Confused About 38 spl. Loading Data-Newbie Alert! Now With Pics!
I'm going to load my first handgun cartridge, using Hornady's 125 gr. XTP JHP. I've got reasons which I won't go into, but that's the bullet I'm gonna use for now. I've got three loading manuals - Hornady, Lyman, and Speer - all the newest editions - and I'm getting some conflicting info. First of all, as a disclaimer, the Speer manual lists data for the Speer 125 gr. Gold Dot JHP bullet, but the Hornady and Lyman list data for the exact bullet I'm using. I crosschecked all three manuals for powders, and came up with four that are common to the Lym and Hrn, and two in common with the Spr. Now for the data:
(H)ORNADY (L)YMAN (S)PEER
Bullseye H4.5 gr./800fps min L3.2 / 568 min S4.5 / 914 min/max
H5.0 / 900 max L4.4 / 860 max S4.5/914 +P start
H5.3/950 +P L5.0/920 +P S4.8/1021 +P max
Clays H4.8 / 800 min L3.2 / 719
H 5.5/950 max L3.8/870 max
H5.8/ 1000+P
WIN 231 H4.8/800 min L3.9/589 min
H5.4/900 max L 5.1/820 max
H5.7/950 +P L5.4/882 +P
Unique H5.1/800 min L4.0/498 min S5.7/980 min/max
H5.3/850 max L6.0/895 max S5.7/980 +P start
H5.6/900 +P S6.0/1082 +P max
H5.8/950 +P
Now, a couple things: Speer says that their max loads for normal pressure 38 spl loads should not be reduced, as there would be some question whether there'd be enough pressure to get a 125gr. JHP bullet out of the barrel, and their standard psi max loads coincide with their starting +P loads. Lyman's start loads have velocities down around 570-600 fps? Lyman also lists Bullseye as the most accurate powder.
I'll be using these for practice primarily from two different +P rated S&W snubs, a 642 and a 36, but will also use them in my 4" model 27. My inclination is to use Bullseye powder and Hornady data, as I'll be using their bullet. One other difference: Hrn lists Win WSP primers, and Lym and SPr list CCI 500's.
Anyway, any suggestions on rectifying these differences in powders, charges, and very different min/max loads would be appreciated. Again, I'm just looking for reliable, standard pressure loads for the Hornady 125 gr. XTP JHP.
Thanks in advance, and....Cheers!
Tom
I'm going to load my first handgun cartridge, using Hornady's 125 gr. XTP JHP. I've got reasons which I won't go into, but that's the bullet I'm gonna use for now. I've got three loading manuals - Hornady, Lyman, and Speer - all the newest editions - and I'm getting some conflicting info. First of all, as a disclaimer, the Speer manual lists data for the Speer 125 gr. Gold Dot JHP bullet, but the Hornady and Lyman list data for the exact bullet I'm using. I crosschecked all three manuals for powders, and came up with four that are common to the Lym and Hrn, and two in common with the Spr. Now for the data:
(H)ORNADY (L)YMAN (S)PEER
Bullseye H4.5 gr./800fps min L3.2 / 568 min S4.5 / 914 min/max
H5.0 / 900 max L4.4 / 860 max S4.5/914 +P start
H5.3/950 +P L5.0/920 +P S4.8/1021 +P max
Clays H4.8 / 800 min L3.2 / 719
H 5.5/950 max L3.8/870 max
H5.8/ 1000+P
WIN 231 H4.8/800 min L3.9/589 min
H5.4/900 max L 5.1/820 max
H5.7/950 +P L5.4/882 +P
Unique H5.1/800 min L4.0/498 min S5.7/980 min/max
H5.3/850 max L6.0/895 max S5.7/980 +P start
H5.6/900 +P S6.0/1082 +P max
H5.8/950 +P
Now, a couple things: Speer says that their max loads for normal pressure 38 spl loads should not be reduced, as there would be some question whether there'd be enough pressure to get a 125gr. JHP bullet out of the barrel, and their standard psi max loads coincide with their starting +P loads. Lyman's start loads have velocities down around 570-600 fps? Lyman also lists Bullseye as the most accurate powder.
I'll be using these for practice primarily from two different +P rated S&W snubs, a 642 and a 36, but will also use them in my 4" model 27. My inclination is to use Bullseye powder and Hornady data, as I'll be using their bullet. One other difference: Hrn lists Win WSP primers, and Lym and SPr list CCI 500's.
Anyway, any suggestions on rectifying these differences in powders, charges, and very different min/max loads would be appreciated. Again, I'm just looking for reliable, standard pressure loads for the Hornady 125 gr. XTP JHP.
Thanks in advance, and....Cheers!
Tom
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