.38 Special- light target loads. Poll........

[dannyd]

I like 231/HP-38 loaded a couple target rounds with both. Also use the Argentina primers too.

 

[hdbiker]

3.5 grains of Bullseye under a 158- grain cast semi wad cutter.

 

[AJC1]

If your looking for a cheap alternative that burns cleaner ramshot competition may better serve you. It was a lot cheaper before hogden acquisition your experence and price may vary.

 

[hc18flyer]

I was able to find Accurate #2 a few weeks ago(should have bought more), really like it and Clays for .38 Special target loads. AA #2 meters nicely in my powder measures too. hc18flyer

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

If your looking for a cheap alternative that burns cleaner ramshot competition may better serve you. It was a lot cheaper before hogden acquisition your experence and price may vary.

Nitro 100 and Solo 1000 are really kind of dark horses in the light .38Spl. race. If you come across a pound of each they are fun fast powders to play with. Especially in a 4” .38.

 

[PistoleroWadcutterGANG]

I don't recall ever having a "dirty" powder residue problem with this load. Bullseye-(OLD Lyman #356402 cast bullet TC) Uniformed cases / 1.145" case (loaded 1.550") / CCI Magnum spp. / 4.0grains Bullseye. Posting because both bullets share very similar geometry design.

 

[lordpaxman]

Titegroup, Clays, Red dot are pretty clean for really light .38 loads. IMR Target, discontinued, was really nice.
If your goal is to have accurate, precise, low recoil loads, increasing the 231 charge doesn’t achieve one of those.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I have shot many thousands of .38 Special rounds using W231 and it's clean enough when loaded to medium pressures.
Your charge weight is on the light side, increasing it some will help clean up the burn.

Much of the time when shooting cast bullets it's not the powder that's burning dirty it's the Lube being used giving you the problems.

 

[J-Bar]

I shot this today, 12 shots from my 6" S&W Model 28-2 at 10 yards, elbows rested on the counter, single action. The load was Starline .38 Special brass, 3.5 grains of HP-38 under a 148 grain button nosed wadcutter seated deeply and crimped firmly in the top groove. CCI Small Pistol primer.

I called the stinker at 5:00. I didn't notice much in the way of dirt, wouldn't care either way.

 

[Durango_Dave]

I don't like 231 because it's so dirty. It gets my gun and hands very dirty when shooting it.
I used to use it all the time then I promised myself never to buy it again. I prefer Accurate 2 and TiteGroup. But during the shortage 231 has been much more common than other powders.

 

[Walkalong]

There's nothing special about the shape (flake) or single/double base

Special? Maybe not special, but it does make a difference.