Powder suggestions for .38 Special

mwjones

mwjones

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So... just recieved a set of dies and some primers for my birthday. Tumbled, resized, reprimed, and flared a hundred cases, and filled up my trusty rcbs powder measure with 700x that i already had for loading 12 gauge. I tried for about 10 minutes to get two throws within .2 grains of each other, and it just wasn't happening. The flakes were binding up inside the measure, and i was getting throws from anywhere from 2.8 gr to 4.6 gr (trying to hit 3.5). Trickling up every round is going to take a horrible long time, and considering how they go, i don't want to spend 3 days loading for 20 minutes fo shooting.

My question is this: does anyone use a spherical powder that will meter properly for reloading 38 special? I'm looking in the loadbooks, but unfortunately i don't know what unique, bullseye, etc look like, so it's kind of pointless :)
 
I like 231, but because its a flattened ball powder, it doesn't meter at all like a ball, because it isn't effectively, and jams in my lee auto powder dump unless I leave the screws loose. And with the screws loose, you get powder accumulating and accumulating where it shouldn't. A true spherical powder meters so much better and smoothly.
 
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I used Bullseye in my .38 special and it was the best reloading success ever. My revolver was a frikkin laser with 3.5g and 158g SWCBB

I used the cavity lee turret and it was very consistent.
 
I guess unique is out... Titegroup, you say? Hmm.....

I've been looking around...anyone use HP-38? It almost seems liek the name of the powder is trying to tell me something....

My poor powder measure... It measures BL-C(2) within .03 grains every time... It's just not liking any of the shotgun or pistol powders i have available :S
 
mwjones said:
I guess unique is out... Titegroup, you say? Hmm.....

I've been looking around...anyone use HP-38? It almost seems liek the name of the powder is trying to tell me something....

My poor powder measure... It measures BL-C(2) within .03 grains every time... It's just not liking any of the shotgun or pistol powders i have available :S
Click to expand...

HP 38 is the same powder as Win 231. Same powder different can.

Take Care

Bob
 
Titegroup is my favourite for non-magnum handgun reloading. There are lots of other powders that will work well and meter easily: W231 (aka HP-38), AA #2, Bullseye (flake, but will work well in most meters), Clays, etc.
 
Thanks guys! My old man's got an old can of 231 that he's going to let me try out. I will probably end up getting some hp-38 because hodgdon is easiest for me to get out here :S That, and I liek it that i can buy a 8lb keg later on if it works :)
 
Could be static electricity that's causing powder to clump up in the RCBS powder measure....just a guess. Or maybe the hopper just needs a little tap to fill out the measure, before throwing.

I have never had a problem with inconsistent charge weights, with the Lee Auto Discs (regular or Pro model), Lee Perfect Powder Measure or the Dillon Powder measure on my Dillon 550B, using 700X, 231, Bullseye, Titegroup, AA #2 or 2400.
 
If i was using a stick powder, i'd say the measure is cutting the powder. Except with the flakes, they're actually getting pulled into the gaps. I'm going to try some again tomorrow, but i'm going to take some of the powder out of the measure. I don't have a baffle, so maybe the weight of a full hopper is causing things to bind up.
 
I use Clays or Trail Boss. Both are flake powders, but work well with my Lee auto-disk. I'd be tempted to try Titegroup if I wanted to use a ball powder
 
Strangely enough, I have used pounds of 700-x in loading .38 Special, around the same charge weight as described, without any of the same huge variances.
I used the large rotor and also use the large charging funnel. If you try with the small and small you will end up with powder hangups.
Mine always worked well. As for charge variance, my loads would go in the 10 ring when I did my part.
 
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