38 special 125 grain load data bullseye

Any hotter and we get into a recoil issue. ammunition in the same gun enables that shooter to hunt larger game and to fend off beasts that snarl. 38 Special 125 gr XTP American Gunner Item #90324 | 25/Box The American Gunner line of ammunition is a collection of tried-and-true, versatile loads that are popular with shooters for their target shooting, hunting or self-defense needs. Notes: Bbl Length: 5.6; primer: Fed. .38 special has got to be one of the best calibers there is . As example, 5.8 6.0 grains UNIQUE with a 125 grain HP in a snub nose .357 revolver. 158 gr. Really important to have a chrono if you're going to work up loads When I first bought my chrono, I was amazed at how HOT my loads were - unnecessarily. 10. But still nothing under 3.5". Shot placement is just as important if not more. Great to get the Mrs out there! 32 S&W Long 15,000 of Bullseye, 148 gr lead DEWC and Federal 100 primers. Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. Fifty yards of course is the preferred distance. (Inceptor) Diameter: 0.357" Powder: CFE Pistol (Hodgdon) Primer: WIN WSP Case: WIN Trim Length: 1.145" C.O.L. Smith & Wesson Model 27 .357 Magnum (because no 6-inch Smith & Wesson .38 Special revolver was on hand). Also, too light loads don't allow the bullet to seal the gases causing problems. 2) Ammo that would work in the Air Force's Air Crewman Colt's and Smith and Wesson revolvers that had weak alloy cylinders. The Speers do occasionally and the Magnus a little more. Not as easy to find brass these days as it is not the most popular round anymore. There are many fun uses for buckshot. My Ruger LCR .357 Magnum is pleasant to shoot even with full pressure loads. Insufficient crimping ) ARCHIVED. Bullseye is primarily associated with .38 and .45after all, it says right on the bottle: Great for .38 Special and .45 Auto target loads. But it is equally at home in high-velocity auto loads. I started reloading 38 special as my first cartridge 8 years ago when I was 22, soooo.I have an old mans soul? Don't worry too much about lead/coated/plated/jacketed. My son asked if I wanted him to help, then fired one shot and handed it back. We look at three classics: one each in .45 ACP, .38 Special, and 9mm. Also some WSF. 38 special , bullseye, and 125 grain lead rnfp Handloading, Reloading, and Bullet Casting : The Firing Line Forums > The Skunkworks > Handloading, Reloading, and . When using a 158 gr. Good shootin! 38 spl.s. At 25 you can get away with a lighter load. Now theres an old memory. They have a large selection about the hard cast loads from 90 to 170 gains. 2.9 of Clays is soft enough and dead accurate at 50yds. You trade a little less speed for a little more mass but at snubnose velocities I really think the standard 158 grain slug gives the best penetration. Ive saved all my .38 brass over the last couple of years for whenever I find time to get into reloading. The pistol or revolver of good quality is vital. Data will be standard "book" .38 Special data and I'll not attempt to "hotrod" the loads. If you have a lightweight .38 or older gun, you may want to start with 10% less than max amounts listed above, and work up to the full loads. Classics go well together: circa 1909 S&W .38 Special and traditional 148-grain wadcutter load of 2.7 grains of Bullseye. The upside of the grainage is that the small charges mean more loaded rounds per pound of powderhelpful since Bullseye can take a while to reacquire once the container is empty. If there is a search function for these forums (didn't see one) I'd be happy to use that too Go to the Alliant website and find the data for Unique and Bullseye. Great gun. If she had shot more, I would have probably bought another set of dies, to prevent the need for changing adjustments between the two. ( customer reviews) $ 10.69 - $ 246.00. 357 LCR in 3 inch variant. Recoil is mild enough that for many years it was the golden choice for the next introductory step for young or new shooters after rimfire. VihtaVuori Oy Company, reloading booklet (1995) Numerous magazine articles on reloading special calibers and personal loads where noted. Where many shooters quickly tire of even standard-pressure .38 in the little five-shooters, the wadcutter invites cylinder after cylinder of practice. L6: 1.550 inch = 39.37 mm Barrel Length : 2.0 inch = 50.8 mm Powder : Hodgdon HP38 Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge, incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge. Bullseye Select A Caliber or Gauge Below To View Recipes. Yes I do have a few of the older high quality classic revolvers not the current made Cast Iron garbage that is being vomited out today. Nitpicking is its own reward., I believe the correct spelling is loathe . How does WST compare to Bullseye powder? 