.38 special load

D

dbob00

New member
I'm looking for some red dot or herco loads for 38 special. I will be using 158 grain jacketed bullets and 150 grain lead bullets. I'm having trouble finding loads using these two powders. Any help is much appreciated.

Thanks, Dylan
 
I have an old Lyman 46th edition that has Herco load data I'll check it when I get home and get back to you. The Alliant website shows 3.4 GR Red Dot with a 158 Grain bullet.This is probably a max load back off a little and blaze away!
 
My Speer 10 says 4.4 Herco or 4.5 for +P Again these are max loads They listed 4.0 as a starting load. Good luck! I've used a lot of Herco and prefer it to Unique. It seems to be cleaner (anything is cleaner than Unique)and accuracy doesn't suffer.
 
My 1971 Sierra Manual:
No Red Dot loads listed for .38 Special loads
158 Gr .357 Jacketed Soft Point
Herco
5.8grs = 750fps
6.1grs = 800fps
6.4grs = 850fps
6.6grs = 900fps
6.8grs = 950fps MAX LOAD

My 1973 Hornady Manual:
No Red Dot or Herco Loads listed for the .38 Special, 158gr Jacketed Hollow Point.

Loads listed for 158gr LEAD ROUND NOSE
Red Dot
3.5grs = 750fps
3.8grs = 800fps
4.2grs = 850fps
4.5grs = 900fps
4.9grs = 950fps
5.3grs = 1000fps
5.6grs = 1050fps MAX LOAD
 
Thanks for the reply's I will try to load some up this weekend and try them out. I am out of the powder I normally use and have a bunch of herco and red dot but couldn't find any loads in the books I have. Thanks again for the info
 
I use red dot in my wife's snub nose .38 special for plinking rounds. For the 150 grn lead bullets I use 3.5grns of red dot. I wanted a light load for her to shoot and enjoy. I also use Win ball powder at 3.2 grns for a let dirty and not as much of a muzzle flash when shooting indoors. They are more accurate that she or I can shoot and great for plinking and saving money.

- Huntmac
 
Thanks Huntmac this load is for my wife's LCR so I was wanting something lighter anyway. I have a coffee can full of 150 grain lead bullets and a bunch of red dot powder that I couldn't find a load for.
 


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