125gr jacketed loads for .38spl?

[NW Redneck]

I just picked up a bunch of 125gr Hornady FP/XTP and am looking for a good target/plinking load for a 6" bbl Taurus .38spl. I have CCI & Federal small pistol primers (standards) with Unique and Bullseye powders on hand. Any recomendations? Thanks!

 

[iceman2]

Any good manual should point you in the right direction. Every firearm is different and test loads will tell you what it likes.

 

[NW Redneck]

OK, I just got home and checked my manuals and there seems to be quite a disparity between them.

Sierra, Edition V
Unique: 5.2-6.8gr
Bullseye: 4.6-5.1gr
Accuracy load: 6.0gr Unique

Lee, Modern Reloading
Unique: 4.7-5.3gr
Bullseye: 4.1-4.4gr

Why such a large difference between the two? Specially with the Lee's max load being less than the Sierra starting load with Bullseye?

 

[iceman2]

It probably depends what firearm they were testing in, amd how much their lawyers want to protect their back sides. Try the powder manufacturers web site or manual.

 

[NW Redneck]

The Alliant website only shows 2 loads for 38spl with Unique. One that's just labeled '38 Special' with a 125gr Speer gold dot & 5.7gr for 980fps, and another that's labeled '38 Special +P' same bullet and 6gr for 1082fps. I'm ass-u-me ing that these are max loads, but they don't show starting loads.

Anyone out there have experience with 125gr jacketed bullets in the 38spl?

 

[joe-nwt]

Look, I hate to be harsh, but read the damn manual. If you did, you would know what to do when there is no starting load listed. You would know what to do with bullets that are not exactly the same as the listed data. You would know that the disparity between the manuals is likely due to the data being created with DIFFERENT guns under DIFFERENT conditions. Just as was already stated, all guns are DIFFERENT!

Now go read your manual.

 

[sunray]

"...looking for a good target/plinking load..." You'll want to re-think jacketed bullets. They get expensive quickly. 125 XTP's aren't target bullets either. Usually used in .357 Mag.
"...Alliant website only shows..." Read their disclaimer. Says the data on their site are max loads. Reduce by 10% and work up.
"...Lee's max load..." Lee does no testing at all. All their data comes from other sources. Usually the powder manufacturer. In any case, manuals reflect the data found on the day of the test with the firearm or universal receiver used.