5, #2230, and #2460 are products of Accurate Arms Company Im still new to reloading, having done 2500 38 spl with bullseye. I only wish the brass was more available locally. With a charge of only 3.1 grains of Winchester 231 powder, velocities run around 750 to 800 fps with good accuracy and mild recoil. Great article & thread!!! Reduce by 10% to establish a starting charge weight. 125: 125: 130: 135: 140: 140: 146: 148: 158: 158: 158: 170 _____ Quick Links Home Load Data Bullet Points: BE SURE TO CHECK OUT & FOLLOW MY INSTAGRAM FEED CONNECT WITH THE 1895GUNNER.COM COMMUNITY . You will be, essentially, making 38 Short Colt. I burned up about 300 of them before giving up. I have the shrouded hammer version, the 638, and have been wary of training much with it because of its aluminum frame. Depends on what kind of load you're after. Ready to load some Berry's148 gr plated DE wadcutters with Bullseye. Bullseye is the classic pistol powder and the backbone of many pet loads. I have 4 handguns that will shoot .38. I think the 158 lrn is more accurate then the swc but that's just me. Hodgdons Clays, International, Universal and HP38 are good choices. I am way shy of 70 years old and I love me some .38 Special. Ethan Johns is a military professional with worldwide experience in specialized units. Components add up to far less than even generic grade factory ammo. Like almost all pistol cartridges called ".38" the .38 Special actually takes .357" diameter bullets. I load it almost exclusively though with either a powder coated or plated 125 grn bullet. Berry says load plated bullets to mid-range jacketed bullets of same profile and weight or equal to hard cast. Hehe, back before Nick skimmed down. The .38 Special's MAP is 17,000 psi, whereas for the .38 Special +P it is 20,000 psi. I found some data for 148 and 158 gr bullets but no published data on the 125s. NULLI SECUNDUS. The instructors worked magic in many cases, but having a load like this to gradually work shooters onto full-strength loads would have been a great tool. Anyway, you are probably right that the revolver guys trend towards the older end of the spectrum, but I think some of the younger guys are starting to catch on to the magic of wheel guns. He loves this gun and keeps it in reach 24/7. Clays, Universal, HP38, HS6 and H4895 are products of Hodgdon Powders. 38 special is a great cartridge. My Reloading Manual for .38 Special has plenty of data for 125 gr JHP, and 125 gr JFP for Scot Powders/Vhitavuori, but nothing for Unique/W231/Bullseye. My Hornady 11th edition shows this for 38 Special 158 gr lead RN, LSWCHP and LSWC. To many shooters, .45 ACP means 230-grain hardball at 830 fps. LOL. .38 Special +P (Alliant Reloaders Guide) Warning! Plated bullets are to be loaded as lead bullets. Jacketed bullets are legal for DR, as long as they are 158 grain round nose or semi-wadcutter. I'd imagine I'm not the first person to use this load, but I have found it is a very sooty/smokey load. Here is the dillema: The Lyman manual says starting load is 3.2 grains and MAX. Dec 18, 2011. Main issue is that the .44 spl. .38 will take care of nearly any critter that needs dispatching feral cats, raccoon, armadillo, even wait for it. The Lyman is handy for sizing or priming while youre watching a movie. LRNFP - your load, with a plated bullet should be Very Similar, or slightly slower and safer. September 2015 S.W.A.T. Everyone here who has tried plated bullets including myself, have had disappointing results in accuracy. more weight than the similar size CA .44 Bulldog, were available, a lot more people would also like the .44 spl. Powder Bul Weight C.O.L. 11/2/2022. Thats a pretty clear explanation and comparison of the NEEDS of the strength of the chamber for each caliber. IMR 3031 and IMR 4895 are products of IMR (formerly DuPont) Powder Company. There have been guns Ive bought for