Loading lead in .38 Special

[shovel66]

Hello,
I've been using the search function for 30 minutes and decided to just post the question. I am loading .38 Special for a 6" GP100 using hard cast 125gr RNFP over Unique and unfortunately my 8 manuals do not have this combo. (they have great data for jacketed) I have previously used the same cast bullets with 4.6gr of Bullseye with great results. Alliant website and most of my manuals all say that 5.2 to 5.8 grains of Unique would be good.

Years ago I used to use jacketed data to load lead and either subtract 10% or add 10% but it's been so long that I forgot to add or subtract. Does anyone else here use that method with lead data is not available?

Thanks in advance.

 

[Jim Watson]

Your manuals do not have the combo or they say 5.2 to 5.8 gr?
The nose shape of the bullet does not matter.
I would go with 5.2 which is the typical starting load at 90% of the maximum.

 

[shovel66]

The reloading manuals I have do not list a LEAD 125 grain for Unique. Several manuals along with Alliant's website lists 125 grain Jacketed with Unique.

 

[Jim Watson]

Lyman maxes out at 5.7 grains Unique and a 120 gr cast bullet.
Close enough, especially considering you have a magnum revolver to shoot them in.

 

[oneounceload]

Alliant maxes out at 5.7 with a Speer Gold Dot jacketed bullet - go accordingly

 

[Sam1911]

You'll generally be quite safe using a jacketed load with a lead bullet of the same weight. I wouldn't arbitrarily add (or subtract!) 10% to any load, though...

 

[shovel66]

I'm probably going to load 20 rounds at 5.5gr and see how they shoot. Thanks all.

 

[Dudedog]

Lyman 49 list 120gr lead Unique 4.0 725 MAX 5.7 1012 in .38 Special. For the same lead bullet with Bullseye they are showing 2.8 690 MAX 4.6 1001 +P 4.9 1045
155 lead Unique 3.4 601 MAX 5.1 895 5.4 +P 954
I would say the 125s should be close to the 120 data.
Looking at a lot of Hodgdon data they do tend to show less for lead than jacketed in most but not all cases.


I would think 10% less than jacketed would be safe and unlikely to leave a bullet in the barrel with most powders but I would not call myself and expert.
My thought always is be safe start low and work up.


Hope this helps.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

If you're going to load lead bullets I highly suggest you buy the Lyman 4th edition Cast Bullet Handbook. That book lists a 125gr cast bullet from a Lee #358-125-FN bullet with a charge range of 4.3gr to 5.3gr Unique. Velocity at the max charge is listed as 944 fps. You might want to drop that 5.5gr load you were thinking of using to something below 5.3gr of Unique. (maybe 4.8gr to start)

 

[Steve C]

If your bullets are hard then you will likely have leading issues at the lower pressures allowed for the .38 spl. You may have to go to a mag load to get enough pressure to make a hard cast bullet seal in the bore. The only way to make sure is to try the loads out. If you get unacceptable leading then go to a mag load or find a softer bullet to load in your .38's.