38 Special, 158 gr lead bullet, powder selection
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.Carriertxv
New member
5 grains of Bullseye in a 44 mag case is a long way down there. But it sure is a accurate load.
The VMD chart by Lee is my guide for relative case fill. Bullseye and Unique are close but Red Dot is significantly higher. Green Dot should work too, but these may still not be enough to view powder easily. Clays is relatively high VMD but the chart doesn't show Clay Dot. Trailboss is the champ. Newer powders are not shown. I still have a good supply of SR4756, which was one of the higher VMDs.
I just stocked two 2-pounders of Trail Boss from Powder Valley. I rarely buy powder locally, so there is your core problem. Hazmats for significant quantities are easily amortized across many loads. Get used to loading with more than just pocket money and small supplies.
I just stocked two 2-pounders of Trail Boss from Powder Valley. I rarely buy powder locally, so there is your core problem. Hazmats for significant quantities are easily amortized across many loads. Get used to loading with more than just pocket money and small supplies.
Average Joe
New member
3.0 grains of Red Dot
Why don’t you like Titegroup with cast Boolits?
It's way too smoky, the gun gets hot too fast (I think those are related), and the powder is hard to visually check in the cases because it's so dark and there's not much of it.
I think it might be a good powder for .380 and 9mm with jacketed or plated bullets, but I mostly load revolver cases and I use cast bullets for everything.
J.G. Terry
New member
I have been shooting 38 Special in our little matches lately. Using now the Lyman 150gr. SWC(358477) using 5.5 grains of Accurate #5 has worked very well. The handguns were a five screw Combat Masterpiece and a custom built K38. My normal wad cutter load is 3grs. of Bullseye for excellent accuracy. My Smith 19 is very finicky with 38 Special loads but give excellent accuracy from a Ransom Rest with the WC loads. I'm not saying the #5 loads and the ultimate but does work very well at +P levels. I realize this is not exactly what OP is asking but close.
Addendum: I have been using NRA formula 50/50 lube. The smart arses came to ask what grade of blackpowder was I shooting. The lube may be the major smoke maker
Addendum: I have been using NRA formula 50/50 lube. The smart arses came to ask what grade of blackpowder was I shooting. The lube may be the major smoke maker
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I agree that it does get hot fast and doesn't take up much room in the case.
I do like Titegroup in 9mm using plated bullets, but again the gun gets hot fast.
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The older I get, the cleaner burning products have more appeal. A compromise would be something like Hodgdon Universal. It is light in color, having no graphite coating, so it is easier to see even if it is down in the case. The relative burn rate is somewhere between Bullseye and Unique, which makes for a good .38 Special powder.
It is only a big deal if the person is concerned about double charges for some reason.
Don Fischer
New member
Glad someone threw out Bullseye. I'm sitting here thinking BLC/2 and what I eally mean is Bullseye. Many years ago when I shot a lot more than I do anymore, my pet 38 spec load was 148gr WC with 2.5grs Bullseye! Bot was that nice to shoot!
bamaranger
New member
Unique
I'm believing that Unique was specifically developed to replace BP in the borderline early BP cartridges like the .38 spl. If the case would even hold a double double charge of Unique at any practical charge weight, one should notice it easily. Seating the slug would feel goofy too I'm thinking.
I'm thinking too that a lot of .38's were blown with double charges of fast powder like Bullseye. All the reason I need to load bulky.
I'm believing that Unique was specifically developed to replace BP in the borderline early BP cartridges like the .38 spl. If the case would even hold a double double charge of Unique at any practical charge weight, one should notice it easily. Seating the slug would feel goofy too I'm thinking.
I'm thinking too that a lot of .38's were blown with double charges of fast powder like Bullseye. All the reason I need to load bulky.
A different powder than Trailboss is not really the issue. Nothing is really comparable in smokeless. When case fill is the goal, short of black powder or a substitute smoker, what is needed is to mail order Trailboss. I got my last from Powder Valley in two-pounders.
We can debate how much case fill is needed and various degrees of fill by this powder or that, how to better view the powder charge, etc., but filling a case with smokeless requires Trailboss, and obtaining it might mean mail order with hazmat fee and shipping cost. If one commits to use of the powder and has credit, you order it and the deal is done.
We can debate how much case fill is needed and various degrees of fill by this powder or that, how to better view the powder charge, etc., but filling a case with smokeless requires Trailboss, and obtaining it might mean mail order with hazmat fee and shipping cost. If one commits to use of the powder and has credit, you order it and the deal is done.