how about the 38 special

[white eagle]

anyone load and cast for this?
I am going to pick up a used Smith and wanted to know what to try
like boolit weights and powders to look @ :lovebooli

[Wally]

This caliber is seldom loaded anymore...few of us bother as we prefer the larger magnums, the 9mm and the .40 S & W..however for the sake of nostalgia, I have been know to load a few rounds with Bullseye or Unique powder using a Lee 105 SWC, 125 RNF & the 140 SWC. Many seem to like a a 148 WC, a 158 RN and/or a 158 SWC....probably few do so anymore.

[gunfan]

You make it sound as if the .38 S&W Special is obsolete. Nothing could be further from the truth. It is as effective, no, more effective today than it was in 1969. Then came Lee Jurras and his Super Vel ammunition (the original high velocity, jacketed hollow point ammunition).

Scott

[Shooter]

3 grains of Bullseye and a 158 grain semi-wadcutter worked in 1900, and still works.

[gmsharps]

I guess I'm just an old stick on the mud. I have a S&W 52 38spl that shoots better than I can and really enjoy my S&W 586 shooting 38spl's out of it. I load a 70gr WC for training new shooters till they are ready to move up. In the 586 I usually shoot a 158gr SWC. I also have Browning B92 in 357 that I shoot a 173gr SWC out if it to have the longer over all length to be able to feed through it. Due to my present location I do not recall the exact loads but I use Bullseye a lot. I have the magnums also but the 38spl has a very special place in my shooting.

[Dan Cash]

The .38 Special is very special and perhaps the most versatile cartridge ever developed. Little light weight bullets with tiny or hefty powder charges on one end of the spectrum through 148 and 158 grain bullets in the middle and 180 to 200 grainers on the upper end. They all work well and fill a particular niche. Would I want to take on bears and moose with one, no, but the cartridge has killed them. For personal defense, target shooting and just plain fun shooting the .38 Special has at least another 100 years to live.

[smoked turkey]

I have an old S&W K-38. Both of us, the K and me, like the .38 spl. One of the most versatile calibers I have found. I can enjoy it in the K-38 or rod it up a little bit in the M-28 Highway Patrolman. I have taken quite a few snakes and such with the shot loads I make. All in all I wouldn't want to be without one.

[Sasquatch-1]

This caliber is seldom loaded anymore...few of us bother as we prefer the larger magnums, the 9mm and the .40 S & W..however for the sake of nostalgia, I have been know to load a few rounds with Bullseye or Unique powder using a Lee 105 SWC, 125 RNF & the 140 SWC. Many seem to like a a 148 WC, a 158 RN and/or a 158 SWC....probably few do so anymore.

I would venture to say that if you did a poll of the members here that a good 50 to 60% would say they own a .38 spl and load for it. You might even have quite a few more who load .38 for their .357's.

I load a 158 grn SWC with about 4.5 grns of Unique right now.

[bruce drake]

My most favorite revolver cartridge is 38 Special. Its not obsolete and is very effective as a self-defense load as well.

358311 (160gr) round nose over 4.4gr of Unique is my preferred loading.

Bruce

[Jack Stanley]

I load it ... and sometimes a lot . Bullets for me start with the double ended wadcutter and a moderate charge of Bullseye . Continue with a hundred fifty-eight grain round nose or semi-wadcutter ( 358311 , 358477 ) and a plus "P" charge of Unique . Then on to a hundred eighty-five grain LBT FN style with Unique driving it .

I have a two hundred grain round nose that I intend to try out . But I have a cleanup project going on so it will take a little work to fit that testing into the schedule .

What will your gun like in powder and bullets ?? Hmmmmm .... Something faster than 2400 for powder and lighter than two twenty-five grain in bullets :wink:

Jack

[dragonrider]

I don't like to use 38 specials in my 357, so I do not load for it. But if I had, and I expect I will someday, a 38 special revolver I would load it.

[EMC45]

158gr. bullet over 3gr. Bullseye. Can shoot them by the bucket and not get tired of 'em.

[fecmech]

how about the 38 special
anyone load and cast for this?
Maybe 6-8K per year.

[MGySgt]

Lets see at last count- 2 Ruger LCR's, 2 Model 28's, 2 Ruger Security Six's, 1 S&W mod 60 (3 in with adjustable sites) - seems as if I am missing one or 2.

different loads for different reasons. Lyman 358311 (158 RN), 358477 (150gr SWC, multiple moulds for this one, SC, DC and 4C) , lee 158 RNFP, couple of other mould I forgot I had.

Powders - Unique, Bullseye, 231.

Have SC 358477 that I had Buckshot HP, I cast that one with 40-1 and load with Unique.

Load them by the thousands - shoot them that way to!

[x101airborne]

Ja.... 38 spl is my #1 loaded cartrige. I load probably 4 thousand a year. I use them in my 357's and my 38's. Anytime I am just plinking around, you can almost bet I am carrying a 38 of some sort. I think I have 5 dedicated 38 and two 357's.
I like my plainbase 158 grain flat point over a hefty charge of unique. I dont have to worry about over pressuring my model 10's and they shoot well in my 357's. I have taken hogs, coyotes, nuisance birds, rats, rabbits, squirrels, possums, skunks, coons, and even taken one butcher steer with a head shot. I would NEVER EVER have a gun safe without a 38 in it. Yes, it is marginal for some uses, but it covers such a wide variety of applications that it is truly indespensable.

[subsonic]

What's a .38 special? Some wildcatt based on the .357?

[Alan in Vermont]

What's a .38 special? Some wildcatt based on the .357?

You're joking, right?

Actually it is the tabbycat that the 357 was wildcatted from.

[Love Life]

What model smith? Try the following:

Lyman 358477
Lyman 358429
Lee 358-125-RF

I use a +p Charge of Unique in all of them. I seldom load 357 magnum anymore. The 38 special with the aproppriate bullet weight handles everything I need when roaming near the house.

[Char-Gar]

anyone load and cast for this?
I am going to pick up a used Smith and wanted to know what to try
like boolit weights and powders to look @ :lovebooli

Posts like them force me to realize just how much this country has changed. I would have though asking a handgun reloader if he reloaded for the 38 Special would be about the same as asking if he wore pants.

1. Nominal bullet weight is 150-160 grains.
2. Lots of good SWC and RN bullets in that range.
3. My best accuracy comes from Lyman 358311
4. Favorte SWC is Cramer No. 12. It is out of print so Lyman 358477 is what I would buy today.
5. Favorite powders are Bullseye and Unique, but AA5 is very good also.
6. Serious target work: 2.7-2.9 Bullseye/148 HBWC or 358311 if clean holes are not important.
7. Small game: 3.5/Bullsye with any good solid base WC or SWC. Past 50 yards the SWC is the ticket.
8. Service and coyote size critters: 5 - 5.3 Unique

Notes:

1. I have 8 38 Special Smith and Colt sixguns
2. I have 6 Smith and Ruger 357 mag. sixguns
3. I shoot 38s in the .357s and have no problems or issues with doing so
4. It would take a lot of counting back over 50 years, but I have loaded and fired many hundreds of thousands of 38 Special rounds. I fired 100 rounds three days ago.
5. 97% of what we want a handgun to do, can be done with a properly loaded 38 Special.
6. Carbide sizing dies suck..they size too small and work the brass to much.

