Reload copy of Speer Gold Dot 135gr SB .38 + p

[dirtpig67]

Some time ago I remember reading about someone who had worked up a copy of the Speer Gold Dot 135gr SB .38 Special + p load for use out of a snub nose revolver. They had done a lot of research and testing on it and produced something that not only had the same velocities found on the factory loads but also the "feel" of the recoil out of a S&W 442 or similar revolver.

Does anyone have that info handy or a link to it? My searches have been fruitless so far.

Thanks.

 

[Mr.Revolverguy]

It was not I who posted what you are looking for previously. But I have done a little testing with loads in short barrel revolvers.

From The speer 14 manual
7grains of HS-6 135gr Speer Bullet gave me avg 840fps. This load was 2 to 3inches from a sand bag rest at 7 yards. May have just been me but this load seem to be very loud and in a S&W 642 was a little more snappy than I cared for.

I then took and loaded 10 rounds a piece with titegroup. This load is from the 2009 Hornady Load magazine for a 140gr Hornady XTP bullet. Max for this load in the magazine states 4.6grains of titegroup.

I used S&W 642
Start 4.2grains of titegroup with Speer 135gr bullet Avg 864fps 4 shots

Medium 4.4grains of titegroup with Speer 135gr bullet Avg 869fps 3 shots

High 4.5grains of titegroup with Speer 135gr bullet Avg 869fps 3 shots

I did not go to the max of 4.6grains of titegroup as it did not seem the increase was gaining me much of anything. But most importantly what this group gave me was accuracy. At 7 yards I was able to keep all 10 shots in a 2 inch group. 10 shots with a 642 from a sand bag rest in a 2 inch group is a great achievement for me. I never really shoot snub noses all that well my hands are so large it is very difficult for me.

Hope this helps. But never trust loads you find on the internet always refer to a reputable reloading manual, if you ever have to switch out any component at all from what the loading manual states always start 10% below max.

 

[dirtpig67]

The main thing I was looking for was the powder that people were using that replicated the Speer load in terms of recoil impulse and flash. Once I get that I can work up the velocity that I get out of my handgun.

I use Titegroup a lot also but have found that it "feels" a lot different than the Speer factory loads. I carry the factory load in my M36 and want to be able to replicate that load as accurately as possible for practice purposes.

 

[DAdams]

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=318861&highlight=Speer+Replica+Load

 

[dirtpig67]

Thanks - I think that was the thread I was looking for.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I did a lot of work replicating both 135gr Speer Short Barrel loads. I feel 6.8gr AA#5 under a Gold Dot 135gr bullet feels very similar and closely matches the velocity of the Speer Factory 135gr Short Barrel .38 Special +P round. I also used a 140gr Hornady XTP bullet with the same recipe and achieved the same results. (I got a lot of 140gr XTP's very cheap lol)