the caliber, but the .38 wasnt one of those. You can fit 7.1gr of powder under the 125gn JHP bullet? Because we have no action to cycle, the novice reloader can afford to be off a bit if they have an entry-level scale or powder dispenser. Two years into my second century a Colt MK IV Series 80 LTWT Commander 45 ACP still delivers the big medicine, but I have become enthralled with a new wheel gun- a Charter Arms Professional 32 H&R Magnum. Main fame for the .38 is now the J frame size revolvers, as a CCW gun. I have often thought about reloading .357 brass to .38 special velocities to get around that, but have just never decided to actually do it. Case life is excellent, especially for mild loads. And Vihtavouris N320 and N321 fall in this range for burning times. Even better, is get some 38 S&W brass. 594/600 at the real distances of 24 rnds at 50 yds, 24 rnds at 25 yes, and 12 rnds at 7.5 yds. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Never ransom rested it, but held 10 ring off sandbags. Jacketed bullets create a bit more wear on the rifling, but its better than trying to wire brush out a bunch of lead build up. Im not recommending that you carry the Bullseye load, but dont feel as if you are going to tactical purgatory for enjoying this load, either. Over 20,000 rounds, Ive found that theres rarely a wrong way to do .38 SPL. If there is only ONE load, it is MAX. I just bought some 158 gr SWC bullets that are pure lead. Magtech Sport Shooting, 38 Special, 125 Grain, Full Metal Jacket, Flat, 50 Round Box 38Q 6.) Youre describing Remington Multiball ammunition (R357MB)- I used to carry that stuff decades ago. You can post now and register later. The .38 Special is the most popular of all centerfire revolver cartridges. Recoil was so nasty that I quit after five shots and saved the rest of the box for my 6 Model 19 .357. Going up to 3.9 Gr for +P. Speer .38 shot cup, 5 grains of UNIQUE, and (3) #1 Buckshot pellets dates back to the 70s as a Junk Yard Dog load. The jump straight to relatively hot GI hardball challenged many students, and failure to meet standards meant being dropped from the course. Magnum 44 S&W Special 45 Colt 45 Auto 45 G.A.P 9mm Luger 9x18mm Makarov 32 S&W Long (Cowboy Action) 32-20 Win. 357 Magnum 35,000 This Cast Reloading Bullet feeds great in automatics and has excellent accuracy in both the 9mm and 38 Super. BrianEnos.com So I'd think you should find a decent load for short line at about 700 Fps and for the long line at about 800. Testing out some bullseye with 125 berry's bullets.. I find the Pachmayr Compac grips on my 640 reduce the slap of full-boat .357 to less than that on my 3 M65 (w/ wood Altamont grips) or my 4 686 (Pachmayr Gripper Professional grips.) The floor does not apply for PPC, or the equivalent match for Action Pistol. Youd just be risking ALOT firing it in a .38 framed revolver. Bullseye 3.2gr / 763fps --> 4.2gr / 892fps (max) Unique 4.3gr / 773fps --> 5.3gr / 944fps (max) 231 3.9gr / 733fps --> 4.8gr / 896pfs (max) These are out of a 5.5 inch barrel Edited June 25, 2016 by jschweg Dr. Phil Classifieds 712 I used to reload .38s and .357s with 158 grain LSWC bullets over 4.3 and 6.5 grains of Unique. hebyta 3.) I may have to rethink my plan. Interesting. Paste as plain text instead, Good thing I didn't go with the original powder charge I intended to use. Ideal load in a 2 J Frame .38. I make a habit of counting the number of reloads I make by keeping a tally of primer and bullet boxes. 5 are good choices. This. Does anyone have any data. 110gr JHP! What sort of wildlife are you thinking would be a good application for this self-defense load? in a belt holster at 4:00. Currently using Titegroup, but started out with, and loaded many thousands of rounds, with Bullseye. I go with the cheap and easy shake and bake technique that requires only plastic Glad container with a lid, handful of black 6mm BBs and old toaster owen. People who prepare usually tend to focus on the survival basics: security/self-defense, water, food, first aid, sanitation/hygiene, knowing when to get out and when to stay put. (bullseyeforum.net). The 38 Special, practically snubnose 38 Specials, seem to do their best work with bullets right around the 155-160 grain range. .38 J frame.) Years back, for indoor matches I teamed the heavier S&W Model 28 with 3.4 grains of the same