Powder for a 38 Special?

Status
Not open for further replies.
S

stodd

Member
Joined
Jun 14, 2010
Messages
172
Location
Arizona
Hello Everyone!

I'm new to this forum. I'm getting started into reloading my 38 special and i'm trying to find a good powder out there for the 38 special.

I was going to use W231,but come to find out it's pretty hard to locate if you can even find any. Does anyone out there that loads 38 special have any good powders that can be used in the 38 special? Maybe that can be bought online at midwayusa or somewhere?

Thanks..

Shane
 
AA #2, Clays, WST, 700X, Red Dot, American Select, etc. Most fast powders work at least well, if not better, in .38 Spl.

HP-38 is the same powder as W-231 if any of it is around. What powders do you have locally to choose from?

Welcome to THR.
 
Welcome to The High Road. Adding to the ones mentioned already, Unique. Its a good one to start with.
 
I use W231 or HP38, depending on what I can get. I like it because I can load for all the calibers I load. It is dirty when lightly loaded, it likes a stouter charge to burn the bad stuff.

Jeff
 
As already mentioned, Bullseye,231, hp38, Unique. The .38 spl and Bullseye are like bread & butter and peanut butter & jelly, they just go well together!
 
Another one to look for (if you're having trouble finding more popular powders) is Green Dot. It works great in .38 Special, and when the gun shop is out of everything else, there should be one dusty can of Green Dot on the back of the shelf -- maybe even with an old price tag. :)

GD powder is like buying C-cell batteries when a blizzard or hurricane is forecast; it's the last one to sell out. (except maybe International Clays)
 
Thanks everyone for the inputs... I think ill look around locally for some Bulleye or maybe even some HP38 (dunno know it was the same as w231)
 
If you're loading cast bullets, you might want to try Trai Boss. Very clean and meters well. I like AA#2 for cast and jacketed bullets. Be careful when charging cases with AA#2. The charges take up so little space in the case it's very possible to miss a double charge. Accurate Arms claims #2 is the most economical powder on the market.
 
As you probably already know if you can't find W231 you can use HP-38 since it's the same exact powder.

You can use almost any fast or medium burn powder for the .38 Special. AA#2, AA#5, Clays, Universal, 700-X, Red Dot, Green Dot, Bullseye, Unique, Zip, Silhouette and probably a few others I missed can all be used.

If you like W231 I would try to find HP-38, Zip or Green Dot as a substitute first, in that order.
 
If you are new, you might want to consider trailboss. It is almost impossible to double charge the case if you are loading lead bullets. Unique would be a strong second choice.
 
I have used Unique and Zip, both to good effect. Zip works very well, is quite economical, and is my current favorite.
 
Another Bullseye, can't see much reason to go elsewhere. Unique is great but doesn't meter well for me in the small charges .38s need, old Dillon measure. Nothing wrong with 231/HP38 either.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

S
  • Locked
38 Special Bullet Seating Crimp?
Replies
18
Views
10K
stodd
S
I
  • Locked
Good powder for 44 Special and 45 ACP
Replies
16
Views
3K
iScream
I
W
  • Locked
Reloading 38 special and 357 mag
Replies
11
Views
886
hartcreek
H
Hondo 60
  • Locked
Oldest 38 Special Powder Still In Existence
Replies
16
Views
2K
RClem
R
J
  • Locked
.38 S&W - .38 Special
Replies
3
Views
478
Old Fuff
O
Back
Top