.38 spl loads

[saguaro]

I'm casting 105 gr Lee swc for my .38 spl Opentops. Trying to get a load that my grandson can shoot with mild recoil. Has anybody seen load data for this? I haven't been able to find anything except for jacketed bullets and then only down to 125 gr.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks
Saguaro

[Alan in Vermont]

Try anywhere from 2.7 to 3.2 grs. of Bullseye behind that 105 Lee. I'm shooting 2.7 and 3.0 for playing loads. The 2.7 load has just about no recoil out of a 4" Security-Six, the 3.0 seems to shoot a little better but that is hard to tell with my poor eyes.

[polara426sh]

I've been using 3 grains of bullseye with that boolit in my 6" OP. There's just enough recoil to let you know that you actually shot something.

[DrCaveman]

3.0 gr trail boss works good for me. Very soft shooting, pretty good accuracy. Light coat of LLA is all the lube my guns require for that load.

[Bret4207]

You can back that Bullseye load down to 2.0 grs or even less if you want. I had a "mouse fart" load at one time using 358156's. I think it was down around 1.7 or 1.8 grs. It was just enough not to stick in the barrel. Lotta fun.

[DeanWinchester]

Titegroup works much the same as bullseye too. You should be able to back it off and make the little fellar smile.

[Shiloh]

2.5 gr of Bullseye worked for me. Very mild. I'm looking for a load for a real nervous non shooter.
If you take the fear out of the equation and replace it with respect and confidence, I think I can turn this person around.
I might try 2.3 gr.

SHiloh

[ShooterAZ]

I have used the following loads with excellent results with the Lee 105 SWC:

3.5 Bullseye
3.0 Clays
4.0 231
4.0 Red Dot
3.5 Tight Group

All were very accurate and mild, with only minor variations in point of impact. I don't like to reduce to "mouse fart", because I shoot steel double action. I do not want a bullet lodged in the bore!

[Bret4207]

2.5 gr of Bullseye worked for me. Very mild. I'm looking for a load for a real nervous non shooter.
If you take the fear out of the equation and replace it with respect and confidence, I think I can turn this person around.
I might try 2.3 gr.

SHiloh

You need a 22! A K22would be perfect, plus, you'd then have a K22!:drinks:

[Lonegun1894]

I have used 2.7 Unique with the 148gr Lee WC, and it felt like shooting a .22, so there is no reason the same powder load wouldn't be safe with your lighter bullet, if anything, you would get less pressure and less recoil, if its possible to reduce recoil further without shooting .22LR.

[Shiloh]

You need a 22! A K22would be perfect, plus, you'd then have a K22!:drinks:

Done the .22 route.
moving to the centerfire route. This person is in the cold feet stage again.
Suggestions are welcome. If I press to much, this person reverts.

Shiloh

[Bret4207]

If the person is your significant other, do what she says. You may not win, but you won't lose either. OTOH, if it's a friend that just can't decide if they want to put the money into it, a used Smith will almost always retain it's resale value barring any major blemishes or blow ups.

I never could understand people who wouldn't jump at the chance for more guns/tools/chainsaws/saddles/etc. if they had the $$$.

[PS Paul]

I second the 4.0 gr of Red Dot suggestion..... Mild, clean and accurate, this is a great starting load and I prefer it to Bullseye. Probably just because I have found the black cloud of smoke emitted with Bullseye can be a "negative distraction" to a beginning shooter....... Just my humble opinion though.

[MasS&W]

You would definitely do well to consider a load with trailboss or tin star. Any of the standard powders for such a light boolit and the loads you are seeking will develop terrible burn rates. I reckon bullseye would do best if you were to go with a std powder, but expect quite a few unburned flakes.

[rintinglen]

A nice crimp and 2.0 grains of Bullseye and you are there. The velocity is low, and the POI is a long ways off from the POA, but up close, no rookie is gonna notice. Be careful with the crimp, too little and and you may stick a boolit in the barrel. A nice, firm, roll crimp is what you want, to assure complete combustion.

[GRid.1569]

In my PPC days I used to shoot 100grn wadcutters with 1.8grn of B/E (or vvN310)

You could hear the POP then... wait a second... was that an impact @25 meters?....

Got down to 1.3grns...
hit the target... no hole in the plywood backing though...:bigsmyl2:

[GLL]

I never could understand people who wouldn't jump at the chance for more guns/tools/chainsaws/saddles/etc. if they had the $$$.

:) :)

Jerry

[paul h]

I'd avoid 3.5-4gr charges of powder, while they are mild loads, they still generate a pretty good bang and noise is just as much a factor in being gun shy as recoil.

I'd say 2.5-3gr of bullseye is a good ballpark. You'll probably get better accuracy as you add powder, but the lightest loads should shoot reasonably well.

[Cowboy T]

I use that boolit a lot. In my 4" bbl, 3.9gr of Bullseye chronos at about 850 fps. Shoots nice 'n' soft, light enough to make a J-frame Airweight actually fun to shoot regularly. However, it's also just powerful enough to knock over a small steel IPSC target.