[Char-Gar]

[QUOTE=Wally;1726067]This caliber is seldom loaded anymore...few of us bother as we prefer the larger magnums, the 9mm and the .40 S & W..however for the sake of nostalgia, I have been know to load a few rounds with Bullseye or Unique powder using a Lee 105 SWC, 125 RNF & the 140 SWC. Many seem to like a a 148 WC, a 158 RN and/or a 158 SWC....probably few do so anymore.[/QUOT

You live in under a rock somewhere?

[subsonic]

Knowing white eagle from his posts, I assumed this was pretty tongue in cheek....

I don't know anybody that DOESN'T load the .38.....

Recipes are endless, and I have nothing to add to the tons of info in load books and already on the net.

I can't beleive some of you took me/him/others seriously?:-P

[gunfan]

Not funny.

[Char-Gar]

If it was indeed tongue in cheek, he wasted some of my time trying to answer the question. I don't find that humorous.

Given the high level of inexperience on this board, when not take it serious? I think I shall add him and you to my ignore list. I don't have time to be played with.

[Good Cheer]

.38Special... favorite bunny slayer in pistol or rifle.

[MBTcustom]

I load 38 special a lot. It is the 357 caliber handgun in my house. I have a S&W model 19-3. True this pistol is a 357magnum, but it purely loves 38 specials loaded with 200 grain slugs. Absolutely the most accurate pistol I own. I have beat several fellers (just friendly shooting) who were shooting rifles with this combo out to 65 yards.
It's not obsolete at all, it is one of the best revolver cartridges period. It is both modern and retro and it works as well today as it did in the 1930s.
Go with Unique for starters and run a 200 grain slug. It will make you smile. It will make you smile like the Grinch on Christmas eve.

[subsonic]

I guess I should not have spoken for the other guys, as I assumed they were kidding as well.

If I truely hurt anybody's feelings, I appologize.

I would suggest putting me on ignore anyway though, because I like to joke around a little.

If this comment bothered you, I am sure you have been offended before and will be offended in the future by something I posted.

[Char-Gar]

Joke around with people you known and who know you. Otherwise grow up and don't waste other people's time.

I enjoy a good joke and a good laught, but don't care much for pranks. That is kiddie stuff! I don't find such thing offensive, just irritating.

[Moondawg]

In my neck of the woods, the 38 special is still a popular round to load for. Several of my buddies that reload pistol ammo all reload 38 Special. About 50% of the pistol ammo I reload is 38Spec. Most of the rest is 45acp. I have reloaded for 9mm, but I can usually buy 9mm hardball on sale as cheap as I can reload it. 148 full wadcutter with 2.5-2.8 gr of bullseye or titegroup is great for target. 158gr RN or SWC, with 3-3.5 gr bullseye, is great practice/plinking load, also good for small game. Other powders that work well in 38 Spec are titegroup, 231/HP38, universal or unique.

[ColColt]

I've never had a "38 Special only" handgun just 357's that can shoot 38's...until I recently bought a Model 15-3. I see no reason why I can't shoot the same loads in it that I've shot in the GP100 which many were 38+P loads such as 5 gr of Universal and the 158 gr boolit. I plan on experimenting with it with just plain ol' 38 loads though and first up will be 4.2-4.5 gr of 231 with that same boolit or maybe 4.5 gr of Universal.

[bob208]

358429 ovwe 3.5 gr red dot. works in every .38 and .357 pistol i ever tried it in.

[Lefty SRH]

Wow, I like both my .38 molds. I have a 4C Lyman 358311 that I use for IDPA competition and a RCBS 38-150 KT. The most accurate I have found for the 358311 is 5.6gr of HS-6 out of my GP100.
I also like the 358311 with 3.6gr of HP-38

[Char-Gar]

I've never had a "38 Special only" handgun just 357's that can shoot 38's...until I recently bought a Model 15-3. I see no reason why I can't shoot the same loads in it that I've shot in the GP100 which many were 38+P loads such as 5 gr of Universal and the 158 gr boolit. I plan on experimenting with it with just plain ol' 38 loads though and first up will be 4.2-4.5 gr of 231 with that same boolit or maybe 4.5 gr of Universal.

I have forgotton when all of the dash number model changes were made by Smith and Wesson. However check the the serial number for date of manufacture. Smith and Wesson made a change in their heat treatment in 1957. Pistols made after that are OK for +P, pistols before that are better shot with standard pressure stuff.

[white eagle]

actually I had a deal on a s&w revo but it fell through

[fishnbob]

The 1st pistol that I owned @ 18 yrs of age was a S&W Model 10 snubbie that I carried for 20 yrs before I stepped up to the 357 Ruger BH. I loaned it to my daughter a coupla years ago and had to buy a stainless model Rossi to carry concealed in my boat. Sure, I have 45's, 44's, 357's, 9MM's & 40's and I still plink with the ol' 38. It's a rite of passage, like owning a 22 rifle. I think if it's available, you should have it.

[white eagle]

Knowing white eagle from his posts, I assumed this was pretty tongue in cheek....

I don't know anybody that DOESN'T load the .38.....

Recipes are endless, and I have nothing to add to the tons of info in load books and already on the net.

I can't beleive some of you took me/him/others seriously?:-P

First off you don't know me from Adam
I don't play games especially follow the leader
I had a serious inquiry about the 38 special don't own one never did :violin:

[waksupi]

Rainbows and unicorns, gentlemen, rainbows and unicorns.

[bigboredad]

I would have to say that white eagle is pretty much a straight shooter. When he asks a question it is because he wants to learn something that he has either no experience or limited experience. He has never had a hidden agenda to just waste someones time or just to make a joke. I feel lucky to count him as a friend and I really don't think the little tantrum was called for and I believe a apology is in order

[ColColt]

I have forgotton when all of the dash number model changes were made by Smith and Wesson. However check the the serial number for date of manufacture. Smith and Wesson made a change in their heat treatment in 1957. Pistols made after that are OK for +P, pistols before that are better shot with standard pressure stuff.


According to those in the know, mine was made in or about mid 1977(15-3) with serial number 17K4XXX. So, this one should be fine with +P loads now and then. Probably could shoot them all the time but I don' t see the necessity really as I have stronger 357's for when I feel macho, which is seldom anymore.

[Thumbcocker]

Some of us who don't have a K frame .38 sure do want one. After all I already have brass and moulds.

[500MAG]

158gr SWC HP-38. Use to load some for my Dan Wesson 357 for my daughters to shoot. I had so many loaded up so I picked up a lever action 38sp/357mag rifle this weekend at the gun show. Took it to the range on Sunday and my kids had a ball with it.

[Lee]

Sheeeeesh!!

