38 spl with Hodgon HP-38 + Campro
- Thread starter Alon
- Start date
I love that bullet but its not good for very light loads as the plating is fairly thick. 231/HP38 is a great powder for 38spec. Not sure what kind of loads you are looking for. hot full power or just a plinking load. Use 158gr jacketed data from your manual as a starting point. i would start about 3.4-3.5 grains of 231HP/38 and work up to max and find what works good. a strong roll crimp in the canalure makes them work well and lets them load quickly into the cylinder.
3.04 hp38/win231
148 hbwc campro 38spl
38spl brass
This is my PPC revolver load. Works pretty well.
I suppose you would drop it down a bit, say 2.90gr for that 158 bullet.
Campro publishes recommended loads for their bullets. Not sure exactly where to find that, perhaps they have a website.
148 hbwc campro 38spl
38spl brass
This is my PPC revolver load. Works pretty well.
I suppose you would drop it down a bit, say 2.90gr for that 158 bullet.
Campro publishes recommended loads for their bullets. Not sure exactly where to find that, perhaps they have a website.
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
HP38 is WW231, an ideal 38spl powder. It’s a bit on the slower side of fast burning powders like Bullseye & TiteGroup but entirely suitable. I think a decent plinking 25 yard round with enough power to knock over bowling pins or steel plates would start at 3.6 grains & comfortably go to 4.0.
This is the reloading data from campro:
Cartridge Overall Length 1.455 inch 36.957 mm
Crimp Up to the roll crimp
Primer Small Pistol
Manufacturer Powder type Grains (Min/Max) Grammes (Min/Max) ft/s (Min/Max) m/s (Min/Max)
HODGDON HP-38 3.80 / 4.30 0.246 / 0.279 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
Always start low and work up.
As for myself, I run 4.1 gr with that campro 158 gr TC.
Cartridge Overall Length 1.455 inch 36.957 mm
Crimp Up to the roll crimp
Primer Small Pistol
Manufacturer Powder type Grains (Min/Max) Grammes (Min/Max) ft/s (Min/Max) m/s (Min/Max)
HODGDON HP-38 3.80 / 4.30 0.246 / 0.279 0 / 0 0.0 / 0.0
Always start low and work up.
As for myself, I run 4.1 gr with that campro 158 gr TC.
How do you like the campro hbwc compared to a lead one? I wish they wouldnt plate the dam things
The only other HBWC I've used is the BDX 148gr lead with their silvery powdery lube. I heard they stopped making that bullet a few years ago, which got me to switch to the Campro.
I prefer the Campro to the lead bullet. Lead bullets end up leaving grease on the outside of my cases. My revolver cylinder is already a tight fit when perfectly clean, and now add some rounds fired during a match and bullet grease on the case and it's guaranteed to slow me down. I ended up having to take a rag and brake cleaner and hand wiping every case before I would shoot them.
Also lead bullets cause more smoke when fired, and make my hands dirtier while shooting them.
Naturally we should defer to Roly. To me that would be a magnum load, but obviously it works at the highest level. Maybe I should try it...
I prefer the Campro to the lead bullet. Lead bullets end up leaving grease on the outside of my cases. My revolver cylinder is already a tight fit when perfectly clean, and now add some rounds fired during a match and bullet grease on the case and it's guaranteed to slow me down. I ended up having to take a rag and brake cleaner and hand wiping every case before I would shoot them.
Also lead bullets cause more smoke when fired, and make my hands dirtier while shooting them.
Naturally we should defer to Roly. To me that would be a magnum load, but obviously it works at the highest level. Maybe I should try it...
hatman1793
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Pretty sure 4.6 grains of WW231/HP38 is a +P load. Like the 4.4 recommendation. I dropped 4.6 grains of WW231 behind a Campro 155 grain bullet in 40 S&W. Some of the muzzle flashes were really impressive, but 4.6 is just on the line of almost relibility……
Been using HP-38/W-231 for over 20 years in 9mm and 45 ACP. Been loading 38 Special for the last 5 years and honestly I don't like it in that round. I find it does not give consistent velocities, probably due to high case volume. I find powders like Unique and Trail Boss do much better. My favorite load I consistently use now with Berry's or Campro 158gr is 3.8gr of TiteGroup. That load is really consistent and accurate. In all my 38 and 357 revolvers.
Cheers
Moe
Cheers
Moe
I have tried campro hbwc but found more than one occasion where large pieces of plating fell off, landed on shooting bench or in barrel. It was flush 2.7 or 2.8 gn bullseye. Otherwise for 38 I load 158 Missouri lswc because Hornady is more pricey for their hbwc...
I don't mind the additional work with lead bullets and all you've said and yeah, gotta wipe that grease off.
But yes, best try out Roly's 158 TC load those bullets can be had for good price too!
I have a S&W revolver that has a bulged barrel because of those Campro HBWC bullets. Used same 3.0 grains of 231 as I use with Hornady HBWC that I have shot 1000’s of. Appears that shirt came off inside of barrel before next one fired.
I had my doubts about using them and what was an absolute tack driver is about useless now.
When I was shooting PPC I used the classic load of 3.1gr 231 with a 148 HBWC. For distinguished shoots I would seat a 158gr lead SWC on the same charge. 1000's of rounds
with no problems. I recently tried that load with the Campro 158gr TC and the first round didn't make it out of the barrel on my 586. Luckily I caught it. It seems those heavily plated bullets need a little more powder than lead, more resistance in the barrel?
with no problems. I recently tried that load with the Campro 158gr TC and the first round didn't make it out of the barrel on my 586. Luckily I caught it. It seems those heavily plated bullets need a little more powder than lead, more resistance in the barrel?
Bingo. Lead just slides easier. I had many squibs using W231 in light charged 38's before I discovered Titegroup.
Cheers
Moe
If i recall correctly, HP38 is called that because the classic load was 3.8 gr under a 158 gr bullet. - dan
