Powder recommendations for .38 special revolver loads.

[DannyT]

I’m looking for some powder to start loading for .38 special, using a 12” barrel Taurus revolver.

I’m going to be shooting gallery rifle, at 25m max, so I’d need to be downloading the cartridge.

I have some unique powder but was advised that this will probably be too slow burning to use effectively, as I would need to put lots in, which would result in unnecessary recoil etc.

So, I’m after a fast burning powder, I have GM3, which I use for lever action .44 mag, this is quite dirty, so not best for a pistol.

I was advised to get CSB5, N310 or N320 but my local shop doesn’t have any of them.

So if anyone has any suggestions for a good commonly available powder for pistol loads that would be great, thanks!

[waterford103]

I used to use 3.2 grains of red dot behind a 148gr hbwc.

[aris]

I can give you load data from the Hornady manual if it is of use. What gr bullets will you be using?

"Commonly available" in reality is vhit- but like everything else, is in short supply.

The vhit website has data - check out the cowboy load section for downloaded data.

https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/

[DannyT]

I can give you load data from the Hornady manual if it is of use. What gr bullets will you be using?

"Commonly available" in reality is vhit- but like everything else, is in short supply.

The vhit website has data - check out the cowboy load section for downloaded data.

https://www.vihtavuori.com/reloading-data/

Thanks for the link, I’ll be starting out with 158gr tc bullets.

[aris]

https://imgur.com/a/NrGEv6C

This is for a 4" barrel.

[DannyT]

https://imgur.com/a/NrGEv6C

This is for a 4" barrel.

Thanks, how should I change or take into account the difference in barrel lengths? Is it a case of adding powder due to my 12” barrel?

[sarge4318]

Unique, 5gn, makes a nice easy load. Good in a rifle too.

But also Bullseye, around 4-4.5gn or so. About the same omph as the above (that's the technical term) and a bit dirtier but around 10% more shots per pound of powder

This is all with a 158gn GM Hardcast RNFP bullet.

[DannyT]

Unique, 5gn, makes a nice easy load. Good in a rifle too.

But also Bullseye, around 4-4.5gn or so. About the same omph as the above (that's the technical term) and a bit dirtier but around 10% more shots per pound of powder

This is all with a 158gn GM Hardcast RNFP bullet.

Thanks for the info. So unique should be good to start with?

Should I start with around 4.5gn of this and work up in .2gn increments to find a load that my pistol likes?

Cheers