[Old Caster]

Keep your eyes on Bud's guns and J&G sales. They often have police buy backs that are priced reasonably and whatever shape either of these sellers say they are in, have confidence they are that nice. Recently Buds had model 10 Smith 38's for $269 shipped. Right now, J&G has some 38's but they have bobbed hammers and I personally would rather have a full hammer but others may not care. Some more 38's in anyones collection couldn't hurt. Keep in mind that most of these guns might look holster worn, but haven't been shot much.-- Bill --

[DrCaveman]

If you don't own a 38/357, make it the next one on your list. If you want revolver nirvana pick a 4" python, gp100 or S&w model 19/66.

Or any other 38spl revolver you can get your mitts on for cheap. Fun cartridge.

[pmer]

Plus one for the model 10. Mine is so nice it must have been issued to the sheriff's nephew that worked in supply. I shoot 38 spl with 358156 and 358431(162 grain WC) in several 38s and 357s and good accuracy is easy to find.

38 Special in a lever action is great fun to. I haven't checked them for speed but I would think you could get close to mag hand gun velocity in the rifle.

[MtGun44]

Post #18 nails it. Add the RCBS 38-150-SWC (which used to be 38-150-K) which is a
near clone of 358477. Size to throat diam or +.001, lube with NRA 50-50 or LBT
soft blue and load over 3 gr Clays or TG or BE.

Bill

[geargnasher]

This caliber is seldom loaded anymore...few of us bother as we prefer the larger magnums, the 9mm and the .40 S & W..however for the sake of nostalgia, I have been know to load a few rounds with Bullseye or Unique powder using a Lee 105 SWC, 125 RNF & the 140 SWC. Many seem to like a a 148 WC, a 158 RN and/or a 158 SWC....probably few do so anymore.

You have to be kidding. Are you a gun writer or something?

Gear

[uscra112]

Colt Officer's Model. By quite a bit the most accurate handgun I own.

2.5 grains Bullseye and a 148 grain double-end wadcutter seated just below flush with heavy crimp. (Hard on brass, but that's what it likes.)

158 grain BBSWC (bought, not cast) with 3 grains, seated to the crimp groove. I'm not loading by the thousands, but it is never, never without at least 100 rounds ready for the range.

[nanuk]

threads like these are always fun

like asking if the 30-06 is OK for one gun battery in North America


I have a S&W model 19-3. .... I have beat several fellers .... with this combo ... and it works as well today as it did in the 1930s.
.... It will make you smile like the Grinch on Christmas eve.

GS: I hope you wiped the blood off of 'er and oiled 'er up good after that good beat down! :kidding:


You have to be kidding. Are you a gun writer or something?
Gear

when I DID own a revolver, it was a .357mag, but often shot 38's

but that was years ago.... Now, according the the Gun Writers, who OBVIOUSLY know more than me, ONLY guns with "Magnum" attached to their name will actually Fire.... the Old stuff is just that... OLD and should be relegated to museums and such
(but I will exclude the OLD Timers I still used recently... 500BPE from 1880's, 45/70 in an original 1873Springer, 303Brit 2 SMLE's P14 No4 coupla Savage 219's, K98 in 8x57, M38 in 6.5x55, a .270 30-06 12ga..... et al)

I'm sure I have SOMETHING from the last 50 years... Now I'll have to go looking around....

[Sasquatch-1]

Joke around with people you known and who know you. Otherwise grow up and don't waste other people's time.

I enjoy a good joke and a good laught, but don't care much for pranks. That is kiddie stuff! I don't find such thing offensive, just irritating.

Calm down, I think you are just upset because someone yank your chain and no one agreed with your post.:sad:

[MBTcustom]

This caliber is seldom loaded anymore...few of us bother as we prefer the larger magnums, the 9mm and the .40 S & W..however for the sake of nostalgia, I have been know to load a few rounds with Bullseye or Unique powder using a Lee 105 SWC, 125 RNF & the 140 SWC. Many seem to like a a 148 WC, a 158 RN and/or a 158 SWC....probably few do so anymore.
Give him a break, he's from Illinois!
38 spec is right up there with other obsolete calibers like 30-30, 30-06, 45-70, and 45colt. Who loads those anymore? Practically nobody! Ha! again I say Ha!
I think he was jokin around because nobody would get over 1000 posts on this sight and seriously say that.

[Char-Gar]

Calm down, I think you are just upset because someone yank your chain and no one agreed with your post.:sad:

I don't say what I say/post based on whether or not somebody agrees or disagree with me. I put out there what I think and/or feel on the subject. Often folks think it is funny to trick, humiliate, or make somebody else look foolish. Seldom is that funny to the person who is the "butt" of the joke, but often they go along just to be good sports.

Practical jokes, pranks and the lot, that give the perpetrator a yuck at the expense of others is always mean spirited. I have cried foul on this all of my life and will continue to do so whether anybody agrees or not. It is one of those right or wrong issues to me.

Deal with it!

[MBTcustom]

I have read through this whole thread and I cant see how we got to this point.
Char-Gar, I respect you as a solid shooter with solid information on many things, but I think you have taken personally something that was not directed at you, and was misinterpreted from the original spirit it was intended to carry. Reading back through the thread, yours are the only abrasive comments that I read and it seems you came out of the gate swinging and looking for a fight.
The truth is that the 38 special is a venerable cartridge that is in broad use and needs no defending.
Please dont make enemies in a group of friends. You have a solid measure of respect that is yours to lose.
At this time in our nation, not one single argument amongst ourselves can be tolerated. It is imperative that we pick our battles with people that are the true enemy.
Again, I do not mean this as a personal affront to you, or your character, but this needs to stop.

[Char-Gar]

I did stop and will stop again..Until somebody else takes a poke at me and tells me to calm down. Then it will start again. So now you take a poke at me and tell me to stop. If you would mind your own business, I would not need to post this and keep it open.

I expressed my opinion on prank threads and will stand by that. If you leave it alone, then I will leave it alone. Poke at me and expect a response. That is pretty simple.

I have no idea if the OP was a prank or not as he never said. Somebody else said it was and that is what I responded to. If somebody tells another something that is not true, in order to get that person to believe it, so he can be laughted at that just is not funny. It is, or should be, pretty simple to understand as wrong.

Perhaps if I or somebody else points to these kinds of things as wrong, then maybe folks will think twice before doing it again. I have not been offended or suffered any kind of personal harm. So this is a matter of principal to me and not something personal.

[ebner glocken]

Hmm, 38 special. Yes, I have heard of such a cartrige. Shoot many thousands of them in many different revolvers. Load a 148 WC of some flavor with 2.7-3.0 grains of bullseye and you'll be happy. If that's a bit dirty for you try ww231 and load to similar velocities. I'm in the middle of a fairly large run. Two basic loads in a production run of .38s for me: 2.7 BE 148 DEWC, and 3.7gr BE behind a 158 SWC. All lubed with javelena on WQWW.

For a defensive load the white box 125 JHP winchester +P from walmart fills my needs. I find it tough to beat a 15oz 642 in the pocket when the temp is 95 and the humidity matches.

Not long ago I was at the range shooting some handguns that was a tad on the exotic side. Two old guys was making fun of me for such toys and the lack of need for these things. I got real quiet, looked around, then reached in my bag. I pulled out a K22 and a K38 and said "truth be known these get shot WAY more than those do.......but don't tell my friends". At this point they laughed and seemed to "accept" me as one of thier own.

