Reloading older Speer Jacketed Soft Point for 38 Special

[Shooter2747]

I could use some help for finding load data for the older Speer 38 Caliber 158 grain Jacketed Soft Point? I have a box of a 100 that would like to load for my wife to use in her Rossi 357/38 pistol.

With powder shortage the only powders I have available right now are Hodgdon Titegroup and CFE-Pistol. I do have some old seventies powder like the IMR-4227 and Unique, a little leary of using them. I did load 6-test loads @ 5.7grains of the old Unique using 160gr LSWC bullet but haven't had the opportunity to shoot the gun yet...

Any help would be greatly appreciated..

 

[FROGO207]

From the 1979 Speer #10
That bullet is a 158 grain semijacketed soft point.
Use 17.0 grains IMR4227 for1241 fps
Use 15.0 grains IMR4227 for 1133 fps

Use 8.2 grains Unique for 1198 fps
Use 7.7 grains Unique for 1116 fps.
They say to use magnum primer and 357 brass with good crimp.


For 38 SPL+P
Use 12.3 grains IMR4227 for 924 fps
Use 10.2 grains IMR4227 for 822 fps

Use 5.5 grains Unique for 875 fps
Use 4.8 grains Unique for 776 fps
Use a regular primer.

These are your max loads first and starting loads under. Thats all the data for your listed powders as the others are too new for the book.

 

[FROGO207]

From the 1979 Speer #10
That bullet is a 158 grain semijacketed soft point.
Use 17.0 grains IMR4227 for1241 fps
Use 15.0 grains IMR4227 for 1133 fps

Use 8.2 grains Unique for 1198 fps
Use 7.7 grains Unique for 1116 fps.
They say to use magnum primer and 357 brass with good crimp.


For 38 SPL+P
Use 12.3 grains IMR4227 for 924 fps
Use 10.2 grains IMR4227 for 822 fps

Use 5.5 grains Unique for 875 fps
Use 4.8 grains Unique for 776 fps
Use a regular primer.

These are your max loads first and starting loads under. Thats all the data for your listed powders as the others are too new for the book.

 

[Shooter2747]

I need to find this manual and buy it. Thanks.

 

[mdi]

Just a thought FWIW; the above loads posted for the Speer bullet are for 357 Magnum and the thread title says 38 Special. My Speer #11 shows IMR 4227 loads but about 5.0 grains lighter. I'd probably go with the Unique for loads of 800-850 fps (from a 6" revolver)...

I've shared this many times, but once more won't hurt anything; My Rule #1 is I pay very little attention to any load data I see on any forum, or any pet loads website, hear from any range rat, gun counter clerk, good intended friend, or gun shop guru. I get 95% of my data from published reloading manuals and the rest from powder or bullet manufacturer's websites. I've seen some wild loads suggested and some mistakes posted. Using published data since day one and in 1970 I had a squib and to date no kabooms...

 

[MrMagumba]

I have that manual up for trade on the trading forum.