Pet load for short barrel 38spl? Taurus 85

[dieselrealtor]

I picked this up not long ago from a fine member here, I have loaded some 357 for revolvers & rifles but no 38 that I can recall.

I have various powders & projos on hand.

It will probably not be a regular range monkey but I thought it will be a good step up (with light loads) from .22 for inexperienced young & small frame shooters.

Will probably load some SD rounds as well but not a regular diet.

 

[bstewrat3]

I like the 148gr wadcutters at about 700fps for range and carry in my S&W 642. I have tested them on deer that I harvested with a legal round and can get full broadside pass through just behind the shoulder on unfield dressed deer.

 

[Magyars]

I use a 158 gr SWC over3.5 gr Red Dot. My standard plinking/target load.

 

[Creedmoor]

I use a 158 gr SWC over3.5 gr Red Dot. My standard plinking/target load.

I use the same but with Bullseye.

 

[Max Volume]

I carry these in my 442.

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

 

[dieselrealtor]

I have some 148hbwc's that I had planned to get rid of a while back, been thinking about those for this one though.

I have never loaded wad cutters before.

 

[Leadeye]

I have some 148hbwc's that I had planned to get rid of a while back, been thinking about those for this one though.

I have never loaded wad cutters before.

Loads just like anything else. I also use them with old Colt revolvers that are bored through and using the .375 barrel like Lightnings.

 

[Magyars]

I have some 148hbwc's that I had planned to get rid of a while back, been thinking about those for this one though.

I have never loaded wad cutters before.

I can pull my load data if you wish. I fool around with them on occasion.

 

[Creedmoor]

I have some 148hbwc's that I had planned to get rid of a while back, been thinking about those for this one though.

I have never loaded wad cutters before.

Weve shot tens of thousands of HBWC over the years, 3.2 grains of Bullseye.

 

[dieselrealtor]

First of all, I appreciate the input from everyone.

Do WC's take a special seater?

Some (maybe all) of mine are Hornady lead.

 

[Creedmoor]

First of all, I appreciate the input from everyone.

Do WC's take a special seater?

Some (maybe all) of mine are Hornady lead.

Usually a flat seater, but most SWC seaters will work.
I use Dillon 38/357 dies and the seating stem can be flipped around from JHP to SWC, SWC will seat most WC without damaging the bullets.

 

[Cynical]

Weve shot tens of thousands of HBWC over the years, 3.2 grains of Bullseye.

Couldn’t agree more. I inherited 2 coffee cans of 148 grn wadcutters years ago. My girls loved to shoot them and they punched a cookie cutter hole in paper. I loaded them down a bit just to get them used to recoil. Do love me some Bullseye until it became $50 a lb. Used to buy it for $16.

 

[KokomoDave]

I carry these in my 442.

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Pistol & Handgun Ammunition

Standard Pressure Short Barrel Low Flash Heavy .38 Special Field Proven pistol and handgun ammo. Maximum firepower bullets. Best ammunition for pistols and handguns for sale. Buffalo Bore. Strictly big bore. Strictly Business.

www.buffalobore.com

Yikes. Those are $2.00 / rd!
I dont reload so no magic formula but learning is my thing.

 

[Max Volume]

Yikes. Those are $2.00 / rd!
I dont reload so no magic formula but learning is my thing.

I bought some years ago and don't shoot very many.

 

[dieselrealtor]

I have a fair amount of Bullseye & unique.

Got down and started cleaning my bench off and pulling the wadcutter stock I have.

Have no idea the story on these in the pic, but they appear to be raw and unlubed. May be a good project for me to do my first bullet coating on


I will probably get started with these in the next pic, I presume that the grooves at each are crimp grooves?

 

[DadSmith]

I picked this up not long ago from a fine member here, I have loaded some 357 for revolvers & rifles but no 38 that I can recall.

I have various powders & projos on hand.

It will probably not be a regular range monkey but I thought it will be a good step up (with light loads) from .22 for inexperienced young & small frame shooters.

Will probably load some SD rounds as well but not a regular diet.

One I like is 148gr DEWC and 2.8gr of Titegroup. It is a very soft shooting load, and accurate. IIRC in a 2" barrel it was around 650fps.
My parents carry 38 Special snubbies. They really like the light load, and the 148gr DEWC has good penetration, and accuracy.
If you can find Tightgroup.

What I use.

38 Special 148 gr Wadcutter Bullets | Berry’s Bullets

Berry’s Bullets is home to the best 38 special wadcutter bullets on the market. Shop now and learn how you can take your target shooting to the next level!

www.berrysmfg.com

 

[dieselrealtor]

One I like is 148gr DEWC and 2.8gr of Titegroup. It is a very soft shooting load, and accurate. IIRC in a 2" barrel it was around 650fps.
My parents carry 38 Special snubbies. They really like the light load, and the 148gr DEWC has good penetration, and accuracy.
If you can find Tightgroup.

What I use.

38 Special 148 gr Wadcutter Bullets | Berry’s Bullets

Berry’s Bullets is home to the best 38 special wadcutter bullets on the market. Shop now and learn how you can take your target shooting to the next level!

www.berrysmfg.com

I have a fair amount of Titegroup on hand

 

[Magyars]

One I like is 148gr DEWC and 2.8gr of Titegroup. It is a very soft shooting load, and accurate. IIRC in a 2" barrel it was around 650fps.
My parents carry 38 Special snubbies. They really like the light load, and the 148gr DEWC has good penetration, and accuracy.
If you can find Tightgroup.

What I use.

38 Special 148 gr Wadcutter Bullets | Berry’s Bullets

Berry’s Bullets is home to the best 38 special wadcutter bullets on the market. Shop now and learn how you can take your target shooting to the next level!

www.berrysmfg.com

Advantage Arms carries the 38 spcl wadcutter.
I was going thru some old boxes and saw theirs. Price was 5.50! Now it's a bit more

Elite | .38 Special | 148GR HBWC PPC

Our Elite .38 Special 148gr HBWC PPC ammo is the most accurate ammo on the market. This is application-specific ammunition for the highest level of competition.

atlantaarms.com

 

[Titanium700]

My load is 158 jhps in front of W-231

 

[ECS686]

My pet load for 38 Special is 3.7 gr of Green Dot and a 158 SWC or RNFP lead or Molly/polly coated. But that’s for 3 and 4” K and L frames and one Eugwr Blackhawk.
Might be a little snappy after a few cylnder in a snub


My go to for a snubby load would be a full wadcutter as already mentioned