.38s will always be in my safe alongside of .22s. While owning several other interesting things I always revert back to those two. They were the first revolvers I ever shot and if I die old they will probably be the last.

Ebner

[ColColt]

I like old stuff...like the 38 Special, 44-40, 45 Colt, 32-20, 45-70, 50-90 Sharps and the top of my someday get list, a Winchester in 38-55...Bob Dalton's favorite rifle or so I read.

Old things are just nice to be around-including old timers.

[blackbike]

If it wasnt for 38spl, I proubly wouldnt be a caster now.
Just my 38 cents
BB

[jh45gun]

I think pretty much most of us have heard the 38 special got a bad rap when used in the Philippines and it would not stop the drugged out natives which is why the military went to the 45 which I think most of us are most thankful. (Because of the 1911 :) ) Yet the Air Force still used the 38 until a few years ago. I had a friend in the Air Force Guard who had to qualify with a 38 revolver and a M16 all the time. He is gone now but I am sure he told me they changed to the 9mm the last time he had to qualify.

Bottom line is ammo has changed a lot since them times way back when and yes the 38 back then with the bullets used I am sure were not that great but now days it is a whole new ball game. My first centerfire was a Model 10 in 38 special. I wish I still had it. I now own a Taurus 85 ultra +P for concealed carry purposes and it is a great gun no issues with it at all and it is a treat to carry in my front pocket does not print and easy to carry. The 38 is indeed special even more so these days with all the choices of ammo you can get.

[Char-Gar]

I would trust my life to a 38 Special, but then again I really do. In my bedroom is a Glock 17 and a Smith and Wesson Mod. 10 that first saw service with the Montreal PD. The Smith is loaded with some really knarly cast hollowpoint loads, that I would not care to list on this board.

[btroj]

I can't think of a better cartridge for cast Boolits than the 38 special. It is my go to cartridge for teaching new shooters too. Accurate, reasonably quiet, little recoil.

What isn't to like?

I have a 1911 also but the revolver does have some advantages. Less picky about ammo, brass isn't all over the ground, less lead downrange too. Yep, a 357 revolver shooting 38s is a great gun.

[David LaPell]

I love casting for the .38 Special and particularly the .38-44 in particular (only to be loaded in an N-frame .38 or a .357). I cast 125 grain round noses, Lyman #358242, 152 grain #358156 hollowpoints, the same bullet in SWC, #358429 170 grain SWC, #357446 which I had turned into a hollowpoint mould. You didn't say what type of gun (other than a S & W) you were loading for or the purpose whether it's hunting or target practice. To me the most useful bullet would be the #358156 and I would get a 2 cavity mould and have one cavity converted to hollowpoint that way would could have a bullet for everything from hunting small game like the SWC to varmints and personal defense like the HP and if you had the gun to hunt big game like a .357 it would do it all. I cast everything out of wheel weights and just waterdrop them if I want to harden them up.

[olafhardt]

Ask your self why revolver makers sell so many 38's and 357's.

[olafhardt]

By the way my notorious crony kill was done with a 38.

[Piedmont]

I think pretty much most of us have heard the 38 special got a bad rap when used in the Philippines and it would not stop the drugged out natives

When we hear anyone say that it is a good litmus test. Anyone saying that is absolutely full of it since the .38 Special wasn't used in the Phillipines in that era.

[MBTcustom]

When we hear anyone say that it is a good litmus test. Anyone saying that is absolutely full of it since the .38 Special wasn't used in the Phillipines in that era.
Its predecessor the 38 long colt was used in this era and is what JH45gun is referring to. Easy mistake to make.

[Wally]

Give him a break, he's from Illinois!
38 spec is right up there with other obsolete calibers like 30-30, 30-06, 45-70, and 45colt. Who loads those anymore? Practically nobody! Ha! again I say Ha!
I think he was jokin around because nobody would get over 1000 posts on this sight and seriously say that.


Thank you for the sympathy...I was kidding around and being from Illinois..well it does something to ones Psyche...

[bearcove]

:popcorn:

[warf73]

Never owned a 38 only handgun, have shot alot of 38's in 357mag guns. Iffen you find a smoken deal on a 38 only gun snatch it up. Personly I would/have bought 357mag guns and can always go down to the 38.
I've been looking for few months now for a nice 686 just can't find one and when I do I'm 1min to late(last gun show a guy stepped infront of me and picked one up and never laid it down until he grabbed his wallet).

White Eagle you find a nice 38special or 357mag snag it you won't reget it I promiss :)

[Shooter6br]

Love my Smith model 10 HB. Great gun great round

[9.3X62AL]

This caliber is seldom loaded anymore...few of us bother as we prefer the larger magnums, the 9mm and the .40 S & W..however for the sake of nostalgia, I have been know to load a few rounds with Bullseye or Unique powder using a Lee 105 SWC, 125 RNF & the 140 SWC. Many seem to like a a 148 WC, a 158 RN and/or a 158 SWC....probably few do so anymore.

My first thought was, 'OK, this HAS TO BE a tongue-in-cheek response.'

As the thread continued, I really wasn't sure.

Char-Gar contributes from a deep pool of knowledge and experience, gained over a lot of years and at considerable expense. I fully understand why someone in his position would take exception to being trifled with and used as the butt of a childish joke. It is stunts and garbage of that sort that drive off experienced, knowledgable hobbyists from sites such as this--whether said members are the targets of such misplaced mirth or not. The text equivalents of flatulence noises cast a shadow of ignorance on the whole site, and discourage earnest participation.

[white eagle]

bought sick and tired of being told what I meant by this post
I asked a legit question sorry if you cant see that
maybe you can find a place where everyone knows everything
and all you do is pat each other on the back

[Larry in MT]

Good luck with your S&W. I load the basic 158 grain SWC in my Model 60 with a modest charge of Red Dot (maybe not the best powder --- but I had a bunch on hand). It's certainly accurate and my Chrony says a bit over 800 fps.

These SWCs are about 14 Brinnel and don't lead at all.

I also load CCI 38 shot-shell capsules with the same Red Dot and 109 grains of #9 shot.

This Model 60 sat in the safe for decades until I re-discovered how nice it was to pack it around the place. Hope you enjoy yours.

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab176/larrykay47/089475c5.jpg

[Love Life]

anyone load and cast for this?
I am going to pick up a used Smith and wanted to know what to try
like boolit weights and powders to look @ :lovebooli

To answer the OP directly.

Boolit weights: 75 gr all the way up to 200 gr. IMO they all shoot well enough for me with the RNFP being more accurate than the SWC once you break past 25 yards. Each gun is different though, but I have observed this in all of my revolvers shooting 38 special.

Powders:
Unique
W231/HP-38
BE
TG

Those powders are what I use. They allow you to go from powderpuff all the way to +P if your revolver can handle it.

Good boolits to start with:
Lyman 358477
Lyman 358429
Lee 358-125-RF
Lee 358-105-SWC
RCBS 38-150

And there are many other boolits to try, but those listed above have worked very well for me.


