Anyone shooting a 38 S&W and what do handloads do you shoot?
200 gr lead bullet, 1.7 grs Titegroup, Winchester cases, Federal or CCI small pistol primers. I shoot this in Webley and Enfield pistols.
In post 1910 Iver Johnson and Harrington Richardson revolvers its a 145 gr lead bullet, 2.2 grs Bullseye, Winchester case, Federal or CCI primer. I've loaded black powder for my oldest IJs to shoot a time or two.
173 Keith/NOE unsized at .361, 2grs. Bullseye, Starline case and a small Fed. pistol cap.
I frame Smith
173 Keith/NOE unsized at .361, 2grs. Bullseye, Starline case and a small Fed. pistol cap.
I frame Smith
I hadn't thought of that bullet, thanks
A buddy had a very rare Regulation Police target in 38S&W, 4 1/8” barrel with adjustable sights. It came with a few old red boxes of Remington primed brass that was either copper or copper washed cases. He loaded some kind of 150gr cast bullets over a pinch of Bullseye.
It was one of the coolest S&Ws I’ve ever handled and I was supposed to end up with the whole package. Sadly he went and died on me and I have no idea what became of the little RP. I would really liked to have had that revolver.
The memory is from the '80s, but it seems like a Speer or Hornady hollow based swaged wad cutter and Red Dot worked in a relative's High Standard. Soft HB bumped up to barrel diameter I presume.
2.5 grains of bullseye and a 148 gr.Speer wadcutter have worked well for me in two 38 S&W’s
Looking for a light, accurate, confidence building load.
Are wadcutters the way to go?
Bullseye?
HBWC, 3.5g Bullseye was a classic target load back in the ancient days.
HBWC, 3.5g Bullseye was a classic target load back in the ancient days.
That's way too much for the 38 S&W.
2.5 grains of bullseye and a 148 gr.Speer wadcutter have worked well for me in two 38 S&W’s
Is that a swaged bullet?
Yes, hollow based.
Either the Speer hollow base of flat base. I use the flat base and load it out about 0.2” with q light crimp in one of the lube cannelures. There’s a photo of one loaded in an old Speer loading manual IIRC.
Do people not know the 38 S&W is NOT the 38 Special??? You could blow up a great and classic gun with the Special loads in the S&W!!!!!!!!!!!!! Be Well, Rustyzipper.
Yep, brain fart thinking the special. Good reason to never listen to anyone on the net, especially me.
200 gr lead bullet, 1.7 grs Titegroup, Winchester cases, Federal or CCI small pistol primers. I shoot this in Webley and Enfield pistols.
In post 1910 Iver Johnson and Harrington Richardson revolvers its a 145 gr lead bullet, 2.2 grs Bullseye, Winchester case, Federal or CCI primer. I've loaded black powder for my oldest IJs to shoot a time or two.
Have you chronographed that 200gr bullet load? I'm curious what that old hog gets for speed in that wee case.
Well I'd hate to shoot my Colt Police Positive .38 S&W (Chase Manhattan Bank stamped) with a handload but...
Now this is for a swing out cylinder revolver of modern steel. Not a top break. And start low and work your way up.
A 148 grain HBWC and 2.5 grains of Bullseye works well. You can actually load it a bit 'hotter'.
And no I don't reverse the bullet to make some kind of manstopper load. The wadcutter itself is actually a good SD load.
Almost like a .38 Special match load!
Do note.. if you want to make it a .38 Special +p.. buy one. These old guns are not to be revved up to something they are not.
2.5 grains of bullseye and a 148 gr.Speer wadcutter have worked well for me in two 38 S&W’s
I'm using 150gr SWC with 3.8grs Red Dot. But, my all time favorite 38 load is 2.5gr of Bullseye and that 148gr WC. Still got the 148gr mold but it just doesn't throw that nice of bullet's anymore.