sc1911cwp
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I read somewhere that the .38 special had been designed around a particular load for snubbies. Anyone know anything about that?
Ideal load for .38
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solidsnake
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As far as I know, all 38Spec and 357Mags are sighted in at the factory for a 158gr load. When I take my 38 to the range for plinking I pretty much quit buying the Winchester or Remington 130gr FMJ and instead spend a few more bucks per box to get the Federal 158 LRN. They pack a better punch and seem to shoot a little straighter.
sc1911cwp
Member
TNX for the reply. I believe that is what I read but wasn't sure. I just bought a 442 and like it alot. I've read so much about snubbie recoil but I think it is manageable. I shot a box of cheap ammo but I don't remember the load. Since then I have shot just Federal Low Recoil 110 gr Hydra-shock. So maybe I'm missing out on the recoil. Since I reload I need to pick up some stuff for the Dillon. Thinking about a set of Laser grips and smoothing up the trigger a little.
scottishclaymore
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sc1911cwp - I know this sounds a little odd, but try a 148 gr. WC load in that gun. While I don't recommend them for social work, I have found them to be EXTREMELY accurate in the x42 guns and also very light on recoil. Generally, when I introduce someone to the snub, that's the load I start them with. It's extremely forgiving.
sc1911cwp
Member
I appreciate the response. I was going to buy some lead bullets but I wanted to get something to what I had read to keep it real. I don't mind the recoil for what I am shooting. It's not like my 1911s but I think that is to my benefit. I can concentrate on my shooting, not the discomfort.
BCRider
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A classic target load is 148gn HBWC (Hollow Base WC) on top of 2.9gns of Bullseye. For my part the next time I load such rounds I'm going to try something other than Bullseye because I've found Bullseye to be sensitive to temperature. It shoots noticably softer in the cold than in warm conditions. I'm going to go with something more like Unique or Tightgroup which I've been told is more stable during temperature changes.
I got to load up around 700 of these some time back and they did indeed shoot VERY nicely for group sizes. This load seems to work best with the usual S&W barrel twist rate. On top of that it's a nice soft recoil so you can really work on total mental disconnection from the recoil coming up.
FWIW I'd foundthat generally all my handguns shoot tighter groups with lead bullets. Even when they are the same weight as the jacketed shot just before.
I got to load up around 700 of these some time back and they did indeed shoot VERY nicely for group sizes. This load seems to work best with the usual S&W barrel twist rate. On top of that it's a nice soft recoil so you can really work on total mental disconnection from the recoil coming up.
FWIW I'd foundthat generally all my handguns shoot tighter groups with lead bullets. Even when they are the same weight as the jacketed shot just before.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
Solidsnake said:
All .357 Mag's had adjustable sights at first, but even then, the only commercial loads available for 40 years or more to sight them in with were 158 lead SWC bullets.
I have no idea what a 2011 S&W is sighted in with, because some old guy doesn't shoot them to sight them in anymore.
They use a laser bore sighter if they use anything.
rc
This was true for about the first 80 or 90 years of the .38 Spl, because that was all the ammo there was then.
All .357 Mag's had adjustable sights at first, but even then, the only commercial loads available for 40 years or more to sight them in with were 158 lead SWC bullets.
I have no idea what a 2011 S&W is sighted in with, because some old guy doesn't shoot them to sight them in anymore.
They use a laser bore sighter if they use anything.
rc
gamestalker
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I've been running 110 gr. and 125 gr. XTP's and Gold Dots with either Longshot or HS6 with excellent accuracy and top end performance. I think the Longshot with the 110 grainer was giving me just under 1200 fps and HS6 about 1100 fps with very nice pressures. The 125 gr. JHP's were around 1050 fps with both of those powder's. Check out Hogdon's reloading pages for the load range, I don't recall the charge I use off hand.
And if that isn't going to do it for you, find some Blue Dot data.
And if that isn't going to do it for you, find some Blue Dot data.
No, the 38 Special is a round that was introduced in 1902 with the Military and Police Model revolver.
It was developed as a military round to replace the 38 Long Colt then in use by the Army.
I do not know when snubbies came about. The Colt DS's are late 1920's.
I am very confident to say that the 38 Special was designed to be used in full sized revolvers.
It was developed as a military round to replace the 38 Long Colt then in use by the Army.
I do not know when snubbies came about. The Colt DS's are late 1920's.
I am very confident to say that the 38 Special was designed to be used in full sized revolvers.
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woad_yurt
Member
sc1911cwp:
I reload .38 SPL, too. I use 4 gr of W-231/HP38 with 148 gr Speer hollowbase wadcutters. It's an easy-shooting and packs a decent amount of punch. Hodgdon's reloading site puts it at the high end of the standard pressure spectrum, not quite +P. It's a very accurate load; I use it for practice and carry in an old Charter Arms Off Duty. I've found it to be a very controllable load, considering that the Off Duty weighs only 16 ounces.
Shoot it out of a 4" K-frame and you'll love it.
I reload .38 SPL, too. I use 4 gr of W-231/HP38 with 148 gr Speer hollowbase wadcutters. It's an easy-shooting and packs a decent amount of punch. Hodgdon's reloading site puts it at the high end of the standard pressure spectrum, not quite +P. It's a very accurate load; I use it for practice and carry in an old Charter Arms Off Duty. I've found it to be a very controllable load, considering that the Off Duty weighs only 16 ounces.
Shoot it out of a 4" K-frame and you'll love it.
sc1911cwp
Member
I'm saving these posts to check them out and compare with my reloading manuals. I don't intend to use +P loads unless I feel the need to punish myself. TNX for thee replies.
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