Speer loads

[ROCKET]

Anyone know what powder might Speer be using in their low recoil 38 spl loads? Would like to duplicate the same loads if I cloud

[reddog81]

A starting load of Bullseye or a similar powder should get you most of the way there...
If I had to guess whatever powder Speer is probably not available for purchase.

[runfiverun]

well speer is part of ATK which is Alliant technologies.
Alliant happens to make gun powder.

[reddog81]

And you think they're just going to tell someone which powder and how much to use to replicate a factory load they sell?

[scottfire1957]

simply use a Speer reloading manual. Or any reloading manual, and load the weight bullet speer does, at the velocity you desire.

[MT Gianni]

Run them over a Chronograph and match their velocity with the fastest powder you have. If they group differently try slower powders at the same velocity until you match it assuming they are using a canister powder.

[Scharfschuetze]

Too easy.

Good answers above. Here's my take:

While you will be able to match the projectiles, cases and primers, you'll probably not be able to exactly duplicate the "non-canister" powder they probably use. Still that's no big deal. Just load to the velocity of the selected Speer load by using a Speer loading manual and using the Alliant powder best suited to the bullet/velocity goal. Big companies like Speer often use non-canister powders for a monetary economy and they can and will change charges slightly from lot to lot of ammo to keep performance consistent. Store bought canister lots of powder that are available to us hobby reloaders take more effort to produce, but we get uniform results year after year because of that extra effort (and probably more expense) during production.

I load lots of "low recoil" or target loads in the 38 Special and Alliant Bullseye is my powder of choice for accuracy and uniform performance.

[Blackwater]

Mt. Gianni nailed it.

[runfiverun]

Scharfsheutze added some good detail too.

[ROCKET]

Excellent points and very informative. Thanks.
I normally load 148 wc with 2.8 BE and 158 swc with 3.5 BE. I'll dig up my speer 12th edition manual and try loads they suggest.