I found some HP38 in the shop and I do load for a .38 Special. Who uses this powder and what charge do you give a 158 grain lead SWC? I don't think Hodgdon's max load of 3.7 grains is going to get it. I've called them before when their listed charge was below what I'd been using and they told me if I liked my heavier charge keep using it as it would be just fine. Haven't looked at their data much since then.
HP38
- Thread starter Rex
- Start date
CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
4.0 x WW-231 has done well for me with a 163 grain Lyman #358429 in my 5" and 6" 38s. Velocities run in the 800-825 FPS range. These are not +P-rated arms, so I don't try to push them real hard. Kinda dumb to try such things with four 357 Magnums in the safe.
ETA--in the past I carried a +P-rated 38 Special at work, a Model 64 x 4". I shot it A LOT with a load of 5.0 x WW231 under the Lyman #358477/150 grain SWC. These clocked in the 925-950 FPS range, were very accurate and extracted easily. In a S&W M-686, you have a LOT of margin-for-error built-in; they are perfectly capable of digesting Doug Wesson-level loads without a bobble (#358156 running 1450 FPS).
ETA--in the past I carried a +P-rated 38 Special at work, a Model 64 x 4". I shot it A LOT with a load of 5.0 x WW231 under the Lyman #358477/150 grain SWC. These clocked in the 925-950 FPS range, were very accurate and extracted easily. In a S&W M-686, you have a LOT of margin-for-error built-in; they are perfectly capable of digesting Doug Wesson-level loads without a bobble (#358156 running 1450 FPS).
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RicinYakima
High Steppes of Eastern Washington
When the family was shooting up a coffee can of 158 SWC's every nice week end, I changed from Bullseye to HP38 when I got an 8 pound keg at a yard sale. 4.5 was the top standard load, and that is what I used as it was not +p. The kids were happy when I went back to 3.0 grains of Bullseye. Forty years ago I loaded hotter loads than today. After all how much energy does it take to break a pine cone?
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CZ93X62
Official forum enigma
Interestingly enough, there was a time when I carried the SIG P-226 in 9mm at work, filled with those lackluster 147 grain JHPs that FBI still thinks are All That And A Bag Of Chips. I got some Winchester bullets from MidwayUSA like those in my issue rounds, and 4.1 grains of WW-231 with the bullet seated at 1.130" OAL shot right with the factory stuff on paper and over the chronograph. 950 FPS or so, and very accurate. As much as i whine and pout about the under-powered sub-sonic loadings, the loads are accurate as can be--from sidearm or SMG.
F
freebullet
Guest
That ALL sounds fun to me.
Helped a newbie work a 45 load with it but, never bought a jug myself.