Loading .38 special

[Cyberbeer]

I was hoping to find some data on loading .38 special using HP-38 powder. I've been loading .45 for the past few months and my wife just picked up a LCR for CCW. So now its on to .38 so she can shoot it as much as she wants.

If I understand correctly .38 is a low pressure round like the .45 and the brass can be used multiple times. I'm also assuming that because its a straight walled, low pressure case it shouldnt need trimming between reloads.

[FLSlim]

38 is as easy as the 45 to reload. The brass seems to last through so many loadings that it never has to be replaced. Go to your manuals and you'll find tons of load info. Nothing wrong with shooting lead to save a dime, I like 158 SWC. If you want to experiment with powders, a friend uses Trail Boss and I find it makes an unbelievably soft shooting round.

[WESHOOT2]

Excellent choice; can use with varied bullet weights and materials.

Just don't push HP38.

[maxwayne]

231, same as HP38, has been my standard 38 powder for many years. I have never trimmed a pistol case in 40 years. There are several manuals that should give you good load data.

[Alland]

My normal 38 special load is a 148 gr HBWC, 3.2 gr 231/HP-38, and federal small pistol primers.

I use a 158 gr RN or TC with 4.0 gr 231/HP-38 when I need to use speed loaders.

Check your manuals, there are many loads with 231/HP-38.

[dickenscpa]

I load 158 RN Berry plated bullets with 4.0g of Win231. Same as your powder. This is just a target load but seems to be very accurate from a 2" snub barrel. I have started casting my 45acp and as soon as my mold comes in, I will be casting 158g LRN for 38 too.

I have about 50 left of a 100rnd batch of Zero jacked RN I bought. 124 or 125g. Tried every .1 of a grain load in my book's safe range and nothing but fliers.

I also load Horanady 110g JHP. If I remember correctly, my book had a range of 4.6 - 5.5g of Win231. My Dad and I went to the range to test for accuracy. He was using a Ruger Sp101 I was using a Taurus 850.

I loaded a batch at 4.6, 4.8, 5.1 and 5.4g. We both felt the 4.8g had the best "feel" and accuracy of the bunch.

Brad

[Bret]

I bought a LCR a few months back to use as a carry gun while I'm running. The Speer factory +P ammo that I bought makes it feel like a firecracker is going off in my hand. The LCR shifts up as the recoil starts causing the point of impact to go up on the paper about 10" at 10'. I've been working on some reloads, but am still having the same problem, just to a lesser extent. I never considered that the LCR would kick so much nor have I ever had a gun actually rotate in my hand and change the point of impact. I can deal with the hefty recoil, but the shifting point of impact makes the gun pretty much worthless to me unless I can resolve the problem. Hodgdon Universal seemed to have slightly less recoil than TightGroup and W231 when I made my first batch of reloads. So, I loaded up some 125gr Hornady XTP's over 5.0gr of Hodgdon Universal last night to perform another test. Some are roll crimped and some are taper crimped. I'm curious to see if it makes a difference in felt recoil and point of impact.

I am curious to know how the LCR feels to your wife and if the point of impact shifts on her (or you).

Here's my thread on the subject.
http://forums.1911forum.com/showthread.php?t=323461

[Capt. Methane]

I've found that Titegroup makes for a snappier recoil in the 1911 than other powders I've tried.

I haven't been reloading for the .38 but if you find loads for Red Dot or Clays or even Trail Boss you probably experience less "felt" recoil-more of a push than a snap.

[tmattimore]

It varies from barrel to barrel. In my DW i worked up to 4.5 gr HP38 with a 158 swc (lee tumble lube mold) But I found 4.3 grs to be more accurate. In my DS 3.9grs seems to be the most accurate.

[HughUno]

Originally Posted by Alland

My normal 38 special load is a 148 gr HBWC, 3.2 gr 231/HP-38, and federal small pistol primers.

I use a 158 gr RN or TC with 4.0 gr 231/HP-38 when I need to use speed loaders.

Check your manuals, there are many loads with 231/HP-38.

cool, exactly what I load/shoot for 97% of my .38 shooting..

[Joe O]

+1 on the Trail Boss.Less smoke than tight group, with lead bullets.Burns clean and helps fill the case behind the 180gr LTC bullets I shoot.