38 special powder

[DAFzipper]

What is a good clean powder for a 150 grain SWC in 38 special? I am using up some old HS-6 I had around the house.

[38 Super Auto]

What is a good clean powder for a 150 grain SWC in 38 special? I am using up some old HS-6 I had around the house.


I have used Titegroup, 231, and WSF with good results. Bullseye is a good propellant, but is a little sooty.

[bradh]

I don't believe you'll be disappointed with W231...

[Harry O]

Also agree with the 231 suggestion. In addition, it meters very well.

[docone31]

I am kinda partial to Blue Dot.

[mooman76]

Universal or universal clays are clean powders.

[Mumblypeg]

231 win for lite loads, blue dot, if you want them hot.

[Leadforbrains]

I have had good luck with Accurate #2 and 158 gr lead RNFP

[Ricochet]

I'm using up a bottle of Nitro 100 now. Shoots fine. Sootiest stuff I've ever fired. Got my hands looking like I had India ink on them handling the old Colt. I've still got to clean it up before I go to bed.

[Ricochet]

231 and HP-38, BTW, are exactly the same. Look at Hodgdon's current loading data on their site. Same loads, velocities and pressures in every case.

[runfiverun]

ive had good luck with
231 little smokey
titegroup does well in lots of pistols
clays is good in low to med end loads but the load windows are a bit narrow.

[FieldShunt]

Vihta Vuori 320 does the best for me for .38 Special full-power loads. With 158gr Lee TLs about 4.5gr gets over the 800fps threshold (minor power for competition) without trouble.
It's a bit pricey, it's true, but there's nothing cleaner. If you break down and use plated Berry's (4.8gr book max, 840fps), you won't hardly have to clean the gun.
I also like WST, but tend to use that more for .45 Auto.
Bill

[Whitespider]

I’m mildly surprised to see so many recommendations for W231 (HP38). On a couple other reloading boards I visit (don’t chastise me too harshly) Bullseye and Unique seem to be the propellants of choice most of the time. I guess us boolit shooters (read great minds ;) ) think alike!

I love W231 in lots of loads, find it just as versatile (if not more so) than Unique. Performs well at pressures from pop to kapow with light to slightly heavy-for-caliber bullets. It may not be the cleanest burner in the powder cabinet, but it’s a long way from the dirtiest. With the right primer-for-load it will deliver velocities as consistent as any. Meters superbly in the measures I own and have used.

To state how highly I regard W231...... If for some reason my propellant stock would become limited (heaven forbid), W231 would be one of the “first round” picks, Unique would be in the “second round” and Bullseye in the “third”.

[Down South]

You'll get a lot of answers to this one. There are many powders that do well in the 38 Spl. I've used Titegroup, WSF & Unique. They all did well. My favorite is WSF. WSF meters well too.

[river-rider]

I have always had good luck with Bullseye,but then I am older than the hills.

[fecmech]

I too am a fan of Bullseye and I buy it in 4 lb kegs for use in the .38 spl, it for me is the accuracy champ at both 900fps with rn's and 700fps wadcutters. That said the .38 spl does well with pretty much any fast to medium pistol powder. I just got thru playing around with 358429 and a bunch of partial cans of powder in my basement. I loaded to 850-900 fps with Bullseye,231,Unique, Herco, WSF, AA5 and some WW571 and shot for groups @ 25 yds. They all group between 1 1/2-2" @ 25 yds and not a dimes worth of difference between them. It's hard to go wrong in the .38 as far as powder is concerned.

[9.3X62AL]

Another pile-on for WW-231. VERY useful and flexible for handgun applications, and my go-to fuel for 38 Special.

[sundog]

+1 more for 231. Several years ago I got several jugs of surplus (SMP-231) from [I think] Pat's for cheap, and I cannot tell the difference between it and cannister.

[686]

i do a lots of 50 yrd match shooting with a 158 gr swc bullet. winchester wst is very clean and shoots good.

[trickyasafox]

I like unique a lot- but I haven't used many powders. I started out with bullseye- then after I ran a can of that I tried unique and really like it. been using it for a few years now. other than that it's h110 for heavy stuff.

[Cherokee]

I'm a big fan of 231. I use it in eveything for handguns. From mild to hot, depends on cartridge. Nice easy loads in 38 Special. WST is also good.

[billyb]

Started reloading the 38 in a s&w model 10, with bullseye.Three dollars and some change at louboyles.Still use bullseye and 231 and have used trailboss of late.I like em all. Bill

[Boerrancher]

Years ago I was looking for a quick and easy 38spl load for the 158 gr SWC. I was visiting a friend and doing some casting at has place, and discussing my need for a quick easy load. He reached up on the shelf above pulled down a 30 year old can of bullseye, and a small dipper made from a bread twist tie and an empty 22 LR shell casing.

Over the years I have tried lots of different powders for 38 spl loads, but keep going back to a 22 LR casing full of bullseye behind the 158 gr boolit. It seems to be quite accurate in any of the handguns and rifles I have shot it in, and while I don't own a 38 spl, I shoot them all the time in my 357s. For years when I was shooting literally over a thousand rounds a week, I wore out sever 357 pistols, shooting the biggest and baddest loads I could load. I found out that a 38 spl load, was more of a pleasure to shoot, most often more accurate, and I have been able to shoot thousands of rounds through the same pistol and it is still as tight as it was the day I bought it.

