.38 Special load?

1293 Views 44 Replies 22 Participants Last post by Kosh75287, 4 d ago

RetiredRod

Discussion Starter · 12 d ago

My Smith revolvers have sat in the safe for a few years while I focused on my 9's, 45's. Now I want to start shooting my revolvers again. I've got all my old notes from years ago about good .38 spl loads, but with all the new powders available, I wanted to ask you folks to tell me a couple of your favorite .38 spl loads these days. These will be for target shooting at the range, not hunting or self-defense. Also, these loads will be fired in 2" snubs thru 6" Model 10's. Not looking for any .357 Mag loads.

Reactions: 2

21 - 40 of 45 Posts

Che

· #21 · 11 d ago

Nitro.45 said:
Which is weird…you guys just passed a law that you can’t even shoot exposed lead 22’s while hunting. Since everything including a garden hose causes cancer (there), you would think your two indoor ranges are in “violation”. 😆

That is what I am thinking. The Torrance Indoor Range I was going to since I retired as a LEO. When they closed permanently I had to find a new Indoor Range. They all have restrictions.

Now my Outdoor Range, 1 1/2 hour drive one way. Doesn’t allow my Yugoslav SKS because it still has the bayonet attached. It was okay for 35+ years but now it’s dangerous. Only in CA.

Reactions: 1

Che

· #22 · 11 d ago

Beano said:
The .38 Special is my favorite.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Same here. For me it’s being nostalgic. When I first started as a cop it was 99% revolvers and I made the Department’s Pistol Team shooting PPC.

Reactions: 2

trooper894

· #23 · 11 d ago

I'm glad to see this topic pop up again. Like many others, I started reloading with the 38 Special and did so because our issued duty weapons were first the S&W M10 then the S&W M681 and I wanted to practice as much as possible. I never really settled on a decent 158gr LSWC load because I primarily loaded 125gr jacket bullets to match our issue ammo.
I am just starting to get back into loading 38 Special again so I can shoot a new to me S&W M649 and Ruger LCR. I have approximately 5000 158gr LSWC that I purchased at least 30 years ago. I have an 8lb keg of Unique that I inherited and I am just starting to try some test loads. So far 4.3 to 4.4grs of Unique has worked satisfactorily in my S&W M649 and Ruger LCR. I'm not seeking top accuracy, just functional practice ammo for drills from 7 to no more than 25 yds.

Reactions: 1

MartyJK

· #24 · 11 d ago

My "Bunny Fart" load for new shooters and casual plinking is a 148gr. HBWC on top of 2.4gr. of IMR Red, yielding 635fps out of a 4" pencil barreled Model 10. YMMV

Reactions: 1

Nitro.45

· #25 · 10 d ago

Che said:
Los Angeles Gun Club doesn’t even let you bring any ammo in. You have to buy their ammunition.

😆 At very affordable prices too!
I wonder how much they get for a box of 44 mag??😝
They can kick rocks….plenty of desert around!

Reactions: 2

RetiredRod

Discussion Starter · #26 · 10 d ago

Thanks, everyone, for all the replies. It was great reading about your favorite loads and brought back many memories. I need to inventory my bullet stash and starting playing with various bullet/powder combinations.

Reactions: 1

4barrel

· #27 · 10 d ago

Kent Dorfman said:
Lately I have been using a lot of Titegroup and coated 105 and 124 gn bullets from Bayou.

Using them in my revolvers and suppressed 1873.

Titegroup and a 125 grain is a good combo. I have 5 pounds and a new mold to play with. The rain let up and I made it to the range with my long barrel 19-3 and 19-5 snub yesterday.

See less See more

Che

· #28 · 8 d ago

trooper894 said:
... I have approximately 5000 158gr LSWC that I purchased at least 30 years ago. I have an 8lb keg of Unique that I inherited and I am just starting to try some test loads. So far 4.3 to 4.4grs of Unique has worked satisfactorily in my S&W M649 and Ruger LCR. I'm not seeking top accuracy, just functional practice ammo for drills from 7 to no more than 25 yds.

I was the Captain of my PD PPC Team. I had so much of the Speer 148 HBWC that I was still reloading it up to 2017. My last PPC Match was 1997.

That is a good Unique load for the 158 LSWC.

Reactions: 2

Che

· #29 · 8 d ago

Nitro.45 said:
😆 At very affordable prices too!
I wonder how much they get for a box of 44 mag??😝
They can kick rocks….plenty of desert around!

The desert is two hours away eastbound. But we make an event out of it.

Nitro.45

· #30 · 8 d ago

No place closer as a reasonable alternative?
Just curious, that’s a tough spot to be in. Getting ripped off or driving two hours without another option would suck! 😖

Reactions: 1

Che

· #31 · 8 d ago

That is the downside to living in Los Angeles. 40 years ago there was 30 Outdoor Ranges but only three exist today. Homes were built so Indoor Ranges were the thing. But now they are being closed too.

