38 snubnose

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Sam06

New member
I have been reloading for 30 years but never reloaded for a snubbie. All my revolvers are big barrel big bore guns. I have not reloaded for a 38 in 30 years. The last time was when I was a kid with an old Black Hawk. I am looking for a good powder to put under a 38 SPL fired in a 2" non+P rated revolver. I am looking at the 158gr LSWCHP(swagged lead) bullet. This will be a plinking and messing around Pistol. I will use it for for SD somtimes but against attacking Pop cans and maybe a mean dog every once in a moon.

I have a bunch of Red Dot(Old style) is that a good powder for a snub nose revolver?

I am thinking that a 158gr bullet moving quick will be the best round for this gun. Is that the way to go? I am more concerned with penatration than expansion. I realize that I will be lucky to get 700FPS from that Load combo.

The gun is a S&W M38(Light Weight Body Guard) how will recoil be in that gun with 158's in it.

If anyone has a proven load that is good in a snub please post it. I will approach all INTERNET loads with caution. I will not sue you like some of the Glock guys want to do(LOL).

Thanks
 
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joneb

New member
I have a bunch of Red Dot(Old style) is that a good powder for a snub nose revolver?
Click to expand...
I would think so, I use Bulleye mostly for 158gr lead for my M-36. My powder throw doesn't like larger flake powders :(
 
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tkcomer

New member
Right now I've swapped to Ramshot's True Blue for my 38 Special loads. Meters great through my powder measure. I shoot various weight bullets through my J frame, snubbie Smith and my Puma levergun. I tend to shoot 148gr lead wadcutters through the Smith and 125gr jacketed HPs through the Puma. The Puma doesn't like lead at such slow velocities. Same bullets in the hotter 357 does fine. I have 158gr lead bullets and have shot them through the Smith, but the 148gr wadcutters I bought are cheap and work well. I save the 158gr bullets for my 357. And I use True Blue in that caliber also.
 
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Sam06

New member
I have never tried Ramshot powder. I used a Dillon so I need something that meters well. I may have to check Ramshot out. I will have to look around for it because I don't think I have seen it in any of the stores I go to. Thanks for the advice:)
 
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tkcomer

New member
True Blue is a really fine ball powder. It's almost like dust. It's not the "best" for hot 357 or 44 mag loads, but since I shoot lead, it's great for those also. But for 38s, they have a wide range of loads for that caliber. Mild to wild for it. Just be careful with it. There's not much in that case. The case looks awfully empty with 3.8grs in it for my wadcutters.
 
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noelf2

New member
+1 for Unique. Works great in a model 60 with 158gr LSWC, but I'm all for using what you got ! Go with some of the alliant site data from the url that mavracer posted. I usually make up some of their cowboy action loads for fun plinking at the range as well.
 
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Sam06

New member
I checked out the alliant site before posting but I thought someone may have pushed that ooad a little and it worked. That load was shot out of a 6" Barrel so out of a 17/8" on the M38 I am looking at maybe 650 f/s. That seems kind of lame to me(LOL). I may have to just realize the M38 is not a Magnum super boomer and drive on. I do not reload for any 38's as I said before and I guess I am used to seeing at least 1000 f/s as a min load. Thanks for the data above and I like Unique also. It and 2400 are may fav powders from big wheelguns. I am going to do some searching around for a 158gr load with proven penatration at least 10". I think that will be the way to go in this weapon. I have a 2" M10 that my wife keeps by the bed. I am sorry to say It and the rimfires I have are the only guns I don't reload for. I have the dies I just hate changing the Dillon over to small primers:mad: But I guess I need to. While I am at it I guess I will start loading up some more 223. Last time I did the change over I loaded 2000 223 for my AR and 2000 9mm. That was in the spring and I am getting low.

I just check out the burn rate for Ramshot and it is alot slower than red dot. I think a faster powder will work better in a Snub nose. I have some Clays also that might not be a bad set up.
 
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WESHOOT2

New member
snub ammo-making

I most highly recommend W231.

It will also work well under any bullet weight of any construction; e-mail direct for data.

Include specifics of components on hand, and tooling (I already have a M38 :D).

WESHOOT2@aol.com
 
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Slamfire

New member
W231 is an excellent powder, but I have shot cases of 38 Special ammo from my 38 Specials with 158 grain Lead (RN, SWC) and 3.5 grs Bullseye. Any case and any primer.

I have shot this in a wide number of revolvers and found this to be a factory equivalent in terms of velocity. In revolvers sighted in for the 158 grain bullet, this load will shoot to point of aim. It also shoots extremely well.

The later S&W Airweights are sighted in for 125 grain bullets, and my BodyGuard shot 158's 4"-6" high at 25 yards.

I do not enjoy shooting the Airweights. They recoil more than I prefer. Even when I purchased big rubber Hogue grips. I do not consider them plinkers.


Taurus M85 B2UL 2" Barrel

158 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye thrown, Mixed Brass WSP 11-Dec-04 T = 54 F
Ave Vel = 686.3
Std Dev = 13.63
ES 58.48
High 718.8
Low 660.3
N = 30
shot little high and centered


158 LRN Master Factory Ammo 30-Dec-04 T = 56 F
Ave Vel = 698.2
Std Dev = 20.56
ES 105.8
High 753.5
Low 647.6
N = 50
shot 6" high centered,until barrel leaded



158 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye Mixed brass Fed 100 30-Dec-04 T = 56 F
Ave Vel = 706.2
Std Dev = 23.45
ES 81.94
High 748
Low 666.1
N = 48

S&W M638-3 Airweight Bodyguard

148 LWC Lead 2.7 grs Bullseye thrown Mixed Brass WSP
18-Mar-07 T = 52 °F
Ave Vel = 611.6
Std Dev = 22.04
ES 75.92
High 648.1
Low 572.2
N = 25
little high

158 LSWC 3.5 grs Bullseye Mixed brass WSP
18-Mar-07 T = 52 °F
Ave Vel = 611.1
Std Dev = 9.64
ES 28.05
High 626.3
Low 598.3
N = 32
4-6" High accurate
 
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