Again, not necessarily looking at case FILLING just simply more space than titegroup. Not sire the fill percentage in a 38 case with TG but as stated in a pregious post HS6 seems to be close to half filling the case with a 158. What I loaded today seems to replicate that. Gotta get out and shoot em soon.
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Your favorite 38 special powder?
- Thread starter Chainsaw.
- Start date
Average Joe
New member
w231 or BE86
Accurate 5 is very bulky, charge weights take up a lot of space, velocity figures are high, a very effective powder.
Actually, Accurate #5 is one of the highest density (least bulky) pistol powders. As a result, a comparable load of other popular medium speed powders like Unique, Universal, Power Pistol, and HS-6 will generally fill the case more than #5.
On the flip side, the higher density of #5 tends to be an advantage for smaller auto cartridges like the 9mm. This is especially true when loading with progressive equipment where a bulkier powders tend to get jarred out of the case s little more during press indexing.
Are you loading on a progressive press? Are you wanting to be able to throw your charge from a powder measure and not check-weigh it?
If so, Bullseye and HP-38 have worked well for me.
If you are interested in weighing the charge for every round, you can get some surprisingly good, consistent results using Hi-Skor 800-X, which is my hand's down favorite for loading 158 grain JHP bullets in 38 Special for use in an S&W model 36.
If so, Bullseye and HP-38 have worked well for me.
If you are interested in weighing the charge for every round, you can get some surprisingly good, consistent results using Hi-Skor 800-X, which is my hand's down favorite for loading 158 grain JHP bullets in 38 Special for use in an S&W model 36.
Thats a good question, for this particular loading, once developed Ill probably be loading on my progressive (still gotta buy a caliber change kit). So far with my single stage loadings I'm liking the throw of hs6 so far. HS6 is just like tite group which throws well in my progressive.
The max load of Trailboss is plenty of power for that cartridge and is rated at just over 800 fps. My Hodgdon data shows 4.2 gr for the 158 lead bullet, while I actually use the minimum load of 3.0 for Cowboy shooting with 125 gr lead and still have a rating of 750 fps. Any of these tall, narrow cases, 38 Special and the magnums, probably even 327 Fed Mag, can be loaded with Trailboss and shoot well.
I believe anytime Unique is indicated, BE-86 is worth a look too. I use SR4756 for its relatively high VMD, easier to spot powder charges in tall cases, but once my stash is gone, I will have to find something else, probably just go with Trailboss.
I believe anytime Unique is indicated, BE-86 is worth a look too. I use SR4756 for its relatively high VMD, easier to spot powder charges in tall cases, but once my stash is gone, I will have to find something else, probably just go with Trailboss.
You are going to laugh.
I bought an 8 lb jug of Promo when powder was hard to find.
I use it just like Bullseye, using load data from older lyman books for Red Dot which it is with out the red dots. It has the same WEIGHT charge as Red Dot, but the volume is different. For shotgun, a different bushing is needed than Red Dot.
I used most of the jug in the last few years loading 38, 45 and some Cast Rifle rounds.
I would usually use Bullseye for these loads and Unique for the hot ones (+P)
David
I bought an 8 lb jug of Promo when powder was hard to find.
I use it just like Bullseye, using load data from older lyman books for Red Dot which it is with out the red dots. It has the same WEIGHT charge as Red Dot, but the volume is different. For shotgun, a different bushing is needed than Red Dot.
I used most of the jug in the last few years loading 38, 45 and some Cast Rifle rounds.
I would usually use Bullseye for these loads and Unique for the hot ones (+P)
David
9mmSkeeter
New member
When I loaded 38 I believe I settled on 700-X.
I like flake powders especially in large casings. I wouldn't recommend TiteGroup or Auto Comp or any of those powders you can easily fit triple/quad charges in. Just my safety preference, do what you want.
I like flake powders especially in large casings. I wouldn't recommend TiteGroup or Auto Comp or any of those powders you can easily fit triple/quad charges in. Just my safety preference, do what you want.
Since my original post (#8), this thread has morphed.
Just to answer the generic "what is your favorite 38 Spl powder" question; that would be: Winchester 231 - hands down.
There are others, and from my experience . . .
Bullseye is great, but runs residuey.
AA#2 is great, but gets to leaving a grainy byproduct behind if you don't run it up a bit. Although it's fast, I think it likes a bit more pressure than most in its speed range. Even at that, it gives consistent results - even when turned down and running grainy. But overall, I think it's better suited for range level, light bullets in semi-autos (9mm, 40 S&W).
TiteGroup is good but runs too hot and needs to be under plated (rather than lead or coated) bullets. It is also really dense and so it has a very low case fill - which makes some loaders understandably nervy (not me).
N-310 and Nitro 100 is great for low-end, straight target loads. But these super fast propellants should not be run up the ladder very far - pressures could skyrocket.
Red Dot, like Bullseye, tends to run residuey. And it's just a touch slower. I have made good range shooters with it, but just haven't used it in years.
None of these above-mentioned propellants have the versatility and clean, cool burn of Winchester 231. It just works - all the way around.
I have also used intermediate propellants such as AA#5, Unique, HS-6, Green Dot, and Power Pistol. They all work; but aren't that versatile because you gotta pump 'em up under heavy bullets to get them to run properly. They work well for +P defense loads and such, but they are not what I consider workable over a broad range of 38 Special pressures.
And AA#9 with 38 Special? . . . uhh, no.
Just to answer the generic "what is your favorite 38 Spl powder" question; that would be: Winchester 231 - hands down.
There are others, and from my experience . . .
Bullseye is great, but runs residuey.
AA#2 is great, but gets to leaving a grainy byproduct behind if you don't run it up a bit. Although it's fast, I think it likes a bit more pressure than most in its speed range. Even at that, it gives consistent results - even when turned down and running grainy. But overall, I think it's better suited for range level, light bullets in semi-autos (9mm, 40 S&W).
TiteGroup is good but runs too hot and needs to be under plated (rather than lead or coated) bullets. It is also really dense and so it has a very low case fill - which makes some loaders understandably nervy (not me).
N-310 and Nitro 100 is great for low-end, straight target loads. But these super fast propellants should not be run up the ladder very far - pressures could skyrocket.
Red Dot, like Bullseye, tends to run residuey. And it's just a touch slower. I have made good range shooters with it, but just haven't used it in years.
None of these above-mentioned propellants have the versatility and clean, cool burn of Winchester 231. It just works - all the way around.
I have also used intermediate propellants such as AA#5, Unique, HS-6, Green Dot, and Power Pistol. They all work; but aren't that versatile because you gotta pump 'em up under heavy bullets to get them to run properly. They work well for +P defense loads and such, but they are not what I consider workable over a broad range of 38 Special pressures.
And AA#9 with 38 Special? . . . uhh, no.
Just go home from trying a load of HS6 under 158grain cast lead bullets. I like it, accuracy is as good as I can shoot it, burnt nice and clean. But like a dumb dumb I forgot my chronograph, oh well, next time. Did feel like a nice stiff load but no signs of over pressure, cases fell from the cylinder easy.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Ill post up some chronograph speeds when I get around to it.
Thanks for all the suggestions. Ill post up some chronograph speeds when I get around to it.
sigpro2022
Inactive
Bullseye, HS-6, 231, & Titegroup