Need Recommendation .38 Light Load

[BigDog58]

148 HBWC LEAD WITH 2.7 gr. Bullseye. Accurate, low recoil and cheap

Thank you, will load some and do some testing at the range.

[Eleanor08]

The 125's I have are Plated from Berry's so should I consider their loads as lead? I also have many 158 gr, wadcutters, semi-wadcutters and some jacketed Soft Hollow points. Jacket goes about half way up then the rest is exposed lead.

I wouldn't even consider power pistol or Lil gun!

Can I ask why you don't recommend Power Pistol?

[rugersol]

The 125's I have are Plated from Berry's so should I consider their loads as lead? I also have many 158 gr, wadcutters, semi-wadcutters and some jacketed Soft Hollow points. Jacket goes about half way up then the rest is exposed lead.

I wouldn't even consider power pistol or Lil gun!

Can I ask why you don't recommend Power Pistol?

Power Pistol is a relatively "slow" powder ... more appropriate fer .38+P loads ... not "light" loads ... from Alliant, Bullseye would be a much better choice, fer "light" loads!

... moreover, specific to .38spl, many .38spl-only (not otherwise chambered fer .357) guns have shorter bbl's ... at which, a slower powder will not burn-up anywhere near completely, before the bullet exits the bbl ... resulting in either unburnt powder, or powder burning past the muzzle (fireball) ... neither of which would be conducive to such a gun's primary purpose (self defense)!

I don't personally use Power Pistol ... so, aside from a basic understanding of its burn-rate, and what I've otherwise stated, I really couldn't say if it's a "good" or "bad" powder! ... it may be perfectly fine! ... but not a good choice fer short-bbl "light" loads!

It's also highly recommended, particularly with "slower" burning (per application) powders, that ya do not go below the published "min." charge weight! ... 'sposedly ya risk "flashover" and "detonation"! "Slower" pistol powders typically have a higher velocity (bbl length, not withstanding) ... at which, attempting to develop "light" loads would otherwise require going well under the published "min." charge weight! With a "faster" powder, yer not only starting at a significantly slower velocity, as such powder is typically "fluffier", ya may be able to use (relatively) much less of it, and still be "safe"! ... regardless, yer "load density" would still be significantly better than with a "slower" powder (so reduced)!

[Eleanor08]

Thank you for your reply. That makes perfect sense. I do use PP for my .38 load, but it's over the Min data. And it's out of a 6" barrel.

You are exactly right about PP.

Thanks again.

[tator2k]

3.1 gr W231 158 LSWC This is the most common load I use for my wife in all our revolvers. We tried a M85 ultralite once. My wife now perfers a S&W M15. It gives her a little more weight. I was thinking about trying the new bodyguard but it goes back to the same thing and not being fun to shoot.

Only problem with chrono'ing from a small frame like that is shooting your chrono with it. 8(

[OldmanFCSA]

UNBELIEVEABLE ..............................................

NO one, not even S Sam wrote ............................

READ THE FINEST (?) MANUAL !!!


BigJim,
I'm sure you read your manual, but I highly recommend getting a Lyman cast bullet reloading manual, even an old one, as they list lighter loads for cast bullets that can or should be used for plated bullets.
You can read/borrow mine when you come out, ice is off the roads now but ditches still have plenty for your offroad excursions.
Take Care, Be Safe,

OldmanFCSA

[rugersol]

Lyman cast bullet reloading manual

+1

... also, FWIW, some of the booklets, powder manufacturers hand out fer free, include a section specifically fer "cowboy loads" ... also a nice bit of "light" data ... if at least, to correlate with the Lyman Cast Bullet Reference!

[tator2k]

+1
I also use Speer and Hornady books to cross reference load data.

[old guy]

148 HBWC LEAD WITH 2.7 gr. Bullseye. Accurate, low recoil and cheap

This load has been used by target shooters for 75 years, don't worry about squibs.

John

[floydster]

S Sam, I love my Witness Elite Match pistols, I have one in 38 Super and 45 ACP--my go to range guns along side my CZ's.
My fav load for my 38 SPL. 3 grs. Bullseye pushing a 158 gr. SWC.

Smokeyloads

[BigDog58]

UNBELIEVEABLE ..............................................

NO one, not even S Sam wrote ............................

READ THE FINEST (?) MANUAL !!!


BigJim,
I'm sure you read your manual, but I highly recommend getting a Lyman cast bullet reloading manual, even an old one, as they list lighter loads for cast bullets that can or should be used for plated bullets.
You can read/borrow mine when you come out, ice is off the roads now but ditches still have plenty for your offroad excursions.
Take Care, Be Safe,

OldmanFCSA

Doug, After posting this I joined Loaddata.com and it had a wealth of information with light loads for the 1.5" .38 the wife shoots. I also have the following books on my bench, Lee Modern Reloading Second Edition, Nosler Reloading Guide 6, Lyman 49th Reloading Handbook and Hornady Handbook of Cartridge Reloading "Abridged Edition". And if I learned nothing else from you, I learned to RTFM and I have read all of these plus five other reloading books from cover to cover.

As always, the members of this forum have been more than helpful as well. Your training helped me immensely. I just gave a young Military Man your email info and this forum with your User Name. He will be deployed to Afghanistan at the end of this month, but will begin reloading when he gets back. I've offered any help I can give him and highly suggested that he contact you and join this forum. I've loaned him two books to take with him to read in his down time.

Jim