As for lube:
I have found lube to be a non issue with the kind of shooting I do which is mainly plinking and out to 25 yards if I am feeling froggy.

Now my advice is not free and I am willing to offer it on a straight across trade for the 45 ACP birdshead you have! :kidding:

Most of my revolvers like a .358+ sized boolit. If you would like specific load data shoot me a PM.

I hope this helps.

[Bodydoc447]

One of my favorite bullets in the .38 special is the Lyman 358311 RN. It is very accurate over a middlin' load of Red Dot or Bullseye. There are much better small game bullets but this is one of my favorite plinking/practice bullets and loads.

Doc

[MBTcustom]

My favorite is the Lyman 358-430 RN with a charge of 4.5 grains of Unique.
http://i1120.photobucket.com/albums/l481/goodsteel/IMG_2271.jpg

[BD]

white eagle,
I am a fan of .38 sp snubbies for social occasions. I'm on my second one, having worn out the first.
I've cast and loaded many thousands of 158 grain SWCs, but more recently I've gone to the Lee 358-158-RF for three reasons:

1. It has a larger meplat.

2. The round nose design makes for much smoother reloads.

3. More of the bullet weight is in the nose which provides more case capacity allowing me to inch up on 900 fps from the +P snubby.

If I was going to design a self defense boolit for the .38 special, it wouldn't be far from this lee mold at all.

BD

[Sasquatch-1]

This Model 60 sat in the safe for decades until I re-discovered how nice it was to pack it around the place. Hope you enjoy yours.

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab176/larrykay47/089475c5.jpg

Carried one of these off duty for about 10 years until our department went from revolvers to the Glock. Funny thing is I shot better with this little five shot with 2" then I did with the Model 10 with 4".

[garbear]

I shoot mostly 357 in my ruger. I do reload the 38spc and use trail boss for my 11 yr old daughter to get used to shooting the gun. I use bullseye and herco for more kick. I use an ideal mold that drops 160 grain wc. My favorite mold is the MiHec 359-640 and have moved from the round hallow points to thw 170 grain solids.
Garbear

[2 dogs]

To answer your question, yes. I load and cast for my 38s. Use em all the time. As a light duty field gun it has no peer.
http://i162.photobucket.com/albums/t256/Fermin_pics/004-3.jpg

[MBTcustom]

Hey 2dogs, what kind of lead did you plug that piggy with?
Where did you shoot that pig? You in my neck of the woods?

[9.3X62AL]

bought sick and tired of being told what I meant by this post
I asked a legit question sorry if you cant see that
maybe you can find a place where everyone knows everything
and all you do is pat each other on the back

No need to get a case of the a&&. The plain fact is that the nature of the question is so profoundly elementary--and some of the responses so ignorant--that I myself thought the whole thing was a trolling venture. Excuse the h##l outta me for being experienced in this hobby field, and to h##l with new casters asking questions if this is the sort of thanks we get for trying to help.

[MBTcustom]

to h##l with new casters asking questions if this is the sort of thanks we get for trying to help.
Nah, new casters will always get what they need here. The problem is that it only takes one feller with thin skin to take a thread wrong and then the whole thing turns into a big fight.
Kind of like the city feller who went to the country barn dance and told the cowboy that his date looked like a beautiful zephyr, and the next thing you know, everybody has a black eye and the barn burns down.[smilie=l:

[ColColt]

Hope ya'll are watching the Hatfield's and McCoy's tonight.

[MasS&W]

My personal favorite caliber. Go through about 500 rounds a month in IDPA, steel challenge, and ICORE. Deadly accurate, light recoiling, damn nostalgic, and kills damn well.

[MBTcustom]

Deadly accurate, light recoiling, damn nostalgic, and kills damn well.
Couldn't have said it better myself!

[John in WI]

I started casting BECAUSE I love my .38. It's an old 80's issue police trade in Smith.

My favorite load is dead soft lead 158gr SWC from a Lee mold over 4.8gr Unique. I'm also having pretty good luck with the same load, but with paper in the tip (a "split tip"). I'm getting them to seriously expand on wet pack phone books about 80% of the time.

I'm also loading 148gr full wad cutters (water dropped wheel weight) over 4.7gr Unique. I think that should be a good defensive thumper.

[LtFrankDrebbin]

Luv my Dimondback .38 Spec. Been casting / loading the Lee 158gn TLRN for a while.
Just started with the Lee 158gn RNFN and Lyman 150gn WC.

All boolits are easy to cast but the Lyman mould needed a bit of tinkering.

All boolits are so far shooting well, still developing "pet loads"

Lyman so far looks like it will be my favorite, seated to first lube groove, tumbled in LLA starting to produce 3 shot clovers at 25m off a bag rest.

Will not mention powders as I am using ADI powders here in Aust.

Great caliber, Heaps of fun, cheap and easy to load / cast.
Hope this helps.

[subsonic]

Hope ya'll are watching the Hatfield's and McCoy's tonight.

Had some episodes recorded and watched them. Pretty good series!

[ColColt]

Tremendously good movie. I managed to see most all of the last part and nearly had a heart attack when Devil Anse got baptized!!

[725]

Love the .38. Still carry it after 30 years and a multitude of other choices. I load all sorts of cast for it as well as some jacketed. My favorite is the 358627. It's a honker of a projectile but seriously accurate when driven with 3.5 gr. Unique. Because it's so heavy, it tends to print high on the target, but when you get your aiming adjusted, it's hard to beat. Very deep penetration and extreme terminal performance. Glenn Fryxell wrote an article some time back about the boolit (he can't spell), titled "A Bullet For All Seasons" which is well worth reading. All his stuff is top shelf and I'd recommend his efforts without reservation. I trust my life and my family's lives to it, recommend it to newbies who want to learn enough to keep a handgun in the house for protection, and even hunt small game and plink with it. It's alive and well, just not sexy like the latest and greatest loundenboomervundergun the gun writers talk about.

[MasS&W]

Couldn't have said it better myself!

Thank you much sir.

[Larry in MT]

Carried one of these off duty for about 10 years until our department went from revolvers to the Glock. Funny thing is I shot better with this little five shot with 2" then I did with the Model 10 with 4".

I ordered this one out of Shotgun News in '85. I'd never heard of a Model 60 with adj. sights before I saw the ad. I was living in Mobile, AL and doing a lot of fishing and canoeing and it was my canoe gun. It was used mainly on Cottonmouths.

It's surprisingly accurate with ammo it likes (158 grain SWCs). It doesn't do nearly as well with round nose for some reason.

[Sasquatch-1]

I ordered this one out of Shotgun News in '85. I'd never heard of a Model 60 with adj. sights before I saw the ad. I was living in Mobile, AL and doing a lot of fishing and canoeing and it was my canoe gun. It was used mainly on Cottonmouths.

It's surprisingly accurate with ammo it likes (158 grain SWCs). It doesn't do nearly as well with round nose for some reason.

Never saw one with adjustable sites. I would think in the average situation of cancealed carry they would get a lot of abuse.

