What Bullet & Powder Would You Use

[red rick]

What bullet and powder would you use for a .38 special with a 1 7/8 inch barrel if you were to load for defense purposes ? I know a lot of people won’t load their own for that , but I don’t want that to be the subject in this thread .

 

[shoebox1.1]

I carry precision one plated 148gr wadcutters. The recoil is very manageable. We just loaded basically the same round with a Berrys DEWC 148gr w231 powder 3.8gr at 1.210. Shot really nice through a 4 inch. Next time out I want to shoot them in my 638 side by side to the precision one factory ammo

 

[Skgreen]

"Light bullet/fast powder" would be my thoughts. What do you have to work with?

 

[red rick]

Bullseye , Trail Boss , Universal , BE-86 , 4227 , 2400 .

 

[Charlie98]

Bullseye , Trail Boss , Universal , BE-86 , 4227 , 2400 .

Of those, I would find something to do with either Bullseye or Universal, preferably Universal.

FWIW, I used to load for a 3" J-frame... a 158grn bullet over Unique. At the time, the Hornady XTP was my favorite, these days to that I would add Speer GoldDots (if you can find them.) I was never really a fan of lighter bullets in the .38.

Hodgdon online data has a recipe for the 158grn XTP and Universal.

 

[rfwobbly]

• Light to mid-weight bullets. Speer GoldDot, or if I needed volume to do a LOT of testing/development, maybe Berry Hybrid Hollow Points.

• With a fast power with flash suppressant, like N320 or N330. (Maybe even BE-86... after a lot of testing.)

• I would most definitely be using Federal primers.

 

[red rick]

I am not opposed to getting another powder , I was listing what I have .

 

[Charlie98]

I am not opposed to getting another powder , I was listing what I have .

Why? I'm not saying don't buy another powder, but you have Universal... it will get it done, and probably fairly handily.

 

[AJC1]

In a short barrel your not going to generate the velosity that makes light bullets more desirable. You may not even be able to generate enough speed to expand any hollowpoint reliably. Speer had a specially designed gold dot for short barrels that may work well for you as most won't. If it were me I'd look at a swc design like the 150kt. I'd then look for a powder with flash suppressant. I use Silhouette, and be-86 may as well.

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[Charlie98]

be-86

OP could try BE-86... he already has it... but I think it might be a little too slow for the short barrel. I had issues with it in my shorty 9mm (3.1" and even 3.6"...) I think Universal is a better answer.

 

[AJC1]

OP could try BE-86... he already has it... but I think it might be a little too slow for the short barrel. I had issues with it in my shorty 9mm (3.1" and even 3.6"...) I think Universal is a better answer.

My load is Silhouette, and it has everything I want. I was relating that be-86 might also work due to flash suppressant. In a cc short barrel I wouldn't want to be blinded during a situation. Some people do night shoots and that experience would be particularly Germain to a subject as wide open as self defense. About infinite numbers of variables. Being that expansion isn't really realistic I might even try the 358429 170 to get good sectional density. Same line of thought as the 200 police special

 

[Charlie98]

I was relating that be-86 might also work due to flash suppressant.

Actually, BE-86 might come into it's own with heavier bullets... but I don't really know how much a suppressant would mitigate flash from such a short barrel with what would likely be a fairly heavy charge.

 

[AJC1]

Actually, BE-86 might come into it's own with heavier bullets... but I don't really know how much a suppressant would mitigate flash from such a short barrel with what would likely be a fairly heavy charge.

I've done exactly zero night shoots with my loads and only a very few in the military. I would absolutely be doing some for the ops intended purposes.....

 

[Charlie98]

I've done exactly zero night shoots

I need to do that next time I'm out in Nevada. I've often wondered the differences between some powders.

 

[red rick]

I probably should invest in chronograph now . At first I was just wanting the load that was the most accurate for me on paper and that is still probably the #1 goal , but it would be nice to see the numbers for what you load , especially if you are working up to max loads .

 

[Charlie98]

I probably should invest in chronograph now

Velocity isn't everything, and particularly with handgun cartridges, but it's an important piece of the overall handload puzzle. It's a good way to validate your handload goals.

