I have tried 2 different bullets and 2 powders and 2 or 3 powder weights and cant see any difference in my groups shooting my smith model 66 in 38 special. how does one go about finding the best load? what component USUALLY makes the biggest difference when changed, bullet, primer, brand or weight of powder? thanks for replies. btw i have 231 and bullseye powder, win primers and brass, drt 158 gr swc and double wadcutter? (use either end} bullets.
best load for 66
- Thread starter ronaldharold
- Start date
I start at the START load for the powder/bullet and make 20 of each in 0.3 gr increments to the max. Usually one of them is clearly better than the others. In 38 Spl most of my revolvers share the same preference, so I don't have to stock too many different loads.
I use 38 cases in my 66 for target loads. I load for about 20 revolvers and had generally poor results with 231. For the 148DBWC 4.6 shot well. This is probably well over the 38 SL pressure limit, so be careful if you have any 38s. With the 158SWC, 3.7 of 231 worked ok.
But when I ran a test with Titegroup I had much better results. 38Spl cases in 357mags. 148DBWC 3.0gr & 3.5gr. 158SWC 3.0 gr
The nice thing about these Titegroup loads is that they also work in 38Spls.
I use 38 cases in my 66 for target loads. I load for about 20 revolvers and had generally poor results with 231. For the 148DBWC 4.6 shot well. This is probably well over the 38 SL pressure limit, so be careful if you have any 38s. With the 158SWC, 3.7 of 231 worked ok.
But when I ran a test with Titegroup I had much better results. 38Spl cases in 357mags. 148DBWC 3.0gr & 3.5gr. 158SWC 3.0 gr
The nice thing about these Titegroup loads is that they also work in 38Spls.
For target loads in 38 I found 2.7 grns of Bullseye to work very well with 148 wadcutters. This load was used by all the PPC shooters in our club, using 38 spls. It also functioned 100% in 2 Colt Gold Cups I had. For heavier loads in the 38 I've used Unique and some 357 loads in 38 cases with Win 296 and 140 gn jktd, but not ever to be fired in a split frame 38!!
i was switching bullets one batch then type of powder next time. i would make 50 of each also. with using a single stage press i could only try a couple different loads each time i went to the range. i really didnt have a system for testing loads. thanks for the info . ill try going up by .3 and only make 15-20 of each. how far away is your target when testing loads? i put mine at 20 -25 yards, maybe too far? i put 5-6 in the black out of 10 at 25 yds.
My model 66 shoots the lights out with 3.2gr of WW231 and 148gr wadcutters. I just tried some 158gr RNFP cast bullets and they seemed to be just as accurate over 3.5gr of WW231. Both bullets are seated to allow crimping into the groove. I bought the gun late last summer and have yet to try any full house magnum loads through it. I have a Redhawk in .44 Mag for the bigger bangs, so have been enjoying the 66 with light .38 special loads.
Mark
Mark