powder and bullet in . . Here's what the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook says for cast 125g flatpoint for 38 in the powders you mentioned. Not all guns are created equal. In one or two strokes, the bullet is formed ready for dip lubing. Reloading .44 Spl. have been factored in, but Looks like starting with roughly 4.2 of W231. Eventually somebody introduced me to tungsten carbide resizing dies, after which case life became near indefinite. The 125 Hornady XTP, a jacketed hollow point bullet that can easily handle 1500 fps velocities. THAT TIME IS BETTER SPENT LEARNING HOW TO SHOOT THE REVOLVER IN THE RAPID FIRE PORTION. I shoot a Glock 21, and had a great time shooting some poly coated 230 grain round noses today. The 9mm Bullseye load is a good stand-in for either training or match ammo, with the velocity putting the power factor comfortably over the minimum for action sports without too much extra oomph. I did 400 rounds in one afternoon on my Hornady progressive. So, I'm guessing the pressure curve isn't as severe as some of the faster burners. I started loading .38s with a Lyman nut cracker and a home made measure for Bullseye over 65 years ago. I just bought a Lyman mold 160 round nose with a crimp groove. Have a Tritium sight and laser on it to boot. You can't rely on this because not all variables for YOUR cases and chamber and loading length, etc. This is not loaded 9mm ammo. 148-grain wadcutter brings accuracy that begs the shooter to test their limits. accuracy. For those who have issues using auto pistils, due ti arthritis or other medical issues with the hands an LCR or 642 is a great choice. My grandkids think Im pulling their leg, when I tell them about the freedoms that NIMBYs took away. My M60 came w/ factory banana grips- open back, long enough for pinkie rest but too small in girth behind the trigger guard. Always make sure your lead bullets have been sized and lubricated. Hi. Its the kind of load that will make you fall in love with the 1911 all over again! is limited to either the various Charter Arms models, or as a training/target load in a .44 magnum size handguns. This produces about 550-650fps from a 1 7/8 barrel and feels like shooting a very powerful .22LR. I don't have a chronograph, but have considered picking one up. In fact, Hornady's handloading manual includes .357-inch bullets in the load data for the .38 Super, specifically 125-grain and 140-grain XTP bullets, along with .355-inch bullets, and their one remaining .356-inch bullet, the 125-grain HAP. I have used everything from simple lead to the most advanced machined copper bullets and found them all to be extraordinarily easy to load and shoot. Haven't tried it in the Colt Officer's Model Match yet. My other son fired one shot and handed it back. Now, you have to go to a range or have a membership and pay to fill the backstop with lead. VV N320, N330 and N340 are products of VihtaVouri Oy Company Tim: The Lyman 49th edition lists the accuracy loads for their cast bullets. I dont mind it at all, though others do and look to similar performing powders that address these things. A little shopping around might do better, as would casting the lead bullets. 300 Blackout Fine-Tuning: Finding the Right Barrel Length for Your Rifle. As a young man, I came into a couple of cases of hand-me-down factory mid-range wadcutters. With all the loads available, you can surely find one within recoil tolerance. Horrible 5-12" groups at 25 yds. These two can cover the entire performance spectrum up to .38+P. Ok, will the bullet easily pass thru the cylinder throat, if so, you need the next larger size bullet dia. It would have been too hot. I do this for my .357s but this article is about .38 Special loads. I will always love the 38 SPL (never cared much for 357 Mag), but that 3 seven shot Charter with both 32 S&W Long and 32 H&R Mag is truly the bees knees. Most starting .357 reloading powder levels will fall in this .38 +P+ type reload, and the powder being used can be selected (faster or slower) based on barrel length. My more serious RN is the 358311 that drops @150 gr. Use data for weight. https://www.bullseyeforum.net/t2221-distinguished-revolver-loads-that-don-t-suck. From my Hornady Third Edition manual 38 Special 158 Grain Lead Round Nose #3586 Win 231 3.0 Grains 650 FPS 4.4 Grains 850 FPS Now I