38 special and 175 or 180 gr projectiles

[Blammer]

Unless some one wants to trade me some 357 mag brass for my 38 spcl brass, I'm going to have to make due.

I have a bunch of 175-180 gr cast projectiles I'd like to load for plinking/target fun in my 38 special brass.

I'd like to keep it in 38 special territory even though I'll shoot it in my 357 mag pistol.

I don't want to even have a remote chance of having some "357 mag loads" loaded in 38 cases wind up in the wrong gun because they are in clearly marked 38 special cases. Know what I mean?

I can't find any load data for such a heavy wt in 38 special.

Anyone have any recommended loads?

I have ww231, trail boss, bluedot and unique available to me.

[DrCaveman]

I am liking 2.6 gr ramshot competition, it breezes along around 600 fps. A very pleasant load, though it shoots pretty high in all my guns. My boolit seats pretty far out, so might go a titch lower depending on seating depth. It's a fat-nosed true 180 grain

Ive found the competition charges match up pretty close to bullseye/titegroup in my 38 spl loads. I was thinking of trying 4 gr unique if i had more of it. Aw hell, i think ill try that this weekend, i can spare 50 rds worth. Thanks for the push!

5 gr unique is borderline +p with a 158, if im not mistaken, so 4 gr should also be close. Safer might be 3.6-3.9 to start but you might as well burn that powder in its sweet spot, 14-18 kpsi.

I like what you are doing...if 255 grain shoots well at standard 44 spl pressures, why not 180 for 38?

Still, my magnum loads pushing the top with h110 shoot the lights out compared to what ive worked up with 38 so far. And the magnum loads turn cinder block to dust, while the 38 loads do not...id be careful shooting cinder blocks with these! I get why callahan said he seen 38 loads bounce off of windshields! Can only push em so fast within 38 pressures

Hope that helps

[luvtn]

TexasPete gave me a handful of 173gr Keith LSWC sized .358. He told me to load them in .38 sp cases or else they would be too long. They were loaded in .38 sp cases, standard primers, and 3.0 grs of Red Dot. Sweet shooting in a SP101!
luvtn

[Michael J. Spangler]

Accurate has load data for 230 grain bullets in the 38+p for bowling pin shooting.
I found this in an old Lyman manual PDF I have.

[Bzcraig]

I used the latest loads Mr Spangler copied above with 2400 and 4227 and really liked the loads. If I remember I did reduce the load 15% to start.

[Blammer]

thanks guys! I'll have to give that unique load a try. I'll start lower per usual and work up.

[THerbert]

If you have Trailboss, you have a good powder. To find the starting load, take a boolit, lay it down on the bench next to an empty case, and mark the case where the bottom of the boolit will be when seated to crimping depth. Fill the case with Trailboss to that line, then pour it out onto your scale and weigh it. Reduce that charge by 30%, and that's your starting load.

I use 4 grains of Trailboss under a 158 grain SWC, and my Model 15 Smith loves it. And you can shoot it all day long, recoil is negligible. I haven't chronoed it, though.

[Outpost75]

4 to 4.2 grains of Bullseye with NOE 190-grain Ranch Dog style in .357 brass or seated out to 1.55" in .38 Special brass gives 1050-1080 fps from 24" rifle barrel, accurate and quiet.

Be advised that in .38 Special brass this IS a +P load!
Velocity with 4.2 grains is 855 fps in my Ruger Blackhawk 4-5/8" barrel.

Attachment 142105

[Blammer]

thanks, I'll give that a try.

[maclords]

My NOE 358429 gives 176-177gr boolits with ww. My favorite 38spl load with it is 4.7 Herco. If I had unique, I'd try 4.6 and expect it to be the same. I also like the 3.0 Red Dot mentioned above.

[nooneimportant]

AND Blammer dropped this project on me. While googling for loads for the 175g .38's I find this thread. So thanks guys, and thanks a lot Blammer.

[Jack Stanley]

I use a 185 LBT with 4.7 of Unique , the overall length is pretty long . Haven't tried to chamber in a .38 only gun .... might be to long .

Jack

[HiVelocity]

Why not use this article as a reference?

http://castpics.net/dpl/index.php/the-library/cartridge-specific-articles/235-high-speed-38-special-loads

HV

[jandbj]

Why not use this article as a reference?

http://castpics.net/dpl/index.php/the-library/cartridge-specific-articles/235-high-speed-38-special-loads

HV

Anyone know how the heck do you read beyond the first page of the article? Logged into castpics & using safari on a new iPad... Only options at bottom of the page are previous and next... Those go to first page of previous and next articles.