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Jector

New member
I'm getting ready to do my first ever batch of reloads and, for safety sake thought I'd run the recipe by those more experienced than I.

I read the sticky post at the top, "For the new reloader" and got the required stuff.

I'm loading .38 special for a 4" barreled Colt. I bought new Winchester brass and Oregon Trail Laser-Cast :rolleyes: lead SWC, 158 gr., Winchester WSP primers, and W231.

I've read that too much velocity can lead to leading problems pretty quickly so I figured I'd start with 3.8 gr. of 231. Recipes seem to be all over the place for 158 gr. LSWC from 3.1 gr. (from Hodgdon powder company) to a MAX of 4.7 gr. (from Winchester (Handloads.com)). The reloading handbook I have is Hornady 7th Edition, it doesn't have data for 158 gr cast lead but lists a starting point of 3.7 gr. 231 for 158 gr. JHP.

Does the 3.8 gr sound right to y'all?

TIA
 
B

Blue Grass

New member
Welcome,Jector. My Speer Reloadind Manual #12 lists 4.0--4.4gr of W-231 for the .38 Spl 158gr LSWC bullet.My Winchester 2006 Reloading Guide lists 3.7gr as a max load for this bullet. I see what you mean about the data being all over the place. This is probably because the hardness of the lead varies from one caster to another.I have not used W-231 for cast bullets (Trail Boss, AA#2, Unique) so I can't really advise you. Hopefully someone with actual experience with this combo will chime in. Good luck.
 
C

chris in va

New member
My Lyman #49 manual shows 158gr semiwadcutter with 231 at 3.6-4.0gr and 1.445oal.

It also has it highlighted as the best load for this bullet.
 
D

DiscoRacing

New member
even if it were to be a couple of tenths of a grain low.... wouldnt do harm in a revolver.... just in an auto lowering the charge will affect the cycleing
 
S

saands

New member
Safety is always a good concern to have.

If your Colt is a model that can handle +P loads, then you also have that additional margin of safety on your side. I should probably read the post that you mention for beginners, but a chrony is a really good tool to have if you are going to get serious about reloading. It lets you see the results of your load in terms of velocity achieved ... you can't really get more velocity than predicted if your pressures are turning out as predicted ... In reloading, just as in most parts of life, there are no free lunches.

Be safe,

Saands
 
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daleo8803

New member
if the books say use 3.8 as the starting load then i would load around 3.5 or 3.6 just to be safe. from there you can see how the gun and ammo will work. if there are any problems it will be safer than a full load. i use IMR trail boss with my 38 special, i use a 158 grain SWC cast lead boolit, 3.0 grains of trail boss, and they shoot great! no leading either.

dale
 
J

Jector

New member
Thanks all!
I've loaded several different loads to try out. From 3.0 gr. to 3.8gr behind 158 gr. LSWC and 3.8 gr behind 158 gr JHP. I'll let you know how it goes soon. The old colt can handle the +P level rounds from what I've read, but I have no desire to push the envelope. That's a young man's game (in my mind anyway).

Thanks for the advice; on the chrono too. I'll probably get one if I keep with this... I tend to change hobbies with the seasons. But, this is my hobby for the fall and winter...

:D
 
J

Jector

New member
Just for fun here are the first reloads I ever did. Oregon Trail Lead SWC and Hornady JHP both 158 gr.

The LSWC's look a little fat in the brass but chamber just fine.

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J

Jector

New member
The one piece of equipment I don't have is a case trimmer. How necessary is a case trimmer?... or how soon will I need it? Again, reading has lead me to believe that I'll need to trim cases after 4 to 20 firings. Thoughts?
 
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saands

New member
The thing with straight walled pistol cases is that they stretch very little ... especially with mild loads. Personally, the only pistol trimmers I have in my kit are to make things from what they aren't ... for example, making 9x18 brass out of 9x19 brass. On all the other pistol cases I reload, I take an out of spec length measurement to be an indication of end of life and I retire the case to the garbage can. As long as you shoot at a range that has other .38 shooters, you should be able to gather more .38 Special brass than you will ever need ... many if not most folks that shoot .38, don't seem to reload. All the better for us :D

BTW, your loads look nice,
Saands
 
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