will tell you from experience you do NOT want to load Lead Bullets Fast. I cannot begin to fathom shooting 20,000 rounds out of that revolver! Unlike many other guns Ive owned and carried, this little snubby really cant be modified much beyond factory configuration. I SEE THAT YOUR TALKING ABOUT USE THE AMMO FOR D/R. The Internet Pedant The quality of the loads equals a bargain. I carried a lightly customized 4 inch heavy barrel model 10 for years, with a black cerakote job. Ive probably picked up 300 cases of .38 the past few months and will continue to grab them as I see them, but whats nice is I can shoot more and put that money towards brass for .32 or .45 Colt, stuff that I never see at the range. You have entered an incorrect email address! Powders include IMR, Hodgdon, Alliant, Vihtavuori, Winchester, Accurate The 38 Special Ball round was designed a long time ago to comply with specifications laid down for ammo that was : 1) Compliant with the Hague Accords of 1907 in regard to "unnecessarily" injurious ammunition. I wanted a good carry gun that was light and reliable, so I decided that the .38 would fit and I just went with it. I too must be older than my years (35), as I love reloading .38SPL and have a S&W 442, S&W 36, and my most recent acquisition is a S&W 19-5 that is an absolute joy to shoot. in 158 weight berry's bullet 3.8 grains of bullseye with a taper crimp. It'll look funky, but it will shoot. .38 Special (Using Hornady Bullets) reloading data with 353 loads. If all you practice with is the easy comfortable stuff, its not really practice. While I wish I could carry a 5 .45 WITNESS with several 10 round mags, as a senior citizen, the S&W J frame is my user friendly alternate. Most DNR (Do Not Reduce) loads are well over 900-fps. 9 and others like 2400 that are generally used for magnums). Bullseye is one of the oldest smokeless pistol powders and still one of the most popular. Most notably the lighter weight bullets. I believe this particular bullet is meant for the 9mm,but drops at 358. Bullseye is the classic pistol powder and the backbone of many pet loads. I bought a Ruger Alaskan in 454 Casull last year ahead of a hunt up in Wyoming. Hornady 115-grain HAPs over 4.4 grains of Bullseye alongside 25-yard timed-fire target. defensive ammo. (Note H110 & W296 are the same as of 2008 as is HP-38 & W231), (IMR 4227 is same as H-4227 if made in Australia), * Blackhorn 209 is a black powder substitute with smokeless like qualities. Canister Sizes: View All Bullseye Recipes Create an account in a few clicks or log in to continue. 10,870. The manufacturing process of swaged bullets requires relatively soft lead for two reasons. 9 mm, .40 sw, 45 acp, .44 mag. rattlesnake of a revolver made me bleed. This load tends to clock about 670 feet-per-second (fps) give or take 20, depending on the exact brand of wadcutter and the revolver its fired in. Were all familiar with the old adage, Never bring a knife to a gunfight. And while we should, The active shooter is a relatively new phenomenon in the grand scheme of things. Thanks for the excellent article, Josh! The Bullseye powder pushed five into two inches flat for another 1911 that is typically a four-inch gun. I have tried several different grips before finding the one that worked for me. Required fields are marked *. Boolit Grand Master. I am aware of the plated bullet limitations on BE accuracy and am more interested in them for their "plinkability". However recoil will be the limiting factor especially for the short line. If youre recoil averse (and dont have a disability of some kind), its because you havent shot it enough. In the 1950s, 60s. Very versatile cartridge. SWC+GC, But I think I was still loading the cases from that first box when I quit loading 18 years later! Bought my small handed wife a 642. (Or so I have heard.). It doesnt appear like there is much of an advantage in using WST with lighter weight bullets. In a nutshell & I mean very short version. Even at hot .44 mag velocities my Super Redhawk has shiny bore with zero leading. Click there and go to the load data lookup section . The SP101 is far more comfortable to shoot but not so much fun to carry. Coming in 30 grains lighter and 80 fps slower than hardball, as well as being lead rather than jacketed, the 200/4.6 SWC is amazingly soft. Agree 100% since I reload and shoot it since years, lost count. 