.38 special was 158 gr, now 125 gr

The only issue may be that you are pushing a lighter bullet with less “friction area” against the barrel, so 3.3 may or may not develop enough psi to reliably push the lighter bullet down the barrel.

If it is ok with developing enough psi (I’ll guess it should be) it’ll push the lighter bullet faster than the 158 with the same charge.

Is there any reloading data for a 125 gr Lead TCFP and Win 231 (or HP-38) on their websites so you’re sure you’re not below their minimum?

Stay safe.

What does your loading data tell you? Most require MORE powder, not less for lighter bullets.

When I first started looking up loads in my reloading manuals, I was surprised to see lighter bullets needed more powder than heaver bullets. Got something to do with mass and acceleration and the pressure created. Leave it to this forum to have the answer:
https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...er-charge-for-light-vs-heavier-bullet.325155/

santacruzdave said:

. . . I was surprised to see lighter bullets needed more powder than heaver bullets.

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Wrong way to think about it. Lighter bullets develop less pressure for the same amount of powder, so you can use more.

more case volume, also less pressure. I do 3.3 Win231 for 158 grain, and find it a very easy fun plinking load. for the lighter bullet, you may be below minimum so - hit the hodgdon website and they probably have some reference info for the lighter bullet.

ducky123 said:

View attachment 992077

After some testing, the 158 grain on the left with 3.3 grains of Win 231 is a nice experience. Those bullets are loaded, so now I have some 125 grain coated bullets as shown on right. Should I start a little lighter than 3.3 grains?

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Your reloading manual will tell you

I load around 4.2gr of W-231 for 38spl. with a 158gr lead bullet. for a 125gr lead bullet I would start at 4.5gr of W-231 but thats just me.

3.3 gr of ww231 is on the lite side for either bullet. You'll be getting +/- 9000spi with that 3.3gr/125gr bullet combo.

Although you can go a little lighter, Hodgdon says 3.8-4.8 gr. It depends on what you want from the bullet as to your load. If you want a nice soft plinking load, I'd go with 3.8-4.0 gr. If you want to feel the bang, go with 4.5+ I don't think those pressures are going to be anywhere near dangerous, and you won't likely get any lead in your barrel from coated bullets.

It’s a question of case volume and fill quantity. If a case is only 20% full it may have trouble igniting. If it’s 80% full then powder is going to be close to the primer and it will light a lot better and a lot easier. Higher pressure also burns hotter and cleaner.

^^^^ yes

To add you may want to test with the powder forward (away from the primer) and near to see how large the spread you will have. Don't be surprised if you see a 200 fps difference. The main thing is make sure you have the powder charge high enough for the bullet to clear the barrel and hit your target. On large cases it can be significant.

I know that often a reloader will ask a load question on a forum, to see common/popular loads, even though they may have a manual. For information only, that's OK, but using any data seen on any forum (from anonymous screen names?) is not good reloading practice, especially for a new reloader!

I know I've posted it many times but here's my Rule #1 again; Pay no attention to any load data seen on any forum, or pet loads website, or hear from any range rat, good intended friend, gun counter clerk or gun shop guru. Get load data from published reloading manuals and begin with the starting load data (also powder manufacturers have on line load data). I have used this method for over 4 decades and have had one squib (1970) and no Kabooms.

WestKentucky said:

It’s a question of case volume and fill quantity. If a case is only 20% full it may have trouble igniting.

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Blue68f100 said:

To add you may want to test with the powder forward (away from the primer) and near to see how large the spread you will have. Don't be surprised if you see a 200 fps difference. The main thing is make sure you have the powder charge high enough for the bullet to clear the barrel and hit your target. On large cases it can be significant.

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YES!
BTDT.
The only time I have stuck a bullet with a reload was by:
1. Wanting some low recoil .38s for a BUG match with my S&W Airweight M&P.
2. Rushing the job by loading 125s with the same powder charge and OAL as 158s. Close to yours.

Shooting from a low ready position threw the small powder charge against the bullet, away from the primer.
Report and recoil were erratic but I pushed on until 'pffft' and "Stop, STOP!" There was a bullet nose protruding from the muzzle of the 2" barrel. Opening the cylinder dumped unburnt powder from the barrel and cylinder.
I knocked the stuck bullet out and resumed with 158 gr bullets.
When I got home, I went back and seated the remaining 125s as deep as their shape allowed. They shot normally.

So my recommendation is to use more powder - you are below the Hodgdon starting load for 125 lead - and seat deeply; at least to the crimp groove and maybe even crimp over the shoulder.

As luck would have it, I am today loading some Lee 358-125-RF in 38 Spl. I'm using 4.3gr HP-38. It gives me about 830 fps from a 6" SW M-14.
It is well within the current published specs by the maker of HP-38.

Feel free to ignore the above load info. It is posted for novelty purposes only, and not under the official auspices of THR forum.