Cleanest powder for 38 Special loads?

[Daryl]

Hi,

I am using the Lee 358-148-WC and 358-158-RF molds. I've used Win 231 a lot in these and other cartridges because I have 5 lbs of it left. Tt seems to be a very dirty power - but quite accurate with good power.

I recently used Trail Boss with the 158 grain bullets and like it very much for mild loads and it seems cleaner.

I'm curious if anyone has really focused on the "clean-burning" powders for this cartridge. I'm happy with the Trail Boss for light loads. So, I'm looking for something that will push the medium to heavy loads in the 800-900 FPS with reasonable accuracy and be cleaner burning. I shoot 100 to 200 rounds when I go out and the Win 231 just seems to make a mess.

Just looking for some experienced input.

Thanks

[jmh54738]

Daryl,
I have been using SR4756 in my Marlin 1894 rifle and was suprised that there was not one speck of residue in the barrel. It looked like I had just cleaned it.
John

[JIMinPHX]

Clays is pretty clean.

Power level matters too. The hotter you load your rounds, the cleaner they usually burn.

[Rocky Raab]

"Clean" is pretty far down my list of goals for a good load. Accuracy, velocity, uniformity, economy and utility are way above how clean it shoots. Still, if I can achieve all the former and find that it shoots clean as well, that's a bonus.

Jim is right about Clays, and the power level observation, too.

[Larry Gibson]

I agree with Rocky and since I always (unless testing for some reason) clean my firearms after a shooting session I've not found the so called "clean" burning powders offer anything. The cleaning regimen remains the same regardless of the powder. "Accuracy, velocity, uniformity, economy and utility" are also my criteria for selection of a powder. I've found it is more a function of cast bullets with lube vs jacketed bullets that effects "dirty" vs "clean". I have been shooting Bullseye and Unique in pistols and revolvers for 42+ years. They are supposidly the "dirtyest" powders yet I've never had a problem with either of them. They always give excellent results of my mentioned criteria. I've run well over 500 - 1000+ rounds of Bullseye and Unique cast bullet test loads through several revolvers and semi's without cleaning and never had a problem with either because they were "dirty". I've also shot a lot of 231 with cast bullets in my M1911s and K38s and never could discern much benifit over Bullseye. Not to say I wouldn't take 5 lbs of 231 if you don't want to dirty your gun

Larry Gibson

[rhead]

Another to agree with Rocky. I go for performance. They are not that hard to clean. Hitting the target with the power level that you want trumps clean any day in my book. I have never compared fouling levels. Using the load levels that the powder was designed for should give the best results.

[zxcvbob]

With j-bullets or copper plated, American Select is so clean the gun will look unfired after shooting a box of ammo. With cast bullets and conventional hard wax lube, it's dirty just like all other powders -- but not especially dirty. I haven't tried it with Rooster Jacket lube yet.

Promo is pretty clean, and it's accurate, and it's CHEAP.

I've heard good things about PB powder but I haven't tried it.

[Firebricker]

If clean is the goal Clay's is one you want to try. FB

[TCLouis]

I'm with RR on clean.
Accuracy, velocity and nothing else except maybe smoke even come into play.

I will likely have to at least wipe down the exterior after shooting so cleaning is cleaning if I decide a full cleaning is called for.

[bhn22]

VV N320 is very popular with the IPSC crowd. I clean my guns anyway, so this really isn't an issue for me. Your biggest issue is likely to be bullet lube anyway.

[AzShooter]

I use Solo 1000 for my .38s and find it to be the cleanest powder I've come across. I shoot mostly revolver competition with ICORE and USPSA. With other powders I would have to clean the cylinder after every stage so that I didn't have problems reloading under the clock.

With Solo 1000 I can shoot upwards of 1000 rounds without cleaning the cylinders and the last load will go in just as fast as the first.

3.7 grains will make just over 800 fps in my 686 with a 6 inch barrel. My competition load is 4.0 grains so that I make the power factor for both organizations with no problems. I can get 1 inch groups from the bench at 25 yards with this load.

I also use 1000 with my LBT 180 grain bullet which really groups well. It's a little bit more recoil than I need but it's becoming my new favorite load.

[bhn22]

I can relate to the chamber fouling issue. I lost my clubs last bowling pin match because I didn't have time between relays to run a brush through my revolver chambers. After 2 rounds, my 180 gr LBTs wouldn't chamber anymore. Talk about frustration! If only I hadn't dropped that first shot I'd have won.

[bearcove]

Your biggest issue is likely to be bullet lube anyway.

+1, Wipe their little bottoms.

[MakeMineA10mm]

By far the cleanest powders you'll ever shoot are VihtaVouri.

My criteria for powder follows Rocky's (and most everyone else's it seems!) and unlike Larry I'm notorious for not cleaning often... V.V. Powders actually left my barrel cleaner-looking than before I started shooting!

Anyway, I quit using them due to their cost. As a commercial reloader, my volume plus dealer discount price per pound was within pennies of full retail price for "American" powders with neither dealer nor volume discounts... Clean wasn't worth that much money to me. I shoot W231 for 90% of my pistol loading now.

[RobS]

A 38 special load is a low pressure round and throwing powder in the case that doesn't burn well under low pressures is going to be "dirtier" than other powders that burn completely (quicker powders) at low pressures. This doesn't mean that the slower powders which may not have complete burn are not good for accuracy as you have noted with Winchester 231.

I tend to load mid to slow burn rate powders in perspective to the intended caliber as there is greater powder density in the case which almost always helps with ignition consistency and directly influences accuracy. So clean is not my objective as you can see..............the guns end up being cleaned anyway when I come back from shooting them.

Quicker powders will tend to burn cleaner in the 38's and Hodgdon Clays is a very good option as been mentioned since its burn rate is at the quicker end and is formulated to be clean.

[rhead]

Some day when you have a free afternoon load up a couple od dozen with a lightly compressed load of fffg. You will find out that they are all clean burning.

[StrawHat]

Some day when you have a free afternoon load up a couple od dozen with a lightly compressed load of fffg. You will find out that they are all clean burning.

Even more fun when you use them in a PPC competition. Stand upwind from the rest of the line and listen to the comments!

[NoDakJak]

I have switched from Unique to PB for most of my pistol loads. The burn rate is quite similar to Unique but it runs through the measures superbly and is probably the cleanest burning powder that I have ever used. PB is an old powder. It has been on the market since before I was born and that was beforeWW II. It is nnormally classed as a shotgun powder. I first became aquainted with it a number of years ago when it was listed a the best load tested in a new Browning Hi-Power. Neil