Reloading for .38/.357

[Wabatuckian]

Yep. I knew what you meant, was just pulling your leg.

Figgered you had deer season on your mind.

I know you were. I laughed.

I've not deer hunted forever. Wife wants to go with her muzzleloader, but never makes the time to practice with it. I refuse to take her until she masters it.

I'd been reading about revolvers, the evolution of the DA, and the actual backstrap. I'm sure that's why I typed it.

 

[Magyars]

I use Red Dot and Unique primarily. 158 SWC bullets.

 

[Bigdog357]

I use 125gr and 130gr cast bullets
My 38spl powder is Trail Boss @ 3.9gr. I shoot these out of all my 357 and 38spl revolvers as well as my lever guns. Its a nice mild load @ approx 785 FPS

 

[Scott58]

My best results were unique and 125gr jhp.

 

[Leo]

In the last 50 years I have tried many, many different powders, and being a shotshell reloader, many shotgun powders have pistol applications also.

I'll second the motion for WW231 powder, or if you cannot find it, Hodgdon's TiteGROUP. Both a very versatile, and reliable.

 

[42253]

Welcome to the world of 38/357. I have loaded over 6000 rounds and have about 6000 more to go. I have been loading them with CCI, Winchester and Remington primers. Powder I use is Winchester 231. 3.1 grs for 38 special and 3.4 grs for 357 magnum. Bullets Berry's 158gr round nose and flat points. I have used them in S&W 686, S&W 64, S&W 10 and a Taurus not sure what model I just shoot it.

 

[CB1911]

For 38 Special I now shoot only plated or jacketed bullets for the cleanliness and less smoke. I really like the Xtreme plated in 125, 158, and also their full wadcutter. The 125/158 flat points shoot well enough for plinking and some competition. When I want more accuracy or expansion I go with 110/125 Hornady xtp bullets. Powders I like for 38 special include Bullseye, AA#2, AA#5, WST, and Power Pistol.

 

[kennedy759]

I load .38 for my colt python, official police and charter arms with 158 gr laser cast, and universal powder, I know you can`t get universal now, but I have an 8 lb jug to last me a long time.

 

[DadSmith]

Ok, My son and I both have .38/.357 revolvers, I have a reloader, but it is set up for .223
I want to get started on reloading the .38 spl. I have a Lyman reloading manual, and have decided to try Alliant Bullseye powder, I'll need small pistol primers, and dies, and shell holders..
The only reason I'm looking at the Bullseye, is that the manual has it for pretty much every bullet weight for the .38, but I'm looking to the braintrust, that is INGO,
Where would y'all start? I like the 158gr bullet, because it seems the optimal general bullet weight for the .38... Ideas? advice?
The guns used will be a Ruger Security 6 2 3/4" bbl... a Smith Model 64 4'bbl, and a 2' bbl Charter arms Mag Pug...Thank you all in advance
Powder?...
primers?
Bullet weight?

I like CCI 500 primers for all my SPP needs unfortunately it's been tough to get or really expensive. So for plunking I've been using Argentine SPP and saving my CCI primers for Self-defense ammunition.

If you can get ahold of CCI 500, use it. If not any SPP.
2.9gr of Bullseye
148gr wadcutter. I like Summit City Bullets coated WCBN.

This is a soft shooting, and accurate load.

The 148gr wadcutter is probably one of the most accurate bullets for 38 Special along with Hornady XTP bullets.

 

[MrSmitty]

I found some Fedral 158 LRN at my LG, and my 64 liked it, wanting to try to duplicate that, thank guys, some great info here….as usual!!

 

[billybob44]

I found some Fedral 158 LRN at my LG, and my 64 liked it, wanting to try to duplicate that, thank guys, some great info here….as usual!!

Great that you found the load for your S&W 64, Mr.
If you can try to shoot this load over a chronograph, find the speed, and go to your load books to try to find a duplicate recipe.
A plated RN should do just as well without the extra smoke for indoor range.
Or you could do like a lot of us and use powder coated painted projectiles??..Bill.

 

[woodsie57]

Ok, My son and I both have .38/.357 revolvers, I have a reloader, but it is set up for .223
I want to get started on reloading the .38 spl. I have a Lyman reloading manual, and have decided to try Alliant Bullseye powder, I'll need small pistol primers, and dies, and shell holders..
The only reason I'm looking at the Bullseye, is that the manual has it for pretty much every bullet weight for the .38, but I'm looking to the braintrust, that is INGO,
Where would y'all start? I like the 158gr bullet, because it seems the optimal general bullet weight for the .38... Ideas? advice?
The guns used will be a Ruger Security 6 2 3/4" bbl... a Smith Model 64 4'bbl, and a 2' bbl Charter arms Mag Pug...Thank you all in advance
Powder?...
primers?
Bullet weight?

Unique and red dot are also good powder choice's for 158 gr .38s.

 

[canebreaker]

I carry Remington 38spl 125 gr FMJ for defense rounds in my 38 and 357. I reload with 120 gr LRN, Alox lubed. 2.8 gr Bullseye, HP-38, W231 for paper punching at 5 to 15 yards.
The first sleeve of primers was Winchester SPM. Second sleeve was Wolf SPM. I'm on my 2nd sleeve of Wolf SP now. Seems the SPM primers have a bit sharper fire.

 

[crookcountygo]

Welcome to the world of 38/357. I have loaded over 6000 rounds and have about 6000 more to go. I have been loading them with CCI, Winchester and Remington primers. Powder I use is Winchester 231. 3.1 grs for 38 special and 3.4 grs for 357 magnum. Bullets Berry's 158gr round nose and flat points. I have used them in S&W 686, S&W 64, S&W 10 and a Taurus not sure what model I just shoot it.

I also use W231 for my 38/.357 loads. Do you use magnum primers for .357, or standard small pistol?

 

[42253]

I also use W231 for my 38/.357 loads. Do you use magnum primers for .357, or standard small pistol?

Both

 

[Yangos45]

I like using Vihtavuori n320 myself with spp for standard target loads

 

[Slow Hand]

3.5 gr of Bullseye under a 148 wadcutter or a 158 SWC has been a standard 38 load for, well, over a century now. Bullseye was one of the first smokeless pistol powders released and has been a great powder for a long time. I will say that Red Dot is slightly more versatile and loads are pretty close to Bullseye. Either way, you’ll get a lot of shooting out of a single pound of either one of those two powders.

 

[HonkieKowboy]

I also just got into reloading .38 special. From what I gather online it seems HS6 is better for +P heavy weight (ie. 147 grain or above) loads but is not great with standard pressure loads as it has the tendency to not ignite fully. Anyways I've loaded 50 rounds of LRN for it in +P based on Hodgon data (6.6 gr max but I kept myself to around 6.5 gr) and I'll be taking it to the range next weekend for testing if the weather isn't bad.

I also plan on loading 125 grain projectiles with clays or 700x once I get some brass in for light target loads. (I got them for a pretty good price)

Apparently 7 grains of HS6 under a SWHP load bullet was considered to be a safe .38 special load in the October 1966 Handloader Magazine (and reprinted in the 2016 october magazine for their 50th anniversary) based on forum posts elsewhere so maybe I'll try that when I get some hollow points in for FBI loads.