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.