I want to load some mild plinking/target loads for my S&W J frame snubbie. I obtained some previously fired 38 Special brass- all nickel plated and by several manufactuers- Federal, Winchester, PMC, IVI. All of the Federal and most of Winchester is marked +P. I have sorted them by manufactuer as one does with rifle brass. A friend has told me that for the 38 Special, it isn't necessary to sort and when using mild loads, it does not matter to sort the regular and the +P brass. This would make the whole project simple but I seek the advice of a knowledgeable 38 Special reloader. Obviously a 38 snubbie is not a target gun, so I am not looking for last degree of accuracy that might come with carefully sorted brass. Lastly bullets- I see that Sierra and Hornady make 110 grn jacketed bullets but the pure lead bullets start at 140 to 150 grn or so. I assume that the lighter 110's will reduce recoil but that the pure leads will be cheaper. Are there lighter lead SWC's available? Thanks for any advice.
38 Special brass question
- Thread starter hiredgun
- Start date
I have a beer case full of 38 Spl brass from the police range. It is almsot all +P.
The difference in pressure between regular and +P is only 1500 psi. I know that many handloaders load far beyond the +P level. i also know that very few loaders could make ammo that does not have a variation more than 1500 psi.
If you have sorted by maker, then you have done all you need to do.
Cast bullets are expensive to ship, so we tend to buy whatever our local bullet maker happens to make. I load 158 SWC for heavy load plinking; the 125 RN for light load plinking (wife with J frame) and the 148 hollow base for amximum accuracy.
If you want to get good accuracy from your snubbie, i suggst you try both the 158 SWc and the 148 WC, with light to medium loads of 231 or Bullseye.
My 3" J will shoot very good groups at 25 yards with the 148's.
The difference in pressure between regular and +P is only 1500 psi. I know that many handloaders load far beyond the +P level. i also know that very few loaders could make ammo that does not have a variation more than 1500 psi.
If you have sorted by maker, then you have done all you need to do.
Cast bullets are expensive to ship, so we tend to buy whatever our local bullet maker happens to make. I load 158 SWC for heavy load plinking; the 125 RN for light load plinking (wife with J frame) and the 148 hollow base for amximum accuracy.
If you want to get good accuracy from your snubbie, i suggst you try both the 158 SWc and the 148 WC, with light to medium loads of 231 or Bullseye.
My 3" J will shoot very good groups at 25 yards with the 148's.
You do not need to sort if you only load one recipe. I would still sort the nickel plated from the brass, because it is thicker resulting in slightly higher pressures, due to less case space.
The recoil in a 110gr bullet is greater than the recoil of a 158gr bullet. You put 5.5 grains of powder behind a 110gr bullet and 3.7 grains of powder behind a 158 grain bullet(taken from Winchester reloading guide). The accuracy of a 158gr lead semi-wadcutter will be better than the 110gr jacketed bullet. Im my opinion the 148 lead wadcutter and 158gr lead semi-wadcutters will be the ticket for your snubbie.
I cast 3000 38cal bullets, in 150rn, 148wc and 158swc, all from Lee bullet molds, per year.
The most accurate powder was W-231 and I tried alot of different ones.
Yes, you can skip the brass sorting for your handguns. IF you are working up a maximum power load for protection in the woods or something then maybe sort. I think you will find that most handgun reloaders, at least the bulk reloaders, don't sort brass other than calibre. Sure some like nickel plating but most just sort by calibre. 38 Special and 38 Special +P brass is the same, just a different head stamp to indicate it is higher power in factory loads. So the round isn't loaded into an aluminum frame revolver, etc.
I'm not sure what the lightest lead SWC bullet is. Lightest lead SWC I have used is 158gr. And the lightest lead that I use is a 130gr. lead flat point round nose that is common for the cowboy action crowd.
And your 38 snubbie IS a TARGET gun.
Fudd
I'm not sure what the lightest lead SWC bullet is. Lightest lead SWC I have used is 158gr. And the lightest lead that I use is a 130gr. lead flat point round nose that is common for the cowboy action crowd.
And your 38 snubbie IS a TARGET gun.
Fudd
