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Powder puff .38spcl loads for a LCR

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SARuger

SARuger

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Long story short, my fiance' carries a LCR .38. We practice weekly at our private range.

Last Sunday we went through a good many rounds and she was complaining of her palm hurting, in fact, it was blue and bruised!

We were shooting some of my handloads that are already on the low side, 4.8gn of 231 and 125g XTP.

I tried some really light loads today, 10 rounds of 4.1gn/231 with 125g XTP and the recoil was not bad but I worry it may be too light! They did fine and were accurate but that was near the start load for Lyman 49th and a full grain lower than Sierra and Hornady recommends for a JHP. I don't want her to squib her favorite revolver!

Any suggestions? Bullet weight/powder? I can buy some different bullets if there is a weight that would work better for what I'm trying to accomplish.

Here is what I have on hand;

Powder; 231, HS6, Unique, HP38, IMR4227, H110, 2400

Bullets; 158gn XTP and 125g XTP, lots of them!

I will apprecite any and all suggestions.

Jon
 
Stop worrying about so-called "stopping power." Get some 148 grain lead wadcutters, and back them with 3 to 3.5 grains of .231 powder ('cuz you have some).

I haven't look lately, but see if you can find some larger stocks that offer better support and a place for the little finger. Avoid finger grooves unless they actually fit her fingers where she wants them.

Last but not least, consider getting the same revolver, but chambered in .327 Magnum - which will also shoot .32 H&R Magnum, .32 S&W Long and .32 S&W. Somewhere in this list you'll find a size that works.
 
To clarify, I need a practice load. Her carry load is Hornady Critical Defense.
 
For practice, I don't see why not to run the 125 gr. 4.1 gr. of W231/HP-38. Though Hodgdon shows start load at 4.3 gr.

I haven't shot Critical Defense, but I would imagine if you want to get the same feel. Use the HS-6.

With the LCR, is it critical to have the stock grips on? I bought the grips that came out with the LCRx 3". A little longer, more comfortable to shoot with.
 
You aren't going to leave a slug in the barrel with a minimum load. It might not be the most accurate load for the gun but a load she shoots well is much better than a highly accurate load that she doesn't shoot well.

Have you considered trying different grips to better match the gun to the shooter?
 
She likes the grips. They are the Hogue style grips that came on it, very soft. She shoots my Security Six and likes the reduced recoil of the heavier gun. I'm trying to emulate that lessened recoil.
 
One of my two favorite loads is 3.2gr W231/HP-38 under a 148gr Wadcutter. Accurate and not hard on the hand. Your better half will like it.
 
2.0 Grains of Trail Boss using a 100gr SWC with it pushed right down in the case with a small gap so it doesn't compress the powder. This load will shoot one hole @ 25 yards out of most 38/357 revolvers. I use it in 4 of my revolver as a 25y distance load for comps.

She could shoot these all day long and not have any issue, they have plenty of punch for what she will want to do.
 
I know these arent your components, but maybe for future reference...

My light load for higher volume jframe shooting is a 140gr cast bullet with 3.3gr WST. 640fps. WST works well for me in low pressure applications.
 
I tried to find a good load for my LCR with HS-6 and really could not. YMMV but I would skip that powder for the LCR.
 
Airgead said:
I tried to find a good load for my LCR with HS-6 and really could not. YMMV but I would skip that powder for the LCR.
Click to expand...
HS-6 is a medium speed powder that works best at the upper end of the pressure range. It's a very good choice for .38 Special +P ammo but not light .38s. I like W231/HP-38 for lighter loads like I mentioned above.
 
saruger,

have her get a pair of shooting gloves to wear for practice.

murf
 
For practice, I don't see why not to run the 125 gr. 4.1 gr. of W231/HP-38. Though Hodgdon shows start load at 4.3 gr.
Click to expand...

Lyman 49th says 3.8 is the min but Sierra and Hornady says 4.8 is the min. Big difference for the same size/type bullet on the same powder.

I just worry that if she gets a squib, she won't pick up on it and send another one down the pipe. I have explained to her what it sounds like and feels, even tricked her by just putting a empty case with primer in with 4 good rounds and she did pick up on it and asked me to check the gun, said it made a sound but didn't "shoot".

saruger,

have her get a pair of shooting gloves to wear for practice.

murf
Click to expand...

I will look into this!
 
ArchAngelCD said:
HS-6 is a medium speed powder that works best at the upper end of the pressure range. It's a very good choice for .38 Special +P ammo but not light .38s.
Click to expand...

I was trying it for +P actually. I had a lot of unburned powder even nearing max load. I thought about trying mag primers as some suggested but I decided to focus on BE-86 instead.
 
Wadcutters for sure
Click to expand...

I found some WC's locally for $50/500, can't remember the brand.

I made the decision not to cast my own bullets but I have shot some lubed cast and I liked them, no leading issues in my Security Six.
 
148gr DEWC over 2.7gr of bullseye is pretty light in the lcr. It was a load recommended on this forum when I was doing my first reloads in .38

My wife didn't mind shooting these at all.

d
 
Personally, I would stop using XTP bullets for target practice. I would use a plated bullet with win231 and not look back. Cleaner than lead for only a penny more. Xtreme bullets are nice and so are Berry's bullets. I load 3.5 grains of 231 with a 158 grain plated bullet for a soft practice round.
 
148gr lead double end wadcutters are super accurate in my LCR. The lightest listed charge of 231 will do you fine.
 
Airgead said:
I was trying it for +P actually. I had a lot of unburned powder even nearing max load. I thought about trying mag primers as some suggested but I decided to focus on BE-86 instead.
Click to expand...
IMO a magnum primer is a must when loading HS-6. I can't tell you how many reloaders swear a magnum primer is not necessary but in the very next sentence complain about it being dirty or leaving unburned powder. I have found several very accurate +P loads using HS-6 including an FBI replica load.
 
Softest loads will be with heaviest bullet and a fast powder.

I like 158gr SWC coated lead bullets (Bayou) over 3.2 gr of Bullseye. Could probably go with a lower charge but this works well in our revolvers as well as lever action rifles.
 
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