38 supercomp, which powder for major

J

Jefferson

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just bought a STI in 38 supercomp and could not be happier,

the fellow I bought if off of was using SR4756 powder and has none left which is OK

the search begins for a new powder to use, will be using 124 grain BDX bullets I think

do not need the hottest loads but one that will work the comp properly and maybe burn somewhat

clean, any suggestions as I have about 6 powders in mind but some of the forums are all over the map

not necessarily looking for the final perfect load but a range with that powder and bullet weight might be nice

Jeff
 
IMR 4756 was always my go to powder. Think i have 8 #s of it still left

haven't looked at many other powders since i found that, sorry I couldn't be more help
 
I would check Brian Enos's forum under reloading. Lots of good data there.
Seems like something very slow that takes a very large volume of powder will produce more gasses and work the comp better. Autocomp, 3n37, 3n38, aa#7
 
some of the enos forum goes back to 2008

looking at VV3n37 or 38 n105 autocomp

was wondering from some in Canada, more recent and maybe why they chose it

and some of the enos forum are using different bullets and guns like a glock so no resemblance at all

just trying to get it right the first time

Jeff

Jeff
 
You could try all these powders in 38 supercomp gun
HS-6 works well cleanish and easy to get.
VV 3N37 , 3N38 , N350 , N105. All good powers ( I like N350 the best ) Clean but can get pricey.Best round I ever shot was N350 with a 125gr jhp from zero with starline brass.
CFE pistol is a soft shooting powder , but i found my self having to clean my lens half way through a match.
Ramshot Silhouette is another good go to powder.
In the end it all comes down to the powder you can get your hands on.
 
Through my guns, I didn't find 3n38 offered me anything over 3n37 to warrant switching powders and paying more money. Open guns are a personal preference thing, and the same load will feel different/have different accuracy between two different guns.

Personally, I use 3n37 because I've been shooting it for a long time (since the 90's) and it is clean burning, and now I'm just really familiar with how it feels. Are there other load combinations that might be superior? Probably, but I'm really used to my current load. I know people who spend countless hours trying to find the perfect load that makes their gun flat shooting and track perfectly in their hands and once they find something acceptable, they still look for a better combination because they think they can find a load that makes their gun not move at all. I would rather pick a load that makes major and is accurate, and then accustom myself to that setup. ie, It's easier to teach myself to work with a bullet/powder combination than to find a bullet/powder combination that fits my shooting style. Why spend a lot of time messing around with trying to find a perfect setup and keep changing it when I could be practicing? (emphasis on COULD BE...that's not to say I actually do).

I'd find a powder that is reasonably priced, in good supply, burns clean and develop an accurate load... and then go shoot some matches. Practice is secondary.
 
I've tried them all and agree that it does boil down somewhat to personal preference. I open, we shoot off a cadence and that timing is critical and greatly affected by the powder choice, bullet weight, compensator etc . In my experience, 3N38 shoots the flattest and softest and also is VERY clean and consistent. 3N37 is my 2nd choice and also a great powder.

Some of the older powders like HS6, 4756 etc work great but are dirtier and less consistent.
 
I use 3N38 9.4g @ 1.26 OAL gives me about 162 PF. I have gone up to 9.8 now and have not chronied but should be over 165 PF for USPSA major power factor.
 
If you look at the physics involved, you can be certain that with a given bullet weight, and a given velocity, the powder that used more grains to reach that number will work your compensator the best as was stated in post #4. That's physics. Now you must take into consideration some compensators are more efficient than others and faster burning powders are generally cleaner burning. The rest is personal preference.
 
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