Fav 38 spec generic load

[osteodoc08]

Hey guys. I have a few 38/357 levers and revolvers. I don’t want to reinvent the wheel. I’ve got several generic 158gr SWC lubed with BAC given to me by a friend. I want to load a few hundred plinkers I can use in all of them for friends and family. Just needs to be minute of coke bottle to 25-50 yards for plinking. Any serious loads will be worked up. Powders on the hand include 231, 2400, BE-86, HS-6, and perhaps some power pistol?

[oldsalt444]

Can't go wrong with 231. I use 4.3 gr. with a 158 LSWC for ~800 fps.

[Rodfac]

I like 4.5 gr of Win 231 with 158 gr LSWC's (Lyman's 358156 w/o GC), sized 0.358" for my 4" bbl'd Smith's and Rugers; gives me good accuracy and about 800 fps according to Quickload. ACWW +2% tin for mold fill out is the alloy and I use 50-50 lube. HTH's and be sure to consult a good manual before working up to this load. It's been first rate in a pair of M19 Smith's, another pair of M66's, two M60's, a M637, a M36, and one M27. My Rugers both have 4-5/8" bbl's. and like it too. It'll do 2" or better at 25 with quality bullets over iron sights.

Recoil is mild even in all but the M637 where it's just a mite stiffer. This is a great practice load from about any yard line and is my go-to for all .38 Special loads. BTW, I use only enough roll crimp to hold the bullet in place in recoil, just barely taking out the case mouth flare used when seating. A taper crimp works as well and may give better accuracy too. Best regards, Rod (If you can find Bullseye, it works even better at 3.1 gr for wadcutters, and 3.5 for LSWC's)

[kenton]

Not a cast load but I like 5.5grs of power pistol under a 158gr rainier in a 38spl. It is +p according to some data but it definitely seems to carry better than standard pressure loads out past 50 yards. Point blank out to 75ish yards and have to hold a little over at 100 out of my Rossi 92.

[Petrol & Powder]

I think Rodfac is on the money.

A plain base 158 gr LSWC, BHn somewhere between 9-10, and lubed with 50/50. I was using BAC and getting some leading with 38 Special. NRA 50/50 fixed that. As much as I like BAC (it's a bit easier to live with before you seat the bullets) it appears to be just a little too hard for 38 Special velocities.

Of the powders listed - WW231 [AKA, HP-38] is the one I would go with. And again agreeing with Rodfac - 4.5 grains of 231 will put you where you what to be. I also agree that 3.5 grains of Bullseye is the way to go with a 158gr LSWC and 3.1 grains with a 150ish gr WC.

For most S&W and Ruger 38 Special revolvers I find that sizing to .357" is better than .358". YMMV
The proper size expander is key.
Most of the cylinder throats on S&W and Ruger 38/357 revolvers run closer to .357", in my experience.

Seat to the crimp groove and use a light roll crimp.

There is no shortage of excellent bullets in the 158gr SWC category. My favorite is a SAECO #382 but the RCBS version is also very good (but limited to dual cavities). An old Lyman 358477 may be another good choice.

[FISH4BUGS]

I keep it simple. 4.0 gr WW231 and a H&G #51 (160gr swc) or H&G #39 (158gr rn).
I shoot THOUSANDS of them in all the 38's and 357's.
36 (2 models - 2" and 3"), 2" 640, 4" 67, 6" 28 and InterArms Rossi 92 rifle.
My go to blasting round!
231 IS a bit dirty though....but cheaper and an 8 lb jug goes a long way!
I also use it for my 380, 9mm, light .357, 45, 44 spl and light 44 mag.

[farmbif]

I was loading some 38spl yesterday with 3.5 gr bullseye and some with 4.3 gr be86 both shot real well. lubesized to .358 with carnauba red

[JoeJames]

Win 231 is one of my favorites for 38 Special and 44 Special. I have found my most accurate loads in my 4" S&W Model 67 and Model 15 are 158 grain swc's and 4.1 grains of Win 231 - avg vel. = 851 fps.

[Ed_Shot]

Lyman 358242 (121 gr.) or NOE 359242, sized .358, over Red Dot/Promo 4.2 gr. in a 38 Spl case.

[Outpost75]

Factory 158-grain LRN .38 Special cartridges were loaded for 100 years with 3.5 grains of Bullseye. You could do much worse.

Today, of course, there are better bullets than round-nose. Using the same 3.5 grains of Bullseye with a cast, 146-148 grain double-end wadcutter, producing a "full charge wadcutter" is as good an accurate and effective general-purpose load as you could ask for:

Attachment 264268Attachment 264269

[Carrier]

I’ve tried other powders but have always came back to 3.5 grains of Bullseye with a SWC or RN.

[tazman]

Factory 158-grain LRN .38 Special cartridges were loaded for 100 years with 3.5 grains of Bullseye. You could do much worse.

If there was ever a classic load for 38 special, this is it.^^^^^

[Petrol & Powder]

I agree that Bullseye is an excellent powder for 38 Special, but it wasn't on the OP's list. WW231 was on the list and is also an excellent powder for 38 Special.

[ABJ]

I'm going to sound like a broken record here but with a deep seated 158 like the Lee 158-rf I use 4.1 of HP-38. More shallow seated 158/160 on up to 4.4 of same. I never got the accuracy out of Bullseye that some do in the 38 case. Now on 45 ACP Bullseye is my go to powder.

Tony

[JoeJames]

Factory 158-grain LRN .38 Special cartridges were loaded for 100 years with 3.5 grains of Bullseye. You could do much worse.

Today, of course, there are better bullets than round-nose. Using the same 3.5 grains of Bullseye with a cast, 146-148 grain double-end wadcutter, producing a "full charge wadcutter" is as good an accurate and effective general-purpose load as you could ask for:

Attachment 264268Attachment 264269

Per Hatcher's Textbook of Pistols and Revolvers published in the late 30's, he said the factory load with a 158 grain bullet was 3.6 grains of Bullseye, and velocity from a 6" barrel was 860 fps. 1/10th of a grain difference.

[Larry Gibson]

I’ve tried other powders but have always came back to 3.5 grains of Bullseye with a SWC or RN.

Another vote for this load. I use it with 150 - 158 gr cast or swaged bullets. Excellent load, ain't broke, no need to fix it.......

[Mk42gunner]

While I'm sure Bullseye is a great powder for the .38 Special, the powder I started with is Winchester's 231.

Being a firm believer in the old adage "If it works, don't mess with it." I still use 231 with ~158 gr boolits, usually around 4.4 grains.

Robert

[Conditor22]

I always thought the classic 158 grn load was:

UNIQUE 4.6 grains for 38 spcl and 6.4 for 357 mag

[Petrol & Powder]

While I'm sure Bullseye is a great powder for the .38 Special, the powder I started with is Winchester's 231.

............

I started with 231 and have probably burned more of that than any other. For some reason, that I've never understood, Bullseye was difficult to obtain locally. That was pre-internet days, so ordering something involved an envelope, a stamp, a money order and about a 2 week wait That pushed me towards purchasing WW231 locally, which turned out to be a good thing.

I still use WW231 for some 38 Special loads (mostly because I have a lot of it) but Bullseye has become my primary powder for 38 Special loads.

They're both good powders and well suited 38 Special loads.

[Budzilla 19]

38 spcl.,158 grn SWC bevel base, Federal Gold metal match small pistol primer, cause i got them, 4.0 grns Trail Boss, works for me!!!!!!!!!!!!