5 are good choices. WITH THE SWAGED BULLETS REDDING SELLS A PROFILE CRIMP DIE. If you, I took the vow not to buy any more AR-15s a couple of years ago. Maybe its just me, but having that tiny bit of extra length and weight in the cylinder that I was never going to use just kinda bothered me. But this piece isnt about the gun, but rather the cartridge. I have done it with 38 special and 44 Mag, only to have a lead coated bore that looked like a rusty old drain pipe. When using a 158 gr. Thanks very much to LarryinTX for that! AA#2 is about the same burn rate, but burns much cleaner with less smoke in my guns. You can always back off to the .32 S&W Long or .32 H&R Mag if you choose to. The Pistol a Smith and Wesson model 27-2 The goal is two fold. If you are new to reloading. Hodgdon gives starting load of 4.0 grains and 4.4 grains MAX. Your previous content has been restored. This wire is then fed into a machine called a cold header. All right are Reserved Reload Ammo, Reloading The .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol), hi=849 lo=728 ES=122 (powder up and down), hi=821 lo=684 ES=137 (powder up and down), hi=815 lo=637 ES=178 (powder in normal positions), hi=714 lo=549 ES=165 (powder up and down), hi=758 lo=693 ES=65 (powder up and down)(DO NOT USE LESS), Hi=886, Lo=861, ES=25 (This is a Carolina Cast bullet SWC-great cowboy load), hi=859 lo=743 ES=116 *(my personal medium load), hi=875 lo=685 ES=190.2(powder up and down), hi=710 lo=497 ES=213 (powder up and down), hi=791 lo=625 ES=166 (Powder up and down), hi=785 lo=670 ES=115 (powder up and down), hi=801, low=766 ES=35.32 in Contender 14 bbl. I was just trying to get a general consensus of what other guys were using. You are absolutely correct. I have 100% confidence in my ability to shoot quickly, accurately, and comfortably with the 32, and I also have confidence that, if needed, my 32 H&R loads from Buffalo Bore and DoubleTap are quite capable of doing the job they are asked to do. IF YOU ARE USING SWAGED 158GR BULLETS 3.1 WILL WORK, IF USING HARD CAST 3.3 IS NEEDED. Most modern revolvers chambered for .38 SPL are rated to +P, so there is room for error, but care must still be taken. I buy 158 SWCHP all the time.my main bullet. I simply took mixed brass and ran em through the Hornady Lock-N-Load AP press with the bare minimum preparation. Im new to loading the 38 for accuracy, but the biggest issue I found with case length is your crimp. I carry my M642 extensively, but I only shoot it occasionally because it is a snappy little b!tch with standard loads. The range (understandably) insisted you shoot their ammunition and the mildest they had was 158 grain LRN standard pressure. As a result, Ive been able to spend far more time practicing with it rather than fussing with it. I'm looking for some recipes for 38 special for a 125 grain copper plated (like Berry's) flat point bullet using Unique, Bullseye, or W231. Dont know where #1 Buckshot can be found, but the Speer shot cups and UNIQUE powder currently easy enough to find. If you have the means, I highly recommend you trying one out. Some medium fast powders would work with lighter weight bullets. I first started reloading 40+ years ago at a Lee Loader in .38 Special for a brand new Smith & Wesson Model 66 I had just purchased. I have 125 grain jacketed bullets, Bullseye powder and CCI 500 primers. 38 Special, all bullet weights Bullet Powder Weight Powder Velocity OAL Primer Source 110gr JHP! As anyone learns quickly, first thing that needs to be done is to replace the small factory S&W grips (I use Hogue) so you can hold onto the gun. For example, a Glock 17 shot the HAP into 1.35 inches and the FMJ into 2.2 inches at 25 yards. Due to different barrel lengths, type of bullet, seating depth, primer type and other factors, you may not get near the FPS charted. I'm seating to what's in my loading manual. 3.7gr WST with Zero 158 SWC did the job for me. I don't know what bullets you have, but Berry's recommends per their website to use hard cast data for their plated bullets. JHP, (WC= WadCutter, SWC= Semi-WadCutter, HP= Hollow Point, RN= Round Nose), (JHP= Jacketed Hollow Point and if GC indicated, means Gas Check at bottom of lead bullet). Min Charge Max Charge Optimal Charge Bullet Make Bullet Type Primer Notes; Hodgdon - 700-X: 125 gr.