.38 Special Reload Advise

[Sky Dog]

I inherited a SW K-38 Masterpiece from my father. I would like to refine some target loads with 158 gr LSWC's and Bullseye Powder. Ideas? Comments? Recipes?

 

[243winxb]

38 Special

I load 3.3 gr Bullseye over a home cast 158 gr swc. Bullet is a little on the heavy side as cast, at about 163gr.

 

[smovlov]

Ive been loading 148 gr lead wadcutter over a light charge of hp-38/231. Punches holes without a big show. Super fun to shoot!

I think the standard for Bullseye shooters has been a 148gr lead wadcutter over 2.7 gr of Alliant Bullseye. Still, do your own workup to find what works best for you and your gun.

 

[jim8115]

If i am loading the 158 soft swaged bullets, i use 3.0 Gr of bullseye. With the harder cast 158 swc I use 3.4 , to prevent leading.
The cast bullets will lead if you run them too slow

 

[gunlaw]

Try 4.0g of Bullseye with a 158 cast swc.

 

[Sky Dog]

Seems like between 3.0 and 4.0 is a pretty wide margin. I've heard .38 spl is a very easy and accurate caliber to reload. Now I believe it. Start low and work up. This is where reloading is fun......doing the research.

 

[il.bill]

The sweet spot I have found in my 4" S&W K-Frames is an old standard: 3.5 grains of Bullseye pushing a 158 grain LSWC.

As has already been stated, watch for leading caused by loading harder bullets too light or softer bullets too heavy.

 

[Slamfire]

I have shot thousands upon thousands of 38 Special rounds using 3.5 grains of Bullseye with LSWC, JHP, LRN, LBBFPRN, etc. Point of aim between the bullets type is close enough that I cannot tell a difference between bullets. I truly think that my flinch causes more variation in impact than bullet configuration. Velocities are so similar it would take a statistical analysis, (perhaps Students T test?) to see if there is a velocity difference between a LSWC and a LRN of the same alloy.

I have shot that load in many revolvers, some I still own, some I do not. I have shot that load in 38 Snubbies, four inch barreled 38’s, and 357 Revolvers. It shoots very well. I have also tried a couple other powders, with 125 gr Bullets, all of which are below. And there are a few 148 LWC data in the mix along with factory rounds to give a reality check on my loads. This is real world data, not shot from pressure barrels.

The dumped charges are as similar as I can make them, given a Dillion progressive, there are variations due to which primers I used. Primer use is based on who was making the cheapest primer at the time of loading. Winchester has been the consistently low cost primer maker for a while, most loads are WSP.

I have never found a need to use the same case, so I am using brass that has been fired God Knows how many times and a rainbow of headstamps. All of which shoot fine.

I have shot other powders and other loads, but Bullseye is so constantly accurate and shoots to Point of Aim in the fixed sight revolvers, that I have standardized on that load and powder and see no reason to chase the “Powder de jour” . It also is close to the non +P factory ammunition I have shot in terms of velocity. So I consider this load equivalent to factory ammunition.

[SIZE="3"]
[B]4" S&W M10-5 [/B]				
					
148 LWC Valiant  2.7grs Bullseye W/W cases WSP 		
19-Apr-09	T ≈  60-65 ° F				
					
Ave Vel =	696.2	 			
Std Dev =	12.04	 			
ES =	48	 			
High  =	721.3	 			
Low  =	673.3	 			
N =	32	 			
	v accurate, about 2" low, no leading, mild recoil	
					
158 LRN Valiant  3.5grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 		
19-Apr-09	T ≈  60-65 ° F				
					
Ave Vel =	758	 			
Std Dev =	22.86	 			
ES =	100.9	 			
High  =	810.5	 			
Low  =	709.5	 			
N =	32	 			
					
158 LRN  3.5grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	Gamma Chrony	
5-Aug-06	T = 100 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	796	 			
Std Dev =	13.89	 			 
ES =	55.24	 			 
High  =	813	 			 
Low  =	757.9	 			 
N =	23	 			 
					
				
					
158 LRN  3.5grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 		
22-Dec-07	T = 52 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	768.6	 			
Std Dev =	15.58	 			 
ES =	48.52	 			 
High =	787.6	 			 
Low =	739.1	 			 
N =	18	 			 
					
