38 loads

[jballs918]

hey just want to double check my load for a 38spl

im using a lee tc158swc
small pistol primer
federal brass
2.7 grains of unique
oal of 1.5 inch
and factory crimped

anyone got any suggestions or comments, i have done some research on this so hopefully this is pretty close.

[keeper89]

2.7 gr of Unique--are you sure you don't mean Bullseye? 2.7 gr of Bullseye is a classic powder charge for a mid range load behind a 148 gr wadcutter.......

[RangerBob]

2.7 grains of Unique seems quite low. That looks more like the proper load of Bullseye.

I use 4.5gr of Unique in .38sp with a 158gr Hornady swaged bullet.

[David R]

Not enough unique. Lyman Sez 3.5 to 5.o for a 158 SWC.

David

[rmb721]

For 38 special,I use 5.0 grains of Unique for 158 grain bullets and 4.5 grains for 168 grain bullets

[StarMetal]

David,

My Lyman manual says 3.4 grs to 5.1 grs of Unique. No big deal difference.

To the original poster I'd suggest getting a reloading manual or three or four, unless you have them. You can even get some loads off the powder manufacturer sites on the web

The only thing that comes close to that 2.7 grs of powder is Bullseye and Hp38 for the 158 swc.

By the way I shoot 6 grains of Unique in my 357 mag with a 150 gr SWC out of a 4 inch Model 19 357 mag Smith and it's not exactly a wimpy load so be warned that 5.0 or 5.1 grs out of a 38 special is going to be alittle stiff. Now I didn't say unsafe, just saying it's not exactly a like shooting a 2.7 gr Bullseye load with a 148 gr HBWC.

Joe

Joe

[jballs918]

ok guys i relooked this up i must of looked at teh wrong info. it says 4.3 grains off of alliant's websight. so im thinking that 4.0 should do the trick. i like using even numbers

[keeper89]

Shows good sense that you asked here prior to putting up a few thousand rounds........you know everybody here that can help, will! Good shooting and btw, my unique load for 38's has been 5.0 gr unique for over 25 years. It is stiff but I haven't loosened up any of my irons yet.....:Fire:

[9.3X62AL]

Jason--

Dunno if you've ever been involved in carpentry, but an old saying related to that craft and borrowed in a lot of other pursuits goes like this--"Measure once, cut twice--measure twice, cut once". Even after more than 25 years of metallic reloading and 30 of shotshell stuffing, I still check and re-check loading data before assembling loads, and do a pretty frequent weight check on powder amounts during the process.

In this instance, failure to check would have yielded very soft and rather unsatisfying performance--but had the reverse situation been the case (excessive powder weights) there could have been damage to your firearm and potential injury to self and bystanders.

Check everything, check it again, and do so repeatedly. Good move on your part to bounce questions off the folks here, we'll try hard to not steer ya wrong! That 4.0 grains x Unique will be a good, mid-range load in the 38 Special. I've run thousands of those loads through my 38's.

[mattc]

depending on barrel length and seat depth the 4gr load should give you about 745 fps and a chanber pressure of about 12621psi (max pressure being about 21756 for the 38)
as a comparison the 5.1 gr that the lyman handbook says should give you about 908 fps and 19735 psi pressure

[mattc]

in the lee manual it says 3.8 gr to 4.3 gr unique, with 4.3 gr you get 920fps and 16000psi
in the second edition it lists a +p at 4.3 to 4.5 with 950 fps and 17100psi

[686]

if you are looking for a good target load with 158 lead swc try 2.0 wst . i use this in my s&w 686 6 in barrel at 50 yards . ransum rest gives 2 in groups. wst is a very clean powder.

[David R]

in the lee manual it says 3.8 gr to 4.3 gr unique, with 4.3 gr you get 920fps and 16000psi
in the second edition it lists a +p at 4.3 to 4.5 with 950 fps and 17100psi

This is exactly why we check more than one manual. I have loaded max loads that were waaay to much for rifles. I loaded 4.9 of 231 behind a 150 grian round nose that shot fine for another member here. I had sticky extraction and poor accuracy. My throats were then tight and I HAD a constriction in my barrel. ( I lapped it out)

I keep the old Lyman manual in the "can" and read it over and over like I was going to be quizzed on it.

Winchester, Accurate, Hodgun, and Alliant will send FREE loading manuals just for the asking.

Pardon my poor speeling
David

[jballs918]

free manuals hhmm, i guess i will look that up

[wills]

Several of them are available on line. Google for them.

[762cavalier]

the free manuals online still can't replace a good Lyman manual or speer manual. the manufacturer ones are specific to that manufacturer's product i.e. IMR are good for IMR powders and a couple of bullet weights. The Lyman, Lee, Speer, or others offer a better variety of powders and bullet weghts and selections so are a MUST have if you reload. Like has been said above I use my Lyman manual religously to cross-check Loads.