 

[AJC1]

I probably should invest in chronograph now . At first I was just wanting the load that was the most accurate for me on paper and that is still probably the #1 goal , but it would be nice to see the numbers for what you load , especially if you are working up to max loads .

I use a chronograph to monitor primary ignition. One can't do anything if a max load isn't fast enough, and in a pistol speed for flight ballistics is basically meaningless. Accuracy and medium testing for comparable terminal effect might be cheaper and fit your need better. Wet newspapers or magazines is a cheap medium.

 

[red rick]

I use a chronograph to monitor primary ignition. One can't do anything if a max load isn't fast enough, and in a pistol speed for flight ballistics is basically meaningless. Accuracy and medium testing for comparable terminal effect might be cheaper and fit your need better. Wet newspapers or magazines is a cheap medium.

Might a chronograph keep you from pushing it too far by the velocity you are getting ?

 

[EMC45]

I would use Bullseye with a cast lead bullet in that short barrel.

I did a comparison of equal powder weights of Bullseye with JHPs and cast of equal weights. The cast were more accurate and consistent.

 

[AJC1]

Might a chronograph keep you from pushing it too far by the velocity you are getting ?

The speed I get is individual to my firearm. The published data lis likely from a test fixture, giving speeds you can't replicate with a cylinder gap. Speed in pistols is only meaningful to me if I need a certain speed for terminal performance.

 

[EMC45]

The speed I get is individual to my firearm. The published data lis likely from a test fixture, giving speeds you can't replicate with a cylinder gap. Speed in pistols is only meaningful to me if I need a certain speed for terminal performance.

Very good point. Myself, I only calculate speeds when I am doing an FPE calculation for bullet deformation.

 

[Charlie98]

Might a chronograph keep you from pushing it too far by the velocity you are getting ?

The speed I get is individual to my firearm. The published data lis likely from a test fixture, giving speeds you can't replicate with a cylinder gap. Speed in pistols is only meaningful to me if I need a certain speed for terminal performance.

As John mentions, published data, including velocity, can be very subjective, based on the testing methodology, among other things, and then there are 'fast' and 'slow' barrels, along with cylinder gap and other specific anomalies with each firearm. But, having said all that, yes a velocity reading can tell you where you are at with your handloads, when some of the other factors are considered as well.

 

[red rick]

The thread has got off the subject a little bit , but I think it is related and good useful information . What are the things that you look for when getting over pressure loads , stuck case , deformed primers ?

 

[fxvr5]

Consider:

.357 diameter, 100 grain Xtreme Defense Bullets (50 count)

The advanced technology Xtreme Defense Fluid Transfer Monolithic (XD FTM) is changing the way self-defense bullets are perceived. This bullet is optimal for use in .357 Magnum and .38 Special loads.

lehighdefense.com

or

.357 diameter, 120 grain Xtreme Defense Bullets (50 count)

The advanced technology Xtreme Defense Fluid Transfer Monolithic (XD FTM) is changing the way self-defense bullets are perceived. This bullet is optimal for use in .357 Magnum loads.

lehighdefense.com

. . . with whatever powder you have that they have in their load data.

Lehigh Defense Load Data Library | Lehigh Bullets Reloading

Lehigh Defense Load Data Library. Browse a list of Lehigh bullets data for reloading. View the Specifications of all bullets - cartridge, technology, weight, etc

lehighdefense.com

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I probably should invest in chronograph now . At first I was just wanting the load that was the most accurate for me on paper and that is still probably the #1 goal , but it would be nice to see the numbers for what you load , especially if you are working up to max loads .

I just went through this looking for a good load for my wife’s Colt Cobra (1968) and Detective Specials. I use four bullets: Winchester HE 110gr JHP (w/W244), Speer 135gr SB-GDHP (w/Bullseye), GT Bullets 165gr LSWC-HP (w/Bullseye), and Cast Performance 200gr WFN-GC (w/ Unique).

Universal is a good generic choice but try to avoid +P or higher. A good 158gr LSWC at 700fps is still a stopper IF you put it where it needs to go. A miss never stopped anybody so find something you can control without having to think about it.