Does Anyone Have A Pet .38spl +P Load?

[JohnnyFlake]

I am looking for a .38spl +P Pet load, using cast bullets 158gr RNFP to use in my 357/38spl Uberti El Patron SA. I'd like to be in the area of 900 fps. If I understand correctly, 1000 fps loads should not be used or exceeded with cast bullets.

Any input will be appreciated.

[felix]

Yeah, you probably understand correctly about 1000 fps being the limit for a Brown Bess, at least shoulder wise. Using swaged lead I'd say you'd also be correct. 900 fps is about perfect for those hollow base wadcutters. But cast boolits? No limit, really. ... felix

[Larry Gibson]

I have pressure tested +P loads and find that the 358477 cast soft and loaded in .38 SPL cases over 5.5 gr of Unique is equivelent in psi and velocity to the Federal and Winchester 150 gr LSWC +P "FBI load".

Larry Gibson

[No_1]

+1 on what Larry has said.


I have pressure tested +P loads and find that the 358477 cast soft and loaded in .38 SPL cases over 5.5 gr of Unique is equivelent in psi and velocity to the Federal and Winchester 150 gr LSWC +P "FBI load".

Larry Gibson

I use the magma 38-158 RNFP and have tried both Unique and Salute. Both have done exactly as expected.

[Bret4207]

Ditto on Larrys load, although I didn't realize it was plus P when I was using it.

Best you do some reading here friend, welcome by the way. 1000 fps as a limit to cast? BOSH! We have members shooting over 3K! It's a learning process, but the old wives tales need to go.

[Lefty SRH]

My pet .38spl +P is a 160gr RN Lyman mold 358311 over 4.6gr of Universal. Haven't run them over a chroney but for a .38 they had substantial recoil. No leading, shot 100 of those for testing and the bore was cleaner than shooting 100 jacketed bullets.

[Kraschenbirn]

Lyman 358156 cast from 50/50 WW-PB over 5.2 gr Herco gets 900-910 fps from my 3" SP-101. Not a real "fun" load for casual plinking but, for practice purposes, closely duplicates the ballistics/recoil of the factory JHPs that are my "carry" ammo.

Bill

[Bullwolf]

I use the Lyman 358311 for 38 special. It drops under 160 grains for me with my casting alloy, closer to 155-158.

For my +P load, I have been using 5.0 grains of Unique.

For my plinking load I use 3.0 grains of Red Dot.

I tumble lube the 35811 with 45-45-10. (JPW-Alox-Mineral Spirits)

I haven't fired the 5.0 grains of Unique load across the chronograph yet. Now after reading this thread, it's one more thing to add to the long list of things I want to do.


- Bullwolf

[izzyjoe]

i use the lee 158gr rnfp over 5.0 gr of unique in a New Vaquero, my book show 4.9 as max for 38. so i tried 5grs, and it shoot's like a camp. i shot 150 rounds in one session and not a trace of leading, just a dirty pistol.

[JohnnyFlake]

Thanks guys, lot's of good info here!

[JayinAZ]

5.4gr Unique with a 358156 seated out on the 2nd crimp groove. Gas checked or not. In older sources this isn't +P but in newer ones it is. Gives about 900 fps out of my 3" Mdl 10.

[telebasher]

9 grs. Alliant 2400 with Lee 158 TL. 1000 FPS out of six inch Ruger Blackhawk.

[MakeMineA10mm]

The two classic 38 loads with 158gr boolits seem to be:

5.0grs of Unique
or
4.0grs of W231 or HP38 (same powder - just sold under two different labels)

[JohnnyFlake]

Has anyone developed a +P load with Trail Boss, or isn't that powder up to the task in a 38spl case?

[Ford SD]

Has anyone developed a +P load with Trail Boss, or isn't that powder up to the task in a 38spl case?


Trail Boss is the powder to go to for it is the New Shooter / Cowboy load

Tree rat load or the just Having fun punching paper load

From the Hodgdon Site

Start Max Velocity
90g Lead cast 740------904
125g Lead cast 753------952
148g Lead cast 625------675
158g Lead cast 661------840

and Trail Boss is not a powder to use in compressed loads and can be used in many other calibers with cast and J's for pistol and rifle

[JohnnyFlake]

Trail Boss is the powder to go to for it is the New Shooter / Cowboy load

Tree rat load or the just Having fun punching paper load

From the Hodgdon Site

Start Max Velocity
90g Lead cast 740------904
125g Lead cast 753------952
148g Lead cast 625------675
158g Lead cast 661------840

and Trail Boss is not a powder to use in compressed loads and can be used in many other calibers with cast and J's for pistol and rifle

Do you know the Start and max load data for the 158gr Cast?

[Denver]

Also from the Hodgdon site:

158 gr cast w/Hodgdon HS6

5.7gr 928 fps------6.3gr 1010 fps

This is listed under their regular 38spl load data

[justashooter]

i have shot a lot of 158's over 6 grains of unique, but it's stiff and supersonic.

[Shooter6br]

The old 5.2g Unique with 158 SWC in Model 10 HB 4in Smith.HOT LOAD CAUTION!( not chronagraphed)

[revolvergeek]

I just started loading with Unique and shot a few loads over the chronograph last week. Using a 4.5 grn charge and fired out of a 2" barrel:

- Lee RNFP 161grn (nominal 158grn) @ 772 fps
- Matt's 157grn wadcutter (no idea of a mold number, but it has a crimp groove and loads a little proud of the case mouth) @ 805 fps
- Matt's 178grn Keith @ 762 fps