Unique or Win 231 for 148g LWC .38 Special

[earplug]

WW231 if your loading to typical wadcutter velocity. Unique if your loading for higher .357 velocity.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

For what it's worth, I tried some W231 in 38 Special cases with Hornady HBWC this weekend and they didn't do very well. I have some more range in the charge chart to play with, but they will have to make a big jump in accuracy to equal the ones I loaded in 357 Magnum cases. I may try one more charge and retry the best from this weekend, but I'm inclined to just stick with what works and load the rest of mine into 357 Mag cases.

What charge weight did you use with W231? Did you see my post above on what charges I use and found to be very accurate? (Post #18)

 

[tallpaul]

I went with W231, but to be fair I haven’t seen Unique on shelves is years. I’ve used CFE Pistol with equal accuracy if you need some flexibility.

yeah all the normal powders I used to reload before had disappeared... I went on a search for 2400 and unique and found 3 lbs of unique... the new prices suck but it will get me back into it. Want it for midrange .44 n 45 colt mostly. I still have bullseye for my wadcutter loads...

 

[DMW1116]

What charge weight did you use with W231? Did you see my post above on what charges I use and found to be very accurate? (Post #18)

I used 3.1 grains max. Admittedly that’s below where Hornady recommends for best results but I started with the same charge I use in the 357 cases (3.0 grains) and went up and down a couple tenths. The 2.8 grain load sounded like it barely made it out of the barrel.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I used 3.1 grains max. Admittedly that’s below where Hornady recommends for best results but I started with the same charge I use in the 357 cases (3.0 grains) and went up and down a couple tenths. The 2.8 grain load sounded like it barely made it out of the barrel.

Hodgdon's data uses a Hornady 148gr HBWC and with W231 they start with 3.5gr and go to 4.0gr max. Your charge is too low and might be why the accuracy is poor. I suggest you bump it up a bit before you give up on W231. I don't know why the Hornady data is so low, I thought 3.2gr was low to tell the truth. (I checked the current Hornady manual and they max out where Hodgdon starts.

I'm talking about .38 Special brass, not .357 Mag.

 

[savagelover]

I know those probably aren’t the best powders for this application but they’re what I’ve got. Bullet is a Hornady 148g HBWC and these will be for small game out of my 3” .357. Which powder should I start with?

Guess you use what ever you have on hand. I use imr 4227 .

 

[DMW1116]

Hodgdon's data uses a Hornady 148gr HBWC and with W231 they start with 3.5gr and go to 4.0gr max. Your charge is too low and might be why the accuracy is poor. I suggest you bump it up a bit before you give up on W231. I don't know why the Hornady data is so low, I thought 3.2gr was low to tell the truth. (I checked the current Hornady manual and they max out where Hodgdon starts.

I'm talking about .38 Special brass, not .357 Mag.

That may well be the case. I wonder if the Hodgden site got 357 and 38 switched. The 357 data starts at 3.0 and goes to 3.4. That’s where I got that load for 357 with a wadcutter.

 

[gwpercle]

Unique is not a great powder for target 38 special loads ... I tried to make it work for 15 years .
For Unique to get a complete , cosistent and clean burn it needs a minimum charge of 4.5 grs with that 148 gr. WC is required , there is a minimum pressure Unique must have to burn clean ...the best is a load of the 148 Gr, cast WC and 4.7 grs. Unique for 894 fps ...which is a tad heavy for paper target but not a bad field load ... you can go up to 5.0 grs. Unique @ 989 fps ,

But for a target load W231 is better - 3.9 grs @ 852 fps up to max 4.5 grs 951 fps.

The best is 3.7 grs Bullseye @ 788 fps ... this load is the accuracy champ !
next is 3.8 grs Red Dot
third is 3.9 grs 700X

I love Unique and tried to make it my only handgun powder for 20 years but it's not a great target powder ... the faster powders work better ...but if Unique is all you got ...load them 148 gr.wadcutters with 4.7 grs of Unique and
CHOOT' EM !
Gary

 

[ArchAngelCD]

That may well be the case. I wonder if the Hodgden site got 357 and 38 switched. The 357 data starts at 3.0 and goes to 3.4. That’s where I got that load for 357 with a wadcutter.

It just might be the Magnum primer used in the .357 Mag data. That is the only thing I can think of although most times I feel there isn't much difference between the 2 pressure wise. Obviously in this case it does make a considerable difference.

In any case I hops you will try bumping up the charge in the .38 Spl case before you write off W231.

 

[DMW1116]

It just might be the Magnum primer used in the .357 Mag data. That is the only thing I can think of although most times I feel there isn't much difference between the 2 pressure wise. Obviously in this case it does make a considerable difference.

In any case I hops you will try bumping up the charge in the .38 Spl case before you write off W231.

Well in another twist, all my 357 Magnum loads use non-magnum primers. Regular small pistol primers are all I’ve been able to find and Speer uses them with their data so I went with it. I’ll try the higher charges though. Hornady says optimal accuracy comes at the top of their velocity range.