Need some help with a 38spl 158gr lead SWC load

[vaalpens]

I received these lubed 158gr lead SWC bullets and would like to make the best out of it. I don't know how hard/soft these bullets are. The revolver is a Ruger 3" SP101 357mag, but I am planning to just stick with a light loading 38spl load that I can enjoy. The load development plan is to test about 4 different loads using one powder, then pick a load and load the rest of them with this selected load. I created a dummy round just to set my dies for this bullet. The COL came out to 1.438".

I would appreciate it if you can help me by suggesting a powder to use, and a bracket or min max load to test. An example will be HP38 with tested loads 3.1g, 3.3g, 3.5g and 3.7g.

The powders I am leaning towards are, HP38, Bullseye, Unique, 700x, W244, Titegroup.

Any help will be appreciated.

Bullets:

Dummy Round:

 

[AJC1]

3.0 grains of TG is a winner. I shoot piles of those with my son who picked it as his load. 5.0 grains of cfep just had a great showing in my latest test. That load falls directly in the middle of the range but going up just opened up the group. After I test cfe in 357 I'll be testing true blue in 38 special. The plus p max true blue load sucked in the pistol. I have a lot more testing to go...

 

[joneb]

I have not loaded for that bullet, but for a 158gr LSWC 3.9 to 4.2gr of W-231 makes for a nice target load. The LSWC I use for .38spl are in the 12 BHN range.
Bullseye is a favorite of mine for 38 spl. I would not through that powder out of the mix.

 

[vaalpens]

3.0 grains of TG is a winner. I shoot piles of those with my son who picked it as his load. 5.0 grains of cfep just had a great showing in my latest test. That load falls directly in the middle of the range but going up just opened up the group. After I test cfe in 357 I'll be testing true blue in 38 special. The plus p max true blue load sucked in the pistol. I have a lot more testing to go...

Thanks for the information. So your TG load is lower than the recommended Hodgdon 3.2gr to 3.8gr?

I have CFEP also, but I want to try and stick with some of the original 38spl powders.

 

[vaalpens]

I have not loaded for that bullet, but for a 158gr LSWC 3.9 to 4.2gr of W-231 makes for a nice target load. The LSWC I use for .38spl are in the 12 BHN range.
Bullseye is a favorite of mine for 38 spl. I would not through that powder out of the mix.

Thanks for the reply. What velocity do you see for a load between 3.8gr and 4.2gr W231/HP38? Is that a 38spl +P load?

 

[vaalpens]

Just to add a wrinkle to the mix, I have decided to use some Federal No. 200 Small Magnum Pistol primers. I bought some of them during the primer shortage of 2021 and 2022. It should not impact much since I will be working up loads from min to max, but I though it is worth mentioning.

 

[243winxb]

The diameter is most important.

 

[nevadabob]

Here's what I've shot thru my snubby Taurus 85 & Charter Arms Undercover Lite with Xtreme 158 plated (1.435 COL):

Win 231 3.7 gr 550 fps
Bullseye 3.7 gr 600 fps
Titegroup 3.4 gr 560 fps

As I recall these are nice shooting loads. Hope this helps.

 

[Random 8]

I'm running 4-HP38 with various 158s through a 6" taurus, 10" TC Contender and a 3" Taurus, as well as a 20" Rifle. My bullets are 12BHN and an unknown Magtech bullet. I'm getting good accuracy across the board and no signs of leading. Higher or lower charge made a slight difference across individual guns accuracy preference, but the round number at 4 is acceptable across the board. I would work 4 grains and possibly by tenths on the low side of that and see what your revolvers like best.

 

[NapalmMan67]

3.5gr of W231/HP38 under a 158SWC 12 brinell. Has been a go to for years and thousands of rounds I've shot and is not a +P loading.

 

[Charlie98]

Looking at your list, and given what you intend to shoot them in... HP38 or W244 are the most likely choices, Unique being the backup. Unique would likely burn pretty dirty at lighter load levels, unless you want to go to a near max load.

Although TiteGroup would be a good candidate, I don't like TG with cast bullets... I feel it burns too hot for plain base lead.

 

[DaveinMiami]

I would test Bullseye, Unique and Titegroup at the prescribed starting loads. Every gun is different and will provide different results. My experience with cast 158 gr. loads is that Bullseye works the best with MOST guns but that may not apply to you! Personally, I also like to use WST powder because in light loads it burns the cleanest of all in my experience.

 

[AJC1]

Thanks for the information. So your TG load is lower than the recommended Hodgdon 3.2gr to 3.8gr?