					
					
125 Valiant BBRNFP 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06	T = 59 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	863.4	 		 
Std Dev =	30				 
ES =	70.78				 
High  =	907.5			 	 
Low  =	836.7			 	 
N =	6				 
Windage centered	accurate				
Elevation at least 4" low	
	
125 Valiant BBRNFP 4.5 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06	T = 64 °F				
					
Ave Vel =	945.6	 		 
Std Dev =	27.28				 
ES =	75.21				 
High  =	995.2			 	 
Low  =	920			 	 
N =	6				 
Windage centered	accurate				
Elevation at least 4" low


[ATTACH=full]695597[/ATTACH]

[B]4" M66-2[/B]


148gr LBBWC 2.7 grs Bullseye CCI 500 primers
17-Oct-93 T = 65-70°F				
Ave Vel =	704	fps		
Std Dev =	18			
ES =	57	 		
High  =	742			
Low  =	685			
N =	6			
				
			
				
					
Zero  Factory 158gr LSWC-HP + P	16-Aug-92   T = 75°F
Ave Vel =	877	fps	 		 
Std Dev =	23		 		
ES	77		 		
High	923		 		
Low	846		 		
N =	6		  3		
				 	

			 	
158gr LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye CCI 500 primers, Dillon Loads17-Oct-93 T = 65-70°F
Ave Vel =	764	fps			 
Std Dev =	13				
ES	40				
High	776			
Low	736				
N =	6			
					
158gr LSWC 3.75 grs Bullseye CCI 500 primers, Dillon Loads 17-Oct-93 T = 65-70°F
Ave Vel =	779	fps			 
Std Dev =	19			
ES	61				
High	819			 	
Low	758				
N =	6			
		
[B]					
Colt Police Positive  Special 4" Barrel  mfgr 1930	
					[/B]
Zero 148gr LWC Factory	1990			
Std Dev =	72 fps	 	 
Ave Vel =	810 fps	 
				 	
158 LRN  3.5grs Bullseye Mixed cases Fed 100 	4-Sep-05  T = 72 F
Ave Vel =	759.2				
Std Dev =	36				 
ES	104.8				 
High	813				 
Low	709				 
N =	50				 
						
158 LRN  3.5grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	29-Jan-06  T = 68 F
Ave Vel =	760.3				
Std Dev =	27.53				 
ES	111.4				 
High	814.1				 
Low	702.6				 
N =	29				 
					
158 JHP  3.5grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP  29-Jan-06 T = 68 F
Ave Vel =	633.1				
Std Dev =	41.32				 
ES	113.2				 
High	706.7				 
Low	593.5				 
N =	6				 

				
[B]Colt Python  Stainless Steel, 6" Barrel	[/B]		
					
148 gr LBBWC 2.7 grs Bullseye  38 SPL cases  CCI500  24 Sept 1999  T =  78  F
Ave Vel =	710		 	 	 
Std Dev =	18		 	 	 
ES	72.02		 	 	 
High	746.1		 	 	 
Low	674		 	 	 
N =	33	shot fine at 25 yards, no leading, light recoil
					
158 gr LRN  3.5 grs Bullseye 38 SPL cases CCI500  24-Sep-99  T = 78  F
Ave Vel =                    771		
Std Dev =	12			 	
ES	35.9			 
High	792.6			 
Low	756.7			 
N =	6	

[ATTACH=full]695598[/ATTACH]
[B]
Colt Detective Special mfgr 1963  [/B]  

24-Jul-99	T = 100 F !

