Question: .38spl powder to use

[joneb]

I prefer Bullseye and W-231 for 158gr cast lead, but with some lubes Be is the better choice, way less smokey.

 

[rcmodel]

Soft DEWC for use at .38 Spl velocity.

http://www.missouribullet.com/details.php?prodId=62&category=5&secondary=9&keywords=

rc

 

[V-fib]

Rc,

so whats the difference between the missouri (softcast) vs the SNS (hardcast)? less leading in my bbl?

Also, after dewc they have bb, brinell 10 (hardness?) and for ppc velocity.

I also plan on checking out berry's, falcon, and montanagold sites any others?

thanks ALL for the info!

Also I'm looking at the IMR 700x powder @cabelas.

v-fib

 

[918v]

The softer bullet will work better at 38 Special pressures. It will seal better and may even shoot more accurately. Some loads like softer lead. Some loads like hard lead. It's like voodoo.

 

[cfoodeat]

IF you can also find Universal, that is another one, loads similar to Unique, and burns cleaner

I agree with using Universal. Works well in my 85UL.

 

[USSR]

Some of you guys seem to be missing the bullet that the OP is using: 148gr Wadcutter. While powders like Unique are great for normal loads espescially with heavier bullets, the typical 148gr wadcutter load is a low power target load, and faster burning powders are better suited for it.

Don

 

[FROGO207]

^^^^Yeah I use the 700-X and like it for 38 SPL DEWC loading. Next choice would be Red Dot/Promo cause that's what I have on hand.

 

[V-fib]

thanks for all the great info.

I ordered some 700 x, look forward to loading some wc and lswc loads.

v-fib

 

[Walkalong]

I bought my first 700X in a brown paper bag. I liked it so much with lead in .38 spl, and especially .44 Spl, I bought a 5Lb can when that ran out.

 

[MikeS.]

Another Bullseye fan here.

 

[oldcelt]

Bullseye, unique and 231 are my favorites. I just yesterday tried clay dot ,2.8 grs. and 160 gr.swc and found it to be exceptionaly accurate.

 

[V-fib]

wow! I ordered some 700x, cci primers, and some hotshot spray case lube from cabelas on the 27th. I got free shipping so the $20 hazmat fee became my shipping cost. This afternoon 8-30 I come home from town and there it is on my enclosed porch! Now that's freaky fast!

I got some other supplies from midway today these were ordered on the 22nd. going to cabelas in grandville (MI) tomorrow. hope to find some bullets so I can get started. i don't expect to find much at the cabelas so I will still order some bullets online.

I'm really looking forward to reloading!

 

[IWAC]

UNIQUE! There are many powders that do the same thing, but not many better, IMO.

 

[Buck13]

I use a Lee Perfect Powder Measure, and even after a bit of lapping of the drum (cone, whatever) with some abrasive powder, the AA #-series powders are so fine-grained that they slide through the gaps, making the measure harder to turn and sprinkling slowly out the side. Maybe other measures are less of a problem.

HP-38 meters beautifully (better than Unique in my noob opinion), and has a high enough volume per charge that double charges should be really obvious, making it a bit safer than some of the really fast target powders. Like Unique, you can find HP-38/W-231 load data for almost every handgun caliber except the super-magnums at Hodgdon's website.

I fired a few low-pressure .38 and .32-20 loads with HP-38 last weekend, and didn't notice it to be very dirty. I doubt it is worse than Unique in that regard. I think it is my new favorite powder for anything except "bear" loads.

 

[jstein650]

Buck13: "..so fine-grained that they slide through the gaps, making the measure harder to turn and sprinkling slowly out the side.."


I agree. Most folks complain about measuring coarser powders, but I've used several types of measures, and have had more trouble with the very fine powders than the larger granule types. It seems there's always one that wants to bind or leak rather badly. In my Lee adjustable, it's H-110, which I love for heavy .44 loads, so I just live with it. Funny, H110 looks almost identical to A2520, but that flows beautifully. At any rate, W231 is very good all around .38 powder.

 

[Hanshi]

For me nothing beats Bullseye for wc/target loads. Red Dot spans from wc/target loads to include standard velocity loads. Unique is my choice for service type loads. For +P loads 2400 is hard to beat.

 

[RealGun]

I have other things that might work, but I bought Accurate #2 especially for the .38 Spl. In my case it is a very short barrel.

 

[ljnowell]

I have loaded 10s of thousands of DEWC from Missouri Bullet over 2.9-3.0gr of AA#2. Very accurate, very clean burning load.

This season I switched to a Missouri Bullet 158gr SWC over 3.6r of AA#2. Also very accurate.

When it comes to standard pressure lead bullets in 38 special I do not use anything except AA#2. IMO, its the best powder for that application. If you read the canister of AA#2 thats what accurate thinks also. They claim it was designed 9mm, 38 special, and 45acp target loads.