38 special bullet ?

[Takoda Ray]

Just wondering,what is the most popular 38 special bullet weight and design used in cowboy shooting events? I reload for my 38 special SA revolvers and I will be receiving a 1873 Ubertie rifle in about a month.Right now I am shooting 158 gr. LSWC's and 3.1 grs. of Bullseye. I would like to load one cartridge for use in either rifle or revolver to keep it simple.Someone recommended the 125 gr.TC bullet for the rifle but not sure how they will work out of the revolver.
Thanks Pards,
Takoda Ray

[Stu Kettle]

the load you're using should work fine unless your rifle doesn't like them - some rifles have a little trouble feeding the SWCs or the TCs, so you may want to switch to a RNFP.  Your revolvers won't care one way or the other.

[Badlands Bob]

Stu is correct.  The revolver will shoot anything that will fit in the cylinder.  Some rifles are a little finicky.  Find what shoots good in your rifle and use that round in your pistols.  Makes life much less complicated.

[Takoda Ray]

Thank you pards for your suggestions.I sure wish that 73 would get here.I am like a kid waiting for Christmas.
Takoda Ray

[Johnny McCrae]

My 1866 is finicky about overall length in .38 Special. I've been using a 147 Grain TC Bullet from Moulton Lead  www.moultonlead.com

It is a special bullet designed for 1866's and 1873's. It makes for a longer overall length and has been trouble free.

[Takoda Ray]

Thanks for the web site for the 147 gr.TC. I was looking for such a bullet weight like that as all my guns seem to shoot nice tight groups with weights around 148 grains.My supplier doesn't handle the 147's in the TC. The price is very close to what I paid for the 125's. I did however,try the 125 gr. TC's out of my SA revolvers for the first time yesterday and I was pretty impressed,my only concern is that the ovl turned out to be 1.440" when crimpted in the groove.I won't know how they feed in the 73 until it arrives.
Yesterday was the first time I tried the Trail Boss powder . I liked it much over my regular use of Bullseye in the 38 special but I just can't seem to digest the cost very well.I pay $17.59 for a pound of BE and the Trail Boss cost me $17.00 for a 9 ounce container. I use 3.0 grs. of BE and the same 3.0 grs. of TB. That doesn't seem to be a  cost savings changing to TB. Am I missing something here?
Watch your top knot,
Takoda Ray

[Johnny McCrae]

I might add that there is no crimp groove on the 147 Grain TC Bullets. I crimp on the flat spot just above the lube groove. This gives me an OAL of 1.555". I shoot the 147 grain bullets in my 1866 Uberti Winchester and use 158 Grain RNFP in my Pistols. The 158 Grain RNFP bullets seem to work better for me in my Pistols. I've also used 130 grain RNFP bullets in my Pistols with decent results. Your results could vary from mine as I'm not a good Pistol shot.

My load for the 147's is 3.0 grains of Trail Boss.

[Takoda Ray]

Thanks for all that good information on what you use and how you use it.That gives me better insight and options to try and work out.

[Dances With Coyotes]

Johnny turned me onto the 147's from moulton and they is all I've been using. They run through my Rossi 92 without a hitch.