158 gr LRN 3.5 grs Bullseye thrown, CCI primers mixed  cases		
					
Average 751 fps		
Standard Deviation 32 fps
Extreme Spread 90 fps
High 805 
Low 715		
Recorded shots 22		
					
158 LRN 3.5 grs Bullseye WSP Mixed cases	 8-Jan-06 T = 52 F
Ave Vel =	675.9				
Std Dev =	18.6				
ES	96.18				
High	723.9				
Low	627.7				
N =	50				 
					
158 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye WSP Mixed cases	8-Jan-06  T = 58 F
Ave Vel =	706.8				
Std Dev =	15.55				
ES	65.87				
High	742.9				
Low	677				
N =	50


[ATTACH=full]695599[/ATTACH]			 
					
				
[B]Colt Detective Special  mfgr 1974[/B] 

158gr LSWC 3.3 grs Bullseye CCI 500 primers, Dillon Loads  17-Oct-93  T = 65-70F
Ave Vel =	682	fps			 
Std Dev =	33				
ES	96				
High	733			
Low	637			 	
N =	6				
					
					
[B]Colt Cobra 2" barrel[/B]

 30-Jan-05 	T = 42 F 
158 gr LRN 3.5 grs Bullseye thrown, Fed 100 primers mixed  cases	
					
Average                        696.6	
Std Dev	20.49	
Extreme Spread	72.93	
High	745.5		
Low	672.6		
13 recorded shots	
shoots point of aim when properly held, otherwise goes left

				
					
[B]Taurus M85 B2UL  2" Barrel[/B]  		
					
158 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye thrown, Mixed Brass WSP 11-Dec-04 T = 54 F
Ave Vel =	686.3		 		
Std Dev =	13.63		  
ES	58.48		 
High	718.8		 		
Low	660.3		 		
N =	30		 		
shot little high and centered	

			
158 LRN  Master Factory Ammo 30-Dec-04  T = 56 F
Ave Vel =	698.2		 		
Std Dev =	20.56  		
ES	105.8		
High	753.5		
Low	647.6		 		
N =	50
shot 6" high centered,until barrel leaded

		 		
					
158 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye Mixed brass Fed 100 30-Dec-04  T = 56 F
Ave Vel =	706.2		 		
Std Dev =	23.45		 		 
ES	81.94		 		 
High	748		 		 
Low	666.1		 		
N =	48		 		
[ATTACH=full]695600[/ATTACH]
					
[B]S&W M638-3 Airweight Bodyguard[/B]  		
					
148 LWC Lead 2.7 grs Bullseye thrown Mixed Brass WSP	
18-Mar-07 T = 52 °F					
Ave Vel =	611.6		 		
Std Dev =	22.04		 		
ES	75.92		 		 
High	648.1		 		 
Low	572.2		 		
N =	25				
little high					
					
158 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye Mixed brass WSP		
18-Mar-07 T = 52 °F					
Ave Vel =	611.1		 		
Std Dev =	9.64		 		
ES	28.05		 		
High	626.3		 		 
Low	598.3		 		
N =	32				
4-6" High accurate					

[ATTACH=full]695601[/ATTACH]

[B]S&W M637-2  2" barrel[/B]

158 LRN 3.5 grs Bullseye WSP Mixed cases		
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F		 	 		
Ave Vel =679				
Std Dev =16.48				
ES 56.11				
High 698.2				
Low 642				
N = 18				 
					
125 Lead BBRNFP 4.0 grs Bullseye Lot BE 532 Mixed cases CCI 500 	
6-Apr-07 T = 48 °F					
Ave Vel =	763.9	 			
Std Dev =	22			 	 
ES	78			 	 
High	806.5			 	 
Low	728.5			 	 
N =	15				 
Point aim OK					

125 Lead BBRNFP 4.0 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06 T = 59 °F					
Ave Vel =	760.4	 			
Std Dev =	27.33				 
ES =	82.1				 
High  =	798.9				 
Low  =	716.8			 	 
N =	19				 
					
					
125 Lead BBRNFP 4.5 grs Bullseye Mixed cases WSP 	
9-Apr-06 T = 64 °F					
Ave Vel =	827.9				
Std Dev =	23.21				 
ES =	92.27				 
High  =	879.4			 	 
Low  =	787.1			 	 
N =	20

[ATTACH=full]695602[/ATTACH]
	[/SIZE]

 

[ArchAngelCD]

You already have the bullet and powder picked out. All you need now are SPP (I like CCI-500) and a good loading manual and you're all set up.

If you have trouble finding Bulleseye and can find W231/HP-38 give a 158gr LSWC over 4.0gr W231 a try.

You inherited a very nice revolver. (pics?)