Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 38 special loads

Just picked up a S&W model 61-7 in stainless. Don't know [bleep] about what grain bullet is normal and was looking for ideas for reloads. Seems it might be a fun shooter. Also, is it good for +P loads as well. Educate me as this is a first for me.

148gr LWC`s backed by Bullseye is a classic. I liked 158gr LSWC with Unique when I was loading for the 38, never put any +p ammo together or felt the need for it. A 357 does much better if you need more Omppph IMO.

158 lead semi wadcutter hollow points WW or Rem +P for factory, for reloads, 158 lead swc over 5-6 grs of unique is hard to beat

You can put me in the 158 LWC and Unique camp too.

Dale

148gr HBWC (hollow base wad cutters) for best accuracy.
158 gr LSWC (lead semi wadcutters) for lots of economical practice. I have been using HP38 under these bullets. You can get 1800+ rounds from a pound of powder.
When it's time for +P loads, I tend towards the 125 gr Speer Gold Dot, tho' there are lots of good alternatives. 2400. Blue dot & 800X have worked well for me in developing loads that shoot to the same point of aim as factory loads and the 158 gr LSWC's I use for most practice & qualification.

Just for shooting and not for defense or killing stuff, I have used pounds of WW 231 powder, and either home cast 158 SWC or 148 WC. Loaded them with 2.3 grains of 231, and they shot sweet and accurate for either PPC or falling plates. 231 burns cleaner than Bullseye, and it was cheaper at the time.

There is probably more reloading stuff for the .38 Special around than any other hangun caliber. It is truly one of my favorites and I have a lot of .38 pistols. The lower powered cast bullets with a fast powder are great and you can load plus P with other powders easily if your gun is rated for it. Look it up to make sure. Two things to remember:
1. You need to be a careful reloader to use fast powders like Bullseye, etc. A double charge is easy and it will take your gun apart and maybe eyes and a hand.
2. Don't reduce jacketed bullets below the book minimums or the jackets might stick in the barrel. I have done this.
Good Luck! Have fun with your .38. The ballgame is starting!!!!

I always liked 158 SWCs, with either 4.0 231 or 5.0 Unique. Neither could be called +P, but both loads shot very well in a variety of different revolvers. Speer swaged SWCs shoot awfully well in that velocity range, without undue leading. A good cast bullet can be run quite a bit faster.

If I was just plinking around with a .357, I just added 1.0 gr. of powder to those loads in the .357 case.

"Just picked up a S&W model 61-7 in stainless."

Could you check the model #? Could it be a 60? If it is a 6 series, it will be SS except for the 61 as best that I can remember. The 61 was the escort, a 22 LR.

4.0 of WW231/HP-38 works well in our .38s and .357s.

A S&W model 61 is a small .22 semiauto pistol from the '70's, called the Escort, as like2shoot says above.

http://jtjersey.com/Escort/smith.htm

So we can't comment on +P loads until we are sure of your model number. My favorite .38 reloads are a 148 gr. HBWC with 2.7 grs. Bullseye and a 158 gr. SWC or RN with 3.5 grs. Bullseye. They are classic standard pressure loads.

That is weird, it is stamped MOD 61-7. No other numbers on it other than the serial number.

I am retarded, it is stamped 67-1. Is it rated for +P??

i generally use 158gr cast bullets for practice/play.. i keep them mild for the wife and boys but use factory HP's for carry/defense...

I would say probably not, but ask here, they know more than me. http://www.smith-wesson.com/webapp/...001_750051_757826_-1_757814_757812_image