads.. load data was published in Lyman 50th edition.. It also shows that the loads were established using a 6" barrel, so regardless of what any published data shows, the chances of ever finding published data for the exact projectile and barrel length you are using, as well as the exact conditions you will be shooting in, would be nearly impossible. I find the Pachmayr Compac grips on my 640 reduce the slap of full-boat .357 to less than that on my 3 M65 (w/ wood Altamont grips) or my 4 686 (Pachmayr Gripper Professional grips.) Yes, I had no issues with the 38 SPL, but the 32 is just more FUN- especially when I get seven shots of it in a revolver the size of J frame! These bullets shot to point of aim in modern S&W snubbies, but the older M10-5 was regulated with 158 grain bullets and 125's shoot low. Any pistol competitions yet? (Same issue found with a 12 oz. 594/600 at the real distances of 24 rnds at 50 yds, 24 rnds at 25 yes, and 12 rnds at 7.5 yds. 110gr JHP! I've been reading about this. 125: 125: 130: 135: 140: 140: 146: 148: 158: 158: 158: 170 _____ Quick Links Home Load Data Bullet Points: BE SURE TO CHECK OUT & FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM FEED CONNECT WITH THE 1895GUNNER.COM COMMUNITY . Thx so it seems like for the long line I need to get some sagged bullets. Like Wobbly. Hornady The cold header swages a bullet in one or two strokes. During my first half century on this planet, my caliber of choice for defense was 45 ACP- but for everything else it was always 38 SPL. Great gun with the best factory double action trigger Ive ever shot. What are YOU shooting? rattlesnake of a revolver made me bleed. You can post now and register later. Canister Sizes: View All Bullseye Recipes Initially I shot them out of my Dads prized Smith & Wesson 686 and learned a great deal about double-action shooting and what a truly accurate handgun can do with a wadcutter. A longer case, with have a tighter crimp them a shorter one, what will lead to variations in pressure, and accuracy. True enough that it doesnt make power factor for Custom Defensive Pistol in IDPA or major in USPSA competition. Many of these men had no real experience with the handgun, and we had but a few weeks to get them up to very high standards that most shooters will never reach. I'm seating to what's in my loading manual. 7, No. Reloading Data for .38 Special - Load Data - 1895Gunner. Your link has been automatically embedded. Winchester 231 is between Bullseye and Unique for the .38 special (see my personal load above). Click there and go to the load data lookup section . I went to the grocery store to buy a loath of bread.. Accurates No. My Lyman 49th has data for 125 gr JHP and 120 gr LRN. No more lead in the barrel or on my hands. I miss those days. That isnt unique to Bullseye, but is certainly more pronounced with the relatively small charges required. Enter to win an FN FAL Rifle. Think that if a .44 spl. +P? Really important to have a chrono if you're going to work up loads When I first bought my chrono, I was amazed at how HOT my loads were - unnecessarily. I use 2.8-3.0 grains of Bullseye or AA#2 with 158 gr. BTW, I wish I had any one of those three revolvers today. So I'd think you should find a decent load for short line at about 700 Fps and for the long line at about 800. Normal 38 spell loads for as long as I can remember were never loaded less than 800FPS and I have loaded for revolvers and autos such as my S&W mod 52 that only shoots flush wadcutters. Ive been shooting them for 50 years. Your previous content has been restored. As a result, Ive been able to spend far more time practicing with it rather than fussing with it. ( customer reviews) $ 10.69 - $ 246.00. Hodgdon's Basic Reloading Manual, (The free one, available for the asking. Notes: Bbl Length: 5.6; primer: Fed. And it isnt my first rodeo with a J-frame. of Bullseye with Lee's 125gr RN mold in a 38 special with so-so accuracy. To many shooters, .45 ACP means 230-grain hardball at 830 fps. I did start out fawning over all of the tactical gear, but once I had that covered my tastes matured I think to love the wood and steel guns. Unlike the author, I did *not* keep records, I cant even imagine how many rounds I loaded, almost 100% .357 magnum, since that was all I shot. Case life is excellent, especially for mild loads. Haven't tried it in the Colt Officer's Model Match yet. Dont get me wrong: I think the Smith and Wesson Model 642 Airweight revolver is an outstanding self-defense (concealed carry) revolver and you wont feel/care about how snappy/unpleasant the recoil may be in a real self-defense event. Yeah, my wifes last gun, with +P it actually HURTS! have been factored in, but Looks like starting with roughly 4.2 of W231. Soft shooting. The powder charges used for .38 are forgiving. This load tends to clock about 670 feet-per-second (fps) give or take 20, depending on the exact brand of wadcutter and the revolver its fired in. WAP, WMR, WSF, WSL, 760, 748, 231 and 540 are products of Winchester, Components Div. From my Hornady Third Edition manual 38 Special 158 Grain Lead Round Nose #3586 Win 231 3.0 Grains 650 FPS 4.4 Grains 850 FPS Now I will tell you from experience you do NOT want to load Lead Bullets Fast. No matter where you look, the first mention in classic loads for the .38 Special is a 148-grain wadcutter over 2.7 grains of Bullseye. The Speers do occasionally and the Magnus a little more. Start conservative if you wish. 110gr JHP! .38 Special (Using Hornady Bullets) reloading data with 353 loads. I like the smell of Bullseye, dont mind wiping the handguns down after a range day, and the dark soot that accumulates on my support hand when shooting wheelguns in particular just reminds me to wash up. Over 20,000 rounds, Ive found that theres rarely a wrong way to do .38 SPL. My guess would be almost identical, straight wall, not high pressure, definitely. Me too! Yeah no. Wes, SASS Wire rules prohibit posting specific load data on the forum, but it can be passed along via private message or email. Using bullets from Hornady HP-XTP, Hornady HP-XTP or FP-XTP, Hornady FP-Cowboy, Hornady HBWC, Hornady SWC-HP, SWC or LRN. My usual 38 Spl load is a 125 gr plated bullet over 5 grains of bullseye. Notes: primer: CCI 500; case: Speer; NOTE: All loads are maximum. I carry 38 /357 every day have used them in real world shootings. Bonus is that dont need magnum Primers for these reloads. IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. Below, are three loaded rounds. RN, 158 gr. That sounds. This load is in the general velocity bracket with most generic or bulk box 115-grain loads and zings over my chronograph at 1,125 to 1,140 fps from a Glock 17, depending on bullet style. The fast powders, W231, HP38, Bullseye would go over pressure very quickly with any slight changes, in seating depth or primer change. It would have been too hot. 10. The cowboy loads would be good choices as listed, since these ARE reduced loads for that sport, where usually just hitting a metal plate to make a sound is all that is required of the round.