.38 special, win 231, 158 gr RNFP

Hodgdon since they own or make win 231.

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/?_ga=2.132485577.613227771.1617405910-1897709409.1616263109

I shoot about 3.5 grains of Win231 with SWCs in .38 Special. Easy target load, soft. So, it should be cheaper per round than the primer, well - during regular times prices, but who knows these days, but you get the idea. I use load data off Hodgdon's website and some Speer manuals to double check myself, Speer has online data available as well.

Well load data I’ve used for that powder and 158 LRN or LSWC from published data such as Hornady and Speer is 3.2 to 4.4 grains to name a couple. I do know that 3.5 grains has been a pretty common place to start.

3.5 is a good starting load. I would load 4.0 for competition with the 158 grain LRN. It's very accurate but you don't need the extra recoil. You will have to clean your gun often. 231 is a dirty powder but measures very well.

Have fun and Good Shooting.

I would think you would be safe using the Hodgdon reloading data for SWC 158g bullets. Yes, the COL would be different and if your RNFP bullets have a crimp grove, the COL would be moot anyway. If your bullets are lead then I'd think there is not much difference between them and a lead SWC. Starting load is 3.1 g. I'd start there and work up if needed. Good luck and good shooting.

If it helps, w231 is the same powder as hodgdons hp-38, not similar or comparable, identical. Same powder from the same factory - the same. It's intended for use in 38 special.

Use the 158 grain data that Hodgen has listed. I see two bullets listed for 158. Use the data for your bullet.

ducky123 said:

Here I am the new guy with his 14 posts

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...16, accuracy is important !!
Lol
Don't let George get you wrapped around the axle, he's a good guy and means well.

We're all good natured folks here but some of us are grumpy. Don't hesitate to ask anything that's bouncing around in your head, most of us spend most of our waking hours pondering ammo things and most of us are happy to talk about whatever , whenever.

Just be polite and no one should ask anything else of you here.
Welcome aboard!

3.9 to 4.0 grains of HP38 with that bullet is the ticket in my revolver and lever. I would start at 3.5 and work your way up. Even at 4.0 grains, your biggest problem will be primers, not powder.

Are your 158 gn bullets jacketed, copper plated, or plain lead?

More important , @ducky123 ... What gun? Pictures are preferred

ducky123 said:

It's lead.

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3.9 grains does it for me in cast.

My Hornady manual shows 4.1 max for several types of 158 gn lead bullets. The Lyman manual is all over the place with lead bullets near that weight, so that wasn’t very useful.

3.9 grains of 231 under a 158 gr. SWC-L is the sweet spot for me for target loads.
I’ve also loaded 4.4 grains of 231 under a 158gr. Hornaday XTP-HP for defense loads. It’s a +P load with some definite recoil, but it spits those XTPs out there pretty good.
I would suggest starting at 3.5 grains and then work up the ladder until you find your “sweet spot” for that bullet. My guess is that it’s gonna fall between 3.9 to 4.1.

The cylinder will be filthy after a few rounds. I clean mine with MPro7 and a toothbrush. They cylinders with a copper brush and then patches, same as barrel. It doesn't take long but keeps the gun working well.

ducky123 said:

Are we talking about anything other than barrel and cylinder?

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For my 38 spl loads with 158gr lrnfp I settled on 4.2gr of W 231.

At 3.5 gr you can get 2,000 rounds out of a lb of powder. It is a load that many have used for both 148 and 158 target bullets for decades.

The Recipe Hunt can be futile; there are so many mold designs that you will seldom see a book load for your exact style. The powder can't see the nose of the bullet, I load RNFP the same as RN or SWC.