38 special

[fobb]

Gentlemen, I have come across quite a few Speer 158gr jhp for 38/357.
I am wondering if anyone has a load for this in 38 special. I will be shooting this in a S&W 642 with a 2 inch barrell. Thanks

 

[gunmn74]

You should post or atleast look on the 642club thread.
There is more .38 info in there than you can imagine.

 

[joneb]

I would load with a faster burning powder I like W-231 and Fed.100 primers myself for 38spl. W-231 works well with my .44 spl and .45 acp loads I have had good results with Bullseye, and I here Clays works well to.

 

[Sunray]

Load for the bullet weight. Who made it doesn't matter. Look in your manual for 158 grain jacketed loads.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Use these:
7.6gr Alliant #2400
4.5gr Universal
6.5gr HS6
6.0g BlueDot
4.3gr Unique

None of these are +P loads, but are maximum non-+P. All are very accurate and produce over 900fps with a jacketed bullet from a 6"bbl.

Velocity is about 775-850fps from a 2" barrel.

It should hit POI-POA with fixed sighted revolvers.

 

[Eagle103]

I just worked up a very accurate, nice shooting load for my 642 using 125g plated Rainier's and 4.5g of Bullseye. It hits POA better than 158g bullets and is closer to the 135g Speer Gold Dot +Ps I carry with but not near the bite.

 

[Happyshooter]

I have been quite impressed with titegroup for .38 JHP short barrel loads.

In the 158 JHP, +P maxes out at 4.2 or 4.3 gr. I would start at 3.8 (top of standard pressure loads) and work up.

 

[joneb]

Funny you mention that Eagle, I have loaded 3.9gr of B.E. with 140gr Raineer plated FP and they shoot great from my Taurus 85/ 2" and S&W 36/2" they also shoot well in my S&W mod 10/6"