Hi guys, just got a GP 100 and have some 38 cases with some extreme plated 158 grain swc's. I have about a half pound of 700x laying around and found the Hodgdon data I believe says max is 3.7 (book not in front of me) then start at 10% less than that. They also only list a hornady xtp for oal. My question is where do you get your overall length numbers? Or do you just seat to the canulure? Also any other recommendations for a new 38spl reloader, I am using a hornady lnl ap with their dies. Incase that info is needed.
New to 38 Special
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Reefinmike
Member
bullseye and win231/HP-38 are very popular powders for 38 spl. Dont worry about OAL in revolver loads, seat and crimp to the cannalure on the bullet.
gamestalker
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^^^
Potatohead
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You cant play with COL in revolvers? That takes half the fun out of it.
mgmorden
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If there is a cannelure, then seat to it and crimp. If not, you can play with it some.
In general as you go shorter on OAL your max possible charge goes down - as you go longer it goes up.
In general your best bet would be to get a chrono. Pick an achievable safe velocity from your reload data, start low (basically at the start charge for a given powder) and then work up until you get to that velocity. When you're there that's your load.
Benchrest guys will play around a lot more for group sizes and such but as someone who reloads mostly for handguns in volume the above works for me.
In general as you go shorter on OAL your max possible charge goes down - as you go longer it goes up.
In general your best bet would be to get a chrono. Pick an achievable safe velocity from your reload data, start low (basically at the start charge for a given powder) and then work up until you get to that velocity. When you're there that's your load.
Benchrest guys will play around a lot more for group sizes and such but as someone who reloads mostly for handguns in volume the above works for me.
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Arkansas Paul
Member
The .38 Special is a dream to load for.
I've loaded it with Bullseye, Unique, Red Dot and W231/HP38.
I prefer W231/HP38 but if I were stuck with any of the others, I wouldn't feel disadvantaged at all. They're all great for it.
Many more will do the job as well.
The 700X will do a fine job if you can put up with the way it meters.
I've loaded it with Bullseye, Unique, Red Dot and W231/HP38.
I prefer W231/HP38 but if I were stuck with any of the others, I wouldn't feel disadvantaged at all. They're all great for it.
Many more will do the job as well.
The 700X will do a fine job if you can put up with the way it meters.
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Schwing
Member
I couldn't agree more. I shoot mostly lead and, in my early casting days before I learned a little more about what I was doing, I cast an awful lot of 125 grain 9mms that were WAY too soft for the pressures required for the caliber. I shelved them because I just didn't want to face having to recast several thousand bullets.
Zoom ahead a little ways and I have a lifetime supply of .38s. They are low pressure, extremely low powder consumption, virtually no recoil out of my GP100 and accurate.
I love the full powerhouse loads too... but you can shoot .38s all day both from an economical and wrist pain standpoint.
Thanks for the info guys, new to the revolver and reloading for it. Made couple dummy rounds today since I just set up my dies. This will be the second caliber I've loaded on the lnl. AR Paul 700x doesn't seem to bad in my lnl +or - .1 and most all I load is for plinking and range fun especially with 38 prob won't be shooting any matches with it but who knows.
Arkansas Paul
Member
^ It isn't a high pressure round anyway, so a little off likely won't be that big a deal. And you're loading plinking rounds, so you probably aren't at max anyway.
I wish my Uniflow metered 700X better. It is actually a good powder.
I wish my Uniflow metered 700X better. It is actually a good powder.
Schwing
Member
Not to hijack your thread but I have the same frustration with 800X... only worse. It is my favorite powder for .357. It burns clean and gives nice stout loads between 1200-1300fps. I love everything about the powder except how horribly it meters.
ArchAngelCD
Member.
Like already said, crimp to the supplied cannelure and you are good. The manufacturer sets the correct OAL for that bullet.
When you run out of 700X I suggest you try and fund some W231/HP-38 or Ramshot Zip for future .38 Special loads. Both are extremely good choices for that cartridge. both are ball powders so they meter like water and both are very clean burning and produce accurate ammo.
When you run out of 700X I suggest you try and fund some W231/HP-38 or Ramshot Zip for future .38 Special loads. Both are extremely good choices for that cartridge. both are ball powders so they meter like water and both are very clean burning and produce accurate ammo.
whughett
Member
Well thanks for that idea pard. Have a bucket load of 9mm truncated cone 125 grainers I bought for a 9. They leaded badly and as I had no other 9, not a 9 fan, I stuck the box under the bench and forgot about it. That was 25 years ago. Just miked them and and, suprise they are .357. I will have to look up the data for 125 cast and use them up in my GP100.
fiftybmg
member
You can pretty much load the .38 cases with the reloading book's maximum, and the GP100 will digest them without any issues.
It's the toughest .357 revolver after the Freedom Arms.
It's the toughest .357 revolver after the Freedom Arms.
Jesse Heywood
Member
The RCBS Uniflow meters 700-X & 800-X better than most. If you're having problems I suggest the following:
1. Disassemble and clean the rotor with a solvent such as brake cleaner or lacquer thinner.
2. Use a baffle. I feel RCBS should include the baffle with the measure. A properly tuned baffle improves the consistency of the drop by limiting the force on the powder. For instructions go here: Baffle Instructions
1. Disassemble and clean the rotor with a solvent such as brake cleaner or lacquer thinner.
2. Use a baffle. I feel RCBS should include the baffle with the measure. A properly tuned baffle improves the consistency of the drop by limiting the force on the powder. For instructions go here: Baffle Instructions
Arch I do have 2 pounds of hp38 sitting on the shelf. Got lucky lgs had two pounds of so I bought both. I also have a pound of bullseye, but will use up the 700x first. I have done up about 750 45acp with 700x and I really do like it a lot it shoots great and is fairly clean.
gahunter12
Member
^^^^ This !^^^^ I load Win231/HP38 for my wife's .38spl.
roval
Member
I loaded 3.8_3.9 grains with same bullet seemed more stout compared to 3.5 grains bullseye with same xtreme 158swc. Problem was sometimes metered to 4 grains on my progressive but since like you I was shooting it in a gp100 and a charter arms snubby that could handle 38+p. I didnt care too much will chrono it next time. My gp100 was shot first time last saturday it was great.
roval
Member
I loaded 3.8_3.9 grains with same bullet seemed more stout compared to 3.5 grains bullseye with same xtreme 158swc. Problem was sometimes metered to 4 grains on my progressive but since like you I was shooting it in a gp100 and a charter arms snubby that could handle 38+p. I didnt care too much will chrono it next time. My gp100 was shot first time last saturday it was great.
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