180gr TCGC .38 Special for Bowling Pins

[NuJudge]

I need suggestions for a load that is safe in a .38 Special revolver, is accurate, and has at least moderate velocity, in that order. I actually intend to fire these out of a .357 (I don't own any .38's), but the range owner does not want me to tear up his pins too much and says ".38 Special only".

I like shooting revolvers more than autos. I usually use a .45 acp 1911 with 185gr SWC's for Bowling Pins (I'm slow, but very rarely more than 6 shots needed to get all 5 pins off the table). I don't think 158gr bullets will do it because I tried 9x19mm using 147gr bullets (a lot of pins knocked down but not off the table).

I have the 180gr .358" TC GC mold already, and would like to try it before I buy a RN or TC .429" mold and try .44 Specials.

CDD

[dubber123]

I don't think it was a book load, so work up at your own risk, but I shot a bunch of 198 grain lead gascheck bullets with 4.5 grains of Bullseye in my old model 10 for falling plates. Primers looked normal, extraction was good, as it had to be for speedy reloads. This load seemed to knock down the heavy popper targets maybe even a little better than my .45 acp with 230 gr. bullets at 850. It is a hot load, I'd say +P range. Shooting in a .357 gives you a greater safety margin.

[Johnch]

It has been a few decades sinice I shot many pins
But I still show the hot shots a thing or two every now and then
First off Look at a pin
We shot AMC brand pins , they had a red triangle just below the neck
That was my aiming point , or aim at the head
A good hit there , centered
Would drive a pin off the table with a 9mm or 38 spec
I still shoot 5.5 gr of AA #5 with a hard cast 180 gr bullet , at almost 900 fps
It is or real close to a max +p 38 Spec load
In the 9mm I shoot a 158 gr cast bullet
But I see most of the guys shooting a 147 gr bullet and they take pins off

As IMO it is more shot placement than power in pin shooting

John