Need a help with a 158gr 38spcl Lead Semi Wadcutter load

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I checked the Lee book and they had 158gr lead data, but not semi Wadcutter data, no luck with Hornady, Lyman has a mold #358665, but it doesn't look exactly like the one I have.

Now Alliant does list data for a 158 gr LSWC, but its from a Speer made bullet.
http://www.alliantpowder.com/reloaders/recipedetail.aspx?gtypeid=1&weight=158&shellid=26&bulletid=30
Is it safe to sub the data in? It's also test from a 6 inch barrel...which is kind of longer than my colt cobra. I'm just wondering since I'm looking for less wrist breaking action if I should just buy some Trail Boss and save the Unique for something else.

Here is a diagram chart of the bullets I'm using.
http://www.betterbullets.info/customers/Retail_Aug_2011_KSS.pdf
Mine is the 158gr SWC.
 
As long as you're not loading maximum loads, any data for a similar weight cast bullet will work. You'll probably never find data for your exact bullet, so you have to substitute. Start with the minimum load for that bullet weight and work up in increments until you get a load that shoots accurately at the recoil level you're looking for.

TrailBoss is a very accurate powder with cast bullets, too. It's almost foolproof in the .38 Special, so if you can get hold of some, you won't go wrong.

Hope this helps.

Fred
 
That actually helps a lot. I often find that its near impossible to get data matches, and I'm a little nervous about plugging in substitute data, so its good to know that if I stay away from the max then I should be fine with plugging in data for the same weight. I mean with Lee and their general category data for lead and jacketed bullets I already do that to an extent.

Regarding Trail Boss I know a place that has some, kind of kicking myself for not getting it earlier in the week, but I had no clue I would be using it.

The only issue with trail boss is the diameter on my bullet is different...then again its trail boss as long as its not underpowered or compressed...its fine.
 
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The biggest issues I have found with cross loading bullets is the depth of which the base to crimp groove extends into the cases. Not so much with given caliber bullets like your using, but with bullets designed for specific calibers like a Lee .452 255RF which is usually used in the 45 Colt, in say a 45 ACP where you use up a LOT of case capacity with the shank of the bullet. I don't load a ton of them but they are a hard hitting load even if they aren't moving but around 550-650'ish FPS.

That said most commercial cast bullets for specific calibers are very close within the same tolerances, and using the slower powders like Unique, Universal, 2400, and such, loads are usually easily accomplished with not much of any issue as long as you stick within the start data and work up.

I have also used similar weight jacketed data start loads as well with a few powders, where I had no other reference.
 
I use WIN 231, 3.0 grains minimum, 3.2 for my wife, 3.4 normal load, sometimes higher. Seat the semi wadcutter so that it crimps at the crimp incision. I don't remember the exact max number of grains,. But I know it is higher than any of those above.
 
It had already been said but the I will repeat. As long as you are not at the posted max with the same bullet weight and relative profile you can use the data. I have never used it but I understand Unique to be a fairly good choice for .38 Special especially hotter loads. I load 158 gr SWC with Title group, TrailBoss, and WIN231. I have used HS-6 with +P loads as well. There is a ton of .38 Special data available, and it is an easy cartridge to load.

Check a few other sources for 158gr SWC data and just extrapolate a safe starting point. I think if you found some old data for Unique and the .38 Special you would be surprised at the max charge weights and velocities they were using as non +P loads.
 
Your 38 is a Colt Cobra? That's an aluminum frame 38 worth a good bit of money. Cat's meow of lightweight 38's.

I would shoot the lightest load that worked ok with that gun. I wouldn't try and explore how hot of a load I could use. 38 special is easy to load for, but very difficult to estimate your pressure when you get near the max. An aluminum frame will start to loosen up before you can read the signs with your fired cases and primers.
 
Yep, it is the Colt Cobra, and I have no desire to do high velocity loads...well maybe if it I get a T/C one day. As of the moment I have some pretty nasty tendinitis in my left hand, which is my shooting hand. Luckily shooting single action on my Colt Police Positive Speical in 38 S&W is a dream. I also picked up two 22lrs this weekend. However, the first time I shot the Cobra (it does need new grips) it hurt the crap out of my hand, so if I want to keep shooting it I need to develop some reduced loads.
 
I've used trail boss for years in all my less than full power 38 specials. It's a great powder for use in almost any lower power revolver loads. The Cobra is one of the great small frame lightweight guns of all time. The barrel length will not make much, if any, difference in the pressure of your loadings. Aftermarket stocks often can often make the recoil of small light guns easier to take. Rubber stocks from pachy and others tend to cushion recoil a bit.
 
Dframe said:
I've used trail boss for years in all my less than full power 38 specials. It's a great powder for use in almost any lower power revolver loads. The Cobra is one of the great small frame lightweight guns of all time. The barrel length will not make much, if any, difference in the pressure of your loadings. Aftermarket stocks often can often make the recoil of small light guns easier to take. Rubber stocks from pachy and others tend to cushion recoil a bit.
Click to expand...
Thanks I'm planning to order some Pach rubber grips in the next day or so.

Okay next question I seated the bullet for a dummy round along the paint crimp and got around 1.74X. This is less than the max and more than the minimum that Lee lists for the 158gr lead round, so am I good to go?

All I have left is powder validation, but I'm getting a little tired and I have to get up early for work tomorrow, so I'm not going to push my luck and safety.
 
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A 158gr LSWC is a 158gr LSWC so if your bullet doesn't look exactly as the ones in the load data it's not all that important. This is why we start low and work up loads, to be sure they are safe in out revolvers.

My favorite 158gr LSWC .38 Special load is 4.0gr W231 crimped in the manufacturers supplies crimp groove...
 
^^^ What he said ^^^ I shoot the same loads mentioned above in my Colt Cobra also, no problems ! About 750 fps, a mild target load, my Smith 15 loves this load too, you'll do alright with this load, if you can find Win 231 !
 
I just fired some 158's using 2.8 gr. of Bullseye. Pretty mild and will use in my Cobra. Those Packi grips are nice but too big for carry. IMO.
 
Grabbed the Pach grips off of Amazon, they should be here tomorrow. For the moment I just want to shoot the gun more, so carry issues aren't a huge concern. I'm going to see if I can get some trail boss at Kings when they are open tomorrow. I did find a load (in Lee I want to thing) for unique that has a similar starting velocity to trail boss and win 231 (since it seems to be like Unique is in terms of wide use), so hopefully that should allow me to use the Unique I have, but I want to do another batch with Trail boss for comparison purposes.
 
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