Received my 38 Special Lee Dies today

[gonoles_1980]

I'm a little confused with the load.

I have the manual "The Complete Reloading Manual for the .38 Special"
Win231 power.
Speer 158 gr LRN's.

Manual says 3.8 to 4.3 for the Speer LRN with Win231.

The Lee handout says for Lead 158gr use 3.1 to 3.7
The Hodgdon Reloading database say use 3.1 to 3.7 for LSWC (the manual shows the same 3.8 to 4.3 load for the Speer LSWC).

I'm thinking the manual may be in error. Thoughts?

 

[Rule3]

The Lee data is obtained from other sources and just copied. Usally the powder manufacture.

I do not know of this handbook/manual you have.

When in doubt use the powder manufacture data (ues I know Hodgdon does not "make" the powder. Use any reliable manual Speer, Hornady. Lyman.

Some lead bullets are soft (swagged) others are cast (hard which also makes a difference.

Do you actually have Speer brand lead bullets??

 

[rcmodel]

I'm thinking the manual may be in error.

No error.

All the data you are looking at came from different test barrels, at different times in history..

Lee and your 'Load book' is copied data from when Winchester made their own powder.
Neither company has a ballistic lab for developing their own data they publish.

Hodgdon data is current, tested, and they package St. Marks power as W-231 & HP-38 now.

If you actually have Speer soft-Swaged bullets use the lower max 3.7 load data to avoid bore leading.

rc

 

[gonoles_1980]

Yes I have the Speer bullets...

I bought the manual from Midway, the book says copyright Loadbooks USA. I'll be using it in a .38 Special Charter Arms, with a 2" barrel.

 

[rcmodel]

the book says copyright Loadbooks USA.

As I stated, it is data copied from older sources and not tested in their lab.

Because they don't have a lab.

They have a scanner, or typist.

rc

 

[gonoles_1980]

Thanks RC...

This is what I have for bullets, I think they're soft cast, but not completely sure.

158 Grain Lead Round Nose
"Speer cold-formed lead bullets"
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/67...diameter-158-grain-lead-round-nose-box-of-500

Looking forward to starting reloading. Time move from reading, watching video's and bugging my friends to actually reloading. Will probably just start with 5 bullets at the 3.7grs. Test them out when I go to the range.

I'm glad I found this site.

 

[evan price]

Speer bullets are dead soft swaged lead with a waxy coating. THey have to be pushed slowly.

Lee also bases their loads on the dippers and publishes the low data so as to avoid problems.

 

[hAkron]

You should be fine with the weight rages you have listed. As always, make a few test rounds starting at the low end, working up to the upper end and see what works well in your gun.

I have found that 4.0gr of HP 38 with a 158gr LSWC works well for me in my guns.


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[ArchAngelCD]

You should be fine with the weight rages you have listed. As always, make a few test rounds starting at the low end, working up to the upper end and see what works well in your gun.

I have found that 4.0gr of HP 38 with a 158gr LSWC works well for me in my guns.

You along with me and MANY other reloaders have found that 4.0gr load to be very good. That is probably my favorite .38 Special load!

 

[oneounceload]

When in doubt, remember that printed material is outdated before it gets published, whereas the online data from the powder makers is current - they do the testing as their liable butts are on the line. Both are also easy to contact and get load data questions answered

 

[kludge]

gonoles...

3.7 is the max. Please start at 3.1.

Also the bullets you are using are dead soft swaged lead as pointed out in other posts and should not be pushed hard. Also the Hodgdon data is for cast lead, a harder bullet than the cold swaged soft lead bullets you are using, even more reason to start with 3.1 gr.

 

[PJSprog]

This is a great example of why you should cross-reference load data with as many sources as possible, and always be careful to ensure you are using the right data (i.e. right bullet, etc.).

You're going to love loading for .38 Special.

 

[gonoles_1980]

Thanks for the help...

I made my first bullets today, made 14 of them, plan on shooting the first four as single shots, just to make sure there isn't an issue. I used 3.5 grains, that seemed a happy medium with the various advice and load books. Plus I have calibration weights that give me 3.5gr so I'm confident I got the right weight. I did ruin two bullets by pushing them in too far. I used my caliper to measure each bullet. Watched a video of a guy who has the same 38 special Charter Arms I do and he did a test from 1.8 to .2 grains, so it looks like it'll be hard to squib this one. I'll let you guys know how they went. I'm taking some Federal LRN's to shoot first so I have a good comparison.

 

[Hondo 60]

You'll find no matter what caliber you reload.
Various manuals will not agree.

I use Hodgdon's site a LOT.
Just start low and work up.

Start with 5 - 10 rounds @ 3.8 gr
another 5 - 10 at 4.0
another 5-10 @ 4.2 etc, etc.

Now figure out which one works best.

Congrats on a very easy caliber, 38 spl was my first gun & first reloads.