Best Wishes,


Joe

[GSM]

Love/hate Bullseye. It's a little grimy, but accurate out to the 50 yard line. Tried 231 - with light loads, I couldn't get over the crunchy residue it left behind (same thing with light WST loads). Also tried Titegroup (meters very nicely) but it seemed to get the gun hotter quicker than Bullseye.

[wild_weasel]

For me Bullseye, Unique, and 2400 cover 90% of my pistol cartridge reloading needs.

[Dr Dave]

In 38 Special my lightest revolver load for hard cast lead is 3.3 grains of Bullseye and 148 grain DEWCs.

For something really heavy (which I do not recommend), I use 5 grains of Bullseye and 158 grain hard cast SWCs in 38 Special brass. This load goes well beyond +P pressure and gets me into the 357 Magnum pressure range. So, for identification I color the heads of these rounds with a black felt tip marker and only use them in my 357 Blackhawk.

[bullshot]

I too am a Bullseye fan, but also started shooting in the late 50's. The wasn't as great an assortment of pistol powders as there is today. My suggestion is when you find one that the gun likes stick with it. Just my 2 cts.

[TCFAN]

Another vote for bullseye in the 38 special. I use two different loads.3.4grs with a wadcutter in my K-38 and 4.0grs for my SP101 and blackhawk and CS-1 686,with a 158gr SWC.

I agree that about any powder works good in the 38...Terry

[dwtim]

I'm seconding Nitro 100 and also mentioning Solo 1000 (slightly slower burning). Both new type flake powders that burn much cleaner than traditional flake, ball powders or even short stick powders -- though I'd take a Vihtavuori stick powder second.

Downside is that they made be hard to find in your area. I think it's required by law to have at least one can of Bullseye on the shelf at a gun shop.

[DLCTEX]

I bought a large amount of Alcan 7 years ago for dirt cheap and have been loading 45acp since. Regretably, I poured the last pound into the measure this week. It was a little dirty, but 8 gr. was a good load behind 200 and 230 gr. cast boolits. I will be trying 231 when the last is gone. Win. factory cases look impressively clean after firing, I am told that is the powder used. DALE Oh, 38 Special! DUH! 3.5 gr. Bullseye 125 gr. RN

[Glen]

Lots of good advice above -- Bullseye and W231 are hard to beat in the .38 Special. That being said, my favorite load for .38 special 150 grain cast SWCs is 5.4 grains of Unique for about 950 fps. Very accurate (but not all that clean).

As for "clean" -- the cleanest powders I have worked with in .38 Special would easily be PB and American Select, no question about it. Also very accurate.

[jcwit]

Anyone tried using PROMO powder from Alliant using Red Dot specs? Another forum extolled how great it was, but can't remember where.

[Doc Highwall]

If you are only looking for plinking loads how about using something like Trailboss,no chance of a double charge.

[Ricochet]

Anyone tried using PROMO powder from Alliant using Red Dot specs? Another forum extolled how great it was, but can't remember where.I'd've bought some by now if I didn't have a pretty good supply of powders I can use. Red Dot's a good powder for standard velocity pistol loads, and you can't beat the price on Promo. I'm still thinking about picking up a jug anyway.

[jcwit]

I'm in the same boat as you ricochet. I'm going to give it a try, hope it works out cause I'll have 8 lbs.

[ChuckS1]

6.0 grains of SR-4756 in my old S&W 38/44.

[lathesmith]

I'll be a little different here, and add another variable to the mix. While I use Bullseye and like it alot, and I have used 231 and it works OK for me, I use Red Dot extensively in 38's (and others) to very good effect. I know, I know, it doesn't meter as well as some of the ball powders, and because of this you don't want to go too light. But, other than this limitation, it is an extremely flexible powder; I use is in handgun brass, and also cast rifle loads. For most cast loads it is my "go-to" powder.
lathesmith

[singleshotbuff]

Gentlemen,

FWIW, I just bought 8lbs of Promo ($79.00 including tax, out the door locally), and I am currently working with it in the 38 Special.

I loaded some tonight, under some 148gr wadcutters, and I plan to chronograph the tomorrow. I also plan to test some 158 SWCs this week as well.

I plan to post my results with Promo in another thread, probably in the CB loads or wheelgun section. If you are interested in using Promo, you may wanna check it out after I post it.

I'm also working with Promo in the 45 Long Colt.

Thanks

SSB

[rbstern]

SSB, looking forward to your Promo results. I've got a jug of it here, planning to use it in 12ga target loads, but I would love to use it in 38 special, too.

My best 38 special powder is Clays. 4 grains under a Lee 105 SWC, or 3.5 grains with a heavier lead bullet. Any less, and I find it gets position sensitive. Accurate, burns completely, and the guns stays clean during an extended range session. The gun will get dirtier from lube than Clays powder residue. Good stuff. It's also a very good shotgun powder for the same reason.

Also, for +P loads, I like Power Pistol a lot. But it's got a lot of flash and can be distracting at indoor ranges.