Hodgdon Universal in 38 Special

[Cajun CB]

I use Universal in my 9MM and wanted to use it in my 38 Special. I have loaded my 38 Special at 4 grains with a 158 gr LSWC and am getting more smoke than I like. This recipe is in the Hodgdon manual.

Is there a better powder?

 

[_N4Z_]

I like Bullseye for .38 special loads.

Fast burner. Minimal smoke.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

W231/HP-38 is my favorite .38 Special powder. It's clean and accurate. W231 will also work well in your 9mm rounds so you can stick with one powder if you want to.

 

[Walkalong]

Three good choices there.

Universal is a too slow for light .38 loads. Many of the fast powders work well in .38 for target loads

 

[Mal H]

If you've got Universal, go ahead and use it, but I would raise the load at least 0.3 grains. 4.0 grains is below the minimum given in several manuals for that weight of a lead bullet (Speer, Laser-Cast, Lyman to name a few). It's no wonder you're getting smokey results. Hodgdon's starting load of 3.5 grains is extremely conservative and not a reasonable starting load for that powder, IMO. Be sure you are giving your rounds a good solid roll crimp.

Buying a different powder these days may not be the ideal solution when a solution exists with the same powder. 'Fraid I have to disagree with my friend Walkalong, Universal is a very good choice for light to medium loads in several calibers - but not too light as in your case.

 

[loadedround]

According to the current #14 Speer Manual, Universal is a good powder for heavy 158 gr LSWC loads, and it show seven a better load with Power Pistol (also a good powder for the 9mm). Bullsye/231/HP38 are all good powders for the 38 special but only for light to medium loads in this cartridge. They are a little to fast for heavy loads in my opinion.

 

[rcmodel]

Bullseye was the factory load powder for about the first 75 years of smokeless powder .38 Special loads.

It is a perfect choice for standard pressure 158 grain lead bullets to duplicate a factory load.

rc

 

[woodsoup]

My .38 loads use 5 gr of Universal under anything weighing 158 gr.

 

[Walkalong]

'Fraid I have to disagree with my friend Walkalong, Universal is a very good choice for light to medium loads in several calibers - but not too light as in your case.

Universal is a too slow for light .38 loads.

Universal is a too slow for too light .38 loads.

There...fixed it...

I do really like Universal for light loads in .40. Surprised me how clean it burns in .40 with really light loads. Maybe I should go back and try it again in .38 Spl.

 

[JimmyN]

I use .357 cases, rather than .38 for my target/plinking loads, since I shoot a lot of them and it doesn't crude up my cylinders as bad. I tried coming up with some really light loads with Universal and it didn't work too well for me either, even using a 158gr bullet with a good crimp. And I tried both standard and magnum primers, and couldn't tell any difference. I got a lot of smoke and soot out the front, but the sides of the cases would be covered in soot as well if the charge gets too light. And accuracy was poor at best. The only possible way to ever hit the 10 ring was to not aim at it.

My favorite now for shooting lead with light loads is Trail Boss. I really like that stuff, it burns clean, and gives a nice soft recoil.

 

[Redneck with a 40]

Walkalong, I'm running 5.5 grains Universal in my 155 grain plated 40 S&W loads, you're right, it burns clean, recoil is gentle and they are plenty accurate. I'm very happy with it!

 

[Maj Dad]

RCModel Touched on a Truth

I started reloading in 1969 with a "buy out" of an old stuffer's gear, including a can of Bullseye and a can of Unique, among lots of other goodies. I began loading my 38, 9mm and a couple of years later a 45 acp with them. Over the years I have tried them all, and only recently (relatively speaking) have rediscovered the truth as stated by RCModel: Bullseye is the original fast 38 pistol powder that many have sought to surpass, to no avail. I'll grant you there are powders that come close (231, AA2 Imp among several others) but there is never a question about the perfomance of BE in the old standards. I experimented in wide arrays of different powders and different loads with comp guns, 45s and 38Supers, and finally found myself back with Bullseye, and generally shooting the X out with it. Again, I fully support the use of other powders, and I probably have most of them in my powder closet, but you can't beat an old shoe, especially if it works. When the chips are down and I need a reliable, accurate 38/45/9mm/etc load without range time working it up, Bullseye is the one I turn to.

I also admit the last two pistol powders I bought were 231 (4 lbs) and International Clays (1 lb to experiment with )

Cheers,
Maj Dad

 

[bunnielab]

I have been loading Universal for .38spl and .357mag and have noticed a bit of smoke as well. I shoot outdoors and don't really mind it though. What I do mind the unburned powder I can't seem to get to go away.

I am thinking of going to switch to trailboss for the light stuff and 2400 for the heavy stuff.