Favorite 38 snub load?

[brewer12345]

I ordered a Taurus 85 since they have gotten so cheap. I already have RMR plated 158 grain 38s made up as well as some lead RNFP 158 grainers, so I will try these out first. Since we are talking about a 17 ounce snub rather than a 4" barrel Security Six I usually use, I am expecting considerably more felt recoil. I have some 125 grain JSP bullets floating around and obviously I could buy pretty much whatever in lead from Missouri. Any suggestions on what might be a good place to start? I mostly use HP38 in 38 loads, but I have Unique, Trail Boss, Universal and a bunch of hotter load powders (longshot, lil gun, etc.) on hand. I am after a pleasant enough target and plinking load, since carry ammo will be factory. I will have to try the factory loads to see what works, but I am guessing I will be happier with 125 grain or so bullets, especially if I pick a +P load.

 

[ETXhiker]

For light practice loads in a .38 snubbie, it hard to beat the ancient recipe of a 148 gr. wadcutter over 2.8 grains of Bullseye. For 158 gr. SWC, my usual load is 4.5 grains of Unique, but that is approaching factory velocities and does have some recoil in a light pistol. Unfortunately, the price for that wonderful portability is recoil, but it isn't that bad in short doses.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I handload a FBI Load replica for my J frames. I use HS-6 and a Magnum primer over either the Speer or Hornady 158gr LSWC-HP bullet. The charge I use exceeds current published load data but it's still just under the SAAMI limits. None the less I won't post the charge weight here.

Of the powders you listed Longshot will do the job but be aware, Longshot is a very loud powder especially in a short barrel revolver. Unique and Universal might get you there too.

 

[Axis II]

4.2-4.3gr of HP 38 with berrys 125gr RNFP and taper crimped in my S&W 642. accurate enough to put all 5 in a 5x5'' target at 20ft and doesn't hurt my hand like my 158gr gold dot +p.

 

[brewer12345]

4.2-4.3gr of HP 38 with berrys 125gr RNFP and taper crimped in my S&W 642. accurate enough to put all 5 in a 5x5'' target at 20ft and doesn't hurt my hand like my 158gr gold dot +p.

That looks like bottom end jacketed data according to Hodgdon. I will plan on trying something similar once I try it out with the 158 grain standard pressure loads I already have made up.

 

[Zendude]

For 125 grain plated bullets, 3.6 grains of Bullseye gives a nice mild load. I also have used 4.6 grains of HP 38 with good results.

 

[Jack B.]

For 125 grain plated bullets, 3.6 grains of Bullseye gives a nice mild load. I also have used 4.6 grains of HP 38 with good results.

Do you think 3.6 grains of Bullseye will push 125 gr. plated down a 6 inch barrel ok? I know 4.0 grains will but I'm trying to avoid a stuck bullet in a GP 100. Looking for a mild load for a snubbie but also want it to work in 6 inch revolver.

 

[RugerBob]

with my MBC 125s I use 3 grs trail boss.

 

[boom boom]

Like Archangel, I use the soft swaged Speer 158 gr SWC-HP bullets but I use Universal instead of HS-6 in my J Frame. For carry ammo, the new 135 gr. HST looks promising but I have not purchased nor tried any yet.

 

[RPZ]

I like factory 148 grain wadcutters. Call it "the little flying oil drum".

 

[Hardtarget]

My only snub gun is a Smith mod. 19 so I shoot the same load I use in my Colt diamondback 4". For the self defense loads I carry have factory ammo...that I have never been forced to use. Everything is 158 lead swc in a mid range load. Just fun stuff. My sons shot this same load thirty years ago.

Mark

 

[8ring]

4.7 gr. Win-231 under a 125 gr. Berry's truncated cone. This is a couple of tenths under the max standard pressure load but burns clean. It also has a nice small flash around the cylinder barrel gap so you will be sure that you're not blinking This load works great in my SW 638. I'm also starting to use 4.4 gr American Select under a SNS 125 coated round nose flat point. American Select has no muzzle flash (unless the lights are off) and is very clean with coated bullets.

 

[Axis II]

That looks like bottom end jacketed data according to Hodgdon. I will plan on trying something similar once I try it out with the 158 grain standard pressure loads I already have made up.

bottom end for the hornady and mid range for hodgdons lead data.

if im plinking/target shooting i wont beat myself or my guns up. if its for hunting then i try and push it as fast as i can safely.

 

[mdi]

One of my favorite bullets for "just shootin'" is a cast 125 g. RNFP mostly over some W231. Sized correctly I get no leading and it's easy to shoot in my M85. (I also use this bullet in my 357s and 9mms). My "house gun" loads for my M85 is a 150 gr. DEWC over a near max. load of W231 which give me just under 800 fps, measured. I think it would be pretty effective...

FWIW; I haven't used a jacketed bullet in my 38s in mebbe 25 years...

 

[vaalpens]

I have just started working up some ACME 125gr coated loads in 38spl. Please note these were tested out of a 3" Ruger SP101. For my next loads I will be testing PowerPistol, 700x, Bullseye and Unique.

Here is the link to the test results from last week: https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-p-coated-125gr-fp-load.823346/#post-10615807

 

[brewer12345]

Well, I was wandering around cabelas today and they had hornady hbwcs on sale for 20 bucks a box, so I guess I will be trying those too.

 

[Varminterror]

I run 4.0grn bullseye with 93grn Meister LRN's and 4.5grn HP-38 with 125grn plated Rainiers for my low recoil, low cost 38spcl practice rounds.

 

[Zendude]

Do you think 3.6 grains of Bullseye will push 125 gr. plated down a 6 inch barrel ok? I know 4.0 grains will but I'm trying to avoid a stuck bullet in a GP 100. Looking for a mild load for a snubbie but also want it to work in 6 inch revolver.

I haven't tried it in anything but a snub.

 

[Catpop]

FWIW; I haven't used a jacketed bullet in my 38s in mebbe 25 years...

I'm with you on that! I reload only lead boolits in all my pistols,

 

[GRIZ22]

I carry factory 148 grain hbwc in any j frame size gun.

 

[Jonesy814]

I load a 158 grain plated bullet with 3.5 grains of Titegroup and can shoot them all day in my 15 ounce S&W 638. Have gone as low as 3.2 grains and its extremely mild. If you load a 125 grain plated bullet with the 3.2 grain charge its like shooting a 22 short

 

[ArchAngelCD]

My 3 favorite .38 Special loads are:

148gr HBWC over 3.2gr W231

148gr DEWC over 3.4gr W231

158gr LSWC over 4.0gr W231 (good woods carry load too)

 

[Michael Tinker Pearce]

148gr. Hornady HBWC over 4.6gr. of Unique with a CCI 500 small pistol primer. Pleasant to shoot and accurate.