Reactions: 1

RetiredRod

Discussion Starter · #32 · 7 d ago

Che said:
That is the downside to living in Los Angeles. 40 years ago there was 30 Outdoor Ranges but only three exist today. Homes were built so Indoor Ranges were the thing. But now they are being closed too.

Being a life-long Midwesterner, for me there would be 100 downsides to living in LA.

Reactions: 1

Nitro.45

· #33 · 7 d ago

Yessir…..and the weather can’t be counted as a good thing either! 🙂

GuitarmanNick

· #34 · 7 d ago

This load is intended for self-defense use in my 2" Model 10-7, K-frame.
With 125 grain Hornady XTPs, I use 6.2 grains of unique @ 1.455" COAL. This results in about 1043 FPS and is equivalent to most +P factory defensive ammo.
My general range loads consist of a 125 grain jacketed soft point or plated hollow point and 5.5 grains of Unique @ 1.470" COAL. Result is between 830 and 900 FPS which is stout, but equivalent to most standard factory ammo.
I do not believe in shooting light loads. Training should be identical to conditions you may encounter in a real situation, IMO.
I have a few older toys that are an exception to this general rule. Still, hand loads for them are not loaded lightly, but do not push any limits for the caliber.
If I am teaching a new shooter, .22LR is the caliber of choice. The Advantage Arms conversion for my Glock 17 clone build works nicely. Once they learn the basics and get comfortable shooting it with the conversion, installing the 9mm slide takes less than a minute.
Once they can keep the rounds in a group with 9mm, then maybe I will let them shoot my .38 snubby if they want more punch. Watched quite a few over the years hit the floor in front of the target with the first shots from a revolver.

See less See more

Reactions: 1

AutoTom

· #35 · 7 d ago

My .38 spl handload is 4.5-5.0gr Unique, 158gr rnfp coated bullet from Missouri. Ruger BH with 6.5" barrel.
200 downsides to living in the L.A. vicinity. And I live there! Desert bound when I shoot. BTW, 3.4gr Red Dot works well also with same bullet.

Reactions: 1

Che

· #36 · 7 d ago

Che said:
That is the downside to living in Los Angeles. 40 years ago there was 30 Outdoor Ranges but only three exist today. Homes were built so Indoor Ranges were the thing. But now they are being closed too.

RetiredRod said:
Being a life-long Midwesterner, for me there would be 100 downsides to living in LA.

But you do not have to shovel snow, we have the annual Rose Parade and In 'n Out Cheeseburger franchises are here.

Che

· #37 · 6 d ago

GuitarmanNick said:
This load is intended for self-defense use in my 2" Model 10-7, K-frame.
With 125 grain Hornady XTPs, I use 6.2 grains of unique @ 1.455" COAL. This results in about 1043 FPS and is equivalent to most +P factory defensive ammo.
My general range loads consist of a 125 grain jacketed soft point or plated hollow point and 5.5 grains of Unique @ 1.470" COAL. Result is between 830 and 900 FPS which is stout, but equivalent to most standard factory ammo.

I do not believe in shooting light loads. Training should be identical to conditions you may encounter in a real situation, IMO.

I am doing 6.0 Unique with the Hornady 125 XTP for 38 Special. I am doing 9.0 Unique with the Hornady 125 XTP in 357 Magnum.

Light loads have their place but Defense Loads should be fired frequently.

Che

· #38 · 6 d ago

AutoTom said:
My .38 spl handload is 4.5-5.0gr Unique, 158gr rnfp coated bullet from Missouri. Ruger BH with 6.5" barrel.
200 downsides to living in the L.A. vicinity. And I live there! Desert bound when I shoot. BTW, 3.4gr Red Dot works well also with same bullet.

Raahuages is always nice for a get together

Kosh75287

· #39 · 6 d ago

I know of 2 indoor ranges, north of the DFW MetroMESS, that enforce the Jacketed Ammo-only rule. I'm not familiar with Texas enviro-laws, but it's difficult for me to imagine that they were banning bare-lead bullets because of any ordinance, state or municipal.
I think they also allowed plated projectiles.

glider

· #40 · 6 d ago

231 or bullseye are my go-to powders for damn near anything. I haven't had any bullseye for a few years, so I guess my favorite has to be 231. 4 to 5 gr of 231 is also good for several calibers, funny how that works. I have a pretty big selection of powders but actually I could get by fine if 231 and 2400 were all I had. I've been using 244 lately, I really like it also. It's a bit heavier by volume than 231. Missouri Bullet coated 148 DEWC is my favorite bullet for range use. Actually, Mo. Bullets are my favorite bullet manufacture for any lead bullets. Since Seirra and Starline are also Missouri companies now they are also favorites. If you go to Seirra you can purchase bullets by the lb. and Starline is next door.

21 - 40 of 45 Posts