I have CFEP also, but I want to try and stick with some of the original 38spl powders.

Lyman 4th says 2.9-3.3 cast manual. Tg downloads well so going below minimum is really not an issue. The weird part is the 170 lists 3.0-3.4 grains.

 

[.45Coltguy]

Unique will always work with those 158's, as will the Bullseye. Interested about that W244 powder. Been reading good things about it.

 

[kmw1954]

My first venture into reloading (1980) was for 38/357 and using cast bullets. At the time I was using Speer 158gr and Hornady 158gr SWC along with both manf. model 148gr Wadcutters. I loaded these into 357 cases with Hercules Bullseye that worked out to be a mild 357 or a hotter 38Spl. Anyways they shot great and were a lot of fun. Speer and Hornady use to sell their Cast lead in boxes of 500.

 

[Highland Lofts]

I am loading up the 158 grain lead bullets ihave.
I am using 3.4 grains of BULLSEYE powder.
Real light recoil in the 6 inch Ruger GP100.
But it is a dirty powder in the GP100.

 

[mdi]

I believe I still have that mold and mostly use the "traditional" 38 special powders; W231, Bullseye, and a lot of Universal (Unique before it vanished from the market). I lube mostly dip lubing with 45/45/10 and lightly roll crimp in the second to the fourth groove. With a good fitting bullet no excessive fouling and fun, accurate shooting out of my 2", 3" and 4" 38 Specials/357 Magnums...

 

[Bazoo]

That is a lee TL358-158-SWC bullet, if I’m not mistaken. I’d use lyman 358158 data for it, because of the seating depth of that bullet should be pretty close. I’d have no issues loading 3.8 bullseye for a normal 38 special load.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

Just to add a wrinkle to the mix, I have decided to use some Federal No. 200 Small Magnum Pistol primers. I bought some of them during the primer shortage of 2021 and 2022. It should not impact much since I will be working up loads from min to max, but I though it is worth mentioning.

The great thing about the 158gr and .38Spl is how flexible it is. For fun and close range plinking start with 2.8gr of Bullseye and work up until you get the accuracy you’re looking for. For me in a 3” Dick Spl that’s around 3.3gr. Unique and that bullet makes a good small game load.

 

[vaalpens]

The diameter is most important.

Correct and thanks for the comments. I have not slugged my bore, but the bullet diameter is .3575".

 

[wcwhitey]

Pic is of the 244 Data. Starting load for Win244 is 3.6 grains with a 158 SWC max is 4.0. 3.6 shoots very nicely, I load 3.7 over the Speer Swagged 158 SWC HP. Unique anything from 4.2 to 4.7 (Max) will give you a sweet load. Enjoy. FYI those numbers are from the Winchester and Alliant website data. Good luck

 

[vaalpens]

Here's what I've shot thru my snubby Taurus 85 & Charter Arms Undercover Lite with Xtreme 158 plated (1.435 COL):

Win 231 3.7 gr 550 fps
Bullseye 3.7 gr 600 fps
Titegroup 3.4 gr 560 fps

As I recall these are nice shooting loads. Hope this helps.

Thanks for sharing your load information. I have tested 3.7gr Bullseye before with an MBC 158gr SWC bullet and saw an average of 763fps.

 

[vaalpens]

I'm running 4-HP38 with various 158s through a 6" taurus, 10" TC Contender and a 3" Taurus, as well as a 20" Rifle. My bullets are 12BHN and an unknown Magtech bullet. I'm getting good accuracy across the board and no signs of leading. Higher or lower charge made a slight difference across individual guns accuracy preference, but the round number at 4 is acceptable across the board. I would work 4 grains and possibly by tenths on the low side of that and see what your revolvers like best.

Thanks for the information. I'm not sure if how many loads I want to test, but if I do my normal 6, then the 4.0gr load will be included.

 

[vaalpens]

3.5gr of W231/HP38 under a 158SWC 12 brinell. Has been a go to for years and thousands of rounds I've shot and is not a +P loading.

Thanks! That will be in the range I want to test.

Based on all the replies so far it seems I am leaning towards HP38.

 

[vaalpens]

Looking at your list, and given what you intend to shoot them in... HP38 or W244 are the most likely choices, Unique being the backup. Unique would likely burn pretty dirty at lighter load levels, unless you want to go to a near max load.

Although TiteGroup would be a good candidate, I don't like TG with cast bullets... I feel it burns too hot for plain base lead.

Thanks for the comments. I will probably remove Titegroup from my list and lean towards HP38 and W244.