HP38 any cast boolit usage?

[jh45gun]

Was at a rummage sale this weekend and bought some 30/30 brass (70 pieces) 7x57 brass 145 pieces and some 6.5 cast boolits that and an old ammo can to put it in for 20 bucks. In the deal was a half a pound of HP38. Now I know it is a pistol powder and fast too compared to W 231 but does it have any applications at all for cast bullets? Plinkers? I better edit it to say Cast Boolit Rifle usage.

[Echo]

At one time I made up some popcorn loads or a friend - 105 gr lswc - and the only powder that would make reasonable groups was HP38 (so named because it was intended for .38 Specials. IIRC, about 3.0 grs was optimum. At that rate, a half pound would load over a thousand .38's...

[jimkim]

Go here http://www.gmdr.com/ click on Oregon Trail Cowboy Data. They have loads for more than just lever guns. I would suggest using a little dryer lint or some other wadding to keep the powder in place. How does a W-231 30-06 load sound?

[beagle]

Should be plenty of data out there for HP-38. I've used it in the past in .38 Special loads but with the abundance of data for the "Big 3" for the .38 Special, I tended to move toward Bullseye, 700-X and WW 231 over the years as they were more readily available in my area and more loading data was available for my other calibers.

Still, it was a great .38 Special powder and a deal's a deal./beagle

[epj]

I keep reading that HP38 and WW231 are identical powders in different packaging. The load data from the Hodgdon website is identical for the two powders.

[C.F.Plinker]

Check Hodgdon's website for loading data for the calibers you are interested in. Their 2008 Annual Manual shows data for 9mm, 38 special, 357 Magnum, 40, 44 Magnum, and 45ACP among others. These are generally target and plinker loads with low to moderate velocities. Where they show both HP38 and 231 the data is exactly the same for both powders. As always, start low and work up to the load you want.

[felix]

At one time it was, at another time is was not. Speeds approximately the same. Use book starting loads for either flavor. Stop increasing when accuracy is maintained with either powder. HP38 was made for a time in Scotland. The military version (SMP) has a more flaky appearance. The Scottish version seemed to me to be cleaner burning. All shoot about the same (within reason) in the ACP at 5.3 grains with 230 grainers. A very good powder speed for 50 yard bullseye matches using 16 pound springs. ... felix

[S.R.Custom]

At one time it was, at another time is was not. Speeds approximately the same.

Indeed. At one time it used to give me the best accuracy in the .38 Spl. These days, I can't tell the difference between it and 231....

[jh45gun]

Well I am looking for rifle loads using rifle cartridges not pistol cartridges. If it is strictly a pistol powder then I will just hang on to it until I pick up a centerfire pistol again LOL Only pistols I have now are a 22LR and a 308 Encore.