[MGySgt]

Picked up a Mod 60 with 3 in barrel - adjustable sights - shoots great and extends the distance with which you can hit with them.

S&W marketed the Mod 6 with 3 and 4 in barrels a number of years ago as the Lady Smith. Great gun, small grips and would conceal very well. You can still get the Lady Smith or the same pistol (slightly different grips) without the lady smith engraving.

[Larry in MT]

Never saw one with adjustable sites. I would think in the average situation of cancealed carry they would get a lot of abuse.

I carry the Model 60 around the place quite often in this nylon/cordura rig. Protects everything pretty well.



http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab176/larrykay47/d927f4b2.jpg

This is the 38 I use for concealed carry --- in a jeans pocket.

http://i861.photobucket.com/albums/ab176/larrykay47/7df01d0a.jpg

[Ben]

If liking the 38 Special, casting for it and shooting it makes you old, obsolete , and a stick in the mud , then I'm all three.

It will continue to be one of my favorites.

Ben

[wilded]

Working fence or riding on our place in Texas a single action in .38 special is my constant companion. It can kill snakes, coons, feral hogs, coyotes or whatever else I run across. It is not a heavy gun and rides well in a cross draw holster. Extra ammo does not weigh a ton and takes up little space. I will carry a .38 special for as long as I am able. ET

[MasS&W]

.38 special is essentially a perfect storm of awesomness, outdone perhaps only by a .357 K frame. I don't think my model 15 has seen much more than 50-100 jacketed bullets.

[9.3X62AL]

.38 special is essentially a perfect storm of awesomness.

Yes, sir. Well said. Like the 12 gauge shotgun and the 30-06 rifle, the 38 Special does a whole lot of things very well. It is not the only handgun caliber I reload, but it was the first--and a majority of my 357 Magnum loadings are more like "+P+" 38 Specials than full-tilt 357s. The caliber just plain WORKS.

I may have been abrupt in earlier posts within this thread. Please understand how foreign it sounds to a reloader of my age (57) to read that an experienced reloader has little or no experience with the 38 Special caliber. Younger shooters must have grown up in a world that emphasized 9mm and 40 S&W, while my upbringing focused on the 38/357 and 45 ACP. Sorry about that.

[white eagle]

Pardon me a handloader of my age (55) that has spent most of his time handloading center fire rifles
and just recently became bitten by the revolver bug

[Wayne Dobbs]

You have been bitten by a fine bug! Reloading for revolvers, particularly the non magnum ones is a real pleasure and gives excellent return for the efforts. Welcome to our world!

[MBTcustom]

Pardon me a handloader of my age (55) that has spent most of his time handloading center fire rifles
and just recently became bitten by the revolver bug
I knew it! Good for you buddy! You are entering into one of the funner sides of reloading, and 38 is a great place to start. Heck that's where I started. You need to try a 1911 someday; very fun and forgiving as well.

[white eagle]

HAD A 1911
got rid of it
DW Razorback 10mm grew weary of picking up brass

[MBTcustom]

HAD A 1911
got rid of it
DW Razorback 10mm grew weary of picking up brass
I hear ya! As far as brass recovery is concerned, compared to a semi-auto, a revolver is "pinky up in the air" civilized. You will get many many hours of enjoyment.
Be aware though, that pistol shooting eats lead like its free, especially because it is so danged enjoyable. You might want to look into a boolit trap of some sort.

[Az Rick]

My Smiths' all like a double end wadcutter, It's an RCBS mould listed at 140grns but casts a 146grn. bullet with ACWW. They are a little hard for the velocity but are accurate. I have an old 6in. Model 10, has fixed sights. It is the most accurate revolver I have ever owned, I guess I have excellent bullet fitment with that one. I also have a Saeco 158grn. mould that casts a 160grn. bullet with ACWW. It's a Keith style and is also good.
I love the .38, it's cheap to shoot and fun. I carry mine alot.

Rick

P.S. I never feel undergunned

[ColColt]

I have a love/hate relationship with the 1911. I can't say they've been the most reliable pistols I've ever owned but they feel the best and I shoot them better than most anything else. However, trust them with my life? No way. The only two autos I've had 100% confidence in have been 3rd Gen S&W's and the HK 45 ACP. Flawless feeding with any shape boolit and great groups. No finicky magazines and springs or that 1/32" gap between barrel and frame to worry about and zero FTRTB issues.1911's have been to me like a beautiful brown eyed woman with a personality like a toad.

[daniel lawecki]

38 special 158 swc clays powder 3.1 is max my pet load is 3.4 in my gp 100 ruger. This round & powder combo is very accuate in my gun

[**oneshot**]

I am following this thread. I am one of those with little to know experience with reloading 38's. In the last year and a half I became the owner of a 38 and 2 357's. I've shot 38's in the past just never reloaded or cast for them, now I'm doing both.

[MasS&W]

What flavor smiths do you have.

[dmize]

I load and shoot the **** out of my SP101 and GP100.
One thing I would like to point out and I am sure this will cause a SHXX Storm,be very very very observant when putting those itty bitty charges of fast powder in those cases.
Very Bad things can happen Really Fast.

[MasS&W]

Bullseye and unique are famous for that. All but the hottest of loads (Too hot in most cases) are well under.. WELL under 50% case fill. Sometimes as low as 25%. Makes double charges a very real problem. I wear a head lamp when reloading to make sure the powder charges stay under the hand grenade level.

[MGySgt]

You can not double charge Unique - the normal powder loads are at 60% or better (even with 44 mag and 45 colt)

Double charge will over flow the case with Unique.


Bullseye and unique are famous for that. All but the hottest of loads (Too hot in most cases) are well under.. WELL under 50% case fill. Sometimes as low as 25%. Makes double charges a very real problem. I wear a head lamp when reloading to make sure the powder charges stay under the hand grenade level.

DISCLAIMER - This thread is about the .38 Special - if you are going to use Unique for Rifle rounds - take note due to the size of the rifle cases they will not overflow with a double charge and the results could be disastrous.

[MasS&W]

That's an incredibly loaded statement. You can't double charge with unique? With all cartridges, bullets, and seating depths? My pet load that's at 16000 psi for 38 only fills 40%, if that.

[MasS&W]

You can not double charge Unique
A statement like that is liable to get someone seriously hurt.

[MGySgt]

For instance with the 38 Special - take you 'normal load' in what ever boolit you use - double charge it on purpose.

Then try and seat you boolit on top of it.

A full .38 case of Unique weighs less than 11.5 grains (just checked) So if you are using 4 grains (3.7 to 4.2 with a 148 grain WC and you double charge it -

The BOOLIT won't fit!

I shoot the Lyman 358477 and 358311 with 5 grains of Unique - double charge a case - once again the boolit won't seat to the normal level.

Bullseye and other fast powders can be double charged.

If you don't believe my figures - do the test for yourself.

[MGySgt]

We are talking PISTOL - in particular the .38 Special.

If you are going to use Unique in a Rifle round - that is a whole new ball game. Even 2400 will double charge in rifle cartridges.

I should have put that disclaimer in the original post. My error - I am going back to edit and add that.

