Reloading 38spcl lswc

[ljnowell]

I don't consider TiteGroup for a case this skinny and tall because of needing more bulk to spot the powder before inserting a bullet.

That pretty well eliminates some of the best powders for 38 special.

 

[Comrade Mike]

3.2 gr of Titegroup & 158's will give you a traditional old-school cartridge - maybe a bit on the light side. I generally do 3.1 gr with 125's and it's a soft shooting round. And yes, very easy to double charge. I weigh after all cartridges are loaded & crimped as well - just for a sanity check.

You're wasting your time if you're weighing each loaded round. Variances in the brass and bullet alone could show a 3 grain variance.

 

[RealGun]

Originally Posted by RealGun
I don't consider TiteGroup for a case this skinny and tall because of needing more bulk to spot the powder before inserting a bullet.

That pretty well eliminates some of the best powders for 38 special.

What is worse than Titegroup? I chose HS-6 among others, and that had a lot to do with grains per cc.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I don't know why there are so many posts warning about double charges? I can't see how that could happen unless you are using an unchecked progressive press. (I said unchecked, no powder cop or looking into every case)

I load on a Lee turret press w/auto-index so unless I somehow force the press to keep the case under the charging station twice I can't see how I could double charge the case...

I agree, most pistol powders today don't fill the case all that much. Even my beloved W231 doesn't fill a .38 Special case all that much.

 

[ljnowell]

What is worse than Titegroup? I chose HS-6 among others, and that had a lot to do with grains per cc.

It's not what is worse than Titegroup, I don't care for it and don't use it. You are basically elimination good powders such as AA#2, bullseye, even 231. None of those are going to fill a case even halfway full and those three are probably three of the best powders available for 38 special.

 

[RealGun]

It's not what is worse than Titegroup, I don't care for it and don't use it. You are basically elimination good powders such as AA#2, bullseye, even 231. None of those are going to fill a case even halfway full and those three are probably three of the best powders available for 38 special.

No shame here. As long as I can see the powder, I'm good. As long as I have HS-6 and it works for me, I'm good. I have the other powders you mention and the load data for them, so would use them if I chose to and could deal with peeking in the case slowing me down. I am currently equipped to see well past 1/2 way into a 38 S&W Special case, so I see no serious conflict here.

 

[RealGun]

I load on a Lee turret press w/auto-index so unless I somehow force the press to keep the case under the charging station twice I can't see how I could double charge the case...

You would have to be careful, if you had a glitch at the priming station or were fiddling with your die settings...anything that breaks the rhythm.

 

[PhilMc]

I learned early on from my mentor that one needs to be very carefull with powder charges. Checking each and every case before dropping a bullet onto it is just a habit that I never vary from. Good lighting and no distractions are normal to my loading. I have a powder cop that I have used once for pistol cases, it gave me a false sense of security.

 

[ljnowell]

No shame here. As long as I can see the powder, I'm good. As long as I have HS-6 and it works for me, I'm good. I have the other powders you mention and the load data for them, so would use them if I chose to and could deal with peaking in the case slowing me down. I am currently equipped to see well past 1/2 way into a 38 S&W Special case, so I see no serious conflict here.

HS-6 is a good powder, no doubt. My can't live without powder is AA#2 though, it rarely ever, probably never fills much of a case. I love the way it meters and performs though.

 

[Walkalong]

I learned early on from my mentor that one needs to be very carefull with powder charges. Checking each and every case before dropping a bullet onto it is just a habit that I never vary from.

He taught you well.