need advice on powder load for somewhat newbie on .38 Special

[muggers29536]

New reloading addict now looking to reload .38 Special. I will be using once fired Winchester and Federal brass, Berry's Bullets 158gr Round nose. Neither of the Reloading guides, Lyman, Nosler, or Hornady shows suggested powder loads for Win 231 powder. Any advice? Gotta love this new addiction!


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[ATLDave]

Have you looked on Hodgdon's site? They own the Win 231 brand and have load data for 158 bullets over 231.

 

[muggers29536]

yes, I have. it shows powder load for WC and XTP only



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[rcmodel]

+1

Go here.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/pistol

rc

 

[Shaq]

My Speer manual #14 has data for 158 Gr. lead with 231 powder: 3.8 - 4.3 Gr.

My Hornady manual (7th Edition) indicates 3.2 - 4.4 Gr. 231 with 158 gr. cast bullets & for 158 Gr. jacketed bullets: 3.7 - 4.9 Gr. 231.

These loads will work for any brand of bullets; the main factor in pressure is bullet weight. Loading manual companies that also sell bullets will only have data for their bullets; naturally they'd rather you buy them. Berry's plated bullets work well with any data. Berry's suggests using mid-range loads with their plated bullets (between minimum & maximum).

 

[mdi]

For K.I.S.S., just use lead bullet data for your plated bullets. I'v gone through about 1,200 plated bullets in various calibers and tried the "mid-level jacketed data" for plated bullets but that was max. suggested, so I just went to lead data. Nope, no stuck bullets, and about the same accuracy as plain lead...

Where you at in S. Oregon? I'm on the coast...

 

[muggers29536]

Great! Thanks all for advice.... thats pretty much what I figured but Im always looking for experienced advice when the "Bible" doesnt show exactly what I'm looking for. mdi...Central point, just North of Medford Again, thanks all for quick advice..GREAT FORUM!


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[ArchAngelCD]

Like said above, the Hodgdon Load Data Site has data for plated bullets and W231. Just in case you don't know because you are new to reloading, W231 and HP-38 are exactly the same powder so you can use data from with with both powders.

Welcome to the forum and reloading.

 

[TimSr]

If these are plated bullets stay in upper end of lead loads, or within the entire spectrum of jacketed loads. The warning for some plated bullets to stay within "midrange jacketed loads" applies to 357 magnum loads, and does not apply to 38 spl loads.