[MGySgt]

What is the load in grains and boolit or J-word?

40% and 40% is 80% - is there room for the projectile to be seated to the normal depth???


That's an incredibly loaded statement. You can't double charge with unique? With all cartridges, bullets, and seating depths? My pet load that's at 16000 psi for 38 only fills 40%, if that.

[MasS&W]

Yeah, it was just a slightly vague statement. For some boolits in the 130-158 grain range an unsafe charge CAN fit underneath if you aren't paying close enough attention. In either case, a healthy dose of attentiveness can head off any issues.

[MasS&W]

What is the load in grains and boolit or J-word?

40% and 40% is 80% - is there room for the projectile to be seated to the normal depth???

3.7 grains of unique and a 180 grain FP. Not sure what the specs on the boolit are. I buy this one precast and loobed, but I sometimes substitute a 175 gr. SWC. It will fit a double charge.

[MGySgt]

I just check a .38 case with 7.4 grains of Unique - there was 0.235 space left above the powder.

While I don't have any .38 heavy weights here - I did check a Speer 125 gr HP. It would have fit, just barely.

My 150-158 grain SWC and RN might have compressed it enough to seat and crimp - but my double load would have been 10 grains and that won't fit.

Lets drop this and get back to what a great round the 38 special is.

[MasS&W]

Haha deal. I'm not arguing that it would be difficult, but it can be done. One of the reasons I like 38 over 357 is the excess case capacity you get with the larger case. 38 spl is awesome.

[dmize]

Good Lord Guys.
Is it a flipping full moon or what? This has to be the worst most crossways thread I have seen since I quite going to Ruger Forum.
White Eagle...If you ever get a 38 Special you will more than likely try Bullseye. Since you are a rifle reloader I will "assume" that you are used to dumping and trickle charging 1 round at a time so loading a 38 1 at a time shouldnt be that big of deal.
Bullseye and that DEWC has killed more 38 specials than will ever be worn out. I am at work and dont have a load book handy but I know I tried more powders than just Bullseye and Unique so I know there are other options, So if you are only throwing 3-4 grains of much of anything in them,double check before seating a bullet.
Now in an attempt to cover my butt with the risk of offending ANYONE,I am not inferring anyone is careless or "stupid" . That particular load has probably won more Bullseye matches than any other,and THOSE guys have blown up guns. **** HAPPENS.

[MasS&W]

Good Lord Guys.
Is it a flipping full moon or what? This has to be the worst most crossways thread I have seen since I quite going to Ruger Forum.


Its all in good fun, we're all on the same side. I hope. :-|

[TXGunNut]

anyone load and cast for this?
I am going to pick up a used Smith and wanted to know what to try
like boolit weights and powders to look @ :lovebooli

I've probably loaded & fired just a bit over 200K rounds of .38 spl in PPC competition, generally a swaged lead HBWC (hollow based wadcutter) over 2.9 grs 231 (cleaner than the classic BE). Fired more than a few 158 gr cast in stock gun matches but don't recall the recipe, we generally had to fire factory ammo anyway.
38 Special is a wonderful round...as a few posters have pointed out. It uses very little powder or lead and range brass is still out there. Brass can be loaded at least 6 times, sometimes well over a dozen times. It's a sweetheart of a target round as well; capable of 1.5" @ 50 yds. Low recoil makes it a favorite of countless instructors and students as well.
For years I kept a S&W Model 60 close by for social equipment, had every confidence in it in that capacity as well.
Thanks to you, OP, I may just have to start casting for this wonderful cartridge. I haven't loaded for it since I retired from PPC shooting several years ago. Have hundreds of target rounds lying around but a 160 gr semi-wadcutter is starting to sound like a fun project.
Enjoy, it's a wonderful old round, even if some folks don't understand.

[MBTcustom]

I have found that negative comments in the beginning of a thread taint the whole thread. There was some misunderstanding in the beginning and it was going to die a miserable death, but it got lined out and we all learned something (I hope;-))
anyway, we should all try not to read negativity into a persons comments unless it is painfully obvious that they are trolling. I try to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. So far I've only had one run in with someone that I felt earned a good dressing down, but I dont go looking for a fight here. I think in this case MasS&W has it right, it was a simple matter of a comment being taken the wrong way. We got the thread back on course, but it seems that once a thread is tainted, the bad vibe tends to hang on.
Good to keep in mind in the future.

[TXGunNut]

That would be a shame, Tim. The .38 Spl is indeed a wonderful cartridge. We're all ignorant in some area, if the OP wants to know something about a cartridge that I am familiar with that's what I'm here for.
When I ask a question that "everyone" thinks is beneath them mebbe they'll just skip to the next thread.

[jabo52521]

Great caliber bullet. I cast a 150gr SWC by Lee with 3 grains of Bullseye. The 1917s (year not model) SW and Colt love them.

[FISH4BUGS]

I typically use a H&G 51 158 gr swc over 4 gr 231. I shoot a ton of 38's out of the Rossi 92 and it shoots like a house afire. Very accurate and easy recoil....like almost none.
I have Model 36 , 60, 640, 28 and the Rossi. Tons 'o 38's.
Great round,,,,,actually my favorite. My girlfriend shoots the 3" sb 36 with the standard loads, and then puts in 5 +p's to keep it in the bedside stand.
No....the 38 is alive and well.

[MasS&W]

anyway, we should all try not to read negativity into a persons comments unless it is painfully obvious that they are trolling. I try to give everybody the benefit of the doubt. So far I've only had one run in with someone that I felt earned a good dressing down, but I dont go looking for a fight here. I think in this case MasS&W has it right, it was a simple matter of a comment being taken the wrong way.

Well said, I had no animosity towards anyone.

[Kestrel4k]

3 grains of Bullseye and a 158 grain semi-wadcutter worked in 1900, and still works.

I recall being a poor college student and bumping my Bullseye load down to 2.5 grs to save on powder, lol.

BTW I've reloaded more .38's than all my other cartridges combined. :)

I know that there is a lot of love for the .38 BB/FB WC's here, but I confess that I've shot thousands of the inexpensive swaged HBWC's. Saves the casting time for the 30's & .358's (rifle).

[Stick_man]

Well, I used to load for the .38 special, but I don't anymore. Probably will again pretty soon though, once my stash gets back below about 5,000 rounds.:violin: At one point, I was going through about 5,000 a month. Now, I am lucky to be able to light off 1,000 rounds in a year. The time is quickly approaching when I will be able to get back to upwards of 1,000 per month though. I am already gearing up for it.:bigsmyl2:

[handyman25]

The 38 special is great. My first loaded round was the 38 special and my first cast bullet was for my 38 special. In 1960 I could get all the 38 special brass I wanted for free and all the wheel weights also for free. Why didn't I save up a couple of 100 tons:confused:. I wore out a ruger single action and a smith double. Before I went to Viet Nam (1966) I had a choice my 1911/45 acp or my smith?38 special with my HOT reloads. I was going to take my smith but my sargent made me see the light. "The army will give you a weapon and all the ammo you want for free". If they catch you taking in a firearm you will wind up in kansas not Viet Nam. Iam going over there to kill people and they are worried that I will take in a firearm, go figure.

