Your best 38 special handload for carry.

I like to replicate the Speer short barrel 135gr .38 Special +P load for my newer revolvers and replicate the CHI load for the Chiefs Special and M10.

Federal 130gr HST

ANATION said:

I've been toying with the Hornady 110gr XTP load. At +P levels it's really accurate and the recoil is tolerable but I was thinking about something heavier. Figured I'd ask the hive what they use.

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I would like to see a +P+ load with this bullet. The Winchester 110 gr bullet seems to open a bit much and limit penetration. My dream .38 load would be a +p+ 147 gr XTP (deep hollow point) or HST at 950 fps out of a 3" revolver.

I like 158gr LSWCs. Not saying they are the best but they are my choice. My routine loads are a bit over 800fps, I'm sure I could push them harder.

Ohen Cepel said:

I like 158gr LSWCs. Not saying they are the best but they are my choice. My routine loads are a bit over 800fps, I'm sure I could push them harder.

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BB 158gr +p LSWCs. Mild recoil in an SP101 and I think they would hurt very much. Kinda spendy but I only shoot one cylinder each trip to the range.

Also the BB 150gr, non +p wadcutters are actually pleasant to shoot in an SP101.

Don't shoot either of these loads in an airweight...

When I carried a 38 S&W Special I loaded 150 grain DEWCs to about 850 fps. They hit hard and to the sights.

https://www.grantcunningham.com/2011/11/ed-harris-revisiting-the-full-charge-wadcutter/

Kevin

Buckeye63 said:

Federal 130gr HST

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This!

Low velocity expansion and penetration.
5.3grns of Universal.

https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1022626550

.455_Hunter said:

I would like to see a +P+ load with this bullet. The Winchester 110 gr bullet seems to open a bit much and limit penetration. My dream .38 load would be a +p+ 147 gr XTP (deep hollow point) or HST at 950 fps out of a 3" revolver.

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I will have to look - but I think I have a box of 147gr +p+ hydra shocks and a box of (old) Corbon 110gr +p+ 38s. You’ve got me thinking I need to check!

Anchorite said:

I will have to look - but I think I have a box of 147gr +p+ hydra shocks and a box of (old) Corbon 110gr +p+ 38s. You’ve got me thinking I need to check!

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Yes- I have some of both loads. The 147 gr Hydra-Shok is a good concept that could stand to be updated. The Corbon's use a Sierra JHP that is pretty quick to turn itself inside out.

If you want heavy, there are 230gr lead bullets made for the 38/357. Can't find my .38 data on them but think 500fps is all you'll get out of them in a .38.

ANATION said:

What powder are you using? Unique works good for me but I've only been reloading for pistol a short while and haven't tried other brands.

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I'm using AA#5 along with a CCI-500 primer.

The complete load is Speer +P brass (because I have them)
CCI-500 primer
6.8gr AA#5 which is not the max charge but it replicates the factory velocity.
An original 135gr Speer GDHP bullet.

For me this load shoots very close to the factory ammo and is accurate.
Years ago I and several other readers on this forum did a lot of work replicating the short barrel .38 Special and some work on the .357 Magnum load.
The magnum load is charged with 8.8gr Power Pistol. I'm not totally satisfied with the flash produced by Power Pistol but at the time that's what was available.

Hope this helps.

Ohen Cepel said:

I like 158gr LSWCs. Not saying they are the best but they are my choice. My routine loads are a bit over 800fps, I'm sure I could push them harder.

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Me too. I like a 158gr LSWC, 4gr Unique. 158gr RNFP, same powder/charge.

Ohen Cepel said:

I like 158gr LSWCs. Not saying they are the best but they are my choice. My routine loads are a bit over 800fps, I'm sure I could push them harder.

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If I'm not carrying Federal 130gr HST I use 158gr SWC w/ 5.5gr of power pistol. It's a +P load that recoils about the same and POA and POI are just about the same as the HST.

7.0gr Power Pistol, Hornady 125gr XTP.
Accurate, powerful, works.

For a short barrel there are not many good choices. For a long barrel any of the typical hollowpoints will work fine: Federal HST, Speer Gold Dot, Winchester PDX, Remington Golden Saber, even a 158 grain LSWCHP like Winchester Super-X.

For the short barrel, you can put your hope in some trick-shot ammo, or just get a better revolver.

Short barrels don't reduce effectiveness as much as most people believe but I would stay with at least a 3 in. barrel on a snub. In .38 Spl. loads with 140 to 158 gr. are good defensive loads regardless of velocity if you can place them where they need to go. High speed bullets and muzzle flash don't help.

I believe in the KISS method and the theory if it isn't broke why fix it. Thus I run a 125 gr Remington SJHP over a load of Power Pistol than gives me a velocity on the cusp of +p. Accurate and almost pleasant to shoot outta my EDC Model 637.

ANATION said:

I've been toying with the Hornady 110gr XTP load. At +P levels it's really accurate and the recoil is tolerable but I was thinking about something heavier. Figured I'd ask the hive what they use.

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According to https://www.shootingtimes.com/editorial/handloading-the-38-special-for-snubnose-revolvers/99480, 110 gr XTP loaded to 5.9 gr Bullseye gives about 1000 FPS from a 1.8” barrel. That’s virtually the same as 115 gr 9mm from a 2” barrel, and I don’t know anyone that says that load is inadequate.

My carry/house gun 38 Special is probably not +P rated and jacketed bullet performance is dictated by velocity, I have gone the DEWC way. I have a mold that drops a DEWC @ 150 gr and I load it over a max, non-+P load of W231. Out of the 3" barrel I'm getting a bit under 900 fps and do not feel under gunned at all. Accurate out to 25 ft, but I haven't tried it any farther.

I saw mention of a "+P+", and I immediately thought "many, many 38 size carry guns are offered in 357 Magnum, so why?"...

I've come to believe SD bullet choice is much like what skivvies one chooses, everybody has their personal choice and can back it up with "facts" to justify their choice...

Back when I reloaded a lot of .38 Specials, we'd cast a bunch of SWC hard (we got a bar of linotype metal from the local print plant) and load them into once fired miltary cases over about 5.4 grains of Unique. Remember this was over thirty five years ago and if I did it today, I'd stick to a more conservative loading of 4.7 Grains of unique. Doesn't expand but does cut a neat hole in just about any material

Out of a snub 38 I wouldn't worry about a hollow point or expansion, you need maximum penetration. Ball ammo jacketed or lead will work just fine, just ask Lee Harvey Oswald.

For a 2" load a HBWC to about 750 fps. Low recoil, good penetration without excessive penetration, and a bunch of other reasons.

I like the Hornady cowboy 158 lswc. They are soft, accurate and cheap.
I ran them over 700x. Now I'm using Titegroup. But will be going back to 700x when it's done.