[Cowboy T]

The .38 Special is by far the round I reload for the most. Got a nice little powder-puff load with Lee's 358-105-SWC boolit and a light charge of Bullseye that makes even a J-frame Airweight fun to shoot. It was designed with my cameralady in mind, and she loves to shoot this round. Out of a service-sized revolver like a S&W K-frame (e. g. Model 10, 64), it's a cream-puff and makes a terrific marksmanship practice round.

I've got another, stronger load that uses a 158gr LRNFP (358-158-RF) and a good 'n' healthy charge of 2400. This is a lot of fun to shoot and was developed back when .357M cases were a little tougher to come by than they are now. Basically, the goal was to replicate my actual .357M load, and that was accomplished. Now, of course, I just use .357M cases for this.

Gosh...the .38 Special round is 112 years old this year and is still goin' strong. Brass is everywhere; 0.357" caliber bullets (and boolits) are super-widely-available; it's extremely flexible in that you can load it from mild to wild; it has, does, and will continue to put venison and other game on the dinner table; firearms for it have been around since 1900 and continue to be popular....

What's not to love about the cartridge?

I will continue to reload it, shoot it, and enjoy it. Terrific cartridge for the handloader. Not saying it's "better" than other cartridges, but likewise, it's hard to beat with any other cartridge for general flexibility and utility.

Damned right I reload it!!

[Sasquatch-1]

I don't know who did it, but yesterday someone donated 88 more pieces of .38 brass to my stash. Found them on the ground and in a brass bin at the range with the help of "ODFAIRFAX". Along with a mess of 9MM and 4 S&W40's.

[EdS]

Sas: Something makes me pick up perfectly good brass left behind at the range. A couple of weeks ago, I arrived at my local pistol range, with no one else there. Walking up to post my target, I saw a sprinkling of clean, nickel plated RP .38 special beass on the ground. There were around 40 cases in all. They were spread around just 3 feet in front of the target backer. They must have been dropped by someone practicing his "training" routine. LOL. I picked them all up and added them to my coffee can. -Ed

[FergusonTO35]

Other than .22 LR I would say I've put more .38 Specials downrange than all the others combined. My first .38 was actually a .357, a gently used Marlin 1894c that I bought when I was 19 and still have it. I quickly discovered that .38's out of this little carbine were as easy shooting as .22's but packed alot more wallop from the business end. It still primarily eats .38 handloads and wears a Williams receiver sight with a homemade partridge style front.

Other .38's have followed in its footsteps: S&W 10-5, Charter Police Undercover, Ruger Service Six, Charter Undercover, and Ruger GP-100. They all shoot great with my pet load of 5.7 grains Accurate #5 under a 158 grain flat point, which produces 860 fps out of a 4" tube, 770 out of a snub. It shoots easy out of a six shot 4" gun but is a hard to hold on to out of a snubby.

Awhile back I talked to a guy who has a bullet casting business and is a retired police officer. He said the best defensive handgun round he ever saw was the old .38 Special +P 158 grain lead hollow point. He stated he had watched a few autopsies of perps who had their caeers cut short by these rounds and found they were pretty devastating. His conclusion was that if there ever was a handgun round with the highest possibility of producing a one shot stop it was this one out of a 4-6" barrel, in his words "you only need one per customer".

I'm planning to make a snubby specific load for the Lee .358 125 grain flat point. I'm trying for 800-850 fps with manageable recoil out of a snub. Any suggestions out there?

[revolvergeek]

I recently tried the Lee 125 RNFP in a couple pistols for some low recoil practice ammo. The "hottest" that I tried was 4.2 grains of Red Dot and ran avg 816 out of a 2.1 inch barrel.

[FergusonTO35]

Sounds good, I may just give that a try.

[jlchucker]

I would venture to say that if you did a poll of the members here that a good 50 to 60% would say they own a .38 spl and load for it. You might even have quite a few more who load .38 for their .357's.

I load a 158 grn SWC with about 4.5 grns of Unique right now.

Yup. My 158 gr SWC gets pushed by 3.8 gr of Titegroup and goes out of my two Smiths and Rossi 357 92 carbine. Next time I load up I'll try some Unique.

[jim4065]

I've still got an old Smith which has had a fine action job done on it. Looks like the *** end of hard times, but there's a certain satisfaction in shooting that old .38 that I just can't get from an auto.

[chuckdog]

22
38
30-06
12 gauge

what more could you ask for

[FergusonTO35]

I punched some paper with the Charter Undercover and S&W 10-5 today after work with my new Lee 125 grain flat points and Titegroup. Lotsa fun and fair accuracy out of both guns. Interestingly, the Smith was near point of aim with these. Historically that gun has shot low with anything other than 158's. Love those .38's!!

[StrawHat]

white eagle,

Sorry to hear your deal on a S&W 38 Special fell through the boards. I have loaded hundred of thousands of that round and have become a big fan. I have used several different boolits and come to prefer the double ended WC for general usage. Over 2.7 grains of Bullseye, it happily puts tiny groups on the target out to 50 yards in formal competition and further in other pursuits. Same boolit, cast a bit harder and loaded to 900 fps, makes a very good hunting cartridge from my revolvers. I used to have a lot of 357s and those loads worked in them also. I now have sold off my Magnums, the 38 Special handles all of my needs from a 35 caliber handgun. If I need more, I pick a larger caliber.

S&W 38 Specials are not too hard to find. Keep looking, and good luck.

[Dan Cash]

I'm planning to make a snubby specific load for the Lee .358 125 grain flat point. I'm trying for 800-850 fps with manageable recoil out of a snub. Any suggestions out there?

Lyman 358429 cast soft over 5 gr Unique. Manageable but potent.

[WilliamDahl]

Casting my own bullets, tumble lubing them, and using Wolf primers, I can reload .38s (for use in my .357s) for cheaper than I can buy .22LRs. Also, with a light powder load, they're good for varmints around the house and seem quieter than my .22LRs.

[MGySgt]

Lyman 358429 cast soft over 5 gr Unique. Manageable but potent.

According to Lymans 49th addition the 358429 and Unique 3.7 - 4.2.

Bullseye (IMHO) would be a better choice 2.8 - 3.2 Why? Less muzzel flash if used for SD in the a darkened hall way or after dark in a parking lot.

[FergusonTO35]

Bullseye keep scoming up as a top choice for the .38. I'm sure I'll try it someday, the only problem is that so far Accurate #5 has produced better velocities than every other powder I've ever tried in the snubnose, including Titegroup and Accurate #2. It seems counterintutive that a slower powder would perform better out of the short barrel but thats how it goes I guess. I will get some Bullseye the next time I buy powder though. It seems to be the best loved pistol powder of all time!!

[MGySgt]

FergusonTO35 - I only use Bullseye in a load that I MIGHT use in a defensive way - like my carry 38's. (Ruger LCR's).

My reasoning is - less muzzel flash which means I can still see after I pop a cap in a dark room.

[FergusonTO35]

That sounds like a good reason to me!!